Thursday tests for 6th and 7th next week

Picture retakes are on November 2nd. Students who think their parents want them to have a retake took papers home. If you want your student to have a retake and they didn't bring a paper. Send the money with the student.

Halloween Party: Students will be having an assembly to award those who had perfect attendance and the Halloween dance on Monday. Students can wear school appropriate costumes, no masks are allowed. Face painting can only cover 1/4 of the face. This is a safety issue. We will be holding classes until 2:30, so make sure the costumes will work sitting at a desk. Costumes can be put on after classes. 6th graders are to bring candy, 7th graders are to bring 2 liters of pop and 8th graders are to bring cookies.

6th grade: Students finished up their chart on vertebrates and then we played a matching game to see if they knew which vertebrates had which characteristics. We will have a short test on Wednesday on vertebrates and invertebrates.

7th grade: Students worked on the first half of the review for the test in teams. We corrected most of it. We will finish reviewing on Monday and the test will be Tuesday.

Wednesday - please return the computer and title one papers signed

6th grade: after grading a few reports we worked on how to describe an animal, how to discuss the life cycle, habitat and how to do references. Yes, we discussed this before we started the rough draft. However, after seeing students not do as asked, we reviewed this information so they would do better on their final copy. We also watched a few more animal videos. Our youtube has been down and so students are behind on the animal videos and we are working to catch up.

7th grade: We discussed more on active and passive transport. Students will be having a test, likely on November 2nd. We began preparing for that today working in teams. The test will cover the first three chapters, but focus mostly on chapter 3.

Tuesday - Halloween Dance Monday see info below

6th grade: Students turned in their rough drafts today. Those who did not will only get 60% on their rough draft. Most turned them in on time and many turned them in early. Today we learned about the characteristics of vertebrates and watched a few you tube videos about these animals.

7th grade: Students reviewed the experiment we did yesterday. They wrote the conclusion to their hypothesis. Then we watched a couple of youtube videos on Active and Passive transport. We ended doing a puzzle showing how DNA nitrogen bases fit together. To learn more about this students can read 101 and 102.

Also, Monday there will be a halloween dance. Students are allowed to dress up, but no masks. Please make sure that the costume is either wearable during classes, or that the student can change into it in time for the dance. No masks. Each grade is asked, not required, to bring something to the party. 8th graders are asked to bring 1 package of store-bought cookies, 7th graders, a 2 liter bottle of soda pop, 6th graders, a package of wrapped candy or candy bars.

Picture retakes are coming up on November 2nd.

Monday - 6th rough draft due Tuesday (tomorrow) Two papers to read and sign

6th grade: Students were reminded that the rough draft of their animal report is due tomorrow at the start of class. Today we discussed endangered animals. Each team got a short page to read about a specific animal. The teams read the reports and came up with their own ideas on how to help keep the animal from being endangered. Then each team gave a short report explaining how the animal became endangered and what we could do to help. We watched a short youtube video, Extinct is Forever. Then we discussed things we could do to use the resources we have wisely.

7th grade: Students learned a little about balancing scientific equations. We worked on a respiration/photosynthesis cycle. It is not homework and will be finished in class tomorrow.

Students have two papers that need signing and returning. One is a contract for using the new computer lab so students understand what is and is not allowed. The second paper is a Title 1 Student/Parent/School Compact. Please read both these papers with your student and sign and return them ASAP.

Thursday 6th grade rough draft due Tuesday

6th grade: We worked on reports today. The rough draft is due on Tuesday.

7th grade: Today we played with mitosis. Students worked on a really large cell and made mitosis happen. It was interesting.

Wednesday

6th graders worked on their fact sheet for the report that is due October 25th. Tomorrow we will work on the report.

7th graders finished the online quiz to see what they had learned about cellular processes.

I have laryngitis so it was a little tricky today. A special thank-you for the students who made the day easier by working hard and doing what they were asked to do

Tuesday

6th grade: Students might have two different types of homework today. In class we wrote down the vertebrates and two characteristics of each one. Some did not finish that. If it was not done, it is homework. All students have homework to bring in a book, magazine, or information off the of the Internet to help them with their animal report. Students have had two days to get this information together.

In class we went to the lab and played a team game to see how much the students knew about vertebrates. We will do this game again with invertebrates so the students are prepared for the upcoming test on November 2nd. Remember, the rough draft of your animal report is due October 25th, one week from today. We will work on it in class tomorrow, after that, you are on your own.

We also began a discussion on endangered animals.

7th grade: Today we took a hypothesis and the students had to write out an experiment to go with the hypothesis. Then we started the experiment. Next we played a game on Plato to see if they remembered the facts we learned yesterday about cellular processes. We started a quiz and will finish that tomorrow.

Monday

6th Grade: The rubric for the animal report was handed out today. Students drew from a sack to get their animal. The rough draft is due on Tuesday October 25th. I will correct the papers, hand them back and then the student will be able to correct any mistakes. Each student is responsible on Wednesday to bring information; from the internet, a book, or a magazine (use the library) to work on their report on Wednesday. They will then finish it at home and turn it in on Tuesday. This first draft must be handwritten. If they write neatly, all the following reports can be typed. If they still need practice writing neatly, they will practice that. The final report is due November 15th. Posters and an oral report will be due then also. This is a big deal, 125 points. Please follow your rubric and the instructions.

7th grade:We learned about Mitosis and Meiosis today. We watched a presentation that allowed students to better view what happened. Their homework is to find out what the word Mutation means.

Thursday Parent Teacher Conferences

We are having parent-teacher conferences tonight from 4:30 to 7:30.

I have been gone this week to a conference on alcohol and drug abuse. That is why there have been no postings.

Tuesday: 6th and 7th grade worked on measuring using Standard measurements and Metric

Wednesday:
6th grade: Watched a movie on how seeds are dispersed and filled out a worksheet during the movie
7th grade: Was supposed to watch Plato, but it didn't cooperate. So they watched an interesting movie on volcanoes.

Thursday:
6th grade: Students studied different classes of invertebrates and then reported to the class what they learned.
7th grade: We started the Plato session on cell processes.

Tuesday - no school Thursday and Monday

6th grade: We reviewed invertebrates today and then teams worked together to determine if pictures of invertebrates had asymmetrical symmetry, radial symmetry or bilateral symmetry. Finally we worked again on the difference between dicot plants and monocot plants by tracing leaves.

7th grade: We reviewed the vocabulary words for element, molecule and compound and looked at the molecules and compounds we made yesterday to emphasize what we learned. Then students got into teams and filled out the chart from yesterday. We learned what elements went into our foods, how they functioned and what foods were carbogydrates, lipids, proteins and then we covered nucleic acids also.

Part of TALL was spent in an assembly on not bullying. The high school class officers came and presented a short presentation to the middle school students.

Tonight is a meeting at the middle school dealing with how school patrons want the funds used for the school. The meeting begins at 6:30.

Parent teacher conferences will be moved back to October 13th.

Monday

6th grade: Today we completed the overview of invertebrates. We dealt with Annelids, Arthropods and Echinoderms. Students were given their science tests and we reviewed again how to correct it properly if they desire to improve their grades. A student can raise their grade by half of the points they lost. However, the answers must all be in complete sentences so they better learn the material they did not master before the test. Handwriting must be neat, spelling must be correct, and the test must be handed in before their class starts.

7th grade: Students learned about elements and compounds as we used the molecule kit to make different compounds. Then we returned to the classroom and started working on the chart that explains the uses of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. This includes the material on 76-78. We will finish that in school tomorrow.

Remember, Thursday is a teacher work day and Monday is a holiday so students have five days off.