2024-25 6th grade Science Syllabus .pdf

Science 6 

Section Number 

Location Online 

Please review the CWCS Master Class Syllabus that will be used in the Parent/Student Orientation course. 

Instructor: Michelle Liotsakis 

Email: mliotsakis@cwcharter.org 

Office Hours: 

Class Information: 

Class Time: Thursdays 9:30-10:30 and 1:00-2:00

• Semester 1 - First Class Meeting (Week of August 19) 

Last Day to Add or Drop is 9/9/24 (Students will be charged the full price of the course if dropping the class after this deadline.) 

• Semester 2 - First Class Meeting (Week of January 7) 

Last Day to Add or Drop is 1/21/25 (Students will be charged the full price of the course if dropping the class after this deadline.) 

CWCS’s Science 6 online course offers students the opportunity to study at home while employing technology as a learning tool, meeting with other students in a virtual classroom, and receiving live instruction from a teacher. This class focuses on earth science. Students will need a sketchbook and drawing pencils to draw out science concepts. 

Course Overview: Science 6 focuses on Earth Science. 

Semester 1

• Topic 1 Earth Sun Moon System
• Topic 2 Solar System and the Universe
• Topic 3 Introduction to Earth’s Systems
• Topic 4 Weather in the Atmosphere
• Topic 5 Energy in the Atmosphere and Ocean

Semester 2

• Topic 6 Climate
• Topic 7 Minerals and Rocks in the Geosphere
• Topic 8 Earth’s Surface Systems
• Topic 9 History of Earth
• Topic 10 Plate Tectonics
• Topic 11 Distribution of Natural Resources
• Topic 12 Human Impacts on the Environment

 

Curriculum: Required curriculum may be available at the Learning Center on a first come basis. If needed, ESs can order curriculum using the OPS catalog which will have the most up-to-date pricing. Students will need: Savvas Elevate Science ( California Earth) Segments 1-4 workbook package- Log into Atrium>Visuals Tab>6th Grade> Science> reserve all .

Materials: 

• Working external headset with mic (computer speakers do not work successfully with the Canvas setup). Plug-in headsets (rather than Bluetooth) work best with Jigsaw. After the third week of class and no headset, students may begin to lose participation points for the class. Class is much more engaging if all students can talk in class using their mic. Suggested: Office Depot Logitech Clear-Chat 
• Binder Paper
• 1" Binder 
• Pencils & Erasers 
• Sketch Book 

• Drawing Pencils

 

Requirements: 

• Class textbook/workbook 
• Gmail Account and ability to open/create word documents and pdfs (Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
• Reliable Internet access 
• Canvas Login link: https://cwcs.instructure.com/login/canvas

Grading: Students will be graded on attendance, participation through online Discussion posts, weekly homework assignments, Cornell Notes, assessments, and TBD projects at the end of each semester 

Overall course grade: List the grading criteria you use 

25% Attendance/Participation 

25% Daily Homework 

25% Tests & Quizzes 

25% Final Exam & Projects 

Grading Scale: List the grading criteria you use 

TK - 7: 

E	S N
Excellent = Mastery	Satisfactory = Progressing  Needs Improvement Towards Mastery
Consistently meets or  exceeds expectations of grade level standards.	Meeting expectations of  Unable to, or with  grade level standards.  prompting and support,  progressing towards  meeting expectations of  grade level standards.

Grade 8 through High School:

90% and above A 

80%-89% B 

70%-79% C 

60%-69% D 

below 60% F 

Attendance: Attendance is required. The Truancy Policy applies to Canvas courses. An unexcused absence may be counted as a truancy. 

• Excused Absence is defined as: 

The parent shall notify the teacher by phone of the absence at least 24 hours* prior to the time the class meets. 

• Unexcused Absence is defined as: 

An absence that does not accompany a parent phone call to the instructor at least 24 hours* prior to the time the class meets. 

*If there are extenuating circumstances that do not allow for at least 24 hours, then the teacher must still be notified prior to the start of class; allowances may be made depending on the circumstances. Examples of extenuating circumstances: car accident, sudden illness, etc. Students should arrange a "back up plan" in case of unexpected computer problems the day of the class (i.e. make pre-arrangements to go to a neighbor, friend, relative, library, etc.) 

When students are absent, they must contact the instructor via email or contact another classmate to obtain the homework assignment. 

Absent/Late Work: 

Daily Homework: Homework consists of reading,vocabulary, sketching and labeling

Test & Quizzes: Students have monthly Canvas quizzes on lesson content /vocabulary Additional Resources: 

1. Important Dates: 2024-2025 (see also 2024-2025 School Calendar Final)

Aug. 12: First day of school 

Aug. 19: First day of fall Canvas Classes 

Sept. 9: Add/Drop date 

Sept. 2: NO CLASS: Labor Day 

Oct. 10-11: NO CLASS (non school days) 

Nov. 11: NO CLASS: Veteran’s Day 

Nov. 22- 29: NO CLASS: Thanksgiving Break 

Dec 9 - 13: Last Class session this week (a-g) 

Dec. 16 - 20: Last Class session this week (all other classes) 

Dec. 16 - 20: a-g Finals Week 

Jan. 7: First day back to school 

Jan. 7: First day of spring Canvas classes 

Jan. 20: NO CLASS: MLK Holiday 

Jan. 21: Add/Drop date 

Feb. 14 - 17: NO CLASS: President’s Day Observance 

March 21 - 28: NO CLASSES THIS WEEK: SPRING BREAK

May5-9: Last class session this week(a-g) May5-9: LastClasssessionthisweek(all otherclasses) May12-16: a-gFinalsWeek 

May23: LastDayofSchool

 

Additional Resources: 6th grade NGSS Science Standards 

Homework Pacing Guide 

Check the class Canvas page regularly for additional class assignments. Assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday of the week assigned, unless otherwise noted.

Week	Date of class  Complete work by this date	Assignments (ES checks the  Assignment Notes  bookwork):  or Reminders  (Check Canvas  Complete the work in this column  Modules Student  prior to our class meeting that week.  Fills In.)
Week 1		Topic 1: Lesson 1 Movement in Space
Week 2		Topic 1: Second half lesson 1 Movement in Space See Canvas for Daily
Week 3  Week 4		Topic 1:  See Canvas for Daily  Earth’s Movement in Space  Work  Topic 1:  See Canvas for Daily  Phases and Eclipses  Work
Week 5		Topic 2:  See Canvas for Daily  Solar System Objects  Work
Week 6  Week 7		Topic 2:  See Canvas for Daily  Learning About the Universe  Work  Topic 2:  See Canvas for Daily  Stars and Galaxies  Work
Week 8		Topic 3  See Canvas for Daily  Matter and Energy in Earth’s  Work System
Week 9		Topic 3 See Canvas for Daily

		Surface Features in the Geosphere Work
Week  10		Topic 3:  See Canvas for Daily  The Hydrosphere  Work
Week 11		Topic 4 The Atmosphere Around you  See Canvas for Daily  : Light  Work
Week 12		Topic 4:  See Canvas for Daily  Water in the Atmosphere  Work
Week 13		Topic 4: Air Masses See Canvas for Daily Work
Week 14		Tpic 4: Predicting Weather Changes See Canvas for Daily Work
Week 15  Week 16  Week 17  Week 18	11/22-11/29  Thanksgiving Break	Catch Up Week See Canvas for Daily Work  Thanksgiving Break! See Canvas for Daily Work  Topic 5  See Canvas for Daily  Energy in Earth’s Atmosphere  Work  Topic 5  See Canvas for Daily  Patterns of Circulation in the  Work Atmosphere
Week 19		Topic 5  See Canvas for Daily  Patterns of Circulation in the Oceany  Work
	12/21-1/06  Winter Break

Week Date of class 

Complete 

work by 

this date 

Assignments (ES checks the bookwork): 

Complete the work in this column prior to our class meeting that week. 

Assignment Notes or Reminders (Check Canvas Modules Student Fills In.)

 

1		Topic 6  Always check Canvas and Climate Factors, CLimate Change and  recordings for additional  Effects of Changing Climate  in-class assignments.
2		Topic 6  See Canvas for Daily  Earth’s Interior  Work
3		Topic 6:  See Canvas for Daily  Minerals  Work
4		Topic 6:  See Canvas for Daily  Rocks  Work
5  6  7  8  9		Topic 6:  See Canvas for Daily  Cycling of Rocks  Work  Topic 7: See Canvas for Daily Work  School Holiday- no class. Enjoy! See Canvas for Daily Work  Topic 8:  See Canvas for Daily  Weathering and Soil  Work  Topic 8  See Canvas for Daily  Erosion and Deposition  Work
10		Topic 8:  See Canvas for Daily  Water Erosion  Work
11		Topic 8  See Canvas for Daily  Glacial and Wave Erosion  Work
12		Topic 9:  See Canvas for Daily  History of the Earth Lesson 1-3  Work
13	3/21-3/28 SpringBreak	Spring Break- Enjoy!  See Canvas for Daily  Work Get caught up if you are missing assignments.
14		Topic10:  See Canvas for Daily  Evidence of Plate Motions  Work
15		Topic10  See Canvas for Daily  Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Surface  Work

16		Topic 10:  See Canvas for Daily  Earthquakes and Tsunami Hazards  Work
17		Topic 10: Volcanoes and Earth’s Surface See Canvas for Daily Work
18		Topic 11 Distribution of Natural Resources  See Canvas for Daily  Lesson 1-3  Work
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Grades posted/finalized