About

Hello and thank you for stopping by My Science Space.

This site is an extension of Mr. Grant’s 8th grade science class. It’s a place where students and parents (well, actually anyone) can see what’s going on in class, find homework assignments, get help studying, learn more about science and communicate with each other. Take some time to explore the site and the links.

Discussions (commenting) on this site is open to anyone, so feel free to click on the “comment balloon” link next to any post and leave your thoughts. Please keep the discussion relevant to the post you are commenting on and remember that this is an extension of a school classroom so act accordingly.

Your comments will not appear immediately, instead you’ll see a message stating that it is waiting moderation. That means I read all the comments before approving them to become a public part of this site. While this slows down discussions, it prevents a whole host of other problems.

About Our Class

Welcome to 8th grade science. This is an important year for you as you prepare to take the Middle School Science FCAT and more importantly prepare for the demands of high school and beyond.
This year in science you’ll be exploring :

• The Earth in Space and Time — A look at our evolving knowledge of the universe.
• The Changing Face of Earth — From erupting volcanoes and earthquakes, to the center of the earth.
• Earth’s Systems — The interactions that create our weather and govern our climate
• The Role of Science in Society — Why science matters.

You can see  a detailed view of the standards and benchmarks associated with these topics on the Big Ideas page.

How Do I Earn A Good Grade?

• First of all be in class. Much of what we do and learn is classroom investigations and discussion that can’t be made up after school or on another day. However if you are absent be sure to check the Home& Classwork page.
• Be prepared. Have all the materials you need everyday: planner, notebook, extra paper, pencils (regular and colored), pencil sharpener, pens,highlighters,  ruler, and a calculator. Beginning this year we are experimenting with handheld electronic devices (i.e. iPod Touch and similar) to replace notebooks. Also a part of being prepared is having your homework completed on time.
• Do your best. Learning takes effort on your part. Stay focused on your studies and not on all the other things around you that can distract you from getting a good grade. Work bell to bell. That means be in your seat recording today’s activities in your planner when the tardy bell rings and not packing up until told to do so by your teacher.
• Stay organized. Clean out that book bag!! Keep your planner, notebook and portfolio up-to-date.
• Study daily. Spend a minimum of 10-20 minutes per day doing at home study. Review, re-write and highlight notes. Reflect on your activity and record your thoughts in your notebook. Complete assignments, do extra reading and look for science in the news. Use the Study Resources page to enhance your learning.
• A or B work in my class means you go beyond the basic requirements. If you are given an assignment and you do exactly what the requirements say that is average work or a “C”. A’s and B’s are not easy you must set out to impress me with only your best.

How are grades calculated?

• The class rubric should help you attain your desired grade.
• 50% will be based on demonstrated learning. This includes a variety of assessments including typical written tests, practical exams (demonstrating abilities through hands-on activities), verbal questioning and portfolio.
• 25% will be based on inquiry which is an expansion of the old “science labs” to include a variety of research methods and processes of scientific thought and investigation.
• 15% will be based on classroom participation. Our goal is to develop a skill called argumentation, a scientific debate based on evidence, logical reasoning and inference, as well as general skills in communication.
• 10% will be based on other assignments. This will include completing various types of daily reflections on classroom activities, submitting science in the news reviews, homework or other assignments, and obtaining parent/guardian signatures on grade reports.
• Grade improvement: I do not give extra credit, however, students have the opportunity to improve their grades everyday by completing missing assignments, thoughtfully participating in classroom and web discussions, conducting independent inquiry and demonstrating additional learning. The last two require student initiative to design, obtain approval and implement.