John Sevier Middle School
Skip to main content
Skip to main content
JSMS 6th Grade Science Syllabus
Instructor: Team 6-1 Megan Leonard ([email protected])
Team 6-2 Carole Long ([email protected])
6th Grade Schedule
Phone: 423-378-2450
Planning Time: 11:45-1:13 (please call 378-2435 to schedule conferences)
Course Description: During this school year, students will be exploring and investigating many different areas of science including energy, Earth’s systems and human impact on our Earth, ecosystems, biological change, and engineering and design.
To supplement these units, students will be participating in science labs as well as projects/presentations throughout the course. You can expect at least one lab/project to be assigned each nine-week grading period. Students will participate in a lab safety course within the first few days of school and will need a lab safety contract signed by a parent/guardian before they are allowed to conduct any labs.
Chromebooks: Computers will be kept in a cart in students’ last period. Before the day begins, students will pick up their chromebook from their last class. At the end of the day students will place their computers and plug them into the cart to ensure they are charged the following day.
Supplies: Students are responsible for bringing their supplies to class daily.
Science class necessities:
Online Platforms: Kingsport City School system uses Canvas and Mastery Connect as their online learning platform.
Course Outline: We will cover each of these units as we progress through the school year. The Science and Engineering Practices and Cross-cutting Concepts will be embedded in each of these units.
Calendar
Approved 2026-2027 School Calendar
Standards: 6th grade TN Ready Science Standards
Science Journals: Students are required to bring in one 100 sheet composition book (please no binders or spiral notebooks) to use as their journal. These will be used extensively throughout the year. Students may store these at school, but are encouraged to keep them at all times to study and in case of absences.
Grading/Assignments/Assessments: Students will engage in a variety of activities including tests, projects, quizzes, in-class assignments, homework, and labs. Some assessments will consist of rigorous reading and writing activities that require students to use higher order thinking skills. Most of the tests are “cumulative” in nature meaning that they include previously learned skills as well as the information we have just finished studying. Performance-based evaluations will also be given at various times throughout the course.
Student grades will be reflected in Aspen and classroom grades are weighted as follows:
40% Tests and Projects
40% Quizzes
20% Classwork, Journals, and Labs
Grading Scale: The State of Tennessee changed the grading scale that we use. Here is the new grading scale:
Field Trips- Throughout the year we may take field trips that pertain to our Science curriculum. Individual students’ participation in field trip activities is at the principal’s/teacher’s discretion. Academic, behavior/discipline, and school attendance issues may affect eligibility to participate in field trips.
It’s an honor and pleasure to be your science teacher this year. We are excited about what the coming school year has in store. It is our hope that you will find this course and our instruction both intriguing and captivating, and begin to look at the world around you “through the eyes of a scientist.”
We have a lot of information to cover and it may be challenging, but by working together, we can be successful and have fun learning along the way! If you need anything or have questions regarding any of the information found on this syllabus, please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to getting to know you and to a great school year!
Sincerely,
6th Grade Science Teachers
Mrs. Leonard & Ms. Long