Thursday

We worked on our Biomes today, class was short as we had a drug free assembly and the Halloween Dance. Students should be reading B16-B31. We hope to finish the Biomes on Monday and then start of food chains and cells.

Remember that the final copy of the animal report is due on November 11th. We will listen to the oral reports that day and if need be, the next day too. The posters are also due on the 11th. Please get them in on time or early. Losing 100 points will be fatal to any grade and the wrestling team.

Wednesday

Biomes was the subject of discussion today. We discussed the different biomes and then the students are drawing them. It is easy to forget things that are discussed, much less easy to forget something you have created.

The school has started its "Learning Station/Remediation" program. Students have the opportunity, if they are caught up in all their classes and not struggling with a specific concept, to go to different learning stations. There are two learning stations each week. These will change every six weeks. Students who are struggling with a concept, or need help catching up on work will be sent to a subject specific teacher for remediation. The teacher will help the student learn the missed concept, finish missed homework and then ship them back to their learning station the next day if possible.

Tuesday

In Science today we talked about different types of cells, blood cells, muscle cells, nerve cells, and skin cells. We also discussed the organization of cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities and ecosystem.

We also watched Bill Nye the Science Guy on cells. Tomorrow we will be drawing cells, populations, communities, ecosystems, food chains and biomes.

Monday

Students received their rough draft back today. We discussed how to better organize our papers. We also discussed plagiarism. There was too much of that. The students who did copy someone else's work received a zero on their rough draft. I also included the Internet site that their work was copied from. It is so important that they learn this is totally unacceptable. Hopefully they will learn from this experience.

Many students have been ill, please make sure they are healthy before they return to school. We can beat this illness if we just don't take chances. If you are concerned about your student getting behind in their work, contact the school and we will send work home for them.

Thursday - the test is done

Students took their animal kingdom test today. If the student didn't do as well as they had hoped, they should bring the test home tonight. Then they will write the ones they missed as complete sentences. The spelling and handwriting should be correct. The fixed test is due on Monday morning at the start of class.

We are starting on a new section on Monday. We will be reading B2-B15.

There is a real concern about the spread of H1N1. Each classroom has hand sanitizer and we are asking the students, if they are ill, to please stay home. We can beat this thing if people wash their hands, refrain from touching their faces, and stay home if they are ill.

Wednesday

The student's rough draft of their animal essay is due today at the beginning of class.

Today we studied for the test. First, we watched various videos of invertebrates. Next we went into the lab. On each of the seven tables are models or pictures of animals. The teams were asked questions and they had to hold up the picture or model that answered the question. Then they were asked to tell what they knew about the animal. The test will also include the class definition of hypothesis: A hypothesis is an educated guess based on study and observation - it can be tested. Students also will be asked to give a plan on how to protect species so they don't become endangered.

Tuesday -Rough Draft due tomorrow!!!!

A good part of the day was taken up with the kindness campaign. This is an occasion for the students to take part in various activities to help them learn to be kinder to the students they associate with.

For the time that we had class, we watched a movie on the human machine. Tomorrow, at the start of class, our animal essay's rough draft is due. We will study for the test tomorrow and then Thursday the students will take the test.

A few students have asked that I add the SI song on the links. I hope to get that done today.

Monday reports and test this week

In class today we identified pictures as the different invertebrates. Then we compared the vertebrates with each other. We are preparing for the test in class. Remember, the test is Thursday, October 22nd. The rough draft of the animal report is due on Wednesday at the beginning of class. Any student who wants to turn it in early is welcome to do so. The posters are due with the final copy which is due on November 11th.

On Tuesday the 6th graders will participate in the Kindness Campaign. This will take about 2/3 of the day. Seventh and eighth graders will have it later in the week.

Thursday

The students used the class period to work on the rough draft of their report. Four students turned them in and one turned in the final copy today. The reports are due on Wednesday the 21st. The chapter test will be the next day and shouldn't be very difficult. We will review for it on Wednesday after the papers have been turned in. Students should get their rough drafts back by Monday or Tuesday. They need to correct the mistakes, add any information they have left out, and then have the final copy and poster done by November 11th.

Don't forget the homecoming parade at noon tomorrow and the football game tomorrow night against Marsh Valley.

Wednesday Parent-Teacher Conference 4:30-7:30

Today we reviewed the last chapter about animals. We learned aobut life span, life expetancy and life cycle. We discussed the importance of clean water, healthy food, and a safe environment for a healthy life. We also discussed the different stages of life. We discussed people in Malawi and what their life expectancy would be compared to that in the United States.

Tomorrow students need to come prepared to work on their report. They have had the rubric for a week now and should be prepared to write their rough draft.

Tonight the school is holding parent/teacher conference. Please feel free to come and discuss your student for a few minutes. Thanks

Monday - Parent Teacher Conferences Wednesday

Hello, today we worked on a worksheet to see how well the students knew about vertebrates. They did pretty well on it. Then we watched a couple of short videos on endangered species.

Tomorrow we will finish our measuring and then compare different vertebrate's characteristics.

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday afternoon from 4:30-7:30 in the gym. Please come and learn how your child is doing.

Thursday

Today students took notes on the different types of vertebrates with examples of them. Then we watched a power point presentation that went into more detail about the differences of the vertebrates. We then went upstairs to the library to do research on their reports. Remember the rough draft is due October 21st.

This afternoon we will be attending an assembly to encourage our students to stay away from drugs. Experts say that the best way to accomplish this is for parents to talk to their children about their expectations for them to stay drug-free.

Tonight there will be a program for adults and children at the Middle School at 7 p.m. It is sponsored by Enough is Enough Bear Lake Valley Anti-Drug Coalition. We would encourage you to come and bring your family.

Wednesday - first report rubric came out today

Today the students received a note for their parents and the rubric to tell the student precisely how to write their first Science report. The instructions are quite precise. The student needs to have their rough draft in to me on or before by Oct. 21. A rough draft should be done well so there are just a few corrections to make. The student should follow the rubric carefully and then they will get all the points. The final draft is due on or before Nov 11th. Then they will do an oral report on their animal. A poster is required. The students will have four days of class time to work on their report. It must be hand-written. Students who have mastered the skill of handwriting will, after the first report, be allowed to type. However, students who still need handwriting practice will be required to write their papers until they have learned that skill.

Each student drew an animal out of a jar and that is the animal they will write their report on. Parents are allowed to correct spelling and encourage good handwriting. However, be careful to allow this report to be the student's work.

Tuesday - Pictures are tomorrow

Our notes this morning were to write about how people are affected by invertebrates and where the simplest invertebrates live. The students then practiced changing milliliters into hectoliters.

We then watched different clips that taught about invertebrates, where they live and what they do.

Homework tonight is to read A50-A63.

Remember, it is picture day tomorrow. All students will have their pictures taken, but only those with the money can get the picture packages.

Monday and snow

Today we corrected our invertebrate charts. We discussed the different characteristics of the invertebrates. Then we went to the lab and worked on our measurements in metric and in Standard English. We will be starting on Vertebrates this week.

Remember, Wednesday is picture day. Students should be bringing home the information from Bell Photographers today. It was handed out during 6th hour. Only students that pay for their order on picture day will receive a portrait package. All students need their picture taken for the student ID card.

Thursday

I was in Salt Lake yesterday and so missed the blog. The students watched a movie and filled out a worksheet. The movie was on Reptiles and Amphibians.

Bacteria and Fungi were the topics of discussion today. We learned about the shapes of bacteria and the foods that are made from it. Then we learned about fungus and that it can be helpful and harmful. Then we went into the lab and tasted some foods made with fungus and bacteria. We grew some yeast, tasted sour dough, feta and blue cheese, yogurt, mushrooms and saw some kefir grains. The students could choose which foods they preferred to taste. Then we watched some youtubes seeing bacteria and fungus grow.

On Monday we will be starting on vertebrates. There will be an animal kingdom report paper coming home sometime next week. Please check that out.

Picture day is October 7th so make sure you are prepared for that.