Friday, November 23, 2012

Week 13, 11/26 to 11/30

(This may change from day to day depending on how much we actually get done in class so check back often to make sure something wasn't changed at the last minute.) 
 Last updated on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012, 2:08pm 

This is the last week of the Trimester! For Science nothing changes as this is a year long course, so we'll be conducting business as usual. By the end of next week progress reports should be updated.

 Daily Schedule 
1st per - 7:45am to 8:37am 
2nd per - 8:41am to 9:33am 
3rd per - 9:37am to 10:29am 
Eagle Time - 10:33am to 11:00am 
Lunch - 11:00am to 11:32am 
4th per - 11:36am to 12:28pm 
5th per - 12:32pm to 1:24pm 
6th per - 1:28pm to 2:20pm
6th grade Science

Monday - Today 6th graders are going to take a tech survey. The info we get from that tech survey will help our district tech committee gather information for decision making.

We need as many parents to take the parent portion of the survey as well so please take the survey yourself!


Instructions for completing theSpeak Up survey

1. Go to this link: www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2012  
2. Click on the appropriate survey (Student, Educator, Parent).
3. Follow the given instructions to access the survey. Begin by clicking on the drop down button and select Washington, then go to the next line and type in your school name to find your school. 
4.  Students will choose their grade level and enter the password: su4wa2012
5. Administrators/Teachers/Media Specialists will choose the appropriate survey and enter the password: su4wa2012
6.  Parents will NOT need the password to access the survey.
7. Complete the survey.

HW - None but do encourage your parents to take the Speak Up survey.

Tuesday - Today we will work on the third and final lab on friction, Inquiry 6.3, where students will see if surface area makes a difference on the friction force.

HW - If you prefer a letter grade instead of a Pass on your Skyward report card, fill out and turn in, on paper or electronically, a Final Grade Negotiation Sheet (due by Monday, Dec 3rd).

Wednesday - Today table teams will share their data in the form of their graphs. Then students will reflect on what they learned about friction.

HW - None

Thursday - Students will have some time to finish their Lesson 6 reflection questions. Then students will read each other's work and respond to see who they agree with.

HW - None

Friday - No school today - Trimester Break.

HW - None
8th grade Science

Monday - Today 8th graders are going to take a tech survey. The info we get from that tech survey will help our district tech committee gather information for decision making.

We need as many parents to take the parent portion of the survey as well so please take the survey yourself!


Instructions for completing theSpeak Up survey

1. Go to this link: www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2012  
2. Click on the appropriate survey (Student, Educator, Parent).
3. Follow the given instructions to access the survey. Begin by clicking on the drop down button and select Washington, then go to the next line and type in your school name to find your school. 
4.  Students will choose their grade level and enter the password: su4wa2012
5. Administrators/Teachers/Media Specialists will choose the appropriate survey and enter the password: su4wa2012
6.  Parents will NOT need the password to access the survey.
7. Complete the survey.

HW - None but do encourage your parents to take the Speak Up survey.

Tuesday - Today we will continue our exploration of microorganisms.

Second period students will be setting the fish traps today.

HW - If you prefer a letter grade instead of a Pass on your Skyward report card, fill out and turn in, on paper or electronically, a Final Grade Negotiation Sheet (due by Monday, Dec 3rd).

Wednesday - Today we will continue working with microorganisms. Evidence will be recorded in the microorganism blog.

Second period students will be check their traps to identify and count the fish they caught today.

HW - None

Thursday - Today we will look at our cheek cells under the microscopes!

Then students will respond to a prompt about cells to see what they already know about cells.

HW - None

Friday - No school today - Trimester Break.

HW - None
Email me with any questions.


Friday, November 16, 2012

Week 12, 11/19 to 11/23

(This may change from day to day depending on how much we actually get done in class so check back often to make sure something wasn't changed at the last minute.) 
 Last updated on Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012, 4:09pm 

 Daily Schedule 
1st per - 7:45am to 8:37am 
2nd per - 8:41am to 9:33am 
3rd per - 9:37am to 10:29am 
Eagle Time - 10:33am to 11:00am 
Lunch - 11:00am to 11:32am 
4th per - 11:36am to 12:28pm 
5th per - 12:32pm to 1:24pm 
6th per - 1:28pm to 2:20pm
6th grade Science

Monday - Today teams will finish graphing their Inquiry 6.1 data and answering some questions about it. 

Then we will move on to the second experiment, Inquiry 6.2, where students will change the weight to see how it affects the friction force of the block.

HW - None

Tuesday - Today student teams will collect data on the effect of weight on friction, Inquiry 6.2.

Then we will prepare for 6.3 where students will change the surface areas to see how that affects the friction.

HW - None

Wednesday - Today we are on an early release schedule, with all six periods.

Today 6th graders will take a 10 week check-in survey to see how they're doing. Then we are going to do some blogging work, catching up for those who need it and commenting and working on the blogging challenge for those who are all caught up.

HW - None

Thursday - No School Today for Thanksgiving Break!

HW - Have a great Thanksgiving!

Friday - Same as yesterday!

HW - None
8th grade Science

Monday - Today students will respond to a prompt on microscopic life on their blogs. Then teams will whiteboard their responses to share with the rest of the class for discussion.

HW - None

Tuesday - Today teams will take turns sharing their thoughts to the microscopic life prompt.

HW - None

Wednesday - Today we are on an early release schedule, with all six periods.

Today 8th graders will take a 10 week check-in survey to see how they're doing. Then we are going to do some blogging work, catching up for those who need it and commenting and working on the blogging challenge for those who are all caught up.

HW - None

Thursday - No School Today for Thanksgiving Break!

HW - Have a great Thanksgiving!

Friday - Same as yesterday!

HW - None
Email me with any questions.


Friday, November 9, 2012

Week 11, 11/12 to 11/16

(This may change from day to day depending on how much we actually get done in class so check back often to make sure something wasn't changed at the last minute.) 
 Last updated on Thursday, Nov 15, 2012, 2:06pm 

 Daily Schedule 
1st per - 7:45am to 8:37am 
2nd per - 8:41am to 9:33am 
3rd per - 9:37am to 10:29am 
Eagle Time - 10:33am to 11:00am 
Lunch - 11:00am to 11:32am 
4th per - 11:36am to 12:28pm 
5th per - 12:32pm to 1:24pm 
6th per - 1:28pm to 2:20pm
6th grade Science

Monday - No School Today - Veteran's Day Observed.

HW - Thank you to all the Veterans out there!

Tuesday - Students were supposed to finish their EMM Lesson 5, Inquiry 5.1 and 5.2, reflection questions for homework this weekend if they didn't finish in class (many students did not use their class time wisely).

If everyone got done then today we can read each other's work and leave feedback in the form of comments.

Once we are done we will begin Lesson 6 on the Force of Friction.

HW - Here's the link to the Verizon App Challenge if you're pursuing this.

Wednesday - Today we will start EMM Lesson 6 on Friction. We will do the lab prep work.

HW - Meeting for those interested in the Verizon App Challenge will be tomorrow from 2:30 to 3:10pm in my room (604). If you can't make it be sure to have a representative from your team who knows who all wants to be in your team and can pitch your idea.

Thursday - Today we will finish the Lesson 6, Inquiry 6.1, prep so that teams can start the first friction lab.

Verizon App Challenge meeting today after school!

HW - None

Friday - Today teams will finish collecting their surface type friction data. They will graph their data and answer some questions. 

HW - None (If students want to meet today after school to work on their Verizon App Challenge I will be available. I can write bus passes too.)
8th grade Science

Monday - No School Today - Veteran's Day Observed.

HW - Thank you to all the Veterans out there!

Tuesday - Today I will give students more time to upload and put their photo and/or video evidence on their brine shrimp blogs.

HW - Here's the link to the Verizon App Challenge if you're pursuing this.

Wednesday - Today teams worked on their brine shrimp blogs. Students got to practice a little bit of html coding.

HW - Meeting for those interested in the Verizon App Challenge will be tomorrow from 2:30 to 3:10pm in my room (604). If you can't make it be sure to have a representative from your team who knows who all wants to be in your team and can pitch your idea. 

Thursday - Today we will use the compound microscopes to take a closer look at plant cells using elodea plants. Students will be using p. 15 from the Diversity of Life Notebooks.

Verizon App Challenge meeting today after school!

HW - None

Friday - Today we are going to work with paramecia using the compound microscopes and pg 16 from the Diversity of Life Notebooks.

HW - None (If students want to meet today after school to work on their Verizon App Challenge I will be available. I can write bus passes too.)
Email me with any questions.


Friday, November 2, 2012

Week 10, 11/5 to 11/9

(This may change from day to day depending on how much we actually get done in class so check back often to make sure something wasn't changed at the last minute.) 
 Last updated on Friday, Nov 9, 2012, 3:29pm 

 Daily Schedule 
1st per - 7:45am to 8:37am 
2nd per - 8:41am to 9:33am 
3rd per - 9:37am to 10:29am 
Eagle Time - 10:33am to 11:00am 
Lunch - 11:00am to 11:32am 
4th per - 11:36am to 12:28pm 
5th per - 12:32pm to 1:24pm 
6th per - 1:28pm to 2:20pm
6th grade Science

Monday - Today 6th graders need to finish the first half of lesson 5, Inquiry 5.1, on the elastic force exerted by a rubber band.

Then we will start preparing for the second half of lesson 5, Inquiry 5.2, comparing weight to mass (gravitational force).

HW - None

Tuesday - Today teams will work on Inquiry 5.2 by doing an activity comparing the weights of objects of different sizes. 

Then teams will begin writing procedures to explain how they will do the Inquiry 5.2 lab. Yes, they get to write their own procedure!

HW - None

Wednesday - Once teams get their procedure and data table approved they will get their materials and start collecting data on the mass versus weight experiments.

HW - None

Thursday - Today students will finish graphing their data so they can write their conclusions. We are using Inquiry Boards to help us write up and structure our labs!

Then students will answer some reflection questions.

HW - None

Friday - Today students will work on blogging. Everyone needs to complete his or her EMM Lesson 5, Inquiry 5.1 and 5.2, reflection questions.

HW - Finish your reflection questions if you did not finish in class.
8th grade Science

Monday - Today student teams will finish their Food Miles activity, yes, many teams are still not done. Then they will reflect on what they learned by completing their Food Miles blog assignment.

Once done with the above students need to peer review each other's work by reading and commenting to another student's blog.

HW - None

Tuesday - There are still many students who aren't done with the Food Miles activity so they need to finish so they can get their Food Miles blog assignment done. 

Then we will start investigating single-celled microorganisms.

My 5th period class will be setting the fish traps today.

HW - None

Wednesday - Today teams will share their food miles results so that we can see what different lunches do to the total distance traveled.

Then we will work with our brine shrimp using our digital microscopes!

My 5th period class will retrieve the fish todays so they can identify and count any fish we catch. They will, of course, return the fish they catch to the creek.

HW - None

Thursday - Today we will finish the food miles presentations. Then students will use digital microscopes to look at our brine shrimp (Ms. Cordz got a good amount of brine shrimp to hatch so we've been caring for them to get them to adulthood). 

HW - None

Friday - Today teams will use the digital microscopes again to find evidence that our brine shrimp are in fact alive (they'll be looking to see which of the eight characteristics of living things they can observe the brine shrimp doing).

Students will then take pictures and/or film video of that evidence of life to put up on their blogs.

HW - None 
Email me with any questions.