Course Description: This course will offer a combination class for students in grades 6-8. This course will feature the main concepts from Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Concepts will be taught using online chapters, vocabulary practice, graphic organizers, discussion questions, labs, and online assessments.

Weeks or order may vary:

Earth Science: Weeks 1-7
Layers of Earth (Week 1)
Plate Tectonics (Week 1)
Volcanoes/Earthquakes (Week 2-3)
Rocks/Minerals (Week 4)
Weathering (Week 5)
Weather (Week 6)
Solar System (Week 7)
Labs: Clay Earth Model, Plate Tectonic Puzzle, Erupting Volcano, Seismograph Box, Mini Rock Collection, Penny Weathering, Solar System Diorama

Life Science: Week 8-14
Cells (Week 8)
Parts of Cells (Week 9)
Cell Processes (Week 9)
DNA (Week 10)
Viruses (Week 11)
Ecosystems (Week 12)
Plants (Week 13)
Animals (Week 13)
Food Web/Food Chain (Week 14)
Conservation (Week 14)
Labs: Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic Diagrams, 3D Cell Model, Punnett Square Practice, Ecosystem Interactive Foldables, Food Pyramid, Conservation Poster

Physical Science: Weeks 15-20
Atoms (Week 15)
Elements  (Week 15)
Chemical vs Physical Change (Week 16)
Energy (Week 17)
Potential vs Kinetic Energy (Week 17)
Types of Energy (Week 18)
Motion (Week 19)
Force (Week 20)
Acceleration (Week 20)
Labs: Chemical/Physical Change Experiments, Energy Types, Rube Goldberg Machine, Bouncy Egg, Egg Drop, Baking Soda Rocket, Milk Magic, Candy Chromatography


Curriculum: The following were used to create the class; Glencoe Earth Science, Glencoe Life Science, Glencoe Physical Science, Holt Physical Science, and Scholastic Science Labs. In addition, www.ck12.org was used for online chapters. A student textbook will not be needed, but instead online chapter pdfs will be provided for the student if needed.

Format: This course is offered on a 20 week format. Lessons will be uploaded for each week on Sunday night by 8pm EST.

Assessments: Teacher created assessments will be provided via Quizizz. The program will automatically grade all test. It will be the student responsibility to write down the final score (all test can be retaken several times). 

Science Spiral: All students will use a spiral notebook to hold their notes, vocabulary, discussion questions, and diagrams. At the end of the semester students will have a chance to make a video showing all of their hard work. These spirals can be used as a resource for future science classes. https://flip.com/75d287de is our class spiral upload page if you want to look around at it. 

About The Instructor: Mrs. Collins has been teaching science for 23 years. She loves to provide engaging lessons and labs to try at home. She wants to help others find out how much fun science can be. She has state and national certification in Middle School Science. 

Flex Session Format: I have one main session for students to join. You will see different session dates, but that is for co-op and charter school registration needs. Once the student joins they will be moved over to the main session. We use the main session format so students 1) have the opportunity of being with other students in class instead of sitting in a session alone 2) have the opportunity of having class discussions with like minded students 3) can look over other student's work on the class wall to help with common virtual learning questions 4) provide students a more flexible learning experience. In a flex format class everyone is moving at their own pace during the set time period. So students CAN JOIN THE CLASS AT ANYTIME, yes that is right. They can join the session in March, April, May...... they just join in and begin at Week 1 when ready. No one is ahead or behind, but instead moving at the pace the family feels right. So pick a session and join today. =)