Classes are currently distance learning only.  To facilitate distance learning, middle school teachers will be using a combination of applications and digital resources to bring your student as enriching a science education as possible, including Zoom for virtual classes, Google Classroom for assignments and homework, and more.  Further, all science textbooks are available online through our provider; your student will be provided with a username and password to log in and access these.

Sadly the inability to meet in person does greatly reduce the amount of hands-on science that we will be able to perform.  This is extra problematic in science class as it is a very hands on subject.  To assist in this we will still be performing prep work for labs and analyzing data, however many of the labs themselves will be shown on video or performed by the teacher in the lab during virtual classes.  Some labs may be performed at home using available materials or materials provided by the school at scheduled materials pickups.

Every week on Monday at 8am I will upload the schedule for that week onto Google Classroom.  The schedule will have an overview of what we are doing each day in class and the homework for that week.  Attached to the schedule will also be the procedures for most or all of what we will be doing in class, along with as many of the resources I can provide so that students can follow along or complete the class at home if they need to.  I will also attach instructions for all homework.

Resources will be provided one of two places: they will either be on Google Classroom (attached to the schedule for the week or in the Assignments category if not specific to a week), or made available on the textbook website (Carolina Science Online).  If made available through the textbook website this will be noted in that week’s schedule.

Carolina Science Online
We use curriculum developed by Smithsonian Science Education Center which is designed to meet the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by Washington and many other states.  You and your student will be provided with a login to Carolina Science Online, our vendor, which will allow you to view the class textbooks online.  We also have a limited number of physical textbooks which are available for checkout, contact Mr. St. Pierre if you would like a physical textbook.

Should additional physical materials be required you will be advised by e-mail and through Google Classroom.  The materials will be included in the weekly pickups at school.  For pickup procedures please contact Mr. St. Pierre or the school.

Students will be keeping science notebooks, one for each of the two major units we are studying this year.  All work should be kept in the student notebook, however work may be handwritten or completed on computer.  If handwritten the papers should stay in the notebook.  If typed the document should be printed, punched, and put into the notebook so that all work is in one place.  All of the assignment must be completed: if part of the assignment cannot be completed on computer it must be done by hand.

Work will be turned in using Google Classroom.  When turning in an assignment the student must attach their completed work; for handwritten work, this means the student should take a picture, scan, or otherwise digitize their work and attach it when turning in the assignment.

There will be a number of small tests and a larger, more comprehensive test at the end of each unit.  These tests are open note: your student will be allowed to work from the notes they have taken in order to complete the test.  I have made this decision for a few reasons: in this current time of distance learning there is no way to ensure no one is using notes, for one.  For another I believe that building good study habits and analytical skills are more important than memorizing facts; memorization is good, but in a time when all facts are accessible to us at a push of a button it is better to understand how to find the important information, analyze it, and process it in a meaningful way.