Learning goals are based on the National Next Generation Science Standards and Utah's Science and Engineering Education Standards. 

Students will learn the following: 
- How to investigate and gather evidence for the basic structures of living things. 
- Focus on the structure and function of various levels of organization within a living thing. 
- Communicate and give evidence for specific adaptations that affect the survival of different species. 
- Model how mutations and genetic diseases come to be. 
- Investigate technologies and processes that affect traits in living things. 
- Describe how genetic variations can change throughout time. 
- Interpret data from the fossil record that show the diversity and change of life throughout the history of the Eartharth. 
 - Identify patterns in organisms that have similar body structures. 
- Understand and predict how and why populations of living things increase or decrease depending on their environment. 

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 will be required to complete 20-30 min of homework, reading, activities, etc. per each live lesson (totaling about 1 hour per week). These will be assigned before the end of each live class, if needed. 
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Assessments will be given as an indication of how well a student is learning the content and skills for the class and to help me continuously develop a 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. 

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.

I 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/