Thursday March 24

Today we finished up with Act. 38 using the microscope slides of onions, cheek cells and pond water samples. Also reviewed what was going to be on the notebook quiz tomorrow.

HW: get notebook ready for the quiz tomorrow.

Monday March 21

Today we finished up activity 37. We listened to each group present the different scientists and their contributions to society. While kids were presenting, each student then filled out a worksheet that allowed for kids to write down the scientist information and the date of the discovery.

Kids need to have the worksheet filled out and put into their notebooks.

HW: notebook quiz on Friday over Act. 32-38

Sunday March 20

Good Morning!

Just a reminder: the end of the term is Friday March 25. ALL MISSING ASSIGNMENTS FOR YOUR CORE CLASSES ARE DUE ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 23! Please check edline to make sure you have all you assignments in. Remember Mr. Kaboos and Mrs. Templar are here during the week after school to assist students who need help.

Science: this week we will be working with microscopes while looking at cheek and onion cells and microscopic pond life. Should be a fun week in class this week.

Monday March 14

We started a new unit today on Micro-Life. We started by looking at two pictures of microscopic organisms. We then started our unit discussing how a infectious diseases are transferred from person to person. The kids then received a set of 8 cards explaining a scenario about 8 different people in a school setting and stating whether they have symptoms of a disease or already have the disease. Kids had to determine a hypothesis about the path the disease went. Then tomorrow we are going to test 4 people the kids chose today.

HW: Type 3 writing is due tomorrow about Genetically Modified Food.

Wednesday March 9

Kids watched some videos on Genetically Modified Food products. They will be making a list of pros and cons while watching the video and then using that information to write a paper either supporting GMF or challenging GMF. They receive a rubric today and then during 1st and 3rd hours tomorrow the kids will be able to work on their writing piece. The writing piece will be due on Tuesday, March 15.

Tuesday March 8

Yesterday we went over the study guide and then played jeopardy to get ready for the Genetics test. Today kids took the 30 question multiple choice test and essay part of the test. Grades will be posted on edline before conferences tomorrow night.

Friday March 4

Today kids received a study guide for the Genetics test which will be on Tuesday, March 8. Please help your child study over the weekend.

HW: STUDY FOR THE GENETICS TEST!

Thursday March 3

Today kids finished working on Creating Critters Act. 65. They flipped coins and found different traits and then used those traits to create a critter out of Styrofoam balls other materials. Kids then had to answer analysis questions 1-3 and 5-8.

SCIENCE TEST ON TUESDAY, MARCH 8!

Wednesday March 2

Today we started working on creating critters. The kids had to flip coins to determine the traits their critters will have. Tomorrow we will then create the critter and work on Analysis questions 1-3 and 5-8 in their notebooks.

HW: TEST on Tuesday MARCH 8 over Genetics. Study guide will be coming home on Friday.

Monday Feb. 28

Today Mrs. Heyboer and I did some reteaching with our science students. Kids who need a little extra help with Punnett Squares stayed within the classroom. Other kids went to the IMC for some interactive computer sites dealing with genetics.

TEST: Tuesday March 8th over genetics!

Friday February 18

Today we finished Act. 60 finishing up Analysis questions 1-3. We then started Act. 61 about Punnett Squares. Punnett Squares show how the genes come from both parents and how they are mixed together to give the offspring each specific dominant and recessive genes.

HW: wkst if we don't get finished in class

Thursday February 17

Today we played a new reading game while we started to read Act. 60 about Gregor Mendel. Gregor Mendel was one of the first pioneer geneticists who studied the characteristics of pea plants. The kids needed to answer 3 stopping to think questions and then we went over them during class.

HW: none

Wednesday February 16

Today we finished activity 59 with some math activities and calculating proportions and ratios for genetics. Kids answered analysis questions 1 and 2 with their group and then we went over them as a class. Analysis question #5 was a question that needed to be turned in by the end of the hour. We then started Act. 60.

HW: none

Tuesday Feb. 15

Today we finished activity 58. Kids answered analysis question 1 and then rewrote their challenge question answering why was there an orange pup in our third generation.

We then started act. 59 talking about the probability of the results of flipping coins for tail colors. Kids filled out their notebooks and then the coin flipping charts.

No HW!

Monday February 14

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Today we had a great day having conversations about our weekends! Lots of kids had a lot of fun over the weekend. It is always fun to get to know kids through conversations about their weekends!

Today we started working on how and what genes are transferred from parent to offspring in a simulations of creatures. Kids are pretty knowledgeable with genetics so they caught on pretty quickly. We will continue and finish activity 58 Creature Features tomorrow and start on Act. 59 Gene Combo.

HW: none

Thursday February 10

Today we started an activity about Asexual and Sexual reproduction and how genes get transferred from parent to offspring.

HW: Notebook quiz over Act. 54-57 on Friday.

Tuesday Feb. 8

Today we started our presentations for our genetic disorder brochures. We learned a lot of information on many different disorders. We will present the remainder of our disorders during class on Wednesday and then on to the next activity.

HW: finish brochure if it isn't already

Jan.31-Feb. 3

Students received a Genetic Disorder on Friday to research this week. They will be given a rubric to make a brochure today and we will go to the computer lab on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. If they are finished with their brochure on Thursday, they can present and earn extra credit. Otherwise, their presentation is the next Monday and Tuesday. Thursday and Friday are also work days for kids who are not presenting.

They have 4 different options for making their brochure:
1. 3 different sizes of paper to use
2. Computer generate one on their own time

Thursday January 27

We started working on Genetic Disorder information. Today we discusses genetic testing and watched a video on Marfan Syndrome. Tomorrow we will continue working on our information from the text books.

HW: none

January 24-25

We started a new unit this week on Genetics. Kids did a few genetic experiments to determine whether they can perform a few different tasks. On Tuesday the kids continued working on their characteristics and traits.

We gathered class data and then created two bar graphs which were due by the end of the hour. One graph was on eye color and the other was whether the kids could roll their tongues or not.

They then needed to complete analysis question number 1 in Act. 54 and then needed to complete the challenge reflection where the kids have to write an answer to the challenge question once we are finished with the activity.

Due at the end of the hour were the two graphs.

Week of January 17-21

This week is Exam Week with 1/2 days on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday.
Test Review sheet for Science is due on Tuesday the 18th.


HW: STUDY HARD FOR EXAMS

Tuesday January 11

Today we continued working on our Phases of Matter flipbook for Solids, Liquids, and Gases. We finished it and then started working on Physical/Chemical Changes.

HW: none

Monday January 10

Today kids watched a video on molecules and atoms. They took notes on atoms, molecules and the phases of matter. Then on the back of the paper they had to draw a diagram using the information learned.

No HW

Friday January 14

Today we took the quiz on Elements, Compound, Mixtures, Reactants and Products. Look for updated grades over the weekend.

We started a flipbook today on the phases of matter: solids, liquids and gases. We will continue on the flipbook next week.

HW: none

Thursday January 6

Today we finished up working on Act. 19. We worked with reactants and products. The reactants we used to make flubber (the product) was polyvinyl alcohol and sodium borate. The kids really enjoyed missing the reactants together and getting the gel like substance I call flubber.

They then worked on a worksheet about compounds, elements, and mixtures.

Friday: they have a quiz over the information on the worksheet

Monday January 3

Today was a tough day! Many sleepy eyes stared at me today. So we had a get back into school mode day. We heard lots of stories from student's about their winter break and then we played element bingo. Good first day back!

Exams are coming up on January 19, 20, 21.

Sunday January 3

The time has come to get back at it! Just a reminder, the kids will have their first exams coming up in three weeks. Majority of classes will be having exams. Looks for review sheets and more information to come in the near future!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!