April 2, 2012
What a successful week we had last week! Every group was able to create a unique Rube Goldberg machine and tested it's ability to snooze an alarm clock! I will be uploading the class video soon, so you can show your family and friends just how AWESOME your machine turned out! This week, we will be writing a reflective essay on your project, which will be due on Wednesday, April 4th. Be sure to fill out the essay planning guide you received in class today (4/2) to get your thoughts organized.
March 20, 2012
This week, we will begin planning and designing our Rube Goldberg Devices. You will be assigned the task to create a machine that can snooze an alarm clock. The machine must consist of at least 3 different simple machines and have at least 6 steps. You will be working as a team to come up with a materials list, a rough draft of your machine, and assign members of your group to bring in different household items to create your machine. The materials list and rough draft will be due on Thursday, March 22nd, at the end of class. Materials will be due Monday, March 26th, and building will be done in class. The final product will be tested on Friday, March 30th. A written report about the design and success (or failure) of each step of your machine will be due on Tuesday, April 3rd.
March 12, 2012
This week, we are beginning our Physics Unit. The first topic is speed, and the Domino Dash lab will be due during class on Thursday, March 15th.
Determining Speed & Velocity Practice Problems will be distributed on Thursday, and will be due on Friday, March 16th, at the end of class.
Determining Speed & Velocity Practice Problems will be distributed on Thursday, and will be due on Friday, March 16th, at the end of class.
March 7, 2012
This week, we are learning how to interpret and create pedigree charts for both autosomal and sex-linked traits. A pedigree worksheet will be given out on March 8th, and will be due on Monday, March 12th.
February 27, 2012
This week, we will be genetically engineering our very own MONSTER, using the 5 types methods of inheritance that we learned in class (Mendelian inheritance, incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles & regulatory genes). This project will be due on Thursday, MARCH 1ST.
February 6, 2012
On Wednesday, we will begin studying the immune system. Below, you will find the link to a Prezi presentation that we will be going through in class. You will want to take notes on the material that is included. On Friday, we will be completing articles on Achieve 3000 and answering the multiple choice and thought questions.
IMMUNE SYSTEM PREZI
IMMUNE SYSTEM PREZI
February 1, 2012
Endocrine & Reproductive Systems Unit Study: due Tuesday, February 7th. Details of the Unit Study can be seen below.
endocrine__reproductive_system_unit.pdf | |
File Size: | 199 kb |
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the_endocrine_system.pptx | |
File Size: | 1020 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
gland_chart.docx | |
File Size: | 32 kb |
File Type: | docx |
January 25-27, 2012
1/25/12: Core 1 & 2: Nervous System Games. Core 3 & 4: Science & The Giver: 10 questions, answered in complete sentences. Also, any student that attended the Foster's presentation on 1/20 will be asked to write a two paragraph reflection essay on what they learned. This will be due by Friday, January 27th.
1/26-1/27: Lorenzo's Oil Movie Presentation. See below for the questions that we will be discussing, as well as the alternative assignment.
1/26-1/27: Lorenzo's Oil Movie Presentation. See below for the questions that we will be discussing, as well as the alternative assignment.
lorenzos_oil_movie_questions.pdf | |
File Size: | 204 kb |
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lorenzos_oil_alternative_assignment.pdf | |
File Size: | 361 kb |
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January 20, 2012
Make sure to get your permission slip signed to watch "Lorenzo's Oil" when we return to school on Wednesday! No signed permission slip = no movie!!
January 17, 2012
Homework: Nervous System Review Crossword Puzzle, due 1/18/12*
*core 3 due date is 1/19/12
*core 3 due date is 1/19/12
January 6, 2012
As you begin to work on your choice of activities, one of the options for Level C is to read an article selected by me and answer questions. You may chose one of the following articles, which can be found on the website below.
1.The Brain Looks at the Bright Side of Things
2. Rats' Caffeine Brain Boost
3. The Ups and Downs of a Teenage Brain
4. What a Dream Looks Like
5. Action Gaming and Quick Thinking
Click HERE to go to the website that contains the following articles. When you have finished reading, see me for the questions related to your chosen topic.
1.The Brain Looks at the Bright Side of Things
2. Rats' Caffeine Brain Boost
3. The Ups and Downs of a Teenage Brain
4. What a Dream Looks Like
5. Action Gaming and Quick Thinking
Click HERE to go to the website that contains the following articles. When you have finished reading, see me for the questions related to your chosen topic.
January 4, 2012
Below is the checklist for the Nervous System Unit. Level B & C tasks will be due on Friday, January 13th. The Level A task will be due on Tuesday, January 17th. We will be discussing these assignments in detail tomorrow (1/5/12/) and I will answer any questions that you may have at that time!
nervous_system_unit.pdf | |
File Size: | 89 kb |
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nervous_system.pptx | |
File Size: | 4518 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
November 28, 2011
Smoking Project: Begins on November 30th & must be completed by December 8th. Details can be found on my home page.
December Current Event: Due December 15th.
December Current Event: Due December 15th.
November 22, 2011
There is no homework this week! Just make sure that you bring your science notebook home over the Thanksgiving break, in order to review what we learned during the first trimester. When we return on Monday, you will have your Science Trimester Assessment. This will NOT be a grade in the gradebook - however it CAN be used as a replacement grade for anything we do during the second trimester. For example, if your score a 50% on a project and you have earned a 98% on the trimester assessment, you can replace the 50% with a 98%, no questions asked!! A pretty good deal, if I do say so myself.
Enjoy the holiday break!
Enjoy the holiday break!
Change in Plans....
11/17/11: Due to the fact that so many of the Starfish students were participating in the Animal Show today, coupled with the fact that I was absent yesterday, I postponed the Muscular System & Circulatory System Quiz to Monday, November 21st. All other due dates below are accurate!
November 14, 2011
This is the last week of the first trimester!! We will be working on the following assignments this week:
Tuesday, November 15th: Parts of the Blood foldable. DUE Wednesday, 11/16
Wednesday, November 16th: The Travels of a Red Blood Cell Cartoon*. You will be given time in class on 11/16 - 11/18 to work on this project.
DUE Monday, 11/21 (* this will included in the second trimester grade book)
Thursday, November 17th: QUIZ on the Muscular System & the Circulatory System
Tuesday, November 15th: Parts of the Blood foldable. DUE Wednesday, 11/16
Wednesday, November 16th: The Travels of a Red Blood Cell Cartoon*. You will be given time in class on 11/16 - 11/18 to work on this project.
DUE Monday, 11/21 (* this will included in the second trimester grade book)
Thursday, November 17th: QUIZ on the Muscular System & the Circulatory System
November 3, 2011
Dates to remember:
November 8th: 3rd Current Event Summary is DUE. Table B in each class will present.
November 9th: Guest Speaker, Mr. Eric Mayhew, will be visiting class to dissect a pig heart and show us how the lungs work!! This is guarenteed to be an excellent presentation!! You will be required to write a two-paragraph summary about what you learned from his visit.
November 17th: Quiz on the muscular system, the heart and the lungs.
November 8th: 3rd Current Event Summary is DUE. Table B in each class will present.
November 9th: Guest Speaker, Mr. Eric Mayhew, will be visiting class to dissect a pig heart and show us how the lungs work!! This is guarenteed to be an excellent presentation!! You will be required to write a two-paragraph summary about what you learned from his visit.
November 17th: Quiz on the muscular system, the heart and the lungs.
October 20, 2011
There has been no homework this week (YAY!!) unless you have makeup work to turn in. Your next current event article summary is due on November 8th.
October 6, 2011
We started a Cell Analogy Project in class today, where you will be comparing either a plant or an animal cell to something of your choosing. The instructions for this project can be found below. This project will be due on Wednesday, October 12th. On October 13th, we will be having a quiz on single celled eukaryotes, microscopes, plant cells and animal cells. Your current event article is due on October 14th and Table A in each class will be presenting their current event. Don't wait until the last minute to begin preparing for these assessments!
cellanalogyproject.pdf | |
File Size: | 57 kb |
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October 3, 2011
Today we are wrapping up our study of single celled eukaryotes by taking an open-notes quiz, viewing preserved specimens using the microscopes, and reading nonfiction summaries about the amoeba, euglena & paramecium. The questions that go along with the readings will be due on Wednesday. Click on the links below to view the articles of each organism.
Amoeba Article
Euglena Article
Paramecium Article
Amoeba Article
Euglena Article
Paramecium Article
September 30, 2011
What fun we had with microscopes this week!! I hope you enjoyed checking out some pond water organisms today, both unicellular and multicellular! For this weekend, make sure that you have completed your Compound Microscope Lab drawings and questions, your organelle color coding of the four unicellular organisms that we are studying, and your color coding of the plant and animal cell that you received in class today. Most of you should be done with all of this, except for the plant and animal cell diagrams. We will have an open composition notebook quiz on unicellular organisms and the microscope on Monday to check that all of this is complete! Also, make sure to have found a current event article by Tuesday. The summary is not due until October 14th, but I do not want you to wait to the last minute to find an article! If your not sure where to start looking, click on the HOME tab above and you will see a list of websites that you can start at. Have a great weekend!
September 28, 2011
Below is the Unicellular Organism Presentation that we went through today, complete with the vocabulary list that you will need for all of the unicellular organelles.
structures__functions_of_living_organisms.pptx | |
File Size: | 4111 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
September 27, 2011
Due to the fact that E-Grades is not up and running quite yet, you recorded your grades in the back of your composition notebook today. Make sure to get your parents to sign this page in your composition notebook by Thursday, Sept. 29th! For tonight, you must have your table of contents in your composition notebook filled in completely up to the single celled organism diagrams that we added to!
Great job to all of you that turned in your first current event article today! So far, the summaries have been fabulous!
Great job to all of you that turned in your first current event article today! So far, the summaries have been fabulous!
September 22, 2011
Our first current event summary will be due on Tuesday, September 27th. As you know, we are all doing summarizing the SAME article on sea turtles for our first current event. If you would like me to proof read your rough draft, make sure to bring it to me before Tuesday!! See below for a copy of the article and the grading rubric for all current events.
practice_current_event_on_sea_turtles.pdf | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
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currenteventsassignment.doc.pdf | |
File Size: | 222 kb |
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September 19, 2011
The Extreme Weather Assignment that you received today in class will be due on Wednesday. Click on the link on the home page to navigate to the correct website.
Below is the document that contains the questions that you will need to answer. Please glue this into the next two empty pages of your composition notebook.
Your first quiz in science will be on Thursday, Sept 22nd. The quiz will focus on what we have learned about the atmosphere. We will review in class on Wednesday to help you prepare for your first quiz!
Below is the document that contains the questions that you will need to answer. Please glue this into the next two empty pages of your composition notebook.
Your first quiz in science will be on Thursday, Sept 22nd. The quiz will focus on what we have learned about the atmosphere. We will review in class on Wednesday to help you prepare for your first quiz!
extreme_weather.pdf | |
File Size: | 380 kb |
File Type: |
September 14, 2011
Finish the water cycle web quest at home if you did not finish in class. This is due tomorrow!
September 13, 2011
No homework for tonight! Those of you that took home a barometer, make sure to take an outdoor measurement each day this week to share with your group.
September 7, 2011
Make sure you bring in a clean, dry soup can for our project on Friday. If you have been absent this week, click below to view the Atmosphere Notes.
structure_of_the_atmosphere.ppt | |
File Size: | 3816 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
September 1, 2011
Homework: Answer the following three questions on page 19 of your composition notebook
- What is an observation?
- What aids in making accurate observations?
- What causes inaccurate observations?
August 31, 2011
Homework: Interview someone that has taken 7th grade science! The person does NOT have to have attended MCMS. Talk to your parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, neighbors.....whomever you would like. Ask them the three questions that you were assigned, and write their answers in complete sentences. This assignment is due on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd. Happy Interviewing!!
August 30, 2011
Homework: Number pages 1-100 in your composition notebook and paste your hurricane tracking map on page 15.
August 25, 2011
Homework: 1. Use the hurricane tracking map you received in class to track the location of Hurricane Irene twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening). The following websites may be helpful:
- www.stormpulse.com
- www.weather.com
- www.nhc.noaa.gov