Thursday September 30

I wasn't in school today due to my 3 yr old having strep:(. However, the kids worked on a role play about a boy who was trying to figure out what to do with hazardous materials he found in his house.

Students then had to work on Analysis questions 1-4 in Activity 4.

Wednesday September 29

In Science today we did the following:
1. Kids needed to write their experiment plan in their notebooks.
2. Analysis Questions were written on the board for kids to answer in their notebooks.
3. Challenge Reflection questions were on the board and the kids needed to write on a lined paper and turn in during class time.
4. Started Act. 4

No HW!

Tuesday September 28

Today was a busy day in Science class!
1. Took a notebook quiz on Act. 1 & 2. Overall scores were GREAT!
2. Kids had to finish up their plans to separate the unidentified liquid.
3. Kids actually separated the liquid into all the different substances. It was a pretty messy lab but kids had fun.

Grades will be posted on Edline by the end of the day tomorrow.

Monday September 27

Hazardous Material at Home Homework was due at the beginning of class today along with the analysis questions at the bottom.

Today we started on activity 3, A Plan to Separate the Mixture. Kids had to come up with a step by step plan to separate the unknown substance in the jar we have been using in class.

HW: none...make sure you start checking edline to see grades! Notebook quiz over Act. 1/2 on Tuesday!

Thursday September 23

Today we worked with Chemical Data cards. The kids had to analyze the information on the cards and determine what category each chemical would go in and then determine the safety precaution you would use when handling the chemical.

HW: kids received a salmon colored sheet to analyze some hazardous chemicals that are present within the home. Please make sure they wash their hands when finished with the assignment. There are also 3 analysis questions at the bottom of the paper the kids need to answer. Please answer them on the sheet not in the notebook.

Wednesday Sept. 22

Today we finished the Activity 1 analysis questions #'s 3 and 4. We did them individually and then shared them as a group. You could then add any information from others you wanted to your own answers.

We started Act. 2 today called Types of Hazards. We discussed different types of hazard signs and then got started on a class demo. Key terms used today were corrosive and flammable.

HW: finish Analysis questions on A-5 #'s 3 & 4.

Tuesday September 21

We actually started working with our science textbook and science lab books. The students received a science notebook yesterday to use for the remainder of the year. All of their notes and worksheets will be within the notebook.

Today we started discussing the term Hazardous and what precautions you would need to take if you saw something you thought might be hazardous. We then watched a DVD of a Hazmat team who was trying to determine what substance was within the barrel. Students filled out a warm up question, three vocabulary words, a challenge question and a list of precautions from the DVD.

If you feel your son or daughter is falling behind with notes, they can come in for lunch, sometimes during 2nd hour Inspire, or after school to get caught up. Also remember our textbook is online but it doesn't always have everything we do in class in the book.

HW: none

Monday Sept. 20

Today during class I handed out permission slips to Spirit of America for Friday Sept. 24 at the Van Andel, Edline codes, and postcards.

The postcards have all of our contact information and different websites for our team, edline, and Northview's website on it. I gave the kids a tour of our team website and what information was included in it.

Class consisted of working with graduated cylinders to measure the volume of water and using a ruler and measuring some paper. The kids started using science notebooks which were given to them to use for science. This notebook will contain everything we do in class. They will paste worksheets into the notebook when we are finished with them so they don't loose them. All information for testing and quizzes will come directly out of the notebook. Hopefully the kids are able to hold on to them the whole year!


HW: finish up the Measuring Volume and Length Worksheet due Tuesday

Friday September 17

Today we did a quick camp evaluation.
Tried to finish up presenting the Ultimate Science Classroom posters but still have a few for Monday.
Then read an article in Science World, which was funded by the NEF, about Bedbugs. The class read the article together and then came up with 5 interesting facts about the article.

Wednesday/Thursday September 15,16

Camp Roger:
What a great two days we had at Camp Roger. Unfortunately it rained on Thursday but for the most part kids had a great time! It is always nice being able to interact with kids in a setting other than school.
Thank you parent volunteers for helping us out this year. We couldn't do it without you.

Tuesday September 14

Today during class kids presented their Ultimate Science Classrooms. We had anything from swimming pools to lazy boy recliners to pie machines. They all wish they had all of those items:) It was pretty interesting listening to what the kids were thinking. Friday we will finish up with the presentations.

Friday and Monday September 10/13

Friday and Monday:
We started designing the Ultimate Science Classroom. Kids were to do a brainstorming activity first to determine what they wanted within their classroom. They then had to design the space and objects within the classroom. Once finished with the previous activities they will then create the final drawing with labels of their Ultimate Science classroom.

HW: picture is due on Tuesday September 14! Preferred to have it colored with colored pencils.

Thursday Sept. 9

During Science class today we went over classroom procedures. We then worked on a getting to know you writing activity.

HW: if the Getting to Know you activity wasn't finished in class it needs to be turned in by Friday Sept. 10 at the beginning of the hour.

Wednesday Sept. 8

Today in Science we discussed a social contract amongst the members of our class. Basically the questions dealt with the fact that we all need to respect each person in the class even the teacher. How do we go about resolving conflict within our classroom and how we work with others. Good day today and many of our bumps were flattened today. A few more will be taken care of tomorrow and hopefully they will all be gone!

No Homework today!

Tuesday Sept. 7

Our first day is now complete here at Crossroads. We had a few bumps along the way but we are hoping they will all be flattened by tomorrow. Today in class we discussed three different types of animals: Lions, St. Bernards, and Fox. The kids had to determine what animal they were most like. They then wrote information on the activity sheet why they think they are that animal. When we were finished with this part of the activity we discussed how we need all types of of personalities within the classroom and people can't overpower others and we can't allow people to sit back and do nothing.

Our new science curriculum is based around interactive experiments in groups. So the activity played right into our group work.

No Homework today!

Tuesday Sept. 7

Welcome to Crossroads

I am so excited to start the new year with all of you! This year is going to be filled with fun and excitement. We start off with Camp Roger and then another field trip to the Van Andel Arena for a history reenactment on the 24th of September. All sorts of things will be happening the first few weeks of school.

This site is going to help you stay organized in science class. I will post daily classroom activities and information on the blog in case you need to use it to remember what we did in class or if you were absent that day. I am open to suggestions if there is anything else you would like to see on it.

Let's have fun and enjoy our school year together!

Our team website: https://sites.google.com/a/nvps.net/templar-team-2010-2011/