Tuesday

The first day of school is always so busy. Students have many papers that need to be returned. My science students have a paper for parents to read, sign and date. This paper explains some basic information and expectations for this class - students who have it signed and turned in tomorrow will receive a rare 10 points extra credit.

Other papers that are coming home are bus papers that need to be read and signed, an insurance paper and envelope for parents who want to buy insurance for their child, the free and reduced lunch paper, middle school fees paper, and the student information papers so we can find parents and guardians in case of an emergency. Please get these papers back quickly.

Monday

Welcome back to school! We are ready to get going - hope you are too!

Tuesday

The test is done,the grades are in. Hopefully you studied and were rewarded for your labor. Tomorrow we will finish the oral reports, then we will watch a few short videos on pollution and on doing your best. Thursday we go to Downata. Only a few students do not have their money in. If it is you, please bring it tomorrow.

Monday test tomorrow

Today the students reviewed the test for tomorrow. There will be ten questions worth ten points each. Students have reviewed these questions regularly and all should do well.

Oral reports on scientists were started today. Most students did well. Remember you must have your written report with you when you are giving your oral report. This is required.

Money for the Downata trip was due today. Mr. Belnap will allow money to be turned in tomorrow. If, for some reason, you can't afford the trip, please go talk to Mr. Belnap.

Thursday test on Tuesday

We went outside again today to observe the clouds. It was cold so our observations were made quickly. We were able to see some stratus clouds and a few cirrus clouds. Then we looked up the question, why are clouds white? Clouds are white because the ice crystals in them scatter the light. Clouds get darker when there is enough moisture in them to block the sunshine. That makes sense.

Next we began work on our Geologic timeline. Students made a chart and began drawing pictures of different material or living things that occupied that specific time.

Wednesday

Today we looked at the big rocks - we discussed what type of rock they were and what caused them to have crystals, unique shapes etc. We also went outside and learned about clouds. We will be doing this everyday until the end of school.

Please get your money in for the trip. Last day is Monday, the trip is Thursday. Keep good thoughts for a warm day.

Tuesday

Today the students discovered the names of the rocks they investigated yesterday. They also learned if they were igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. Tomorrow we will get out the large rocks and the students will determine if what type of rocks they are.

Monday of next week will be the oral reports about the scientists. Tuesday we will finish those reports and have our comprehensive final. Wednesday we will grade the final. We have been reviewing the information on the test for the entire school year. Hopefully everyone will be able to pass with flying colors. Thursday is the incentive trip to Downata and Friday will be spent getting report cards, signing year books and watching a movie. School will end for the students at 11:00.

The money for the incentive trip must be in by Monday, May 24th. Registration forms for 7th grade should be in today.

Monday

Today the students had some hands on experience with rocks. Students worked in their teams to examine 16 rocks and find the properties of each one. Tomorrow we will take that information and use it to identify the rocks.

Homework tonight is to read D70-D79. There might be a quiz on that tomorrow.

Money for the Downata trip needs to be turned in, as do the registration forms for 7th grade.

Thursday

We had a busy day today with students handing in their scientist reports. They were due today. Students can turn them in on Monday, but they will not receive full points.

We studied glaciers today. We took ice and put it on gravel. We could see how quickly the ice picked up the rocks. We saw the till and moraine and how glacier lakes could be made. Then we watched a youtube video that showed the inside of a glacier. It was beautiful.

Students need to get their 7th grade registrations turned in. They also need to turn in their $10.00 for the 6th grade field trip to Downata. The money is due on May 24th.

Wednesday Scientist report due tomorrow

We are learning about soils. The students were asked to explain why learning about soils affects them. We decided that it affects us in growing good crops, in building homes in safe areas, and in having clothing to wear. We then watched a video from Agrium teaching the students that soil is made from silt, sand clay and organic matter. We learned about taking care of our groundwater so we will have clean water to drink. Then we went into the lab and got the feel of silt, sand and soil. It was a little messy, but the students could see and feel what the lesson was about.

Scientist reports are due at the start of each class tomorrow. Please have them done and in on time. Put them on top of your school supplies so the paper is not left at home. Save your mom the trip to school.

Tuesday

We practiced making mountains today with sand, gravel, and mud. We also used silly puddy and clay to show how scientist believe the Rocky Mountains were made. They think that a subduction occurred, but for some reason, instead of going deep into the mantle, it went shallow and bumped along the bottom of the continent pushing up granite and creating the Rocky Mountains. We then returned to class and watched some videos that re-taught what we had experienced.

Homework was turned in for D44 vocabulary today. Scientist final reports are due on Thursday. This should just take a little time to fix your errors. Make sure it is in on time so they can be graded.

Money for the 6th grade trip to Downata needs to be in by the 24th of May. The $10 includes use of the pool and slides and transportation. Lunch must be provided by you or you can bring some extra money to purchase food at the lunch counter.

Monday

Today we watched how mountains are made by using clay to show the fold mountains and thd fault block mountains. Homework for tonight is the vocabulary on D 44.

We had an assembly today to choose to live the best you can starting with today. It was excellent.

Thursday

We finished our unit on earthquakes and volcanos and we checked the review. A few of the band and choir students did not get the homework assignment even though Mr. Goodworth and Mr. Belnap reminded them that they needed to come and get it. Those students will need to finish that assignment and turn it in Monday for half points.

The final draft of the scientist report is due on May 13th at the start of class. This should give me time to get it graded before the school year ends. Each student who turned in their paper needs to staple the rough draft and rubric to the final copy. This is required for a grade. All students have had this explained to them.

Money for the field trip must be turned in to me by May 24th, but the earlier the better. Have a good week-end.

Wednesday

Today we reviewed our unit on earthquakes and volcanos. Students were assigned pg D40-D41 1-20, excluding 18. Many students are on the band and choir trip today, however they were supposed to get the assignment before they left school yesterday. This assignment will be due at the start of class tomorrow.

ISAT tests should finish today with the Language Arts section.

A flyer should come home about the end of year field trip. 6th graders are going to Downata Hot Springs. The cost is $10 which includes entrance into the park and transportation costs. The money must be into me, Mrs. Winward, by May 24th. The trip will be May 27th. We will leave the school at 8:00 a.m. and return by 3:45. Girls, please make sure your swim suit covers your stomach or that you wear a t-shirt over your suit. Boys, make sure your swim suit is appropriate.

Mnday/Tuesday

The first day of ISAT tests went well. The students took Math tests yesterday and are taking Language Art tests today. In science class on Monday we watched a movie on Youtube called "The Last Days of Krakatoa." If you want to watch it just go to youtube. It is a great movie showing the tsunami, a pyroclastic surge, and a ship out at sea during the volcano. The movie is based on the real life account of the woman pictured in the film. Today, for those who were here yesterday, we reviewed the three types of volcanos and what causes them.

Scientist reports were handed back today with the suggestions on how to fix the final copy. Please, do not copy others work. Just rewording a sentence is still copying. Write down the facts and then, using the rubric, write your own story.

Thursday

Band and choir students took their Language Arts ISAT tests this morning. Those that remained in class corrected their science test. We then discussed the three different types of volcanoes. On Monday we will continue with volcanoes.

The ISAT test schedule is as follows:
Monday Math
Tuesday Reading
Wednesday Language Arts
Band and Choir students will be gone on Wednesday to the American Falls Music Festival

The rough draft of the scientist reports are due today. If they are late they will receive half points. Sundials are now late, they will be accepted for half points until May 12th. The reason for the delay is weather related.

Wednesday

Students took the test on Observing the Sky today. Tomorrow the band and choir students will be taking their Language Arts ISAT. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will also be the ISAT tests. Make sure you get enough sleep, drink enough water, and eat well so you will be physically prepared to take these tests. The tests are important as a measuring stick to see if you know how to use the information you have been learning in school.

Tomorrow we will correct the test and begin our unit on volcanoes. Check out the NASA site of the day in the left panel. It is quite interesting.

Tuesday test tomorrow

We reviewed for the test today with each student making a study guide with each question on the test. The students went from station to station. There were questions at each station. Sometimes they had to arrange things in order, like the colors of stars from coolest to hottest and the electromagnetic spectrum. In other stations they drew pictures to represent questions on the test. At the end of the time we went into the classroom and made sure they had the correct answers. The test should be fairly easy for anyone who filled out their study guide.

Monday test Wednesday on section C

Today we learned about tsunamis. We saw a short clip showing how earthquakes cause tsunamis. Then we used a map and found the longitude and latitude of various earthquakes and volcanoes. Tomorrow we will be studying for our test and Wednesday we will see how much we know.

ISATs are coming up. For band and choir students, the first tests will be Thursday. For everyone else the tests start Monday. Remember, get enough sleep, eat well and make sure that you get enough to drink. All of these things keep your mind more alert.

Thursday - test on Wednesday

While I enjoyed a very interesting conference yesterday on how to help students succeed, even if they don't want to, Mrs. Romrell substituted for my class. Each team was given a different catastrophe and then they were given questions on how they would prepare for an emergency. Finally each team gave a presentation to the entire class so everyone would learn.

Today we worked on our scientist reports. Most brought their information with them. Those that forgot that information were allowed to go to the library to find information. We also used the encyclopedias in class and online information. This report's rough draft is due on April 29th. I will get those corrected so the students can finish the final draft.

There will be a test on section C on Wednesday. ISATs start on April 29th and will go through the next week. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating healthy to prepare for it.