Tuesday - Happy Thanksgiving

Today we studied the grassland and water biomes. We also discussed the need of taking care of the land we own. We started a discussion on organism, populations, communities and ecosystems. We will finish that on Monday.

On Tuesday the reports are due at the beginning of class. Any report turned in late will receive 50% or less depending upon how well the student did.

We also talked today about being grateful. A researcher found that when people count their blessings they are less depressed, less stressed, more energetic, feel more like exercising, are able to meet more of their goals, feel more loved and give more service. That is a pretty good reason to take this Thanksgiving time and make a habit of expressing the things we are grateful for.

Monday of a short week

Biomes is the word for the week. We discussed Biomes and looked at an Internet clip which told about different Biomes and had great pictures too.

We do have a test coming soon, December 4th, to be exact. Papers and a two minute oral report are due on Dec 2nd. We will review for the test on the 3rd and take it on the 4th.

The test should be fairly easy. It will cover cells, tissues and organ systems. It will also cover biomes and how living and non-living things co-exist.

Tuesday is the last day of school this week.

Thursday

The students spent the entire class period working on their animal reports. The students are to follow their outline while writing the report. The reports are due on December 2nd. They must hand in their rubric which has the report requirements on it, their outline which was due Nov 13th, and the report. They also need to have a poster with pictures about the report. On December 2nd they will be expected to give a brief oral report on their animal. They can use their poster, and maybe some facts on the back of it, to tell the class relevant information about their animal.

Remember, next week we only have school on Monday and Tuesday. The report is due the Tuesday they come back.

Wednesday

Today we finished our section on the organ systems. The students took notes and did a good job. They also turned in their Science Journals. I will get them graded over the week-end and I hope to have them back by Monday or Tuesday.

Tomorrow they are to come to school prepared to work on their animal report. They will have the full class time to do that. However, those who are done will have another activity to use their time.

Remember, next week we have school only on Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week is for Thanksgiving.

Tuesday

Today we worked on cell drawings, practiced notetaking, and learned briefly about the main functions of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and reproductive systems.

We did change the due date on the report. It will be due on December 2nd.

Monday

Today we practiced note-taking using an outline form. We learned about three organ systems, the skin, the muscles and the bones. The students learned that the skin is the largest organ of the body.

I also made an executive decision 5th hour. The animal essay was due December 1st. That is the first day after we return from Thanksgiving break. I decided that might be a little hard for some students to remember. So the reports will be due on December 2nd instead. That way the students will have less of a chance of forgetting the report at home.

Thursday

Today we learned more about the funtion of the organelles inside the cell. Then we drew the cell. On Monday we will finish drawing the cells and turn to the organ systems of the body.

Outlines were due today. Anyone who was not there needs to turn it on Monday. The purpose of the outlines is to help the student on their animal report. Unfortunately a number of students didn't have them to turn in.

We had an assembly today. A magician came and while dazzling us with his magic, he talked to the students about the importance of balance in our lives. He talked about the importance of getting a good education while reaching for our goals. He used different students and teachers to get his point across.

Wednesday

This morning the students had to go to the gym to take group pictures and picture retakes. But when they got back we used SSR time to go through a Plato lesson on cell functions. We learned the different parts of the cell and what they are supposed to do.

Tomorrow, at the beginning of class, the outlines for the animal essays are due. These outlines should help the student make sure that all the requirements for the essay are included.

After that is checked, we will be drawing animal and plant cells.

Tuesday

We started learning about cells today. Tomorrow we will learn more about the parts of a cell.

Tomorrow we will be taking make-up pictures and team pictures during part of first hour.

The wrestlers will be gone to a meet all day.

Today we had the Veteran's Day assembly. It went very well. The students behaved themselves very respectfully.

Monday

Today the students had their tests returned. All students can redo the test to get a better grade. The test must be redone on a different paper. All answers must be in complete sentences. They received a handout on exactly how to do fix the test. The test must be returned as they walk into class tomorrow. If they left it at home or in their locker, it will not be accepted.

We went to the library today so the students would be able to do research for their reports. The outline must be done and in to me on Thursday. The final paper, three paragraphs minimum, is due December 1st.

Thursday

The test is done. I should have it in my gradebook by Monday. Then the students will be able to take it home. Any who need to learn more can redo the questions they got wrong. They need a clean sheet of paper. The question number must be written followed by the letter answer (if there is one) and then a complete sentence including the question in the answer. For example: 1. True The bony fish has a swim bladder. The purpose of this extra work is to put the information in the student's mind. The students will get half credit for each question they answer. The spelling should be correct. The writing must be neat. The paper must be stapled to the test and handed in at the beginning of class on Tuesday. No late tests will be accepted.

This would be a great week-end to work on the outline for the vertebrate essay. Just write down the requirement then write some information you found.

Have a lovely week-end

Wednesday - test tomorrow

We corrected our homework today. I am always amazed at how many students just done't feel like they need to do it. The sad part is when students forget it. But part of the learning is to get papers to class on time. It does make me sad.

Tomorrow we have our test on vertebrates. We reviewed in class today by having the students tell everything they know about the different orders. We particularly discussed the information on the test. If they study tonight, they should be well prepared. The majority of the test is right from their notes.

If, by chance, they do the test badly, they will be able to take it home and redo it for half of the points they would have originally earned.

Tuesday

We survived our interesting field trip and now it is time to get back to school.

Tomorrow we will review for our test and Thursday will be the test. The students have had time to study in class. We will go over every single question on the test tomorrow. The students are allowed to take notes too. So tonight and Wednesday night there needs to be some studying going on.

Monday

Today was busy. The students pulled the animal orders out of a cup. Then they got to choose any animal in that order. Their vertebrate report outline is due November 13th. The final paper is due Dec 1st. We will work sometime in class, but they will have to do most of the work at home. I believe that 15-20 minutes twice a week, plus one hour in class each week should be enough time. Feel free to check the paper for them. But please, do not do their work.

They also have homework tonight, although they had time to finish the assignment in class. The assignment was A76-A77. The work must be done in complete sentences. It will be due on Wednesday.

Check to see the new cell activity on the links.

Tomorrow is the 6th grade field trip to Logan. Students need $5.00 for lunch. They can wear regular school clothes, but they must bring nice clothes to change into.

Thursday

We are celebrating Halloween at school. The students are all dressed up and it is fun. In Science the students got their essays returned. Some did really well, some didn't follow the instructions and their grades show that.

We had a debate in class today. Half of the class were to support the idea of outlawing fishing so the number of fish could increase. The other half supported the idea that we should not outlaw fishing. We talked about endangered species and ways to protect them without harming humans. We discussed that one way to solve problems is to listen to both sides of the issue and then find ideas that will work out. We also discussed that there are some ideas that are non-negotiable, that there are no merging of ideas and we can only agree to disagree.

There will be a field trip on Tuesday for the 6th graders. We will have a test on Thursday covering Chapter 2 pages A36-A80 and the notes about invertebrates and vertebrates.

Wednesday

Today we started school with a movie in the gym concerning drug abuse. It was very sad. Some students did two skits to encourage the other students to be brave enough to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Tomorrow is the Halloween Dance or movie. For Red Ribbon week the students are either supposed to wear red or their Halloween costume.

In Science today we began studying about endangered species. We watched a power point presentation on flightless birds. We discussed how many had become extinct and why. The students then got in groups and discussed a hypothetical question about fishing. One group had to be for the question and the other against the question. They came up with ideas and wrote them down. Tomorrow they will have a debate about the issues.

Homework: read A64-67

Monday

Today we learned about mammals. There are three types, monotremes, marsupial and placental mammals. Then we watched a platypus and an echidna. We watched a lion lose a battle to a zebra, and we watched a blue whale. Last we played a game to see if the information about the animals was truth or baloney.

Test is coming up November 6th - study pages A30-A80

Tomorrow is "dress like a super-hero" day.

Thursday

The week is done! Enjoy the week-end. Today we finished birds and watched some really interesting videos on kiwis, penguins, bee-eaters, cardinals, and meadowlarks. We also started the mammal section by looking at the pictures the students brought. We tried to see if we could recognize the 11-12 year olds by their baby pictures. We concluded that when the picture was older, above the age of two, it was a lot easier to recognize the student. Then we discussed how stress, drugs and alcohol, and even meaness, can make people age more quickly.

On Monday we will read the section about mammals. Students are supposed to find out which birds cannot fly. It is also red-ribbon week. On Monday the students are to wear clothing that clashes, it is called mix-up day.

On November 4th, barring any unforseen incident, the 6th graders are taking a field trip to Logan.

On November 6th, we will be having our next test on A-30/A-80. Study early and avoid the rush!

Wednesday

Today we read and learned about reptiles. One class also read about birds. We got to watch monitor lizards on the Galapagos Islands. We also saw and alligator in Florida and multi-colored lizards in a zoo. Tomorrow we hope to finish and talk about how we have changed.

We reviewed our notes from yesterday and today.

Tuesday

We had a discussion today about the appearance of essays. Some of the essays are nearly impossible to decipher. I showed the students what an essay should look like. We discussed writing on the line, spelling correctly, keeping words together, indenting, and neatness. I told the students that knowledge gives power. The more they know, the more power they have. Learning to write legibly and express yourself intelligently is a power.

Most of the students brought their homework, some did not. They should have had a picture of them as a baby and a current picture with weight and height on the baby picture and just height next to the current picture. Also students should be working on reading A50-A80.

We read about amphibians and saw some interesting species on video. We saw a Japanese salamander, yellow frogs, an apodan, and various other critters. Tommorrow we should be doing reptiles and birds.