Science News 12/1-12/5

AdVENTURE Science

Blogs: Weekly blogs resume this week. Remember, they are worth 30% of your final grade, so don't forget to do them.

5th Grade: Weather

• MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
• MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
• MS-ESS3-5.Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

We begin the week exploring the water cycle and play a fun game. The information we gather will be used to create a water cycle story. Once we know how water moves, we turn our attention to how weather is created and how it is different from climate.

6th Grade: Dirt on Soil 

• MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
• MS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales.

We begin the week discovering the difference between weathering and erosion and provide evidence of the interaction between acid rain and several materials. Building on that background information we begin to examine the importance and value of soil as a renewable resource

7th Grade: Human Body Redesign

• MS-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. 
• MS-LS1-7. Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.
• MS-LS1-8. Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories.

We begin our human body exploration in earnest. For each of the body systems you study, you will be required to write a blogpost and suggest an area of redesign. Because of all this writing your class will not have a weekly blog due. What wonderful ideas will you come up with?

8th Grade: Chemistry-Bonding

• MS-PS1-1 Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
• MS-PS1-2 Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
• MS-PS1-3. Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
• MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.
• MS-PS1-5. Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved

This week will be primarily devoted to your investigation of a hazardous material. The chemical you choose will be the backbone of your final project, so choose wisely. What physical and chemical properties will you be able to uncover?

Science News Nov 17-21

AdVENTURE Science

Blogs: No blogs this week.

5th Grade: Weather

• MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
• MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
• MS-ESS3-5.Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Letters to Mr. Cuttatree will be delivered on Monday, after which we will take a short quiz. We are moving right along and begin our explorations in weather patterns. We will start by providing evidence that air is all around us and figure out how scientists determine the layers of the atmosphere. Towards the end of the week we will explore the water cycle and play a fun game.

6th Grade: Natural Disasters - Safest Place in America

• MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions. 
• MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates. 

After all that hard work, you will present your "Safest place in America" ad campaign. I am looking forward to seeing what you decided. We will conclude our week with an introduction to the Genius Hour project. 

7th Grade: Cells 'R Us 

• MS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.
• MS-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. 

We will conclude our exploration of mitosis by finding a possible cure for cancer. What will you decide? On Thursday you will receive new briefs as we begin to explore human body systems and are introduced to the Human Body 2.0 project.

8th Grade: Chemistry-Bonding

• MS-PS1-1 Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
• MS-PS1-2 Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
• MS-PS1-3. Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
• MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.
• MS-PS1-5. Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved

We will continue to explore how atoms bond together in preparation to develop a hazardous material infographic. On Wednesday you will have the formal introduction to the Genius Hour project, and discuss how to make this an awesome experience.

Science News Nov 10-14

AdVENTURE Science

Blogs: 

Students that reach the 250 XP milestone may switch to Article Blogs, with the understanding that the articles must have been published within the last month AND that one out of every 4 blogs must still be a reflective blog. Make sure you check the requirements in your class page! 

If you have not reached this milestone you are expected to continue writing reflective blogs. 

5th Grade: Interdependence of Organisms 

• 5-PS3-1. Use models to describe that that energy in animals’ food  was once energy from the sun. 
• 5-LS1-1. Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
• 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.

We will begin writing our letters to Mr. Cuttatree. Gather all your evidence and prepare to brainstorm the most compelling arguments!

6th Grade: Natural Disasters - Safest Place in America

• MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions. 
• MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates. 

You will work on your advertising campaign this week. Have you chosen "The Safest Place in America?"

7th Grade: Cells 'R Us - How do cells transport materials?

• MS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.
• MS-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. 

You will present the Cells 'R Us project on Wednesday. It is time to celebrate! To conclude our studies in this unit, you will research a cure for cancer as we study mitosis. Now isn't that exciting?

8th Grade: Periodic Table

• MS-PS1-1. Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
• MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed. 

Building on the "Build a Molecule" work, we will explore physical and chemical changes. Will you be able to open the "Covalent World"? 

Science News Nov 3-7

AdVENTURE Science

Blogs: 

Students that reach the 250 XP milestone may switch to Article Blogs, with the understanding that the articles must have been published within the last month AND that one out of every 4 blogs must still be a reflective blog. Make sure you check the requirements in your class page! 

If you have not reached this milestone you are expected to continue writing reflective blogs. 

5th Grade: Interdependence of Organisms 

• 5-PS3-1. Use models to describe that that energy in animals’ food  was once energy from the sun. 
• 5-LS1-1. Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
• 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.

Students will conclude their animal research report and prepare to share it as we create a class food web. Towards the end of the week, we will study the devastating effects of deforestation on the Costa Rican rainforest and discuss possible solutions. Watch out Mr. Cuttatree, we have most of our evidence!

6th Grade: Natural Disasters - Safest Place in America

• MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions. 
• MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates. 

This week we will conclude our research into the different types of natural disasters. Stay tuned to learn which city is the "Safest Place in America"! 

7th Grade: Cells 'R Us - How do cells transport materials?

• MS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.
• MS-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. 

We will conclude our exploration on how materials are transported into and out of cells. You will have the rest of the week to build your model and prepare the accompanying documents. The Cells 'R Us project is due for presentations on Friday.

8th Grade: Periodic Table

• MS-PS1-1. Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
• MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed. 

Students will finish their periodic table of ___, and be ready to share during parent exhibition night on Wednesday. The new project will be introduced on Thursday as we learn how to count atoms, with the help of who else... Count von Count.