November 2, 2009
Week of November 2
This week we are all about the rock cycle! We’ll be talking about the ways rocks are changed from one type to another, focusing on the different natural processes that cause the changes. In the latter part of the week students will be working with actual rock samples to analyze the changes and processes they may have gone through to get to their current state.
Don’t forget that this Thursday is an early release day-students will be dismissed at 11:40.
assignments
Rock Cycle Logos (dues Tuesday for 3, 4, 6; due Wed. for 1, 7)
Rock Cycle Rally Summary (due Wed for 3, 4, 6; due Thursday for 1; due Friday for 7)
October 27, 2009
Week of 10/26
Thank you to everyone who made it in for conferences last week! It was good to meet with everyone and touch base as we move ahead into our second quarter. For those who couldn’t make it in, report cards went home Monday with students. Please be sure to sign the blue envelope and any letters with the report card and have students bring those back in.
In science this week we’ll finish up talking about the different types of rocks, wrapping up with metmorphic rocks. We’ll take time to review through the week as well and have a quiz over the different rock types on Friday.
Also this is Red Ribbon Week, which focuses our attention on the importance of staying drug free. Each day students have the opportunity to show their support by what they wear. Below is the “dress” for each day and then this week’s assignments are listed below that.
Monday: Black Out Drugs: Students wear black
Tuesday: Stomp Out Drugs: Students wear boots
Wednesday: Drugs and I Don’t Mix: Students wear mismatched clothing
Thursday: Follow Your Dreams, Don’t Do Drugs: Students wear red
Friday: Show Your Drug Free Spirit: Students wear school colors
assignments
Rock Type Flashcards (Due Wednesday) – (Thursday for 6th period)
October 19, 2009
Week of Oct. 19
Parent-teacher conference week! Thursday and Friday will be early release days for the students so that we can all meet with parents to talk about the first quarter. When you come you will get their report card as well, so we hope to see everyone on either Thursday from 11-1 or 2:30-7, or on Friday from 11-12:30. All the seventh grade teachers will be in one room together, so feel free to stop in when it is convienent for you and you can meet with whichever teachers you need to see.
In science this week we are still focusing on the different types of rocks, looking in detail at each type of rock. We’ll finish up igneous rocks this week and move into sedimentary rocks for the last part of the week.
assignments
Igneous rocks review (due Tuesday; Wednesday for 7th period)
Rock Type flashcards (due Thursday/Friday/or Monday-depending on when I see the class next).
October 11, 2009
Week of 10/12
Hopefully everyone is able to enjoy our 3 day weekend thanks to Columbus day! We’ll be back at it Tuesday, looking at the different types of rocks, how they form, and why we have so many different kinds and types of rocks. Students this week will be focusing on igneous and sedimentary rocks.
We’ve also started a new quarter! I’m working to enter the final grades from the first quarter and those will be available to view by Thursday if you use the intouch system. Report cards go home at conference time, coming up NEXT WEEK. Students received a letter about conference times last week, so if you haven’t seen that yet be sure to ask about it.
assignments
conclusions on igneous rock observations (due Friday)
October 5, 2009
Week of October 5
This week we wrap up our focus on rock & mineral properties with quiz on Thursday (rescheduled from last Friday) and an activity where students will be working to identify several rock samples based on their observations. As we approach the end of the week we’ll start to talk about different types of rocks and how rocks change over time. Students may have to finish some conclusion questions relating to rock/mineral property investigations.
Don’t forget that next Monday is the Columbus Day Holiday-no school!
Assignments
conclusions to rock/mineral hardness
September 27, 2009
Week of September 28
This week we’ll be picking right up where we left off last week looking at properties of minerals. As we make our ways towards Friday we’ll spend time talking about and observing the properties of density, hardness, and cleavage & fracture. We are spending so much time with each property so that everyone is comfortable with the properties when next week students will need to identify rocks & minerals based on their properties. There will be a short quiz on Friday over rock & mineral properties and the last grade check before report cards will go home either Monday or Tuesday (depending on the class) so be sure to look for those.
assignments
property review assignment (due Thursday)
September 21, 2009
Week of Sept. 21
Another full, busy week. We’ll be wrapping some things up from our Science 101 unit, notably the final investigation of the unit (which will count as a test grade) as well as returning their tests from last week. I’m hoping to have those ready by Wednesday, but it may be until Thursday or Friday before they’re all done. Once they are back students will have through next week to re-take this quiz. Otherwise this week we’ll be focusing on defining rocks & minerals and the properties that can be used to identify them.
assignments
Rocks & minerals crossword (due Thursday)
Rocks & minerals identification WS (due Friday)
September 14, 2009
Week of September 14
A very full 5 day week this week! On Monday we’ll be talking about writing good predictions in investigations/labs. The prediction is important because it helps student focus on the ideas in the lab and work to connect it to what they already know (or think they know). Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll be doing an investigation to pull together all we’ve been doing over the last couple weeks. It will be counted as an assessment grade, so students will want to be sure to put their full effort into this. On Thursday we’ll have a written test dealing with metric system, making observations, & scientific process skills. Look for a study guide to go home Wednesday.
assignments
Graph, conclusions, & extension (from Mass Inv.) due Tuesday
Writing Predictions WS (homework if not finished in class) due Tuesday
Writing Conclusions (due Wednesday)
Study guide for Thursday’s test
September 7, 2009
Week of Sept. 7
I hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend and enjoyed some of our rainier weather. This will be a short but busy week. On Tuesday we’ll be taking time to view President Obama’s speech at 2 PM (except for those opting out). On Wednesday progress reports will go home so be looking for those. As for our week in science, we’ll be picking up where we left off investigating mass and working on science process skills, focusing especially on writing out experiment procedures (the assignment for Wednesday night).
assignments
Writing Procedures (due Thursday – for 3rd period due Friday)
Investigation conclusions & extension (due Friday)
August 31, 2009
Week of August 31
We’ve got another busy week of science 101! This week we’ll be focusing on measurement skills and the ideas of mass and volume. Monday and Tuesday will be spent looking into volume with Wednesday and Thursday dedicated to fully understanding the concept of mass. Along with these concepts we’ll start to talk about more science skills. Last week we talked about observations and we’ll build on that with other science process skills such as predicting, recording data, and drawing conclusions.
Also, don’t forget-school pictures are this week (on Wednesday for 7th grade) and Monday is Labor Day-no school!
assignments
Volume Measurement WS (due Wednesday)
Scientist Trading Cards (due Friday)
