2024-2025 School Year

General Science GVL

Mondays AND Wednesdays

Course Description

This course is designed to be a student’s first systematic introduction to the sciences. It explores broad topics such as the scientific method, designing experiments, simple machines, geology, archeology, biology, and more, with a large focus on Earth Science (astronomy, meteorology, oceanography, earth study, geology, paleontology, and environmental science.) Students are given daily reading assignments and take all tests at home. The student will be required to do the questions in the book and complete lab write-ups. The instructor will teach the concepts in the chapter and give extension work to make sure that the student is comfortable with the material. The class time consists of lectures and lab experiments. The student will have about three hours of homework each week to be completed at home.

**ATTENTION: There will be required summer homework. It will be assigned in August and will need to be completed by the first day of class.

To be successful in this class:

Students will need to complete all assignments, including copying in-class notes and submitting detailed lab write-ups. Parents will be asked to help students set aside time during the week to complete reading assignments and coursework, aid students by checking answers to end of the chapter study questions, help them in studying for tests (if needed by student), and proctor tests sent home by co-op instructor. The class covers a great deal of material and is labor-intensive for comprehension. This class prepares the student for upper level science and is our most advanced middle school science course at UHC, and therefore it is best for 8th graders or academically strong 7th graders.

Grades: 7th Grade, 8th Grade

Fees: $360 (plus $20 lab fee)

Prerequisites:

This class prepares the student for upper-level science and is our most advanced middle school science course at UHC, and therefore it is best for 8th graders or academically strong 7th graders.

Sections Offered: 1st and 2nd Hour (Mondays and Wednesdays) - Cotuna

Required Materials

Textbooks:

Other materials:

  • 3 ring 1 ½ “ Notebook
  • 8 tabbed dividers labeled with the first 8 modules (each Module number)
  • Notebook paper
  • Colored pencils

1st and 2nd Hour (Mondays and Wednesdays) - Cotuna

Meet Sheri Cotuna

Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in English from Bob Jones University in 1993.

Teaching experience: Began teaching middle school science and high school world geography & world culture co-op classes in 2015. Taught English as a second language classes since 2018. Currently privately tutor in reading, math, and ESL and work as a regional representative for the International Student Exchange (ISE), placing high school students with host families.

Homeschool experience: Began homeschooling in 2006.

Certifications: TESOL Foundational & TESOL Advanced

UHC Courses Taught: Anatomy & Physiology, General Science
Began teaching at UHC in 2024