MARCH 2011
Report cards are fast approaching. We will be sending out report cards on March 16th. I have gone over student grades with each class so that they are informed and they can make sure that they have all of their assignments in. Please talk with your child and ask them about their current grade in Science.
7th Grade
We are currently studying Geologic Time and Earth's history. We will be making a Geologic Time Scale that we will be displaying in class.
Please encourage your student to study vocabulary and complete any study guides or reviews that they are assigned.
We should begin our reviews and study guides next week (March 7) and we will be taking our Geologic Time Unit exam by the end of quarter March 15th.
8th Grade
We have begun studying Genetics and we are discussing Gregor Mendel's contribution to Genetics. We are studying Mendel's pea plant data and the specific traits that he studies. By the end of this unit students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basics of heredity and how to complete a punnett square.
We will be doing a sponge Bob punnett square lab activity as well as examining Human Traits in our Human Trait Lab activity. I hope your child will come home and talk to you about their results.
Please encourage your child to review vocabulary often as this will help with their exams that will be held during the last week of the quarter (March 15).
JANUARY 2011
7TH GRADE
We are beginning our unit on Volcanoes. Please make sure to study vocabulary during the unit so that you will begin to familiarize yourselves with it well before the exams.
Vocabulary
Volcano
Vent
Crater
Hot Spot
Tephra
Composite Volcano
Cinder Cone Volcano
Shield Volcano
We will be doing a few lab activities that will help us understand the types of volcanoes and where they are formed. We will be exploring the famous "Ring of Fire" as well as watching an informative movie about Mt. kilauaea, the world's most active volcano.
Please make sure to check with your students if they are completing there daily bellwork during class, if they took notes that day please encourage them to review them for at least 15 min per day and study vocabulary daily. This will greatly help your students success!
**Students- please keep working hard on completing your work in class. This helps your grade tremendously!!
8th Grade
We are wrapping up our unit on Chemistry!!! Yay :) We will be covering chemical reactions, Acids and Bases, Oxidation, and Precipitates.
Please review vocabulary every day so that you will be familiar with all of the vocabulary words by the exam.
We will be covering the above topics for about two weeks. Please anticipate a final Chemistry test in the next couple of weeks. I will tell you the date as it gets closer.
The test will be covering:
Organization of the Periodic Table
Chemical Reactions (synthesis, decomposition, single displacement, and double displacement)
Acids/Basis
REDOX (oxidation)
Precipitates
We will also begin an AIMS prep class on Wednesday's. This will cover specifics on how to read difficult AIMS type questions, test taking strategies, as well as review of key curriculum to help prepare every student for being successful on their AIMS exam. 8th graders will be preparing for all of the regular AIMS tests as well as the Science AIMS that is given in 4th and 8th grades.
I will have more information on AIMS Prep as it gets closer.
November 2010
7th Grade
We are working on analyzing evidence for the theory of Plate Tectonics.
We have completed a lab designed to show the structure of Earth (marshmallow lab) as well as creating our Pangaea maps.
We have discussed the important contributions of Alfred Wegener and his pioneering efforts with the Continental Drift theory and will begin examining more evidence that supports the theory of Plate Tectonics, such as, seafloor spreading and magnetic reversal evidence.
Please encourage your child to review notes and study vocabulary throughout the unit so that they retain the material and can maintain an understanding of these concepts.
8th Grade
We have begun our unit on Chemistry. We have discussed the various classifications of matter and how the phases of matter.
Students have completed a quiz on the phases of matter as well as classified such substances as pure water, magnesium, salt water, and soil Ask your child whether these substances are a pure substance or a mixture and if they are either an element, compound, solution, or heterogenous mixutre.
Please encourage your child to review notes and vocabulary throughout the unit to help ensure their understanding of these concepts.
October 21, 2010
7TH GRADE
We just finished our Astronomy unit on Tuesday. Students had a study guide and Part II exam on Tuesday.
We will begin our unit on Plate Tectonics and Earth Science today. We will begin by reviewing the layers of Earth and continue to examine the Plate Tectonics theory including continental drift and seafloor spreading.
We will begin with learning the vocabulary on this unit.
8TH GRADE
We have completed the Physics unit as of Tuesday this week. Instead of a final exam, I had students complete a comprehensive overview packet on the concepts of Newton's Laws of Motion.
We will begin our Chemistry Unit today and we will start to learn some of the vocabulary associated with Chemistry.
This is a very large unit as it is a huge part of the 8th grade standards. I will be breaking it up into three parts. We will be studying Chemistry into the next semester.
Please check back for further updates.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
7TH GRADE
We will be having an exam on Astronomy Part I this Thursday 09/30/2010. Please make sure your child has completed their study guides from today and studies for their upcoming exam.
Astronomy Part I study Guide:
1. Define all vocabulary: satellite, artificial satellite, axis, rotation, revolution, orbit, lunar eclipse, solar eclipse, penumbra, umbra
2. Draw and label the phases of the moon
3. Draw and label both a lunar and solar eclipse
4. What is the shape of Earth's orbit?
5. What are the major influences that cause the seasons on Earth?
6. What is the cause of the ocean tides? (What is the major influence?)
7. What is the difference between a solstice and an equinox?
8. What is a spring tide?
9. What is a neap tide?
8th Grade-
Today we will finish notes on the concept of acceleration. Tomorrow students will begin their study guides for their Physics part I exam that will be on Friday.
SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2010
Progress Reports were sent home on Friday 09-10-2010. Please review them with your child, sign and return them as soon as possible.
Many students have missing assignments. It is every student's responsibility to keep up to date on their assignments. I will not accept late work with the exception of bellwork. My policy for make-up work is that it must be completed within the same amount of days that a student is absent. If there are extenuating circumstances please come and talk with me. The progress report is designed to give students and their parents an idea of how they are doing in the class. It also gives them a chance to bring up their grades in time for report cards if needed. If there are any concerns please contact me to set up a conference time.
Both 7th and 8th took their first exam on Friday. Please ask your child how they did on their test. I assign a study guide before tests so that they can use it to prepare for the exams. This will help ensure your child's success so please encourage them to complete the study guides accurately and spend time studying the concepts.
7th grade has begun their unit on Astronomy and 8th grade has started with their Physics unit. Please check the blog often for updates on classroom activities.
SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2010
7th/8th
We are coming to an end of our Science introduction unit. We will be finished at the end of this week.
Please Note:
Review For exam this week:
Metric System
Lab Equipment
Scientific Method
Experiment Scenarios (variables, controls)
EXAM FRIDAY!!!!!!
******Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday 9-10-10*******************
7th Grade will begin a new unit on Astronomy next week. Please keep an eye out in the project planner page for an upcoming Astronomy project. I will update with details as soon as possible.
8th Grade will begin a new unit on Physics next week. We will be discussing Newton's Laws of Motion and other basic physic concepts.
Classroom Connections is the page that will discuss information regarding Science class specifically. Here you will be able to find updates on academic units, classwork, upcoming class events (field trips, class awards, etc). I will be adding to this page often so please make sure to come back and check in for any new information.
7th/8th
We have been practicing classroom rules and procedures in the last two weeks. All students should understand my expectations in the class and know where to get information regarding rules and procedures.
We have also discussed La Paloma Academy's expectations and our ACT philosophies.
La Paloma Patriots...
Are respectful
Care about others
Take responsibility
I have reinforced basic ideas about what Science is, lab safety, essential lab equipment and the Metric System.
LABS
Measurement Lab
Gummy Bear Lab
SCIENCE INQUIRY UNIT
This week we will begin examining the scientific method in detail. We will discuss and analyze each step in the scientific method and students will gain an understanding of how each step works and how they are connected to one another.
We will be reviewing lab scenarios and discussing the variables, controls, hypotheses, and other various parts in experiments.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY
Science
Hypothesis
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Control
Theory
Scientific Law
Upcoming Lab
Gak Lab
Penny Lab
