Above and Beyond
Syllabus
Course Description:
Above and Beyond is a challenging one-semester elective course for seventh and eighth grade students. Class participants will practice creative, critical, and productive thinking skills and explore a variety of topics in depth such as philosophy, law, and engineering.
During the first six weeks, students will consider and respond to a variety of philosophical questions. They will then conduct mock trials as we explore our nation’s philosophy of justice. During the last six weeks, we will design and construct a variety of products which may include balsa wood bridges, towers, gliders, and/or solar cars, as we explore the philosophy of design.
When possible, we take field trips to area courthouses to meet lawyers and judges and observe trials, and often invite guest speakers to meet with us on related topics in philosophy, law, and engineering. Students will also work independently to investigate relevant topics and present their research to their classmates.
Supplies:
Folders will be provided for student use to help them organize all printed materials. Students will need to bring iPads, pens, and paper to class daily.
Grading Policy:
Major Grades: 55%, Skills Development: 45%, Practice: 0%
Retest Policy
Students will be allowed one retest opportunity per test. The student will only retest sections where a learning goal was not mastered, to earn points back on the test. To retest, the student must first schedule a re-teach session with the teacher within 24 hours of receiving the test. After the re-teach session, a date will be set for the retest. The timeline for this entire process is one week.
Make-Up Policy
Students receive one day for every missed day to turn in make-up work.
Classroom Management
All students are expected to demonstrate respect for the ideas, rights, and property of others. Students are expected to arrive in class prepared to participate in all assigned activities.
If problems arise, student and teacher will discuss behavior concerns. If problems continue, parents will be contacted regarding student behavior concerns. If problems persist, student will receive an office referral. Serious infractions will result in an immediate office referral.
Teacher: Carol Reese
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Phone Number: 732-9240 x 32924
First Unit: Philosophy
We are beginning our unit on philosophy with a look at fallacies and logic. We will examine the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and learn about the culture of Greece in ancient times. This unit will include readings from Plato’s Apology (Greek term for “defense”) relating to Socrates’ statements when he was on trial in Athens. We will also view a short film on Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and discuss views on reality and illusion. Students will be taking a look at the ideas and beliefs of more contemporary philosophers in the coming weeks. All students will be creating Adobe Spark pages for selected philosophers, and creating “Thought Papers” in response to philosophical questions such as:
Students need to bring a pen, paper, and iPad to class each day.
Second Unit: Philosophy of Engineering Design
In our second unit, we will work on a study of engineering and design. Students will explore flight and the designs of aircraft, as well as the design of skyscrapers and bridges. Students will create their own balsa planes and design towers. A possible field trip to Silicon Labs will help students learn about additional fields in engineering as they tour this facility, meet with engineers, and participate in a hands-on electronics activity to design a variety of moving items.
Third Unit: Philosophy of Justice
We will work on a unit on law to conclude the semester. We will define justice, and explore legal scenarios to better understand the complexities of this concept. Students will examine our court system, conduct a mock trial, and (hopefully) visit a courtroom to see our legal system in action.
I can be reached at 732-9240 x 32924 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Course Description:
Above and Beyond is a challenging one-semester elective course for seventh and eighth grade students. Class participants will practice creative, critical, and productive thinking skills and explore a variety of topics in depth such as philosophy, law, and engineering.
During the first six weeks, students will consider and respond to a variety of philosophical questions. They will then conduct mock trials as we explore our nation’s philosophy of justice. During the last six weeks, we will design and construct a variety of products which may include balsa wood bridges, towers, gliders, and/or solar cars, as we explore the philosophy of design.
When possible, we take field trips to area courthouses to meet lawyers and judges and observe trials, and often invite guest speakers to meet with us on related topics in philosophy, law, and engineering. Students will also work independently to investigate relevant topics and present their research to their classmates.
Supplies:
Folders will be provided for student use to help them organize all printed materials. Students will need to bring iPads, pens, and paper to class daily.
Grading Policy:
Major Grades: 55%, Skills Development: 45%, Practice: 0%
Retest Policy
Students will be allowed one retest opportunity per test. The student will only retest sections where a learning goal was not mastered, to earn points back on the test. To retest, the student must first schedule a re-teach session with the teacher within 24 hours of receiving the test. After the re-teach session, a date will be set for the retest. The timeline for this entire process is one week.
Make-Up Policy
Students receive one day for every missed day to turn in make-up work.
Classroom Management
All students are expected to demonstrate respect for the ideas, rights, and property of others. Students are expected to arrive in class prepared to participate in all assigned activities.
If problems arise, student and teacher will discuss behavior concerns. If problems continue, parents will be contacted regarding student behavior concerns. If problems persist, student will receive an office referral. Serious infractions will result in an immediate office referral.
Teacher: Carol Reese
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Phone Number: 732-9240 x 32924
First Unit: Philosophy
We are beginning our unit on philosophy with a look at fallacies and logic. We will examine the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and learn about the culture of Greece in ancient times. This unit will include readings from Plato’s Apology (Greek term for “defense”) relating to Socrates’ statements when he was on trial in Athens. We will also view a short film on Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and discuss views on reality and illusion. Students will be taking a look at the ideas and beliefs of more contemporary philosophers in the coming weeks. All students will be creating Adobe Spark pages for selected philosophers, and creating “Thought Papers” in response to philosophical questions such as:
- Can a person have a thought if s/he doesn’t have the vocabulary to describe it?
- How do you know when you “know” something?
- Should you be rewarded for your efforts in school, or only on the outcomes of tests?
- Are impossible things ever possible?
Students need to bring a pen, paper, and iPad to class each day.
Second Unit: Philosophy of Engineering Design
In our second unit, we will work on a study of engineering and design. Students will explore flight and the designs of aircraft, as well as the design of skyscrapers and bridges. Students will create their own balsa planes and design towers. A possible field trip to Silicon Labs will help students learn about additional fields in engineering as they tour this facility, meet with engineers, and participate in a hands-on electronics activity to design a variety of moving items.
Third Unit: Philosophy of Justice
We will work on a unit on law to conclude the semester. We will define justice, and explore legal scenarios to better understand the complexities of this concept. Students will examine our court system, conduct a mock trial, and (hopefully) visit a courtroom to see our legal system in action.
I can be reached at 732-9240 x 32924 or by e-mail at [email protected]