News 12/14-12/18

All students have a Charity Fair Project Reflection due this week. This is to be written in your Science blog.

News 12/7-12/11

Dates to Remember:

• Winter Band Concert & Chili/Chowder Fundraiser - Wednesday Dec 9: Dinner starts @ 5:00; Concert @ 7:00
• Charity Fair/Student Exhibition Night - Wednesday December 16 @ 5-6 p.m. 

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science

Weather: We will continue to look at the water cycle, and make a water cycle cartoon based on our findings. We will then explore fronts and storms. Thursday and Friday will be dedicated to calculating the carbon footprint of the product you will sell at the Charity fair. Don't forget to keep track of the labels of everything you use!

6^th Science

Dirt on Soil. You did a great job with your Dirt on Soil Background research. We will perform two virtual explorations dealing with why some soils erode more than others, and what does incline, type of soil and humidity mean in terms of protecting soil. You will also draft a recommendation to park officials from a park destroyed by erosion. Thursday and Friday will be dedicated to calculating the carbon footprint of the product you will sell at the Charity fair. Don't forget to keep track of the labels of everything you use!

^7th Science

Genetics. You will become parents to a beautiful baby monster, as you practice determining genotypes and phenotypes. You will then follow in Mendel's footsteps to see just how he figured out dominance. Thursday and Friday will be dedicated to calculating the carbon footprint of the product you will sell at the Charity fair. Don't forget to keep track of the labels of everything you use!


^8th Engineering

Don't forget to bring any extra materials you are planning to use to build your sound amplification system. You will have an opportunity to build and modify your product. Are you building what you drew? Do you have enough money to redesign? Those of you that complete the challenge in a timely manner will have an opportunity to work on their Charity Fair project.

News 11/30 - 12/4

Dates to Remember:

• Charity Fair/Student Exhibition Night - Wednesday December 16 @ 5-6 p.m. 

Classroom News

Blogs and Birdbrain readings resume for all

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science

Weather: This week we will begin our explorations on the weather. We will start off by understanding the layers of the atmosphere and move on the the water cycle. Once we know how water moves, we turn our attention to how weather is created and how it is different from climate.

6^th Science

Dirt on Soil. After you present your Safest Place in America campaigns, we will move directly to the differences between weathering an erosion. Building on that background information we begin to examine the importance and value of soil as a renewable resource.

^7th Science

Genetics. You will present your Human Body redesigns on Monday. We will then begin our Genetics unit by "Touring the basics" and developing the beginning of our concept map for the unit. As we move through the week, we will conduct a trait inventory, and begin to discover Mendel's work.


^8th Engineering

We will work to submit your entries for the different competitions on Monday. We will make sure that everything is in the correct format. Once we are done, we will begin our next challenge by exploring how sound travels. You will have an opportunity to use your phones!

Safest Place in America

"What is the Safest Place in America?", you ask. Take a look at what our 6th graders have to say about that.

 

Rainforest Food Web

The relationships between animals and plants in the tropical rain forest are very complex. To read what these organisms have to say about who they are, and their role in their environment click on them.  

Fifth graders, thank you for making this possible!

News 11/16-11/20

Dates to Remember:

• 7/8 Field trip to SJSU - November 17
• AdV Parent Information Meeting - November 18 @ 4:00 p.m.
• Turkey Trot will be held in PE on Thursday, November 19th - Invite your parents to sign up to help during this event using this link http://goo.gl/qxDSx0

Classroom News

No Birdbrain Readings this week!

5, 6 and 7 Science: Project blogs are due Sunday Nov 29. This gives you this whole week as well as the break week to complete them.

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

3644 5th grade

1000 6th grade

2204 7th grade

5^th Science

Interdependence of organisms: We are drafting our Letters to Mr. Cuttatree. These have to be mailed before Thanksgiving so make sure you complete yours by Nov. 20. Make sure you bring all your information on Thursday, as you will create Organism cards to mount in our giant food web.
Project due: Nov 20

6^th Science

Severe Weather. We will put final touches on your Ad campaign for the Safest Place in America. Be creative with your Ads; remember you must convince us that your decision is based on hard evidence. Project due Nov. 18

^7th Science

Human Body Redesign - Your redesigns are board games should be well under way to completion. You will have this week to finish. Project due Nov 18.


^8th Engineering

This week you will continue to work on your entries for  Exploravision,  Lexus Eco Challenge, or DuPont challenge. This is the last classroom week before entries are due. We will be submitting the day you come back from break. Make sure you are complying with each of your competitions (down to format, spacing and font size). Entries Due: Nov 30

News 11/9-11/13

Dates to Remember:

END OF TERM: 11/13. Last day to turn things in 11/12.

• AdV Parent Information Meeting - November 18 @ 4:00 p.m.
• Turkey Trot will be held in PE on Thursday, November 19th - Invite your parents to sign up to help during this event using this link http://goo.gl/qxDSx0

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

3644 5th grade

1000 6th grade

2204 7th grade

BirdBrain Readings have started. Remember you can re-take a reading as many times as needed until the due date (Fridays at 2:30).

5^th Science

Interdependence of organisms: We will start the week with a rainforest scavenger hunt in order to get a sense of the different relationships present. We will then read a fun story during which you will receive your assignments. Each of you will become a different link in the rainforest food web so we can begin drafting our final work for Avery. Beware Mr. Cuttatree, we are prepared to give you a run for your money.
Project due: Nov 20

6^th Science

Severe Weather. We have gathered our evidence and are ready to decide. Which city is the "Safest Place in America"?  Once you have made your choice, you will begin to create your advertising campaigns. Read the directions so that you can successfully prove your choice. Project due Nov. 18

^7th Science

Human Body Redesign - You have been working really hard and our research phase is getting done. Start thinking about what specifically you want to address. You could take on a known flaw, or develop a new way of addressing it. X-Men has nothing on us as we develop a better version of the human body. Project due Nov 18.


^8th Engineering

This week you will continue to work on your entries for  Exploravision,  Lexus Eco Challenge, or DuPont challenge. Use your planning sheets to develop winning entries. Check your competition website often. You do not want to be disqualified on a technicality.

News 11/2-11/6

Dates to Remember:

END OF TERM: 11/13. Last day to turn things in 11/12.

• AdV Parent Information Meeting - November 18 @ 4:00 p.m.
• Turkey Trot will be held in PE on Thursday, November 19th - Invite your parents to sign up to help during this event using this link http://goo.gl/qxDSx0

All students are invited to participate in homework center. If you need my help specifically for to schedule a quiz re-take, you must make an appointment with me via e-mail.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

3644 5th grade

1000 6th grade

2204 7th grade

BirdBrain Readings have started. Remember you can re-take a reading as many times as needed until the due date (Fridays at 2:30).

5^th Science

Interdependence of organisms: This week is all about different relationships in an ecosystem. We will analyze the flow of energy , and continue to symbiosis. You will be asked to analyze a case study and present it to your peers. What happens when Mother Nature intervenes in a food web?
Due: Nov 20

6^th Science

Severe Weather. We continue our journey to uncover "The Safest Place in America". Prepare to analyze tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and winter storms. What makes each severe weather type so dangerous? What makes winter storms in Alaska so different from the ones in the East Coast? Be ready with your evidence! Due Nov. 18

^7th Science

Human Body Redesign - We begin the Human Body 2.0 project, by talking about how cells become tissues, then organs, then organ systems and finally organisms. You will then get ready to redesign the human body by first studying each system and explaining how its structure affects its function (or is it the other way around?). Bring your thinking caps, you will need them!


^8th Engineering

This week you will continue to work on your entries for  Exploravision,  Lexus Eco Challenge, or DuPont challenge. Use your planning sheets to develop winning entries. Check your competition website often. You do not want to be disqualified on a technicality.

News 10/26-10/30

Dates to Remember:

• Costume Dress-up day is October 30th. Costume contest during lunch.
• AdV Parent Information Meeting - November 18 @ 4:00 p.m. 

All students are invited to participate in homework center. If you need my help specifically for to schedule a quiz re-take, you must make an appointment with me via e-mail.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

3404 5th grade

850 6th grade

1904 7th grade

BirdBrain Readings have started. Remember you can re-take a reading as many times as needed until the due date (Fridays at 2:30).

5^th Science

Interdependence of organisms: As we take on Avery Une's cause to save the rainforest from Mr. Cuttatree's plans to build the Uppity Resort we will continue to explore photosynthesis. We will then begin our journey of discovery, understanding the role of different organisms in an ecosystem by visiting the California coast and talking about the Humboldt squid. What role does he play? Why is he important? These are some of the questions you will be able to answer by the end of the week.

6^th Science

Severe Weather. We have begun our journey to uncover "The Safest Place in America". This week you will discover what causes wildfires, hurricanes and tornados. You will examine these severe storms in terms of the landscape necessary for them to occur, and be able to determine why some states in America are prone to these occurrences, while others are not. Be ready with your thinking caps on and collect your evidence!

^7th Science

Cells'RUs - We know that cells come from other cells. But how? More importantly what can we do when the process goes wrong? This week we will answer those question as we investigate three potential treatments for cancer! Which one will you choose? What evidence do you have that your chosen treatment is in fact the "best"? Be ready to "engage in argument from evidence" as we explore how cells divide.


^8th Engineering

This week you will continue to work on your entries for  Exploravision,  Lexus Eco Challenge, or DuPont challenge. Use your planning sheets to develop winning entries. Check your competition website often. You do not want to be disqualified on a technicality.

News 10/19-10/23

Image source: http://goo.gl/BTdEDa 

Dates to Remember:

• AdV Student Exhibition Night - October 21 @ 5:00 p.m. All students are expected to attend.

All students are invited to participate in homework center. If you need my help specifically for to schedule a quiz re-take, you must make an appointment with me via e-mail.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

3129 5th grade

600 6th grade

1309 7th grade

BirdBrain Readings have started. Remember you can re-take a reading as many times as needed until the due date (Fridays at 2:30).

5^th Science

Best Body System in a Supporting Role: It is time to practice your presentations. Are you ready to be interviewed? Is your "compelling argument ready?" You will present your Body systems project to the class and may choose to present it Student Exhibition Night. Since you are finishing your project, this week you have a PROJECT Blog on Body Systems. On Thursday we begin our Interdependence of Organisms Unit, by tackling Photosynthesis.

6^th Science

Plate Tectonics. Your models are almost ready. You are ready to IGNITE us. You will participate in the Plate tectonics convention on Tuesday and Wednesday as you explain your landform. You may choose to present it at SEN as well. Since you are finishing your project, this week you have a PROJECT Blog on Plate Tectonics. On Thursday we begin our Weather Unit by identifying the causes of wind.

^7th Science

Cells'RUs - This week you will spend your time developing your CellsRUs attractions. Don't forget that along with the model, you also need to have a document that explains how materials get into and out of your attraction (osmosis, diffusion, active transport?), as well as how it gets energy (Photosynthesis and cell respiration).

^8th Engineering

You will start the week by putting final touches and practicing your Ignite presentations for SEN. Although you may choose to present something else, your IGNITES should be clear enough to tell the story of your competition work. Once you get approval for your project from the community (during SEN), you will continue to develop your work. If your Ignite is not approved, you will need to reconsider your entry in order to continue your participation.  Links to each competition:  Exploravision,  Lexus Eco Challenge,  DuPont challenge.