Week of 5/28/13 - 5/31/13

TOOTHPICK BRIDGES & TOWERS
On Wednesday, students will test the strength of their toothpick bridges and towers. Textbooks will be used to test towers, and bottles of sand will be used to test bridges. Projects should be finished over the weekend using only white Elmer's glue and flat toothpicks. Projects may be dropped off in Mrs. Kenner's room anytime before class on Wednesday. Students are also welcome to work in the classroom during lunch or after school on Tuesday.

DRAW THE LINE - RESPECT THE LINE
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and next Monday's lessons will cover material from the Draw the Line - Respect the Line curriculum. Students will practice the skills needed to resist peer pressure so they are able to stick within their own limits. Students will also learn how to protect themselves from HIV, other STDs, and unplanned pregnancies.

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK
1. Check grade reports posted online
2. Toothpick projects due Wednesday
3. Great America $ and permission slips due Friday

Week of 5/20/13 - 5/24/13

TOOTHPICK BRIDGES & TOWERS
Students will work in groups to design and build a bridge or tower made out of toothpicks. All supplies and work time will be provided in class during the week. Students will have five class periods to work (Monday-Friday). A contest will be held next Wednesday, May 29 to determine which project can support the most weight.  Bridges will be tested by holding a load of sand, and towers will be stacked with textbooks.

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK
1. Retake "Earth in Space" quiz at lunch this week if needed
2. Bring science textbook back to class by this Friday, May 24
3. "Draw the Line" parent letter due this Friday, May 24 for students not participating 
4. Toothpick projects due next Wednesday, May 29

Week of 5/13/13 - 5/17/13

SOLAR SYSTEM
We will spend a few days this week continuing to learn about our solar system. Topics will include planets, stars, galaxies, and measurements in space. Students will also participate in kinesthetic activities outside in order to model the revolution and size of Earth in our solar system. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (5/13): Finish notes on "Our Solar System" - due Wednesday
Tuesday (5/14): Finish flashcards; Finish Monday's notes; Quiz Friday
Wednesday (5/15): Finish notes on "Stars and Galaxies" - due Thursday; Quiz Friday
Thursday (5/16): Study for tomorrow's space quiz
Friday (5/17): TBD

Week of 5/6/13 - 5/10/13

DENSITY & BUOYANCY
This week, we will return to the unit on density and buoyancy so students can have an opportunity to apply their knowledge in several fun labs.  On Monday, students will participate in a lab to determine the densities of three mystery canisters.  They will then learn how to calculate pressure, force, and area using a balloon trap demonstration on Tuesday.  In the labs on Wednesday and Thursday, students will create their own submarines and foil boats to further explore the topics of floating and sinking.  We will conclude the week on Friday with a story and video about Archimedes' Principle. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (5/6): Worksheet pg. 17 & 11
Tuesday (5/7): None
Wednesday (5/8): Finish "Cartesian Diver" lab
Thursday (5/9): Finish "Foil Boat" lab
Friday (5/10): None

Week of 4/29/13 - 5/3/13

AFTER THE CST
Congratulations to all students for finishing their state tests! Thanks to everyone for working hard all year to prepare for the science test! We will now return to a few of the units we studied earlier in the semester and examine these topics in more depth. Over the next few weeks, students will spend time explaining and illustrating Newton's 3 Laws of Motion, demonstrating how density relates to floating and sinking, and modeling the solar system.  

HOMEWORK
Monday (4/29): Take projects home; Finish worksheet pg. 14 & 20
Tuesday (4/30): Newton's Comics due Friday
Wednesday (5/1): Chapter Review WS pg. 27 & 28; Newton's Comics
Thursday (5/2): Finish Tension-Compression Lab Report; Newton's Comics 
Friday (5/3): None

Week of 4/22/13 - 4/26/13

CST REVIEW
We will finish our review for the science CST on Monday. Students are expected to review all class notes and practice problems every day in preparation for the test. Students will take the science CST on Thursday, April 25. We will continue the units on density and the solar system after state testing.  Good luck everyone!

HOMEWORK
Monday (4/22): Human Bingo due today!  Review for CST
Tuesday (4/23): Review for CST
Wednesday (4/24): Review for CST
Thursday (4/25): Science CST today!
Friday (4/26): None

Week of 4/15/13 - 4/19/13

CONGRATULATIONS!
Students in all classes did an excellent job on their forces unit test. Great job everybody! Here are the class averages:

• Astronomers: 87%
• Chemists: 81%
• Engineers: 85%
• Inventors: 84%
• Physicists: 80%

DENSITY & BUOYANCY

This week, students will measure and calculate the densities of 8 blocks. They will then use this data to predict and test if the blocks will sink or float in water. There will be a short quiz on Tuesday that includes the information we learned before break and this Monday. Students may use three note sheets to help them during the quiz. 

CST REVIEW
The science CST will be next week on Thursday, April 25th. We will spend a few days this week and next week reviewing in class and completing practice CST problems. Topics will include atoms, states of matter, the periodic table, chemical reactions, acids & bases, and living chemistry. Students are expected to review all class notes and practice problems every day in preparation for the test. We will continue the density unit the following week.

HOMEWORK
Monday (4/15): Finish lab report; Retake test at lunch; Density quiz tomorrow - study!
Tuesday (4/16): Structure of Matter practice problems; Review today's class notes
Wednesday (4/17): Periodic Table practice problems; Study today's notes & questions; Human Bingo due Monday
Thursday (4/18): Chemical Reactions practice problems; Study today's notes & questions; Human Bingo due Monday
Friday (4/19): Human Bingo due Monday; Study today's notes & questions

Week of 4/1/13 - 4/5/13

FORCES
We are finishing our forces unit this week by learning about Newton's 3rd Law of Motion. We will be reviewing in class on Tuesday for the unit test on Wednesday. Students are encouraged to stop in during lunch or after school for additional review.  

DENSITY & BUOYANCY
At the end of this week, we will begin a new unit on density and buoyancy. Students will learn how to solve for density using the density triangle. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (4/1): Workbook pg. 21-23; Study for test
Tuesday (4/2): Finish study guide for tomorrow's test
Wednesday (4/3): Unit Test today!  
Thursday (4/4): Density WS (front & back)
Friday (4/5): None!

Week of 3/25/13 - 3/29/13

FORCES
As we continue our forces unit, students will learn about friction on Monday. They will then demonstrate and measure the force required to overcome friction during a lab on Tuesday. On Wednesday, students will participate in the Bowling Ball Grand Prix challenge in order to discover the relationships between force, mass, and acceleration. They will also practice calculating for force, mass, and acceleration with Newton's 2nd law of motion. These skills will be applied during Friday's forces lab. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/25): Forces HW (front & back); Retake forces quiz at lunch
Tuesday (3/26): Finish Friction Lab; Workbook pg. 17-20 due Friday; Retake quiz
Wednesday (3/27): Workbook pg. 17-20 due Friday; Forces Test on Wednesday 4/3
Thursday (3/28): Workbook pg. 17-20 due tomorrow; Forces Test next Wednesday
Friday (3/29): "To the Finish Line" WS due Monday; Study for test

Week of 3/18/13 - 3/22/13

FORCES
Students will continue to learn about Newton's 1st Law of Motion and inertia this week. They will demonstrate 8 examples of inertia in a lab on Tuesday. There will be a quiz on Wednesday that includes combining forces, contrasting balanced and unbalanced forces, and explaining Newton's 1st Law. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/18): Workbook pg. 13-16 (due Wed.), Forces Quiz on Wed.
Tuesday (3/19): Workbook pg. 13-16, Finish "Inertia Stations" lab, Quiz tomorrow!
Wednesday (3/20): None
Thursday (3/21): Enrichment (front & back)
Friday (3/22): Retake quiz at lunch

EXTRA CREDIT
Thanks for checking our science class blog! Because you read the blog, you can now earn extra credit points on your Warm Up. Write "Science Rocks!" at the top of your Warm Up before you turn it in on Friday and earn a few extra points for the week!

Week of 3/11/13 - 3/15/13

FORCES
We will begin our forces unit this week. Students will learn about balanced and unbalanced forces, inertia, and Newton's 1st Law of Motion. They will learn to draw and combine vectors in order to show net force. Students will also participate in several class activities to demonstrate how multiple forces can combine to act on an object. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/11): Retake motion test at lunch; Finish Marble Slam
Tuesday (3/12): Retake test at lunch
Wednesday (3/13): Forces Vocabulary (due Monday)
Thursday (3/14): Forces Vocabulary
Friday (3/15): Forces Vocabulary; Finish inertia activity

EXTRA CREDIT
Thanks for checking our science class blog! Because you read the blog, you can now earn extra credit points on your Warm Up. Write "Science Rocks!" at the top of your Warm Up before you turn it in on Friday and earn a few extra points for the week!

Week of 3/4/13 - 3/8/13

MOTION UNIT TEST
Students will participate in a class lab on Monday that requires them to use a motion detector to graph their motion with a computer program. We will spend Tuesday completing an activity and playing a game to review the major concepts learned during this unit. The lessons are intended to help students prepare for the unit test that will be held this Wednesday, March 6. Make sure the study guide is finished and ready to be used during the test.

PROJECTS DUE
Marble roll projects are due this Friday, March 8! Be sure to drop them off before first period on Friday. Your name and class should be on the project and the blueprint. Students will present their project to the class on Friday.  We will also complete the grading sheet during that time. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/4): Workbook pg. 8-11 due today; Missy's Morning due tomorrow
Tuesday (3/5): Finish study guide and review for test!
Wednesday (3/6): Test today; Enrichment (extra credit)
Thursday (3/7): Finish projects for tomorrow; Retake test at lunch
Friday (3/8): Marble Roll projects due today; Retake test at lunch

Week of 2/25/13 - 3/1/13

GRAPHING MOTION
This week, students will learn how to make and interpret graphs of motion.  We will focus on position-time graphs and speed-time graphs. Students will have an opportunity to practice graphing as a class and independently.

HOMEWORK
Monday (2/25): Retake Motion Quiz at lunch today
Tuesday (2/26): A Speedy Journey (due tomorrow); Check grades by Friday!
Wednesday (2/27): Finish Workbook pg. 8-11 - due Monday 3/4
Thursday (2/28): Worksheets pg. 13 & 19 in packet (due tomorrow)
Friday (3/1): Workbook pg. 8-11 due Monday; Finish Missy's Morning - due Tuesday 3/5; Unit Test Wed. 3/6!

MARBLE ROLL PROJECT
Just a reminder - marble roll projects are due next Friday, March 8!  All students should have already signed up to work with their partner.  See the blog post from last week for more information.

MOTION QUIZ & TEST
Students are encouraged to come in during lunch this week to retake or review their motion quiz from before break.  The unit test on motion will be next Wednesday, March 6!

Marble Roll Project

Due: Friday, March 8 (before first period)

Requirements:
     1. Marble track showing speeding up, slowing down, and changing direction
     2. Blueprint showing material, dimensions, and places where velocity changes
     3. Average speed calculations and answer with units

Grading: 500 points 

Details: Students must sign up in class to work with a partner.  Marble tracks must be freestanding and not attached to walls or furniture.  Please attempt to minimize the overall size of the project.  Please also make every attempt to minimize the cost of materials for this project.  Ideally, the materials for your project will be found at home. Paper towel rolls and construction paper work well!  Please see Mrs. Kenner if you need supplies.

Examples: 

Week of 2/11/13 - 2/15/13

We are continuing our motion unit this week with more practice calculating speed, distance, and time. Students will complete a lab on Tuesday using hot wheels cars to calculate average speed. Students will also participate in two lab activities on Friday that require them to use these skills again. There will be a quiz on position, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration this Thursday. We will review for it in class on Wednesday.

HOMEWORK
Monday (2/11): Acceleration drawings (colored & labeled) due Tuesday; Workbook pg. 2-7 due Wednesday; Quiz Thursday
Tuesday (2/12): Finish workbook pg. 2-7; Quiz Thursday
Wednesday (2/13): Study for quiz; Project due Friday, March 8
Thursday (2/14): Project due Friday, March 8
Friday (2/15): Retake quiz today

Week of 2/4/13 - 2/8/13

MOTION
We have concluded the chemistry portion of our science course and are now beginning physics.  The first unit in physics is on motion.  This week, students will learn about position, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.  We will also spend time practicing how to calculate velocity, distance, and time.

HOMEWORK
Monday (2/4): Reinforcement WS pg. 17 - Determining Position; Retake quiz @ lunch

Tuesday (2/5): Review class notes
Wednesday (2/6): Intro. to Speed & Velocity WS #15-24
Thursday (2/7): Intro. to Speed & Velocity WS #25-33
Friday (2/8): Acceleration drawings (explained & colored) due Tuesday

Week of 1/28/13 - 2/1/13

ACIDS & BASES and CHEMISTRY OF LIFE
We will continue learning about the pH scale this week.  During a lab on Tuesday, students will use pH strips to measure the pH of 14 solutions and determine if they are acidic, basic, or neutral.  The next few lessons will introduce students to the chemistry of living systems, focusing on the importance of carbon and water. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (1/28): WS pg. 12 & 16; Vocabulary (due Thursday); Quiz Thursday
Tuesday (1/29): Finish pH Lab report; Vocabulary (due Thursday); Study for quiz
Wednesday (1/30): Chemistry of Living Systems Vocabulary; Study for quiz
Thursday (1/31): Quiz today! Finish map and questions
Friday (2/1): None

Week of 1/22/13 - 1/25/13

This week, we will be starting the last two units in the chemistry portion of our physical science class - Acids & Bases in Solution and The Chemistry of Living Things. We will spend time completing a lab with mixtures, describing differences between acids and bases, and labeling the pH scale. 

HOMEWORK
Tuesday (1/22): Retake Chemical Reactions Test at lunch; Vocabulary due Thursday
Wednesday (1/23): Acids & Bases Vocabulary due Thursday
Thursday (1/24): Workbook pg. 97 due Friday
Friday (1/25): WS pg. 12 & 16 due Tuesday

Week of 1/14/13 - 1/18/13

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Our unit test on chemical changes and chemical reactions is this Thursday.  We will review with a video and an interactive class Jeopardy game on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students are encouraged to stop in during lunch or after school if they would like extra review. Students will receive a study guide on Wednesday that needs to be completed and returned to class on the day of the test. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (1/14): Workbook pg. 87-89; Retake quiz at lunch
Tuesday (1/15): Chapter Review pg. 25 & 26; Study!
Wednesday (1/16): Study Guide; Unit Test tomorrow!
Thursday (1/17): Enrichment (extra credit)
Friday (1/18): None

Week of 1/8/13 - 1/11/13

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Welcome back from winter break! This week, we will continue our unit on chemical changes. Students will learn to balance chemical equations and to compare the differences between exothermic and endothermic reactions. There will be a quiz in class on Friday. Students should review all new material from before break and from this week. Students will review with their partner during a challenge activity in class on Thursday. 

HOMEWORK
Tuesday (1/8): Finish game questions #1-20
Wednesday (1/9): Finish Balancing Equations WS #1-10
Thursday (1/10): Study for tomorrow's quiz!
Friday (1/11): Quiz today; Workbook pg. 83-85 due Monday

*The unit test on Chemical Reactions will be next week Thursday, January 17.