Week of 6-10 to 6-14

This week, all classes will be traveling around the building to view the work of the other grade levels and what they completed for their MARE projects. We will also have students visiting our class so that we may present ours as well. Besides Ocean Week, we will be concluding work in our textbooks and moving on to end of the year reflections for the following week. As a reminder, field day is Monday, June 17th.

Week of 6-3 to 6-7

6th-We will be working a bit more in our books regarding earth's weather. We will discuss types of clouds and precipitation. We will then be setting up our MARE projects for Ocean Week. 7th-We will be cotinuing our review with use of a packet regarding exploring and classifying life. This packet will culminate with a test in which they will use their packet to complete next week. 8th-We are setting up our MARE projects for next week and will then be on the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.

Week of 5-28 to 5-31

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, I will be in South Jersey on the 7th grade class trip. I look forward to a great time down there learning about the habitat and environment of the coast, which is a great tie-in with MARE. 6th-We will be discussing earth's weather and climate this week. On Wednesday and Thursday we will be visiting a new book that discusses these topics. On Friday, we will be watching Blue Planet, which will tie in our discussions of islands and MARE. 8th-We will be discussing ecology and interactions of life. Students will be working on identifying factors of interactions, as well as biomes. Groups will be given specific biomes to read and take notes on, then sharing them with the rest of the class. They will also be watching Blue Planet on Friday, to tie-in our MARE topics.

Week of 5-20 to 5-24

6th-We will be completing our island models this week for our MARE week June 10-14. We will also be working on an experiment to design a frog suitable for a specific habitat. We will also be doing a mini-unit on cell phones; history, advantages/disadvantages, how they work, as well as safely using them. 7th-We will also be completing our models/experiments of the importance of coral reefs this week. We will also be working in the book on reviewing some material from previous chapters and working with some outlining worksheets to go along with that. 8th-We will finish our sea level rising experiments this week. We will also review some of the environmental science material from the past 3 years in an effort to review for environmental science as a freshman. We will be working with note-taking and outlining packets.

Week of 5-13 to 5-17

6th-We will be continiuing our MARE discussions regarding islands. Students will be designing and building a model of an island. We will then research and read about Charles Darwin, since his studies of natural selection were conducted on the Galapagos Islands. We will be creating a mini brochure about him. 7th-We will be designing and building our experiments this week that relay the importance of coral reefs. After that, we will be researching a marine life that resides there and making a model, as well as providing facts about it. 8th-We will be creating our models to illustrate rising sea levels or thermal expansion this week. We will then be finding information about the life that exists in the polar region.

Week of 5-6 to 5-10

This week, 6th grade will be taking the NJ ASK. 6th-We will begin our MARE lessons this week. 6th grade focuses in on islands. We will be working on an island project in school. We will first learn about the Galapagos Islands and their importance. Students will then research another island and work on making a model of it as well. 7th-We begin our MARE lessons this week as well. 7th grade discusses Coral Reefs. We will be researching their importance and current state, as well as other aspects of it. We will then choose one way in which they are beneficial and develop an experiment/model to demonstrate that importance. 8th-8th grade is also beginning MARE. We will be discussing Polar Seas. We will be researching information about them and discussing how global warming is causing Polar ice caps to melt, leading to an increase in the level of our seas. Students will then design experiments to demonstrate this, as well as showing ways that coastlines are effected and how thermal expansion also play a role in rising sea levels.

Week of 4-29 to 5-3

The 7th and 8th grade will be partaking in their ASK testing this week. This will be occurring during Science. We will be continuing Science the following week. 6th-This week, we will be discussing part of our body systems; the skeleton, muscles, and skin. We will be reading about these parts and their function and how they are vital to our lives. We will be creating posters as we go that relay the above information that will culminate as a project grade for this chapter.

Week of 4-22 to 4-26

6th-We will be working on designing and building balloon powered race cars in the beginning of the week. These cars will be designed to travel a short distance the quickest, or the farthest distance possible. We will then work on discussing the Mayan calander and creating our own glyphs. 7th-We will be working on creating earth day skits that we will be presenting to the second graders. The skits will focus on ways to protect our earth and natural resources by reducing, reusing, and recycling. We will then be working on reviewing lessons previously discussed this year through the use of online assessments provided by the book. 8th-We will be beginning our earth conservation project this week. This project will be completed in groups and will focus on choosing either a future society that has conserved resources and functions in a self sufficient way, with an abundance of nature and wildlife that flourishes or a society that has "trashed" the planet, making it almost uninhabitable. Their goal will be to create a series of laws, stories about how it has come to be this way today, models, and sketches. We will also be reviewing for the upcoming NJ ASK test as well this week by revisiting chapters from earlier this year, as well as previous years.

Week of 4-15 to 4-19

6th-We will be researching the habitats and basic needs of an animal early this week. From there, we will be designing an artificial environment, similar to that of a zoo, that would suit that individuals needs. We will then be working with microscopes to view plant parts, as well as water samples from the nearby stream. 7th-We will be discussing genetic engineering this week, as well as positives and negatives of it. We will then be introducing plant processes and looking under the microscope to observe the stomata of a plant. 8th-We will be working on some NJ ASK prep this week. We will also be using microscopes to observe plant parts as well. We will also be reviewing our impact on the air and water, as well as briefly discussing celestial bodies.

Week of 4-8 to 4-12

WELCOME BACK. I hope everyone had a happy and safe spring recess! This week, all classes will be working on an assignment in which they will be choosing a career related to science and researching information about it. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) career could be something they wish to pursue in the future, or one that intrigues them currently, or even one that someone in the family might even be doing currently. Their goal is to find out information such as salary, degrees required, availability, prior experience, etc. They will be presenting this information on a poster, as well as creating a want ad for this job position.

Week of 3-25 to 3-28

6th-We will be having our chapter 16 test on Thursday of this week. We will also be researching animal habitats in the lab and design an animal with an environment that would be appropriate for its survival. 7th-We will be having our chapter 9 test on Tuesday of this week. We will then work a little on discussing how plants reproduce. 8th-We will be discussing this week how natural selection allows animals who thrive to continue to multiply the species. We will be discussing primates as well and how fossil evidence is important in discovering and learning about evolution.

Week of 3-18 to 3-22

6th-We will be working on completing our bird houses this week. We will be hanging them outside as soon as the weather cooperates and see if we can observe some birds that will nest in the homes. We are then beginning our chapter 16 material, animal behavior. We will discuss why animals behave as they do, as well as how they communicate with one another. 7th-This week we are discussing the uses of plants, distinguishing between vascular and nonvascular plants, oberving and classifying conifer leaves, as well as discussing characteristics of seed plants. 8th-This week we are designing a test to test for color blindness. We will be reviewing chapter 5 material with our test being held on Wednesday. We will then begin discussions of adapations over time and how animals have developed ways to cope with their environments.

Week of 3-11 to 3-15

6th-We will be discussing mammals and mammal adaptations this week, as well as characteristics of birds. We will be completing a mammal footprint lab that gives students an insight as to the needs and behaviors of different mammals based on their footprint. We will also be researching birds and birdhouse designs. 7th- We will be having our chapter 8 test this week on Thursday. We will be reviewing Wednesday. This chapter has dealt with fungi. We will also be making a brochure that outlines specifics about a certain fungi in the lab. 8th- This week we are discussing Mendel and genetics. We will be completing Punnett squares to determine characteristics of offspring. We will also be discussing heredity and dominant/recessive traits. We will also create posters that outline the positives and negatives of genetically created foods.

Week of 3-4 to 3-8

6th-This week we are discussing characteristics of echinoderms. We will be reviewing on Tuesday, with our chapter 13 test being held on Wednesday. We will then introduce the Power Point project for fish, amphibians, and reptiles. 7th-We will be presenting our bacterial power points this week. We will then begin discussions of fungi (not me, instead the fungus, like mushrooms)We will be identifying characteristics of protists and, on Friday, observing pond water for algae. 8th-This week we will discuss similarities and differences between producers and consumers and their interactions. We will be reviewing chapter chapter 4 material, with our test on cell processes begin held Wednesday. We will then introduce our next chapter project, Power Points, on cell reproduction.

Week of 2-25 to 3-1

6th-We will be having our chapter 12 test on introduction to animals on Tuesday. We will be working in the lab on completing an online assessment provided by the book. Next, we will be moving on to mollusks, worms, and arthopods. 7th-This week we will be working on discussing parts of a computer and computer viruses. We will be researching computer virus in the lab, as well as using it to review. Our test on chapter 22 will be Friday. This is our last chapter in our physical science book. 8th-We will be reviewing our chapter 2 material on Monday in preparation for our chapter test on Tuesday. We will then be moving in to cell processes, chapter 3. We will be observing how water moves in and out the cell of a carrot. We will also be discussing selectively permeable membranes.

Week of 2-19 to 2-22

6th-This week we are beginning our animal discussions of sponges, roundworms, and flatworms. We will be working on a parasitic worm poster in the tech lab, researching different types of parasitic worms. We will also be introducing/reviewing the use of compound light microscopes on Friday. 7th-We will be having our chapter 21 test, magnetism, test on Thursday. We will be reviewing throughout the week, as well as completing an experimental lab using iron filings and magnets to demonstrate magnetic fields. On Friday, we will begin our final chapter of physical science, electronics. 8th-This week we are working with plant and animal cells. We will be discussing their organelles, similarities and differences, cell theory, as well as viral replication. All of this goes on in our bodies every minute of the day and allows us to function the way we do. It should be interesting to learn how these activities take place and why they are so vital to our lives.

Week of 2-11 to 2-15

6th-We will be finishing our physical science material this week. We will discuss physical and chemical changes and complete a research assignment about a monument and how chemical change due to acid rain has effected it. We will then begin our discussions of life science. 7th-We are working on finishing our chapter on electricity. We will be creating posters that illustrate electrical safety that we will be sharing with younger students and helping them to understand how to be safe around electricity. 8th-We are working on our introductory chapter about origins of life. We are completing assignments in class that will count as our test for this chapter. We will then begin discussions of cells.

Week of 2-4 to 2-8

6th-We will be having our chapter 4 test on Tuesday this week. We reviewed on Friday and will continue our review Monday. We will then begin our final chapter of physical science, matter-properties and changes. We wilo observe and interpret physical and chemical characteristics of objects. 7th-We will be having our chapter 19 test on sound Monday. After that, we will begin discussion of electricity. We will discuss electrical charge, voltage, current, resistance, as well as conductors and insulators. We will be modeling the flow of current in a simple circuit as well. 8th-We will be having our chapter 15 test this week. Next, we will be moving into life science. We will introduce the new book with a scavenger hunt and then will begin our dicussions of life science.

Week of 1-28 to 2-1

6th-We will be working with thermal energy this week, as well as the water cycle and Archimedes principle. We will be building tin foil boats on Friday to demonstrate this principle. As a reminder, our class trip will be this Wednesday, January 30th. Please be sure to be at school on time and have the appropriate clothing for outdoor winter tubing, as well as a bagged lunch. 7th-This week will be all about light reflection and refraction. We will be doing various mini-labs in chapter 19 to demonstrate these ideas. We will be reviewing on Friday for our test that will be held the following Monday. 8th-We will be discussing thermal energy this week and how it relates to the kinetic energy of molecules. We will discuss the heat vs. thermal energy, as well as take a look at heat engines. We will be reviewing Friday for our upcoming test the following Monday.

Week of 1-22 to 1-25

6th-We are going to be working on our poster project this week. Students are making posters that outline the main ideas of each of our sections about atoms. We will then be using these posters to complete our chapter test on Thursday. 7th-We will be finishing our chapter 18 material on electromagnetic waves early this week. We will be reviewing for our test on Wednesday and will have our chapter test on Thursday. 8th-This week we are working with simple machines. We will be creating pulley systems this week, as well as reviewing for our test. We will be having our chapter test on Friday.

Week of 1-14 to 1-18

6th-We will be having our chapter 2 test this week on Wednesday. We will be reviewing both Monday and Tuesday for this test. We will then begin our new chapter 3 material. Chapter 3 involves atoms, elements, and the periodic table. We will introduce the chapter with a launch lab that demonstrates how air takes of space. 7th-We will be having our chapter 17 test on sound on Wednesday. We will review for this in class the day prior. We will then introduce our chapter 18 material, electromagnetic waves. We will be viewing part of the electromagnetic spectrum by viewing visible light with use of a prism. 8th-We will have our chapter 13 test Tuesday of this week. We will review Monday. We will be going to our Da Vinci Science Center trip on Wednesday. Please be sure to bring a bagged lunch and leave your electronics at home. We will come back and review what we did the day prior on Thursday. We will also begin chapter 14 which discusses work and simple machines.

Week of 1-7 to 1-11

6th-We will be having our chapter 1 test on Tuesday. This chapter has dealt with nature of science in terms of how it is used, in what ways are experiments conducted, and how can we share our findings through the use of models. We will then be moving into chapter 2 which deals with measurement. 7th-We will be having our chapter 16 test on Tuesday, which focused on waves. We will then be moving into chapter 17 which discusses sound. We will working in the lab on Thursday experimenting with reflected sound. 8th-Our chapter 9 posters, which constituted the test for this chapter, are due on Monday. We will then be moving into our energy unit. Our first chapter, 13, discusses energy and energy resources. We will be discussing potential and kintetic energy, as well as the law of conservation of energy. We will also be discussing renewable, nonrenewable, and alternative energy resources.