School Year 2014-15
Course Description
During this school year in the astronomy unit, students will explore current scientific views of the universe and how those views evolved; students will understand the effects of the relative positions of the earth, moon, and sun. Students will investigate the scientific view of how the earth’s surface is formed and describe various sources of energy. This course is designed to teach the layers of the earth, identify and classify rocks and minerals based on physical properties, create topographic maps, model the movement along different faults and research different types of fossils found in Georgia. Lastly, students will identify different energy sources, debate their advantages and disadvantages, identify and discuss how people can conserve energy and identify alternatives to fossil fuels. During this school year students will recognize the significant role of water in earth’s processes and understand how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather. Lastly, in the Meteorology unit students will relate how moisture evaporating from the oceans affects the weather patterns and weather events such as hurricanes.
Curriculum Overview
The following academic concepts will be covered. THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
| CURRICULUM OVERVIEW |
| Unit 1 – Astrology Astronomy Unit – 6 weeks Georgia Performance Standard (s): S6E1 & S6E2 Chapter 18 – Studying Space Chapter 19 – Stars, Galaxies, & the Universe Chapter 20 – Formation of the Solar System Chapter 21 – A Family of Planets Chapter 22 – Exploring Space |
| Unit 2 – Rocks and Minerals / Layers of the Earth Rocks and Minerals/ Layers of the Earth Unit – 6 weeks Georgia Performance Standard (s): S6E5 Chapter 22 – Exploring Space Chapter 2 – Maps as Models of the Earth Chapter 3 – Minerals of the Earth’s Crust Chapter 4 – Rocks: Mineral Mixtures |
| Unit 3 – Physical Processes / Conservation Physical Processes / Conservation Unit – 6 weeks Georgia Performance Standard (s): S6E5 Chapter 5 – Energy Resources Chapter 6 – The Rock and Fossil Record Chapter 7 – Plate Tectonics Chapter 8 – Earthquakes Chapter 9 – Volcanoes |
| Unit 4 – Natural Resources / Hydrology Natural Processes / Hydrology Unit – 6 weeks Georgia Performance Standard (s): S6E3 & S6E6 Chapter 5 – Natural Resources Chapter 11 – The Flow of Fresh Water Chapter 12 – Agents of Erosion and Deposition Chapter 13 – Exploring the Ocean Chapter 14 – The Movement of Ocean Water |
| Unit 5 – Weather / Climate Weather / Climate Unit – 6 weeks Georgia Performance Standard (s): S6E3, S6E4, & S6E2 Chapter 15 – The Atmosphere Chapter 16 – Understanding Weather Chapter 17 – Climate |
| Unit 6-Reinforcement Reinforcement and Enhancement Unit – 6 weeks Georgia Performance Standard (s): S6E1, S6E2, S6E3, S6E4, S6E5, S6E6, |
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.
| GRADING CATEGORIES | *GRADE PROTOCOL |
| Formative Assessment - 0% Assessment During Learning – 25% Guided, Independent, or Group Practice – 45% Summative Assessment or Assessment of Learning– 30% | A 90 – 100 ~P (pass) B 80 – 89 ~F (fail) C 71 – 79 D 70 F Below 70 |
Notes:
*English Learners (ELs) must not receive numerical or letter grades for the core content areas in elementary and middle school during their first year of language development. A grade of CS or CU must be assigned. This rule may be extended beyond the first year with approval from the EL Studies Program. English Learners must receive a grade for ESOL courses.
~Elementary schools will utilize P (pass) and F (fail) in Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.
| DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
| STUDENT PROGRESS | Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH. |
| ACADEMIC INTEGRITY | Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password. See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook. |
| HOMEWORK | Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB. |
| MAKE-UP WORK DUE TO ABSENCES | When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA. |
| SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
| CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS | 1. Report to class on time and be prepared. 2. Follow instructions the first time they are given. 3. Respect yourself, your teacher, and your classmates at all times. 4. Raise your hand when you want to speak or to be heard. 5. Toys, gum, candy, food, and drinks are NOT allowed in the classroom. |
| MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES | 2 inch binder, composition notebook, 5-subject notebook, colored pencils, small covered pencil sharpener, scotch tape. Glue sticks, scissors, and construction paper. |
| EXTRA HELP | After school tutorial, small group instruction, ELT |
| PARENTS AS PARTNERS | |
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