Sandtown Middle School

5400 Campbellton Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30331
404-346-6500
rincipal! Mr"# $alerie Andrew"
%
th
Grade &e'el Admini"trator! (r# Connie Reli)ord
8
th
Grade Physical Science
Chris Lewis Room E-115 lewisc4@fultonschoolsor!
*e+t! Georgia ,olt Science - *echnolog. h."ical Science /000%1 Replacement Co"t! 230#35
Su""lies #eeded$
Internet access (notify me immediately if you do not have internet access)
3 ring binder4)older with loo"e lea) paper
1 ream o) cop. paper
5l6e or blac7 in7 pen" and pencil", colored pencil", mar7er"
Co6r"e (e"cription!
*he %th Grade ph."ical "cience co6r"e i" de"igned to gi'e "t6dent" the nece""ar. "7ill" )or a "mooth tran"ition )rom
elementar. ph."ical "cience "tandard" to high "chool ph."ical "cience "tandard"# *he p6rpo"e i" to gi'e all "t6dent" an
o'er'iew o) common "trand" in ph."ical "cience incl6ding, b6t not limited to, the nat6re o) matter, law" o) energ.,
matter, motion and )orce", and energ. tran")ormation# *hi" c6rric6l6m i" 89* intended in an. wa. to ta7e the place
o) the high "chool ph."ical "cience c6rric6l6m#
%a&or Conce"ts'S(ills
8at6re o) matter
Atomic *heor.4eriodicit.
Concept6al Acid45a"e:ha"e change"
&aw o) Con"er'ation o) Matter
&aw o) Con"er'ation o) ;nerg.
Concept6al &aw" o) Motion and <orce"
Concept6al ;nerg. *ran")ormation
=a'e propertie"
;lectrical4Magnetic )orce"
Conce"ts'S(ills to %aintain$
Record" in'e"tigation" clearl. and acc6ratel.
>"e" "cienti)ic tool"
?nterpret" graph", table", and chart"
=rite" clearl.
>"e" proper 6nit"
9rgani@e" data into graph", table", and chart"
>"e" model"
A"7" A6alit. A6e"tion"
>"e" technolog.
>"e" "a)et. techniA6e"
Anal.@e" "cienti)ic data 'ia calc6lation" and in)erence
Recogni@e" the importance o) e+plaining data with preci"ion and acc6rac.
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th
Grade Georgia er)ormance Standard"- Content!
S8CS1 Students will e)"lore the im"ortance of curiosity* honesty* o"enness* and s(e"ticism in science and will
e)hi+it these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world wor(s
a# >nder"tand the importance o):and 7eep:hone"t, clear, and acc6rate record" in "cience#
S8CS, Students will use standard safety "ractices for all classroom la+oratory and field in-esti!ations
a# <ollow correct proced6re" )or 6"e o) "cienti)ic apparat6"#
b# (emon"trate appropriate techniA6e" in all laborator. "it6ation"#
c# <ollow correct protocol )or identi).ing and reporting "a)et. problem" and 'iolation"#
S8CS. Students will ha-e the com"utation and estimation s(ills necessary for analy/in! data and followin!
scientific e)"lanations
a# Anal.@e "cienti)ic data b. 6"ing, interpreting, and comparing n6mber" in "e'eral eA6i'alent )orm", "6ch a"
integer", )raction", decimal", and percent"#
b# <ind the mean, median, and mode and 6"e them to anal.@e a "et o) "cienti)ic data#
c# Appl. the metric "."tem to "cienti)ic in'e"tigation" that incl6de metric to metric con'er"ion" /i#e#, centimeter"
to meter"1#
d# (ecide what degree o) preci"ion i" adeA6ate, and ro6nd o)) appropriatel.#
e# Addre"" the relation"hip between acc6rac. and preci"ion#
)# >"e ratio" and proportion", incl6ding con"tant rate", in appropriate problem"#
S8CS4 Students will use tools and instruments for o+ser-in!* measurin!* and mani"ulatin! e0ui"ment and
materials in scientific acti-ities utili/in! safe la+oratory "rocedures
a# >"e appropriate technolog. to "tore and retrie'e "cienti)ic in)ormation in topical, alphabetical, n6merical, and
7e.word )ile", and create "imple )ile"#
b# >"e appropriate tool" and 6nit" )or mea"6ring obBect" and4or "6b"tance"#
c# &earn and 6"e "tandard "a)et. practice" when cond6cting "cienti)ic in'e"tigation"#
S8CS5 Students will use the ideas of system* model* chan!e* and scale in e)"lorin! scientific and technolo!ical
matters
a# 9b"er'e and e+plain how part" can be related to other part" in a "."tem "6ch a" the role o) "imple machine" in
comple+ machine"#
b# >nder"tand that di))erent model" /"6ch a" ph."ical replica", pict6re", and analogie"1 can be 6"ed to repre"ent
the "ame thing#
S8CS1 Students will communicate scientific ideas and acti-ities clearly
a# =rite clear, "tep-b.-"tep in"tr6ction" )or cond6cting "cienti)ic in'e"tigation", operating a piece o) eA6ipment,
or )ollowing a proced6re#
b# =rite )or "cienti)ic p6rpo"e" incorporating in)ormation )rom a circle, bar, or line graph, data table", diagram",
and ".mbol"#
c# 9rgani@e "cienti)ic in)ormation in appropriate table", chart", and graph", and identi). relation"hip" the.
re'eal#
S8CS2 Students will 0uestion scientific claims and ar!uments effecti-ely
a# C6e"tion claim" ba"ed on 'ag6e attrib6tion" /"6ch a" D&eading doctor" "a.###E1 or on "tatement" made b.
people o6t"ide the area o) their partic6lar e+perti"e#
b# ?denti). the )law" o) rea"oning in arg6ment" that are ba"ed on poorl. de"igned re"earch /e#g#, )act"
intermingled with opinion, concl6"ion" ba"ed on in"6))icient e'idence1#
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c# C6e"tion the 'al6e o) arg6ment" ba"ed on "mall "ample" o) data, bia"ed "ample", or "ample" )or which there
wa" no control#
d# Recogni@e that there ma. be more than one wa. to interpret a gi'en "et o) )inding"#
3he #ature of Science
S8CS8 Students will +e familiar with the characteristics of scientific (nowled!e and how it is achie-ed
St6dent" will appl. the )ollowing to "cienti)ic concept"!
a# =hen "imilar in'e"tigation" gi'e di))erent re"6lt", the "cienti)ic challenge i" to B6dge whether the di))erence"
are tri'ial or "igni)icant, which o)ten reA6ire" )6rther "t6d.# ;'en with "imilar re"6lt", "cienti"t" ma. wait
6ntil an in'e"tigation ha" been repeated man. time" be)ore accepting the re"6lt" a" meaning)6l#
b# =hen new e+perimental re"6lt" are incon"i"tent with an e+i"ting, well-e"tabli"hed theor., "cienti"t" ma.
p6r"6e )6rther e+perimentation to determine whether the re"6lt" are )lawed or the theor. reA6ire"
modi)ication#
c# A" pre'ailing theorie" are challenged b. new in)ormation, "cienti)ic 7nowledge ma. change#
S8CS4 Students will understand the features of the "rocess of scientific in0uiry
St6dent" will appl. the )ollowing to inA6ir. learning practice"!
a# ?n'e"tigation" are cond6cted )or di))erent rea"on", which incl6de e+ploring new phenomena, con)irming
pre'io6" re"6lt", te"ting how well a theor. predict", and comparing di))erent theorie"# Scienti)ic in'e"tigation"
6"6all. in'ol'e collecting e'idence, rea"oning, de'i"ing h.pothe"e", and )orm6lating e+planation" to ma7e
"en"e o) collected e'idence#
b# Scienti)ic in'e"tigation" 6"6all. in'ol'e collecting e'idence, rea"oning, de'i"ing h.pothe"e", and )orm6lating
e+planation" to ma7e "en"e o) collected e'idence#
c# Scienti)ic e+periment" in'e"tigate the e))ect o) one 'ariable on another# All other 'ariable" are 7ept con"tant#
d# Scienti"t" o)ten collaborate to de"ign re"earch# *o pre'ent thi" bia", "cienti"t" cond6ct independent "t6die" o)
the "ame A6e"tion"#
e# Acc6rate record 7eeping, data "haring, and replication o) re"6lt" are e""ential )or maintaining an in'e"tigatorF"
credibilit. with other "cienti"t" and "ociet.#
)# Scienti"t" 6"e technolog. and mathematic" to enhance the proce"" o) "cienti)ic inA6ir.#
g# *he ethic" o) "cience reA6ire that "pecial care m6"t be ta7en and 6"ed )or h6man "6bBect" and animal" in
"cienti)ic re"earch# Scienti"t" m6"t adhere to the appropriate r6le" and g6ideline" when cond6cting re"earch#
S8CS15 Students will enhance readin! in all curriculum areas +y$
a# Reading in All C6rric6l6m Area"
G Read a minim6m o) 05 grade-le'el appropriate boo7" per .ear )rom a 'ariet. o) "6bBect di"cipline" and
participate in di"c6""ion" related to c6rric6lar learning in all area"#
G Read both in)ormational and )ictional te+t" in a 'ariet. o) genre" and mode" o) di"co6r"e#
G Read technical te+t" related to 'ario6" "6bBect area"#
b# (i"c6""ing boo7"
G (i"c6"" me""age" and theme" )rom boo7" in all "6bBect area"#
G Re"pond to a 'ariet. o) te+t" in m6ltiple mode" o) di"co6r"e#
G Relate me""age" and theme" )rom one "6bBect area to me""age" and theme" in another area#
G ;'al6ate the merit o) te+t" in e'er. "6bBect di"cipline#
G ;+amine a6thorF" p6rpo"e in writing#
G Recogni@e the )eat6re" o) di"ciplinar. te+t"#
c# 56ilding 'ocab6lar. 7nowledge
G (emon"trate an 6nder"tanding o) conte+t6al 'ocab6lar. in 'ario6" "6bBect"#
G >"e content 'ocab6lar. in writing and "pea7ing#
G ;+plore 6nder"tanding o) new word" )o6nd in "6bBect area te+t"#
d# ;"tabli"hing conte+t
G ;+plore li)e e+perience" related to "6bBect area content#
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G (i"c6"" in both writing and "pea7ing how certain word" are "6bBect area related#
G (etermine "trategie" )or )inding content and conte+t6al meaning )or 6n7nown word"#
Co-Re0uisite 6 Content
S8P1 Students will e)amine the scientific -iew of the nature of matter
a# (i"ting6i"h between atom" and molec6le"#
b# (e"cribe the di))erence between p6re "6b"tance" /element" and compo6nd"1 and mi+t6re"#
c# (e"cribe the mo'ement o) particle" in "olid", liA6id", ga"e", and pla"ma" "tate"#
d# (i"ting6i"h between ph."ical and chemical propertie" o) matter a" ph."ical /i#e#, den"it., melting point,
boiling point1 or chemical /i#e#, reacti'it., comb6"tibilit.1#
e# (i"ting6i"h between change" in matter a" ph."ical /i#e#, ph."ical change1 or chemical /de'elopment o) a ga",
)ormation o) precipitate, and change in color1#
)# Recogni@e that there are more than 100 element" and "ome ha'e "imilar propertie" a" "hown on the eriodic
*able o) ;lement"#
g# ?denti). and demon"trate the &aw o) Con"er'ation o) Matter#
S8P, Students will +e familiar with the forms and transformations of ener!y
a# ;+plain energ. tran")ormation in term" o) the &aw o) Con"er'ation o) ;nerg.#
b# ;+plain the relation"hip between potential and 7inetic energ.#
c# Compare and contra"t the di))erent )orm" o) energ. /heat, light, electricit., mechanical motion, "o6nd1 and
their characteri"tic"#
d# (e"cribe how heat can be tran")erred thro6gh matter b. the colli"ion" o) atom" /cond6ction1 or thro6gh "pace
/radiation1# ?n a liA6id or ga", c6rrent" will )acilitate the tran")er o) heat /con'ection1#
S8P. Students will in-esti!ate relationshi" +etween force* mass* and the motion of o+&ects
a# (etermine the relation"hip between 'elocit. and acceleration#
b# (emon"trate the e))ect o) balanced and 6nbalanced )orce" on an obBect in term" o) gra'it., inertia, and
)riction#
c# (emon"trate the e))ect o) "imple machine" /le'er, inclined plane, p6lle., wedge, "crew, and wheel and a+le1
on wor7#
S8P4 Students will e)"lore the wa-e nature of sound and electroma!netic radiation
a# ?denti). the characteri"tic" o) electromagnetic and mechanical wa'e"#
b# (e"cribe how the beha'ior o) light wa'e" i" manip6lated ca6"ing re)lection, re)raction di))raction, and
ab"orption#
c# ;+plain how the h6man e.e "ee" obBect" and color" in term" o) wa'elength"#
d# (e"cribe how the beha'ior o) wa'e" i" a))ected b. medi6m /"6ch a" air, water, "olid"1#
e# Relate the propertie" o) "o6nd to e'er.da. e+perience"#
)# (iagram the part" o) the wa'e and e+plain how the part" are a))ected b. change" in amplit6de and pitch#
S8P5 Students will reco!ni/e characteristics of !ra-ity* electricity* and ma!netism as ma&or (inds of forces
actin! in nature
a# Recogni@e that e'er. obBect e+ert" gra'itational )orce on e'er. other obBect and that the )orce e+erted depend"
on how m6ch ma"" the obBect" ha'e and how )ar apart the. are#
b# (emon"trate the ad'antage" and di"ad'antage" o) "erie" and parallel circ6it" and how the. tran")er energ.#
c# ?n'e"tigate and e+plain that electric c6rrent" and magnet" can e+ert )orce on each other#
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Grading Comp6tation!
Com"onent 7ei!hted Percenta!e of 8inal Grade
Test 20%
Classwork 25%
Quizzes 15%
Laboratory Experiments 15%
Projets 15%
!omework 10%
*otal 100H
8oteboo7 chec7" will co6nt a" a cla""wor7 grade# All grade", with the e+ception o) te"t" and A6i@@e", will be ba"ed
6pon m6ltiple criteria, which will be o6tlined in a r6bric at the beginning o) each maBor a""ignment# 8oteboo7
organi@ation i" an ongoing proce""ing "7ill# *he "t6dentF" noteboo7 i" a re"o6rce )or c6rric6l6m material and it
"ho6ld be con"i"tent with the material that ha" been di"trib6ted in cla""# ?t will be a""e""ed 6"ing a noteboo7 r6bric#
<o6r and a hal) wee7 interim and nine wee7 progre"" report" will be "ent home d6ring each "eme"ter )or .o6 to
re'iew with .o6r child# All te"t" and e'al6ated a""ignment" will be 7ept in the "t6dentF" cla""room port)olio# ?t will
be the "t6dentF" re"pon"ibilit. to "hare r6bric" )rom graded a""ignment" with .o6 on a reg6lar ba"i"#
<6lton Co6nt. Grading Scale!
A! 100-I0
5! %I-%0
C! 3I-30
<! 6I - below
Special roBect"!
Science <air proBect" in "e'enth grade are recommended b6t not reA6ired# ?) "t6dent" elect to complete a "cience )air
proBect, it m6"t be completed d6ring the )ir"t "eme"ter# S6ch a proBect ma. be entered into the local "cience )air
depending on the A6alit. o) the proBect# More in)ormation will be )orthcoming on "peci)ic reA6irement" and date" a"
the. are recei'ed )rom the co6nt.# *here will be a""ignment" gi'en on a ro6tine ba"i" that will reA6ire wor7 or
re"earch o6t"ide o) cla"" a" a part o) 6nit o) "t6d. or in "6pport o) an in-cla"" proBect# *he a""ignment" gi'en are to
"6pport an in'e"tigation or acti'it. that i" being cond6cted in the cla""room and will be nece""ar. )or the "t6dent to
complete to en"6re the. )6ll. comprehend the material being "t6died#
,omewor7!
;'al6ation o) homewor7 ma. con"i"t o) detailed grading, generali@ed chec7ing, or a combination o) both techniA6e"#
Altho6gh "ome cla"" time will be gi'en )or mo"t proBect", "ome time will be reA6ired at home# arent" can a""i"t with
thi" proce"" b. helping them "ched6le their time# *hi" will help with the de'elopment o) time management "7ill" and
al"o a'oid la"t min6te, o)ten time" Dle"" than their be"tE wor7# An. a""ignment "6bmitted "ho6ld be the "t6dentF" be"t
e))ort#
ro'i"ion )or ?mpro'ing Grade"!
1. Opportunities designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing cumulative grade
will be allowed when all work required to date has been completed and the student has
demonstrated a legitimate efort to meet all course requirements including attendance.
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2. Teachers will determine when and how students with extenuating circumstances may improve
their grades.
arent Comm6nication!
An open line o) comm6nication i" enco6raged between teacher" and parent"# arental 'i"it" are enco6ragedJ howe'er,
it i" the polic. o) Sandtown Middle School that all 'i"itor" report to the o))ice be)ore going to other part" o) the
b6ilding# A D$i"itor" a""E will be i""6ed a" e'idence that thi" proced6re ha" been )ollowed# 5eca6"e .o6r child i" in
middle "chool, ? )eel he or "he need" to be gi'en re"pon"ibilit. )or hi" or her wor7, grade", and 7eeping .o6 in)ormed#
C6i@, te"t, and proBect grade" "ho6ld be written in an a""ignment agenda /p6rcha"ed b. the "t6dent1# St6dent" "ho6ld
"hare the"e agenda" with their parent", b6t .o6 ma. need to a"7 )or it# lea"e initial b. grade" and tr. to help .o6r
child organi@e hi"4her time b. loo7ing at proBect d6e date", a" "6gge"ted# arent connect and e-mail are great tool" )or
comm6nication between .o6r home and o6r cla""room#

arent" ha'e acce"" to the online &i)e Science te+tboo7 at www#go#hrw#com# *he web"ite contain" parent
in)ormation, a )6ll-'er"ion te+tboo7, a6dio reading" o) the te+t, homewor7 t6torial", game", and other re"o6rce" to
a""i"t the "t6dent" in being "6cce"")6l# arent" are enco6raged to 6tili@e the web"ite along with the "t6dent" to
promote learning#
&ate =or7!
&ate a""ignment" and4or homewor7 will be accepted thro6gh the )ollowing "chool da. with a ded6ction o) ten point"
o)) the grade earned# A""ignment" and4or homewor7 will not be accepted more than one da. late#
Ab"ence Ma7e->p roced6re"!
>pon ret6rning to "chool )ollowing an ab"ence, it i" the "t6dentF" re"pon"ibilit. to contact the teacher/"1 to reA6e"t
ma7e-6p wor7# *he "t6dent m6"t complete ma7e-6p wor7 within the time "peci)ied b. the teacher# At Sandtown
Middle School, the amo6nt o) time gi'en to ma7e 6p wor7 will be the "ame a" the amo6nt o) time the "t6dent wa"
ab"ent 6nle"" other arrangement" are m6t6all. agreed 6pon# Ma7e-6p wor7 d6e to ab"ence will not recei'e a late
wor7 ded6ction i) "6bmitted within the "peci)ied time)rame#
Academic ,one"t.!
<6lton Co6nt. 5oard o) ;d6cation ha" alwa." e+pected it" "t6dent" to practice academic hone"t.# Adopted March
1II%, the St6dent Academic ?ntegrit. polic. "tate"! *he 5oard o) ;d6cation regard" academic hone"t. a" a
corner"tone o) it" ed6cation mi""ion# Cheating will not be tolerated in thi" "chool "."tem# ;+ample" o) cheating, e#g#,
cop.ing or DborrowingE )rom another "o6rce and gi'ing a" oneF" own wor7J "ee7ing or gi'ing 6na6thori@ed a""i"tance
on te"t" or a""ignment"J altering or )orging grade", grade boo7", progre"" report", report card" or academic record"J
6"ing "6b"tantiall. identical wor7 in more than one co6r"e witho6t the in"tr6ctor"F prior appro'alJ and an. other
e+ample" di"c6""ed in cla""#
(i"ciplinar. action )or "t6dent" who do cheat co6ld incl6de, b6t i" not limited to, repeating the a""ignment, recei'ing
a red6ced grade, or e+cl6"ion )rom the a""ignment entirel.#
Student Conduct
Students are e)"ected to adhere to Sandtown %iddle School9s :isci"line Plan Students will recei-e an
administrati-e referral ;rather than a warnin!* "hone call home* conference or detention< for any ma&or
-iolation of the Code of Conduct
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? hope thi" an"wer" mo"t o) .o6r A6e"tion" abo6t thi" cla""# lea"e )eel )ree to "end an email to
&ewi"C4K)6lton"chool"#org or 'i"it m. cla"" web"ite! www#mrlewi"ph."ical"ciencecla""#weebl.#com i) .o6 need to
di"c6"" an.thing thro6gho6t the "chool.ear# =e are loo7ing )orward to a great .ear and are glad that .o6 and .o6r
child will be a part o) it#
Sincerel.,
Mr# Chri"topher &ewi"
Parents$ A)ter reading the ".llab6", plea"e complete the ne+t "ection and ha'e .o6r child ret6rn it to the cla""room
teacher b. A6g6"t 15, 0014# *han7 .o6#
89*;! *hi" co6r"e ".llab6" pro'ide" a general plan )or the co6r"eJ de'iation" ma. be nece""ar.#
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= ac(nowled!e the information contained within this sylla+us$
Student Printed #ame>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Class Period>>>>>>>>>>
Student Si!ned #ame>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Parent Printed #ame>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Parent Si!ned #ame>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Parent9s Email ?ddress$>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ;"lease "rint clearly<
Parent9s 3ele"hone #um+er;s<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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;Please indicate whether home and'or cell ?lso*
"lease indicate whether mother* father* or other
relationshi"<
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