8th Grade Physical Science

1
8th Grade Physical Science

• Student Leadership Academy
• Mrs. Francis
• Room 404

2
Communication

• When students are absent they will be able to
  keep up with the class work they have missed by
  visiting my website at www.studentleadershipacadem
  y.org.
• The website is updated daily in the In Class
  section - with any presentations, such as Power
  Points, available in the Photos/Docs section.

3
Homework

• Other than any quarter-long projects that the
  students may be assigned, the primary homework is
  one hour of FCAT Explorer per week.
• Students may choose to work as little as ten
  minutes a day, or complete the hour all at one
  time. I will print a report every Friday and
  give each student a grade for his or her work.
• The web address is www.fcatexplorer.com.
• This is a teaching program, not a test. If the
  student gives an incorrect answer, they will
  receive instruction to help them better
  understand the question. Then they will be able
  to answer the questions again.
• If they need further help, I have given them a
  BrainPop user name and password where they will
  find fun/informative videos on many different
  science subjects.

4
This is an example of a part of an FCAT Explorer
Report. It shows the students first answer and
the score for that answer. Next, it shows the
students answer following the instruction. It
allows me to see exactly where the student will
need additional help.
5
Florida Dept. of Education FCAT Lessons Learned
Report

• Scientific Thinking RESULTS BY CLUSTER
• Grade 8 Implications for Instruction for
  Reporting Cluster 4Scientific Thinking
• The task force recommends more inquiry-based
  activities followed by class discussions and
  written lab reports. Students should be given the
  opportunity to design and conduct experiments to
  test hypotheses (e.g., science fairs).

6
Science Fair

• Packet will be coming home next week.
• Students may work individually, or in pairs.
• Tentative date for the SLA fair will be 12/11.
• Projects may be either experimental, using the
  scientific method, or design based, as in
  engineering.
• The regional fair has been cancelled this year
  for elementary and middle schools.
• SLA students will participate in a Florida
  Charter Schools Science Fair.

7
Thank you!

• Thank you for sharing your children with me!
• I am so pleased to have made the decision to take
  a leave from Sarasota County Schools to work at
  SLA.
• It is an amazing school and the students are
  wonderful!
• If you have any questions, please call 485-5551,
  or send me an email by clicking on the mailbox on
  my webpage.