Ms. Morris' Sixth Grade Page
" The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." John Ruskin
| click here to e-mail Ms. Morris | 6th Grade page |
Ms. Morris
Science & Social Studies
CURRENTLY STUDYING
| SCIENCE |  |
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Chapter 1 - Science in Our World
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| SOCIAL STUDIES |  |
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Chapter 1 - The World of Geography |
| TEST ALERT | PROJECT ALERT |
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Science Lab Equipment TEST: 9/1 Science Chapter 1 TEST: 9/8 Social Studies Chapter 1 TEST: 9/10 |
Create a map project due: Wed. Sept 8th |
| DAILY ASSIGNMENTS | ||
| WEEK OF: August 30-Sept.3 | Science | Social Studies |
| Monday | wks. p. 45 & 46 | Create a Map Project |
| Tuesday | Study for Test | Create a Map Project |
| Wednesday | Lab Equipment Test | Create a Map Project |
| Thursday | Target Sheet Chapter 1 | Create a Map Project |
| Friday | Review Day | Daily Geography Week 2 |
IMPORTANT DATES
9/15 School Pictures
9/17 Mid-term
10/15 End of 1st Quarter
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to sixth grade science and social studies! The information on this page is updated weekly. Please check it often for important assignments and updates.
Daily Schedule
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Monday, Wednesday & Friday |
Tuesday & Thursday |
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Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Julie Morris and I am the sixth grade science and social studies teacher for Seneca Grade School, District 170. I graduated from the University of St. Francis, earning a Master degree in education with endorsements in biological science, social science, and general science.
The students and I are very excited about the 2010-2011 school year we are embarking upon. Throughout the year, the students will be introduced to many new ideas involving general science, geography, map skills and colonial America.
The information will be presented through a variety of activities including the use of research based software programs, lab experiences, and cooperative group activities. The majority of lessons will include hands on activities that strive to stimulate critical thinking skills and encourage further interest and research in these important areas of study.
In conjunction with other activities this year, the students will be compiling a science/social studies folder to be shared with you. This will assist the students in developing good organizational skills and study habits.
If you have questions or concerns at any time throughout the school year please feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail. Thank you in advance for your interest and support.
Sincerely,
Ms. Julie Morris
6th Grade Science/Social Studies
jmorris@sgs170.org
(815) 357-8744 Ext. 5
Plan Period MWF: 10:18-10:48 am
T/TR: 10:50-11:20 am
Success in Science & Social Studies
• Complete daily journal
• Take class notes daily
• Complete assignments in pencil (Lab Reports must be completed in ink or typed)
• Write first and last name, your assigned seat number and class period in ink on all assignments
• Assignments must be completed independently (no borrowing, copying, or sharing answers)
• Place all graded work in your green “take home” folder (This folder will be sent home once a month for parents to review your progress and sign)
• Study the “Target Sheets” for the tests
Materials Needed
• Assignment Notebook
• Sixth Grade multi-pocket folder
• Science Textbook & Social Studies Book
• Pencils, Blue or Black Pen and Red Pen
Classroom Rules
Respect everyone and everything at all times.
• Raise your hand to be called upon
• Sit in your chair appropriately
• Take care of classroom furniture and materials
• Listen to instruction
• Do not talk out of turn
• Be kind to your classmates
Classroom Procedures
1. Enter the classroom quietly with a positive attitude.
2. Be on time and in your seat when the bell rings.
3. Have all materials with you in class.
4. Complete your journal & fill out your agenda book during the first five minutes of class.
5. Exhibit proper classroom behavior at all times.
6. Complete all assignments neatly, accurately, and on time.
Keeping Score
Science
Your science grade will be a reflection of your overall performance in the class. Your knowledge and understanding of the course material will be evaluated through a variety of assessments including projects, labs, cooperative group activities, chapter tests, authentic assessment, and performance based assessment. Extra credit is made available to you throughout the course.
Social Studies
Your social studies grade will be based on class work, class participation, projects and chapter tests. Your social studies grade will be a reflection of your overall performance in the class and will be evaluated using a variety of assessments.
Assignment Policy
Students who are absent are responsible for collecting work missed and turning it in within an appropriate time frame. Students are allowed two days for every one day missed due to illness. Homework requests should be made one week prior to prearranged absences and vacations when possible. Students are allowed one day for every one day of prearranged absence upon returning to get work completed and turned in to me.
Unexcused Late Work
1 - Day late 10% off
2 - Days late 25% off
3 - Days late no credit earned
Grading
A+ 98-100
A 93-97
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F 0-59
Extra Credit
Sixth Grade Science & Social Studies
Ms. Morris
Welcome to sixth grade science and social studies! Throughout the school year you will be exploring the various aspects of the three general areas of science: life science, earth science, and physical science. In social studies we will be concentrating on geography, map skills, and American history up to colonization. Your grade will be a reflection of your overall performance in each class. Your knowledge and understanding of the course material will be evaluated through a variety of assessments including projects, labs, cooperative group activities, standardized testing, authentic assessment, and performance based assessment.
Extra credit is available to you throughout each course. It is due one week prior to mid-term and/or end of each quarter. Extra credit is not meant to be a replacement for a missing assignment. All assignments must be completed in order to be eligible for extra credit. The purpose of extra credit is to assist you in overcoming a difficult chapter test or concept. Extra credit may also be used to expand your knowledge in an area that is of interest to you. Two extra credit projects may be completed per quarter.
1. Professional Article
Read an article about a science topic and summarize it in your own words. Resources may be Discover Magazine, Time Magazine, Popular Science Magazine, National Geographic Magazine, etc. Make sure that you indicate the magazine date, title, and page number(s) in which you found the information. Maximum credit: 10 points per article
2. Newspaper Article Collection
Search a newspaper for articles related to the areas of science or social studies. Cut them out and glue onto paper, creating a notebook. Write a short summary of each article and draw a picture explaining the main concept. Explain what it means for science or social studies. Five articles must be submitted at a time. Summaries must be in ink or typed. Limit: 10 articles for the year.
Maximum credit: 5 points per article.
3. Watch Science-Related Show on television, or view a history documentary (sci-fi
films do not count).
Channels that show science and history films regularly: Discovery, The Learning Channel, History Channel, and Animal Planet. Write a summary of what you learned, a brief explanation of what the work or research means for our understanding of how the world works, and create one illustration. All writing should be in ink or typed and the illustration should be done neatly and use color. Maximum credit: 20 points
4. Research Class Topic
Research any topic that comes up in class, write one page on the topic, and then present your findings to the class using both scientific language and diagrams. Maximum credit: 20 points
5. Attend Science Lecture or Visit a Museum/Exhibit.
Take notes on the lecture and write or draw about something from the museum or exhibit, explaining what you learned. Maximum credit: 20 points
6. Prepare a Demonstration
Choose a topic related to science or social studies. Ask me to approve the topic you have chosen. After your topic is approved research it and determine if you are going to prepare a demonstration or experiment. Perform demonstration and/or experiment for the class. Maximum credit: 25 points
7. Home Experiments
Do any science-related experiment at home, which can include building something. Create an appropriate lab-write up (hypothesis, purpose, materials, procedure, data, graph, and results). Mini-labs and chapter projects work for this option. Maximum credit: 25 points
8. Essay
Research an individual who has contributed to our society and type a three-page paper telling of your findings. The three pages do not include title page or reference page. Be sure to give credit to your sources. If there is plagiarism then no credit will be earned. Maximum credit: 30 points
All extra credit must be your own work.
It must be accurate, neat, and well organized for full credit.
Have a great day!
