8th Grade Science Class Syllabus
Teacher: Brian Bentley
Room: Science Lab Upstairs (room # 209)
Planning: 6th period
School Phone: 832-2184
Email: brian.bentley@jenkins.kyschools.us
Course Description: This year 8th grade science will be divided into 9 Units; 1) Nature of
Science and Technology 2) Cells and Heredity 3) Environmental Science 4) Inside Earth 5)
Earth’s Changing Surface 6) Astronomy 7) Chemistry of Matter 8) Motion, Forces and
Energy 9) Physical Interactions, Electricity and Sound. Environmentalism and conservation
will be a unifying theme taught throughout the year.
Learning Activities: A wide variety of activities will be used. Students will often have
choices on how they want to present their information. Students are expected to respect the
teacher, their classmates and school property during these activities.
Required Class Materials:
Paper, pencil/ink pen
Classroom Rules:
1. Be on time: In your seat when the tardy bell rings
2. Begin Bell Work As soon as bell rings
3. Bring all materials each day: Notebook, homework, paper and pencil. You will not be
allowed to go to the locker to get these once the tardy bell rings.
4. Listen carefully and follow directions.
5. Keep your hands, feet, objects and unkind comments to yourself.
6. Do NOT go to the door without teacher permission.
7. All rules in the student handbook will be enforced.
Discipline:
1st offense: Warning. Name on file.
2nd Offense: Contact Parent.
3rd Offense: Parent Conference.
4th Offense: Office
Homework
Homework will be assigned periodically. Much of the work is completed in class, but there
will be times that assignments will require work at home. These assignments will be
collected and will count as a grade.
Grading
40% of the students’ grade will come from class work. 40% of the students’ grade will come
from test. Open Response questions will make up the half of the students’ test grade. 20% of
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the students’ grade will come from the weekly labs Also, students are required to complete
one portfolio piece from each content area each semester.
Make-up Work
When an absence is excused, the student has three (3) days to make arrangements with the
teacher to get the missed work. Students must make up the work they missed whether the
absence is excused or unexcused.
Late Work
Any work turned in after the due date will be accepted but will not be fully credited. Ten
percent of the total value of the assignment will be deducted for each school day that has
passed. For example work turned in 3 days late will be reduced by a value of 30% of the
original value.
Progress Reports
Progress reports will be given approximately 3 weeks into the 6-week grading period. These
are to be taken home, signed by a parent and returned the next day.
ESS
Students are encouraged to attend ESS. I teach ESS from 3:20 to 5:20 every Tuesday and
Thursday starting around the end of August.
Parent Conferences
Parents may request a conference at any time through out the year. Parents can call the school
to set up a convenient meeting time before or after school hours or during the planning times
listed on the top of the first page. You may also email at the address listed on the letterhead.
Please feel free to discuss concerns you or your child has concerning this class.
School Website
You may look at information concerning school policies and academic performance by
visiting www.jmhs.jenkins.kyschools.us. Click on staff and then my name to see more about
my class.
Bonus Points!
Students can earn bonus points by taking online quizzes over the topics we are studying and
emailing me the results showing that they have scored 100%. Students can take the quizzes as
many times as they like. Students can earn up to 5 bonus points per chapter. Just go to my
website and click on your book.
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