6 Science will be continuing their adventures in PLTW with taking their measuring skills and combining them with their multiview and isometric sketches. We will be using puzzle pieces to help us practice these skills before working on making our own puzzles and creating dimensioned sketches of them.
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6 Science will start looking at the use of measurement and dimensions in our sketches to help give concepts of depth, width and length to prototypes, models and finished products. The class will be learning how to use dial calipers to measure down to one thousandth of an inch increments. We will be learning about accuracy and precision next week. 7 Science will start reviewing the the materials we have learned about with the states and properties of matter, as well as the different changes and laws that govern the states and changes in terms of mass and energy. We will be taking our quiz on Friday of this week (October 11). Each student has a copy of a review to help them study and prepare in google classroom, and are able to print them off at school from their ipad if they would like a paper copy. 8 Science just began their next unit of focus - the earth! We are starting off with the major spheres and parts of the earth - the way that they interact with one another and how they impact life and formation of landforms. At the end of the unit, we will be taking a quiz to show what we know, and we will have a review shared in google drive to help us prepare. 7 Social Studies made their cuneiform tablets - we are letting them dry out a bit more in our classroom, but they will be making their way home within the week. From here we will look at the Babylonian empire and finish off the week getting ready for a quiz the following week (week of October 14). A review has been shared for us to use in google classroom. 8 Social Studies is wrapping up their study of the early explorers of the "New World" and will soon be focusing their attention on the beginnings of the colonies along the eastern coast of North America. The group will look at how different cultural influences from Europe helped establish the cities and forts of the early groups from across the Atlantic, and also the relationships that developed with the indigenous nations already living in the areas. A HUGE thank you to all the parents and families that came in to meet and support our student's education at conferences on Wednesday and Thursday! It was wonderful to sit and learn more about your student and touch base on ehow they are doing here at school. 6 Science - We are going to start looking at how we use tools of measurement to help create stronger sketches and working on non-verbal, written and visual communication. They also have Guidance, and MAP testing during the week. Looking forward to seeing all of you at conferences! 7 Science - We have been wrapping up our intro to Matter - changes, properties, states and characteristics. We will begin reviewing next week for our first science test. I have shared notes and the review with them to help them study - it should all be in their notability for easy access, or can be quickly downloaded to notability from their google classroom account. Their test will be Tuesday, the following week. 8 Science just wrapped up evolution and changes over time - which is a nice way to begin looking at our dynamic earth and the many changes that it is constantly going through on a geologic scale. We are going to start by looking at the different spheres within the earth and go from there. 7SS - We have gone from Mesopotamia to Sumer, thanks King Sargon! We will be creating our cuneiform tablets this coming week, using ancient writing techniques to create messages. We will also start to look at the different Empires that came and went through the Fertile Crescent region. 8SS - We are studying the many explorers of this early era of circumnavigation! We will be taking a closer look at the slave trades through some first hand accounts that were written by both Europeans and Slaves alike to better understand the impact that it had on the many peoples involved. CONFERENCES - please check you emails or get in contact with Ms. Vogt to set up a time to visit your student's teachers next week. Update on the Week ahead... Girls Basketball Home Game 5:20 Tuesday October 1st Picture Day Wednesday October 2nd Conferences on Wednesday October 2nd and Thursday October 3rd 6 Science is getting a little sketchy - literally. We are working on creating different types of sketches - isometric and multiview to better understand what goes into creating a prototype and different forms of communicating ideas through images and across different languages. The kids have been doing a nice job keeping on top of the many new ideas we are uncovering. 7 Science is going to be putting together some edible mixtures and solutions this week (Thursday) and each student came up with some things they would like to contribute for a trail mix-ture. We will continue looking at how elements joint together in different mixtures and solutions, how states of matter can change and also look at how molecules change in terms of energy and movement through the changing states. 8 Science is creating dichotomous keys for several suspicious creatures in the days ahead. They have done a nice job connecting with animal classification, and after we finish looking at changes in living things over time, we are going to shift our gaze to the planet and the many landforms created and destroyed through erosion and deposition. 7 Social Studies is enjoying learning about ancient Mesopotamia - especially the musical parody that we have found to help study major ideas and vocab terms. We will continue learning about this awesome culture and will be making our own cuneiform tablets, checking out ziggurats, and learning more about the many inventions that came along with setting up a new civilization. We will eventually have a quiz and a review will be provided in advance to the students to help them study. 8 Social Studies is learning about the early European explorers that set foot on the "New World" and forever changed its lands, animals, and people. We will be looking at the impact that the Columbian Exchange had on the world, as well as a more in depth look at the Atlantic slave trades. BAKE SALE NEXT FRIDAY - 8th grade is holding its first bake sale - students will be allowed time to go and purchase from the group at the end of the school day. Girls Basketball will begin next week - please come and cheer them on and show some Bulldog Pride! Picture Day is October 2nd - Forms were sent home with your students on Friday, September 20. 6 Science did a nice job on their first project with PLTW - They worked in teams to build a foot orthosis for a child with cerebral palsy, presented their model, and walked with the prototype. A lot of hands on collaboration in the classroom. Next up with PLTW, we will start to look at diagramming and labeling from different perspectives to create designs for a take home puzzle. I am proud of the work that they did this past week!
7 Science has been looking at chemical and physical changes and the properties that can be observed. We did a cool oscillating reaction this week, and are going to look at some of the other chemical and physical changes before doing another demo lab together. On the horizon - elephant toothpaste and the different chemical and physical changes and properties of that messy fun stuff! 8 Science is creeping through the geologic time scale and looking at the different eras that earth's history has been divided into from a scientific stand point. We are currently creating iMovie trailers in pairs about the different eras that the planet has been broken into and will be sharing those early on this week. 7 SS has a quiz on Tuesday looking at early human technology, changes made during the stone ages, and also the impact that a changing environment and resources had on early cultures. They have a study guide in google classroom, one downloaded into noteability, and can also print one off. We are doing 2 days of review in class with built in time to really sink our teeth into this era. 8 SS just wrapped up looking at the world prior to Europeans setting foot on the continents of South and North America. We studied that impact that slave trade, greek and roman government, and also the indigenous cultures had on the early history of the lands and peoples that would begin to interact in the decades and centuries to come. We will be having a quiz on Tuesday about the first module (chapter) and were given a review in google docs to download and print off from the notability app. They can also print them off. We also did a written review, and will spend Monday reviewing key concepts and vocab terms, as well. 6 Science has begun PLTW - we are creating a foot orthosis for a child with cerebral palsy out of different materials, presenting our prototypes and then applying what we discovered to the concepts of the design process. We will be using our PLTW notebooks, so I gave the students the option of leaving them in our classroom. If they have any written work, or need to work on an entry outside of class, I will remind them to take their notebook with them. 7 Science has begun studying what matters - MATTER!! We began with chemical vs physical changes and properties, identifying different scenarios and ideas that would support these concepts. We also checked out a couple of cool examples on video, and did a couple of in class experiments to see simple chemical changes. I am going to be sharing notes and homework through google classroom, and I will send out reviews a week in advance - just like last year. So far, we will be having a quiz on the ideas we are covering right now, but no date has been set. 8 Science is starting off the year learning about Darwin and his Theory of Evolution - changes in species over time for survival and also through artificial selection. We are then going to look at how animals have been scientifically classified and organized over time. They have been doing great so far this year and I am excited for one final round of science with them! 7 Social Studies is going back to the earliest humans - looking at different fossils and inventions that show change over time. We are going to be looking at survival during the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic eras, and at our basic necessities that furthered our creativity and culture. I think they are going to enjoy the diversity of different ideas that we will be learning about this year. 8 Social Studies took a step back to learn about cultures before Columbus and "discovery of the new world". We are looking at empires in Africa, politics in its earliest stages in ancient Greece and Rome, and ideas from the past that will be important in the foundation of our country - freedom, labor, and government. We will be having a quiz on these concepts at the beginning of the week of September 16th. I will send a review out via GoogleClassroom to the kids to help them review for these concepts. Welcome back everyone! I hope you had a relaxing break and came back fully charged for an awesome year of science, social studies and some fun! Here is what has been going on in our classroom, and what we are looking forward to in the weeks ahead... 6 Science will begin looking at the different fields of science and also a little at the different ideas that go along with psuedo-science. We will then dive into our PLTW unit - Design and Modeling! I am hoping we can start the first lessons for PLTW next week. 7 Science is beginning the year by looking at physical science - specifically matter, its sates, characteristics and the changes it can go through. From there we will launch into a little bit of chemistry and look at the periodic table of elements, how the different atoms can combine, and the different laws that accompany physical science. 8 Science is starting off with biodiversity and looking at the necessities for life. We will then dive into the theory of evolution, changes of different species over time, and how the physical world has changed as well. From there we will start to look into the geographical changes that take place in our world, including the rock cycle, landform creation and change, and also some very tasty food labs! 7 Social Studies is starting out by learning about the fundamentals of history and the sources we use to learn about the past. We have established the differences and uses of primary and secondary sources, how we can use artifacts and fossils to learn about past species and cultures, and will slowly begin to make our way towards modern time by looking at early man's migration, use of tools, shelters, an origin of beliefs. 8 Social Studies is kicking off the year by learning about the continent of North America prior to Columbus and the European stampeded westward. The group is going to look at the many nations that inhabited and thrived prior to European exploration of the "New World", different cultural elements of the indigenous groups, and also at the mindset and beliefs of the explorers about the lands as they experienced new landforms, species, and peoples. 6 Science - we made it! We are going to check out tide pools a little bit more and do a couple of STEAM builds next week to refresh our PLTW skills before the summer. 7 Science and Social Studies has done a great job this year - we will finish up and do final presentations of our interest / passion projects on Monday. Please remember to also sign the Permission Slip for the movie "I am David" to let Ms. Unrath know if your student is allowed to watch the movie in class on Tuesday. 8 Science and Social Studies was wrapped up last week, and I had a great time working with so many of them over the years - some all the way back to kindergarten. I am very excited to see them rise up to all the fun and wonderful challenges that lie ahead of them in high school. I wish all of you a wonderful summer in the weeks that lay ahead! 6 Science will be having their quiz on Lessons 1 and 2 in Unit 3. They have a study guide posted in Google Classroom and we will be going over the ideas on Tuesday of this week. After that, we are going to look into some of the technology that is used in space exploration - and then summer :) 7 Science has a busy week ahead with our sheep brain dissection! We will be looking at the anatomy and comparing it to the human brain and identifying which sense and forms of memories are contained in the different lobes of this amazing organ! 8 Science has their final Notebook check on Tuesday of this week. It is our LAST SCIENCE CLASS! Unbelievable! 7 Social Studies is figuring out how they want to display what they have learned about these past few days for their Passion Project. It was an independent study format that allowed them to research something they are interested in and come up with their own way to share what they learned. So far, so good! All have chosen their subjects and we will have check in's to see how things are going. 8 Social Studies has two more classes - we are going to wrap up the Civil War on Wednesday with a Socratic Circle on the POW camps of the era, and I will be going over a few resources to help them be prepared for High School next year. The year has flown by! 6 Science has been learning about the seasons, day and night and the impact that the earth, moon and sun have on each other - we will be having a quiz on May 29th that will cover our knowledge of eclipses and tides, solstices, seasons and equinoxes as well as the general rotation and revolution of the planet earth. A review will be posted to help them prepare. 7 Science is working in small groups to create a short presentation looking at illnesses caused by food-borne pathogens. We will be presenting on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and then we will start to explore the many connections and parts of our brains - our study on the brain will culminate with a sheep brain dissection. 8 Science has been doing a nice job working on different types of circuits and trying to figure out how the flow of electrons interacts with different gates, switches, and loads. This coming week, we will be looking at dimmers, toggles, and slides to look at how they interact with electricity in a circuit. The students only have several science classes left and have been making the most out of each day! 7 Social Studies is looking into the stuff of legends - medieval legends! We are going to be looking into the feudal system, the spread of different ideas and cultures through trade, and of course - everybody's favorite - the black plague. When we conclude our study, we will be close to summer break. The group has covered a lot of mileage and a lot of centuries this year! 8 Social Studies is in it's final push to work through the Civil War and touch a bit on Reconstruction before the many field trips and assemblies commence. We have decided to have our final assessment focus around a socratic circle on the POW camps of the Civil War instead of a formal assessment. Any 8th grade photos that have yet to be turned in to Ms. Unrath need to be brought or sent in ASAP - 8th grade slide show construction will begin the following week. Pictures that were brought in will be sent home, soon, as well. |
AuthorMrs. Kelly Maass Archives
March 2020
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