The World of Life Science with Mr. Dollar
Course Description: Science in the seventh grade primarily involves the study of living things, whether plant or animal. For detailed chapter explanations, please see the section at the front of your child's book titled contents in brief.
Textbook: Holt Science and Technology
Grading Procedure: Daily Work- 50%
Tests- 50%
Class Grading Scale- 93-100-A
85-92-B
75-84-C
70-74-D
0-69-F
Extra Credit- Your child may find an article from the newspaper, magazines, or the Internet related to life science. They will then summarize what they have read in the article (at least half a page) and staple them together before turning in to me. This is worth five points for each article. They may turn in one article a day during the six weeks for a total of 150 possible points. I also give extra credit on tests and review games before tests.
Class Supplies: (in addition to school list of supplies)
Notebook Paper
Two Pocket Folder
Composition Book for Science Notes
Coloring Pencils
Make-up Policy: No late work will be accepted if a student was present the day an assignment was given. H-O-T passes (Homework On Time) are issued at the beginning of each new six week. When a student completes a homework assignment, I initial the HOT pass and after fifteen to twenty signatures they receive an extra 100 as one of their daily grades.. The pass can also be used to take the place of a zero. If they do not complete ALL OF AN ASSIGNMENT, they are given a zero and a homework excuse note to fill out stating what the assignment was and why they did not complete it. The note is then turned in to me and filed away for future reference. If a HOT pass is lost during a six week grading period, it will not be replaced until the beginning of the next
six week period.
I am really looking forward to an exciting year in life science with your child. Please feel free to call me here at West View at 581-2407. You can also e-mail me at DDollar@hcboe.net. 
Below you will find a list of "super" science links to go to in your spare time. 
4/21-4/25
4/21-Science-DRG chapter 9.
Reading- 8th grade reading placement tests. No homework.
4/22-Science-Began notes on chapter 9, "Amphibians." No homework unless you were not done with chapter 9 DRG.
Reading-Chapter 14 "The Blue Sweater" in The Hiding Place.
4/23-Science-Virtual dissection labsheet of the frog. Homework if not finished at school.
Reading- Last chapter in The Hiding Place, "The Three Visions."
4/24-Science-Finished amphibian notes. Gave section review questions on p.226.
Reading-Finished "The Hiding Place." Gave final test on it. No homework.
4/25-Science-Frog dissections.
Reading-Started watching "The Hiding Place."
4/28-5/2
4/28-Science-Chapter 8 DRG.
Reading-Continued watching "The Hiding Place." No homework.
4/29-Science-Began notes on "Arthropods." No homework.
Reading-Continued watching "The Hiding Place." No homework.
4/30-Science-Online dissections of crayfish with guides. Homework if not finished.
Reading- Continued with "The Hiding Place."
5/1-Science-Checked virtual dissection crayfish sheets. Finished notes on arthropods. Assigned drawings of incomplete metamorphosis on p.199 and complete metamorphosis on p. 200. Also gave the 3 section review questions from p.200 as well. Due tomorrow.
Reading-Finished watching "The Hiding Place." Had kids write a comparison/contrast of the movie versus the book. Also had them pretend they were movie critics and tell what they liked/disliked about the movie.
5/2-Science-Crayfish dissection today w/labsheet. Due Monday. Do not complete the back of the labsheet. We will do that on Monday in class.
Reading- Had kids read their "reviews" from "The Hiding Place." No homework. Have a great weekend.
5/5-5/9
5/5-Science-Did Echinoderm crossword and p.208-209 chapter review. Leave out #25. Due Tuesday.
Reading-Did Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
5/6-Science-Notes on Echinoderms. 1st and 3rd had homework. 5th and 7th did not finish notes.
Reading-Still reading "The Ransom of Red Chief."
5/7-Science-Finished echinoderm notes. Did Internet labsheet with echinoderms. Gave yesterday's homework to 5th and 7th.
Reading-Finished "Red Chief." Had them get into groups of three and write out a scene on their own involving all three characters from "Red Chief." Will be "acted out" tommorrow in class.
5/8-Science-Checked starfish internet sheet. Watched video segment on invertebrates and took video notes.
Reading-The kids "acted out" their Red Chief productions from yesterday. No homework.
5/12-5/16
5/12-Science-DRG chapter 10.
Reading-Began reading "After Twenty Years", another great story by author O'Henry. Finished and had the kids write a half page dialogue between Jimmy and his friend twenty years earlier.
5/13-Science-Notes on the four different types of birds. 3 DLC's on a bird's internal anatomy and the section review questions as well.
Reading-Began "Flowers for Algernon." No homework.
5/14-Science-Watched "Birds of Prey" video w/guide.
Reading-Began watching "Charly" that goes with the story "Flowers for Algernon." Kids were to do a compare/contrast between the movie/story that will be turned in on Friday.
5/15-Science-Began Owl Pellet lab today. Watched clip on how the pellets are made and how they are found, cleaned, and shipped. Checked owl video guide from yesterday. Then began seperating the bone and hair from the pellet into the "bone bags." No homework. Will finish Friday in class.
Reading-Continued watching "Charly" that goes with the story "Flowers for Algernon." No homework.
5/16-Science-Finished owl pellet lab. No homework.
Reading-Continued watching "Charly."
