All learning goals, lessons, and assessments are based on the National Next Generation Science Standards & Utah Science with Engineering Education Standards 

Forces & Motion: 
Students can investigate and show that a change in an object's motion depends on the object's mass and the forces acting on it. 
Students can evaluate designs that best measure an object's motion. 
Students can design a solution that reduces the impact of two colliding objects.
Students can collect and analyze data to identify factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.
Students can use evidence to support a claim about how mass affects gravitational pull. 

Earth History: 
Students can create a model that shows rocks change over time. 
Students can give evidence and explain how the earth’s surface has changed over time.
Students can identify the strengths and weaknesses in human-engineered structures that are designed to withstand geologic hazards. 
Students can create a scale model of the Earth based on density and chemical composition.
Students can ask questions and analyze and interpret data the shows the patterns between plate tectonics and events like earthquakes, the features of the crust, and the distribution of fossils.
 
Structure & Function of Living Things: 
Students can do an investigation to provide evidence that all living things are made of cells.
Students can develop a model to show the parts of a cell system and how they help the cell perform its functions. 
Students can explain how body systems have different levels of organization. 

Inheritance: 
Students can develop a model that shows how different types of reproduction can affect genetic variation.
Students can present information that shows how specific adaptations and structures will make an organism more likely to survive and reproduce. 
Students can create a model to show how mutations can be harmful, helpful, or neither.
Students can show how technology is being used to choose traits to solve problems. 

Changes in Species Over Time:
Students can explain how some traits can increase or decrease an organism's chance of survival in a specific environment. 
Students can analyze and interpret data bout patterns found in the fossil record that document different life forms throughout Earth's history. 
Students can explain how patterns found in the body structures of modern organisms and ancient infer that they have possible evolutionary relationships. 
Students can analyze data to compare patterns in embryological development across multiple species to identify similarities and differences not evidenced in fully formed anatomy. 

I have a masters in Earth Science science and I have taught integrated science at the middle school level as well as high school Biology, Wildlife Biology, and Zoology.
During the last two years, I have worked as a Science Specialist for a large school district in Utah, supporting teachers and administration in science education. 

Homework Offered
Students may required to complete 20-30 min of homework, reading, activities, etc. per each live lesson. If needed, these will be assigned before the end of each live class. 
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Assessments will be given as an indication of how well as student is learning the content and skills for the class and to help me continuously develop better curriculum. Students will be assigned a number on a proficiency scale* that lets the student, parent, and teacher know how the student is doing. Each assignment will have a rubric attached to it letting the student, parent, and teacher know the expectations for the assessment. 

Assessments may be multiple choice, free response, modeling, or many other types. Most assessments will be taken in class, but some may be at-home projects. 

Assessment retakes and/or revisions will be provided and encouraged. 

*See Grading Policy for our Proficiency Scale
Grades Offered
Grades will be provided by default to all learners. If students do not want their student graded or to not have access to their grades, please let me know.

Grades allow students, parents, and myself to understand where the student is at in their learning. 

Grading Proficiency Scale
4 - Above proficientGrades will be provided by default to all learners. If students do not want their student graded or to not have access to their grades, please let me know.

Grades allow students, parents, and myself to understand where the student is at in their learning. 

For each assignment or assessment, students will receive a "grade" according to the rubric below. 
0 - The student demonstrates no evidence of learning.
1 - The student demonstrates a minimal understanding of the concept.
2 - The student demonstrates a partial understanding of the concept.
3 - The student demonstrates a complete understanding of the concept.

We will be referencing the Utah Science Curriculum Consortium's SEEd Storylines and 
Jordan School District's (Utah) open-source curriculum. Both are created by certified expert teachers. 
If you would like more information please see
https://www.seedstorylines.org/
https://middlescience.jordandistrict.org/7th-8th-grade-exemplary-units/