November 17, 2009
Week of Nov. 16
One more week of the rock cycle! This week we’ll wrap up the rock cycle simulation we started last week, using crayons as our “rocks” and taking them through some of the same changes that rocks go through in the rock cycle. Then we’ll do some review and there will be a quiz on Thursday over the rock cycle (except for 6th period who will have their quiz on Friday).
Also this week we’ll be starting a project to apply the ideas we’ve been learning about this year. In brief, students will have to select a particular rock/mineral to use as a kitchen counter choice, create a presentation, and be able to defend their choice as a good one. In class we’ll take the steps to help students make their rock/mineral selection and plan out the presentation, but students will need to complete the presentation at home. I’ll do a seperate posting on this later in the week with more details.
assignments
Rock Cycle simulation conclusions (due Tues for 1, 3, 4; due Wed for 6, 7)
November 11, 2009
Week of 11/9
Sorry for the late posting-it’s been a busy week between wrapping up the cross-country season and fighting off a cold from this weekend… Anyway, we are still working with the rock cycle, picking up where we left off last week with the Rock Cycle Rally game. Students are working this week to build a model of the rock cycle based on the path they took while playing the game and then creating a comic strip to illustrate this. The last half of our week we’ll be working with some rock samples to see evidence of the changes caused by the rock cycle. Looking ahead, we’ll be doing another quiz next week to cover rock types and the rock cycle.
assignments
Rock cycle article questions & crossword (due Thursday)
Rock cycle comic strip (due Thursday, 6th & 7th periods)
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
