6th grade Science:

Monday - Note: I have 6th grade Science 1st, 5th, and 6th periods. The way that is working out is that I start the day's lesson with 5th and 6th period so that means 1st period will usually be one day behind. I wanted to mention that so that parents don't get upset if their 1st period child seems one day behind! Sorry for the confusion.

Today we will choose new teams as we begin a new unit on Physical Science by studying Energy! (1st period got today to finish their Final Conclusion blogs and their standards self-assessments. Whatever they didn't get done today is homework.)

Students will continue preparing for tomorrow's lab where students will make their own battery. We are working on the Energy, Machines, and Motion lesson 2 lab (we are skipping lesson 1).

All 6th graders are also participating in a blogging challenge. We are reading and trading comments with two classes in Australia and two in New Zealand!

HW - None, unless you still haven't finished your final conclusion blog or your standards self-assessment.

Tuesday -Today student teams will begin preparing for our first energy lab by making batteries. This is the Energy, Machines, and Motion lesson 2 lab.

HW - Here's the EMM site for enrichment opportunities or in case your child misses a lab.

Wednesday - Today 5th and 6th period will start the lesson 2 by building their batteries. Period 1 will work on preparing for the lab.

HW - None

Thursday - Today students will finish reflecting on the battery they built. I will show them how what they built was indeed a battery. Then students will answer their reflection questions on their class blogs.

HW - None

Friday - Today we finished the lesson 2 reflection and lesson 2 blog. Fifth period tried to start lesson 3 but didn't get very far. They got a bit too excited. Sixth period worked on their battery blog.

HW - None

8th grade Science:

Monday to Friday - This week teams should be either starting or continuing to collect data from their plant experiments. Students will also be working on the research part of the plant science fair projects.

Team captains have a planning document that they've been filling out to make sure their project includes all the necessary components. Captains are also marking off when they finish each stage of this project so that I can keep track of which team needs help.

Monday most teams finished planning their projects and a couple of teams have started their experiments.

Tuesday several more teams began their experiments. Those that haven't done so yet are still working out how they will get the materials they need. I walked around making sure teams started the research part of their projects.

Wednesday more teams started and continued their experiments and collecting data. Teams should have their research well underway by now.

Thursday I continued to urge groups to search for information so they could find something they wanted to research. I want the research part of his part to be student directed. Rather than me telling them what to research each team reads up on their chosen topics and then focuses on what parts interest them. By asking questions and pursuing answers they will be more interested in their research! - Today 3rd period set the fish traps.

Friday I am continuing to give teams feedback and guide them towards satisfying research. This is proving quite difficult for a majority of teams. Kids just aren't engaging with the material so they aren't finding out things that interest them so I see many kids off task doing little to no research. It's disappointing to give them all this choice and freedom and to see them squander it. - 3rd period caught, counted and returned two beautiful coho salmon and one ugly, little stickleback to the creek.

HW - Arrange to bring what you will need to conduct your plant experiments.