Weekly Update for May 26-30, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Memorial Day
Tuesday:  2nd period end of year assessment. 7th period: Lab: Energy of Motion
Wednesday: 3rd and 4th period end of year assessment. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th period: Lab: Energy of Motion.
Thursday: 7th period end of year assessment. 7th period: Lab: Spool Racer
Friday: Lab: Spool Racer

7th Grade Science
Monday: Memorial Day
Tuesday: Lab: look at prepared slides of plant cells and animal cells and draw one plant and one animal representation of the prepared slides.
Wednesday: No 7th grade
Thursday: End of Year Assessment. Lab: Onion Cells/Plant and Cheek Cells/Animal
Friday: Pond Water organisms

Weekly Update for May 19-23, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Pages 138-141: "Conservation of Energy" Directed Reading activity. (w/ partner)
Tuesday: Correct/discuss previous assignments. Finish vocabulary booklet.
Wednesday: Lab: Lab of Motion
Thursday: Finish above lab. Introduce/begin lab: Spool Racer
Friday: Finish Spool Racer lab

7th Grade Science
Monday: Go over weather test/have some finish test. Begin cell unit. Assign section 1, pages 4-10, and directed reading activity.
Tuesday: Assign section 3, pages 20-23, and directed reading activity.
Wednesday: Assign "Comparing Plant and Animal Cells" worksheet.
Thursday: Quizlet: Review for end of year test
Friday: Bill Nye video: Cells.  Introduce proper use of microscopes.

Weekly Update for May 12-16, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Discuss convection lab results. Pass out and assign vocabulary booklet for selected words.
Tuesday: Pages 124-131: "What is Energy?" Cornell Notes and Double-bubble thinking map (w/ partner)
Wednesday: Pages 132-137: "Energy Conversions" Cornell Notes (w/ partner)
Thursday: Pages 138-141: "Conservation of Energy" Directed Reading activity. (w/ partner)
Friday: 1/2 day for students, work on vocabulary booklet.

7th Grade Science
Monday: "The Weather Cycler" Activities 3,4
Tuesday: "The Weather Cycler" Activities 5,6
Wednesday: Unit review
Thursday: Weather unit test
Friday: No students for afternoon classes.

Weekly Update for May 5-9, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Textbook: Prentice-Hall: Matter: Building Blocks of the Universe. Use pages 34-37 to complete worksheet "Phases of Matter" with a partner.
Tuesday: Assign "Solids, Liquids and Gasses" worksheet where students draw arrangement of molecules in their different states (may work with a partner). Assign "States of Matter Word Sort" (independent)
Wednesday: Lab: Temperature/Density and Convection
Thursday: Continue with lab question 2 (demonstration of convection)
Friday: Finish with lab write-up. Formative quiz - "Feel the Heat" reinforcement. Vocabulary booklet if time after completion of above.

7th Grade Science
Monday: Pass out, discuss, and assign questions pertaining to air masses, frontal boundaries, and jet stream. The students will research and record information by means of thinking maps in groups of 3.
Tuesday: Continue/finish questions from Monday.
Wednesday: Introduce "The Weather Cycler" Activites 1,2
Thursday: "The Weather Cycler" Activites 3,4
Friday: "The Weather Cycler" Activites 5,6

Weekly Update for April 28 - May 2, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Begin Physical Science unit. Practice measurement of identified objects using metric measurement.
Tuesday: Practice massing items using metric measurement.
Wednesday: Textbook: Forces, Motion, and Energy. Read pages 164-168 with a partner. Thinking Maps: Circle Map (pages 164, 165) - Thermal Energy. Tree Map: Transfer of Thermal Energy (Conduction, Convection, Radiation)(pages 166-168)
Thursday: Conduction lab
Friday: Finish conduction lab write-up

7th Grade Science
Monday: Finish activity from Friday. Discuss what I highlighted in the article. Assign independently the writing assignment: "Ocean Currents Activity".
Tuesday: Groups of 3: "Do Ocean Currents Influence Climate?"
Wednesday: Finish above activity.
Thursday: Lab: "Clouds in a Bottle" (Core Discovery Activity)
Friday: Finish above lab sheet. Assign handout "Cloud Formation" to be completed individually.

Weekly Update for April 21-25, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Standardized Test (practice). Media Center
Tuesday: Eyewitness video: Life
Wednesday: Go over previous assignment. Quizlet in Media Center
Thursday: Unit test over Fossils.
Friday: Pass back and go over fossils test. Recollect test. Bill Nye video: Fossils.

7th Grade Science
Monday: Discuss Water shed activity from Friday and missing work. Formative quiz over water sheds.
Tuesday: Lab: Activity #6 - Deep Ocean Currents
Wednesday: Article: Ocean Currents Activity. Jigsaw activity in groups of 3. Individually answer 4 questions.
Thursday: Lab: Understanding Oceans.
Friday: Groups of 3: "Do Ocean Surface Currents Influence Climate?"

Weekly Update for April 14-18, 2-14

6th Grade Science
Monday: 2nd period: review fossil worksheet and quiz, 3rd period: grade quiz. Assign remainder of vocabulary booklet. 
Tuesday: Lab activity: "Who's On First? A Relative Dating Activity." Set A
Wednesday: Continue/Finish/discuss "Who's on First". Set B
Thursday: Lab activity: "How Do You Stack Up?" (groups of 3)
Friday: Finish above including questions and discuss. Vocabulary word packet due.

7th Grade Science
Monday:  Bill Nye video: The Water Cycle". (1,2,3,2,3 writing assignment from video and how it compares/contrasts with students' water cycle diagrams.) Collect worksheet: Factors Affecting Climate.
Tuesday: Students in groups set up water cycle lab models. Review expectations for lab sheet. Assign Climate review - Assign "Interpreting Graphics".  (If time): Exit slip: How confident am I that my model will represent an actual water cycle and why? What part(s) does it not include of the water cycle and why did I not include this with my model? Discuss climate review from Monday.
Wednesday: Observe and finish lab sheet for water cycle lab. Collect for a grade.
Thursday: Introduce/discuss student's prior knowledge of what a watershed is. Assign questions in groups of 3. Computer lab
Friday: Finish activity about watershed in computer lab. Formative Quiz: Characteristics of a Watershed

Weekly Update for March 31 - April 4, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Finish "Using the Rock Record" activity. Quiz over Relative Dating
Tuesday: Formative Quiz: "Rock History"  Begin: Interactive textbook, "Looking at Fossils", in groups. Complete Section Review individually. (7th period pilots Michigan Interim Assessment room 25)
Wednesday: Finish/Discuss worksheet from Tuesday. Quiz over "Looking at Fossils". You-tube clips over fossils as time permits.
Thursday: Spring Break
Friday:  Spring Break

7th Grade Science
Monday:  What is Climate? Read pages 74-81. 1. Double bubble (Climate and Weather). 2. Factors Affecting Climate worksheet.
Tuesday: Pilot Michigan Interim Assessment room 25
Wednesday: Bill Nye video: "Climates".  Pass back and discuss questions over water cycle. Discuss materials needed for water cycle lab.
Thursday: Spring Break
Friday: Spring Break 

Weekly Update for March 24-28, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Principles of Superposition demonstration (pg. 64). Read pages 64, 65 and discuss. Begin vocabulary booklet.
Tuesday: Personal Timeline and Sequencing Time Activity.
Wednesday: Review superposition, pages 64, 65. Read/discuss as a class pages 65-69. With your elbow buddy, complete Directed Reading. Individually, complete chapter review.
Thursday:  Lab: "A Geological Column Sandwich". Formative quiz over section. (7th period pilots Michigan Interim Assessment room 25)
Friday:  Partner activity: "Using the Rock Record to Interpret Geologic History"

7th Grade Science
Monday: Go over test from Friday. Bill Nye video: Wind
Tuesday: Water Cycle - Mobile computer lab and students develop computer generated drawing of water cycle including definitions. Google docs, groups of 3, each student responsible for 2 terms.
Wednesday: Continue water cycle drawings in groups. 
Thursday: Pilot Michigan Interim Assessment room 25. Finish water cycle diagrams and send via google docs to me.
Friday:  Research for water cycle lab including investigation plan and materials. Lab will be implemented on Monday and observed/completed on Wednesday. Individually complete "Transparency Worksheet - The Water Cycle".

Weekly Update for March 17-21, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday:  Discuss Cornell notes and collect bubble map. Lab: Metamorphic rock samples, observe and record characteristics. Independent - Quiz.
Tuesday:  Review sheet: Just the Facts. Pass out study guide. (I am gone to Kent Science Team Meeting)
Wednesday: Quiz - Rock Cycle. Finish and discuss study guide.
Thursday: Quizlet in media center.
Friday: Unit test over the rock cycle.

7th Grade Science
Monday: Inquiry Questions - Local Winds. Quiz: Global and Local Winds
Tuesday: Fusing Energy article and questions. (I am gone to Kent Science Team Meeting)
Wednesday: Review using: Energy from the Sun Cornell notes (pages 10-13).
Thursday: Quizlet in room 25
Friday: Test

Weekly Update for March 10-14, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Survey pages 36-39 (Igneous Rock) as a class looking for key points, figures, etc. Read in groups and complete Cornell Notes. Independent - bubble map.
Tuesday: Discuss Cornell notes. Collect bubble map for a grade. Lab activity: Using igneous rock samples, observe and record characteristics. Independent - quiz over igneous rock.
Wednesday: Survey pages 40-43 (Sedimentary Rock) as a class identifying key points. Read in groups and complete Cornell Notes. Independent - bubble map.  
Thursday: Discuss Cornell notes. Collect bubble map. Lab: Sedimentary rock samples, observe and record characteristics. Independent - Quiz
Friday: Survey and identify key points for pages 44-49 (Metamorphic Rock). Read in groups and complete Cornell notes. Independent - Bubble map.
7th Grade Science
Monday: Demonstration and Lab: Convection
Tuesday: Lab: Wind and Air Masses
Wednesday: Global Wind Belts and Circulation Cells written activity
Thursday: Finish previous assignment.
Friday: Global Wind Patterns activity.

Weekly Update for March 3-7, 2014

6th Grade Science
Monday: Interactive Textbook: The Rock Cycle. Independent - section review.
Tuesday: Diagram the Rock Cycle (groups). Give each group a 12" x 18" piece of white paper to complete activity. In addition, include with drawing information asked for on page 31 for Rock Dictionary - definition for each and a means of remembering the process of how each is formed.
Wednesday:  Finish activity from Tuesday. Rock Cycle Section Quiz.
Thursday: Finish, discuss, grade diagram. Students will walk me through their diagrams in groups or with a partner using actual rock samples (sand, clay, calcite, gravel, granite, marble, limestone, lava, basalt, sandstone, conglomerate, dolomite, shale, slate, gneiss, and quartzite) with their discussion.
Friday: Review using a variety of you-tube and interactive clips (The rock cycle educational videos WatchKnowLearn) along with class discussion. 7th period gone for Haiti presentation.

7th Grade Science
Monday:   Bill Nye video and questions over "The Atmosphere". Discuss "Atmosphere" activity. Assess others in your group. Review for quiz tomorrow.
Tuesday: Formative quiz: Layers of the Atmosphere. Atmospheric Heating: Read pages 10-13 w/ a partner and complete directed reading activity. Independent - answer questions 2-5, 7,8 on page 13 (section review).
Wednesday: Make a tree map giving information for radiation, conduction, and convection. Describe each and give an example for each. Also make a drawing duplicating pages 10 and 11. Color drawing using colored pencils.
Thursday: Grade tree map and drawing over pages 10 and 11. Assign sequencing map showing greenhouse effect.
Friday: Assign interactive reading activity for Global Winds and Local Winds section.

Weekly Update for February 24-28, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: Go over test results from weathering and soil formation. Begin rock cycle unit. Bill Nye video: Rocks and Soil. Independent - Expository writing over video (1,2,3,2,3).
Tuesday: Read pages 4-7 (Inside the Restless Earth) and complete the bubble map for minerals. Independent - page 7, question 6.
Wednesday: Discuss/assign Identifying Minerals lab (7 groups total). Independent - 1,2,3,2,3 (There were two characteristics of minerals I could most easily identify with this lab.)
Thursday: Snow Day
Friday: Eyewitness Video: Rocks and Minerals. Double-bubble thinking map comparing/contrasting minerals and rocks. Independent - exit slip identifying importance of rocks and minerals.

7th Grade Science:
Monday: Begin "Layers of the Atmosphere" activity (Media Center). Groups of 3. Pass out/explain activity and expectations. Use time in computer lab to research information about layers of the atmosphere.
Tuesday: Continue Layer of the Atmosphere group activity in media center.
Wednesday: Finish "Layers of the Atmosphere activity in media center.
Thursday: Snow Day
Friday: Students gone to band competition. Students can finish "Layers of the Atmosphere" project.

Weekly Update for February 17-21, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Snow Day
Wednesday: Discuss/grade guided reading and vocabulary sheets. Assign Double-bubble thinking map comparing erosion and deposition. Pass out study guide for test.
Thursday: Finish/discuss study guide over unit. Quizlet to review for test in media center.
Friday: Unit test over Weathering, Soil, Erosion, and Deposition

7th Grade Science:
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Snow Day
Wednesday: Discuss test results for Waves and Energy test. Assign interactive textbook activity: Characteristics of the Atmosphere.
Thursday: Directed Reading for above section. Two double bubble thinking maps (troposphere/stratosphere, mesosphere/thermosphere).
Friday: Reinforcement: Earth's Amazing Atmosphere, and section quiz.

Weekly Update for February 10-14, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: Compare/discuss drawings for soil particle lab. Discuss questions from soil particle lab. Quiz over weathering. From Bedrock to Soil vocabulary booklet (not erosion and deposition)
Tuesday: Lab: Mechanical and Chemical Weathering
Wednesday: Read pages 48, 49 and complete Cornell notes discussing soil makeup and the importance of soil.
Thursday: Begin Guided Reading Activity for erosion and deposition, pages 64-78
Friday: Finish guided reading activity over erosion and deposition.

7th Grade Science:
Monday: Lab: Sound waves
Tuesday: Finish lab from Monday as needed.
Wednesday: Formation of light waves/nuclear reactions in sun.
Thursday: Waves and Energy unit review. Finish/discuss unit overview worksheet. Quizlet in computer lab room 25.
Friday: Waves and Energy test. Introduce next unit: Cells.

Weekly Update for February 3-7, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: Assign vocabulary booklet and discuss.
Tuesday: Weathering quiz from textbook. Using "Information Text Guided Reading" handout, read pages 42-44, From Bedrock to Soil, and complete reading guide with partner.
Wednesday:  Periods 3,4,7: Complete above assignment. Introduce proper use of microscope in lab. Period 2: Nice assembly
Thursday: Period 2: Introduce proper use of  microscope in lab.  Complete assignment from Tuesday. Periods 3,4,7: Lab: Compare soil types by use of a microscope and magnifying glass. Determine makeup of soil sample.
Friday: Period 2: Lab: Compare soil types by use of a microscope and magnifying glass. Determine makeup of soil sample. Periods 3,4 7: Video: Weathering and Erosion (Physical Geography Series). Worksheet over video.

7th Grade Science:
Monday: Read/Cornell Notes for article, What Is a Wave? and Double Bubble Thinking Map(Mechanical Waves and Electromagnetic Waves).
Tuesday: Formative quiz: Light, Energy, and Waves. Complete a multi-flow thinking map for amplitude, wavelength, and frequency comparing high energy and low energy while using rope to demonstrate.
Wednesday: Read/discuss pages 30-32. Update vocabulary booklet as needed. Assign Directed Reading pages 36-41 (Properties of Sound)
Thursday: Bill Nye video: Energy and Waves and worksheet.
Friday: Read/Cornell Notes for article, Waves

Weekly Update for January 27-31, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: Snow day
Tuesday: Snow day
Wednesday: Snow day
Thursday: Assign two tree maps. One for Mechanical Weathering and one for Chemical Weathering.
Friday: "Grant" worksheet. Formative Quiz after worksheet is completed.

7th Grade Science:
Monday: Snow day
Tuesday: Snow day
Wednesday: Snow day
Thursday: Finish Directed Reading activity from Friday (Properties of Waves). Discuss/grade two Directed Reading worksheets from last week.
Friday: Pass out and discuss unit overview and student expectations for unit. Vocabulary definitions and drawings for words learned with prior reading (waves, water waves, seismic waves, energy, vibration, medium, wavelength, energy transfer).

Weekly Update for January 20-24, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday:No school
Tuesday: Interim Benchmark Test for 2nd period. Computer lab 25 for 7th hour - Quizlet review.
Wednesday: Interim Benchmark Test for 3rd and 4th period. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th hour: Chapter 2 introduction activity in groups. Introduce next unit, Weathering, with You-Tube - Study Jams Weathering and Erosion. Model reading informational text, Weathering, pgs. 32-37.
Thursday: Interim Benchmark Test for 7th period. 7th hour: Chapter 2 introduction activity in groups. Introduce next unit, Weathering, with You-Tube - Study Jams Weathering and Erosion. Model reading informational text, Weathering, pgs. 32-37.
Friday: Finish reading if necessary. Assign Directed Reading for section in groups.

7th Grade Science:
Monday: No school
Tuesday: Return/discuss photosynthesis test:) Pass out review sheet for Chemical and Physical Properties. Computer lab 25 - Quizlet review - Physical and Chemical
Wednesday: Discuss review sheet.
Thursday: Interim Benchmark Test. Begin new unit, Waves and Energy. Read pages 4-9 (Sound and Light textbook). Assign Directed Reading: "The Nature of Waves". Vocabulary booklet words (waves, medium. On back add: transform waves, transverse waves)
Friday: Read pages 10-13 and assign Directed Reading: "Properties of Waves". Vocabulary booklet (wavelength. On back add amplitude and frequency)

Weekly Update for January 13-17, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: Review worksheet and vocabulary activity.
Tuesday: Unit test over Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes. (Mid-term review sheet, plate tectonics, for 4th hour).
Wednesday: Return/discuss test results. Mid-term review sheet (plate tectonics). (Review for mid-term test, ecosystems, for 4th hour).
Thursday: Review for mid-term test (ecosystems). Computer lab 25 - Quizlet review 4th hour.
Friday: Computer lab - Quizlet review (2nd and 3rd hour)

7th Grade Science:
Monday: Quiz over photosynthesis. Discuss gas exchange in plants and view stomata cells on various leaves, especially the Wandering Jew plant.
Tuesday: Plants Store Food Investigation lab.
Wednesday: Review for plant unit test.
Thursday: Unit test over Photosynthesis.
Friday: No class

Weekly Update for January 6-10, 2014

6th Grade Science:
Monday: Snow Day
Tuesday: Snow Day
Wednesday: Media center computer lab: Quizlet
Thursday: You tube - 100 Greatest Discoveries, Plate Tectonics and Earth's Core. Pass out and assign study guide for unit test. Grade vocabulary booklet while students are completing study guide.
Friday: Go over study guide and test review.

7th Grade Science:
Monday: Snow Day
Tuesday: Snow Day
Wednesday: Article: Photosynthesis and Light (Prentice Hall pages 114-119). Before/After reading activity. Cornell Notes of article.
Thursday: Article: Photosynthesis and Light (Prentice Hall pages 114-119). Vocabulary and questions worksheet.
Friday: Review for unit test. Quizlet room 25