1. WELCOME TO LIFE SCIENCES!
Mrs. Smith
Summit Hill Junior High

2. Introduction:
*Welcome, I am Mrs. Smith and will be your child’s 7th grade science teacher this year.
*7th year as a teacher.
* 7th year at Summit Hill Junior High School
*Married with 2 Children
*Ungrad from St. Francis in Elementary Education
*Masters – Curriculum Writing and Instruction
From Olivet University
* Currently in school to get my Learning Behavioral
Specialist certificate. (always a student)
*NGSS
*Hobbies: Searching for new ideas to foster the love of science and spending time with my family – reading, working out, and eating

3. WELCOME TO LIFE SCIENCES!
What are Life Sciences?
a branch of science (as biology, medicine, and sometimes anthropology or sociology) that deals with living organisms and life processes.
ANIMAL AND PLANT CELL – Parts and functions
ECOSYSTEMS – How organisms react with their environment?
PHOTOSYNTHESIS – How do plants make their own food?
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR/ANIMAL REPRODUCTION

4. cells! ANIMAL AND PLANT CELL COMPARE/CONTRAST BOTH TYPES OF CELL
PARTS OF ANIMAL AND PLANT CELL
FUNCTIONS OF ANIMAL AND PLANT CELL

5. ecosystems INTERACTIONS WITH LIVING THINGS
COMPETITION WITHIN ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
FOOD WEB/CHAINS
WATER PURIFICATION AND HUMAN IMPACTS
RESOURCES EFFECT ON ORGANISMS

6. Scientific method /METRIC SYSTEM Labs
We will be using the Scientific Method when we complete Lab Reports.
Students will be learning the Metric System and utilizing it in daily lectures and labs.
Yes, we do some pretty amazing labs.
Some favorites are:
Gummy Bear Lab
M&M Lab
Pond Water Lab
Flower Dissection Lab
Microscope Lab
Egg Lab

7. PBL – Problem based learning Genetically Modified Food…
PBL – Problem based learning Genetically Modified Food….Our Friend or Foe??
In place of a Science Fair, our 7th graders will be writing a paper on GMO’s and after research write a full research paper about their findings. Students will have class time to work on this but will be required to use time at home as well. This is an excellent opportunity for the students to research and find their own conclusions. They need to look at both sides and justify why they believe it is our friend or foe. It fosters the idea of responsible journalism as well. They are learning to identify that not everything that is written is fact.

8. Interactive notebooks
Students will be integrating Interactive Notebooks into their daily science lessons. We have already begun and they are pretty amazing! They will help students stay engaged and reinforce major topics. These stay in the class and they will work from them daily.

9. Grading and assessments
My goal for every students that enters my room is to be able to feel like they will succeed.
I will allow for reassessment for any formative assignment in which a student feels that they could perform better. It is the students responsibility to return the assignment the next day.
Reassessment will be a partnership between the student and myself to get them to be ready to test.
This year we have a new program called ABS and it will accommodate those students, during lunch, who need a retest or an opportunity to make up homework. There will always be a notification from me if I have sent your son/daughter to this intervention.
New Grade Scale:
90-100= A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
50-59=F

10. Extra Help There is extra help and links on my website.
You will find notes for the day ( Since they can’t take home their books)
You will find the link for the text book.
You will find my lesson plans
You will find kahoot games to review for tests.
Please me with ANYTHING!!!
I am always here to help or clarify anything for you,
because I know how open most year olds are...
HA-HA!!!

11. LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR!
Thank you so much for coming to Curriculum Night this year at Summit Hill Junior High School.
Looking forward to a wonderful year in science.
Contact information:
REMIND APP:
Enter: 81010
This is update you via text messages about any due dates, upcoming tests, or any changes in the class.