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.