Assessments

All students have completed the following assessments and grades have been entered:

 Scientific Method Quiz-- 10 points.  Students who scored 7 or below are required to complete study information, get parent signature and turn in evidence of studying to take the retest. Any student may choose to complete this same work and retest for a better score.

Retest is scheduled during 7th grade lunch on Friday, September 27, 2013.  All evidence of the study work as well as Parent signature is required for a retest to be allowed.

I recommend that students taking the retest bring their lunch so they will have ample time to complete the retest.

Lab Notebook Check Act 1-5---15 points    This is a check of organization and accurate completion of the Science Lab notebook.  There are no retakes for this assessment.

Information Strip on Claims, Evidence, and the Scientific Method: -10 points All students were given a 4 inch strip of white paper with specific directions to complete using color, words, drawings to share what they understand about the topic.  These have been posted outside my classroom and can be seen at Parent Conferences


Below are links to quiz sites and videos that students can use to prepare for their scientific method retake quiz.  I know they are a little out of order.  Watch part 1 before part 2, and scroll down to see the Mr. Edmunds videos again.  

Videos Part 1 and Part 2

The first one is a person setting up a simple experiment with various things (variables) controlled and an independent variable. He says a couple of things incorrectly. First he makes it sound like the cup of salt water is the independent variable. He does then say it correctly as whether or not it has salt. He also says that the result is the dependent variable. However, it is more accurate to say that what is measured in the outcome is the dependent variable. You should be able to identify the variables before actually conducting the experiment.

Here are a couple of online quizzes that can be good practice!
http://www.quia.com/quiz/162310.html?AP_rand=1042213517

http://www.quia.com/pop/184568.html
I did find one mistake on the independent variable on this one.

Part 2 Scientific Method

Part 1 Video Scientific Method

Progress Reports and Grades

 I apologize for not getting the blog updated this past week.  I will continue to try and do this, but if you have concerns or need specific information and your child cannot help you, then please e-mail me for a quicker response.  

Students Received Progress Reports on Friday, 9/20/13.   

Below I have listed the information from the syllabus about our categories.  In this progress report we have many points related participation. that counts as 10% of their grade.  We only have one assessment score of 10 points that counted as 90% of their grade. A home work optional retest for this quiz was available to students and they were give 3 days to complete and it was due on Thursday, September 12th.  Many did not attempt the retest, or did not get it turned in, a  few did not follow the verbal and written directions given in class for the retest homework assignment.  Because of this decision  not to retest or to complete the retest accurately, some of the Progress Report grades are low.   I am keeping a close watch on the students grades.  Today we had an assessment over scientific method as well as a lab NB quiz that will both go into the 90% category.  If some are still struggling after I have entered those grades, I will contact you and conference with them and determine what we need to do differently for their success.  

From now on, any student who receives a grade of C or lower on an assessment will be required to complete some prep tasks and take a retest.   Students with high grades can have the option of taking the retest

 Grading

The grades are broken down into categories: participation (10%) and summative assessments (90%). Participation refers to anything that the student is expected to do to be an active participant of the science class, including such things as writing in agenda, homework, in-class assignments, group interactions, etc. Summative assessments are scores based upon the level of understanding the students show related to the science ideas and concepts being taught. Examples of summative assessments include tests, quizzes, some types of projects, verbal checks, etc. The PHM grading scale will be used.

Scientific Method Song--Mr. Edmonds

The Variables Song- Mr. Edmonds