News 09/28-10/2

http://goo.gl/ciVbsc 

Dates to Remember:

• Last Day to request re-grades for Term 1 is September 30 
• End of Term 1: October 2
• AdV Student Exhibition Night - October 21 @ 5:00 p.m.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo. This week I am not available after school.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

100 5th grade

98 6th grade

400 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

http://goo.gl/W5ZBk4

Now that we know about cells, it is time to understand how those tiny cells become organisms. We will make models of the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems, and delve deeply into how these systems (and all others) work together. Don't be grossed out as we perform digestion in the classroom! Human Body Systems  website

6^th Science

We continue to work on the Plate Tectonics unit. Now that we know how strike-slip faults cause earthquakes, we will plot earthquakes around the world and try to determine a pattern. We will move on to investigating how the viscosity of magma affects the shape of the volcano from which it erupts. Time to put those volcanos you made to good use.

http://goo.gl/huAWzb

^7th Science

http://goo.gl/ImlBRs

You thought you were done with cells, right? Well, we barely just started. We begin our Cells'RUs project by investigating the four macromolecules responsible for an organism's function, and even go as far as investigating just what those pesky nutrition labels really mean.

^8th Engineering

We continue to work on the different topics presented by the Lexus Eco Challenge. Remember to be as convincing as possible when you present your work on Thursday.

News 09/21-09/25

http://aboutmartinlutherking.com/

Dates to Remember:

• End of Term 1: October 2
• AdV Student Exhibition Night - October 21 @ 5:00 p.m.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo and/or sign up for after school help. I am available Tuesday and Thursday until 3:30.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

Cumulative Gold:

20 5th grade

98 6th grade

329 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

http://goo.gl/Cncm3X

We continue the Organelle trail. The team posters for your organelle are due Tuesday (09/22) at the end of class. We will use them to complete the organelle round-up and create a mini-study guide. Don't forget to study for the Cells and Organelles quiz on Friday.

6^th Science

We continue to work on the Plate Tectonics unit. After you create a Layers of the Earth foldable, we will make use of clay to develop models for layered rocks and investigate what happens at strike-slip faults. We will meet Wegener, one of the "crazy men of science", whose ideas revolutionized our understanding of the Earth's systems.

http://goo.gl/huAWzb

^7th Science

http://goo.gl/ImlBRs

We are reaching the end of the "Organelle Wars". Your campaign posters are up, and perhaps you are posting the last of your smears. Your TV advertisements are due at the end of class on 09/22. Don't forget to post all your work on Edmodo so we can move through the advertisements quickly when you present them on Wednesday and Thursday. Voting will take place on Friday; you will need to provide evidence for your vote so make sure you take notes during the presentations and as you visit with each candidate.

^8th Engineering

You will finish up your helmet challenge ignite presentations and reflections. Be ready to present on Tuesday! On Wednesday, we will discuss our participation on Exploravision and the Lexus Eco Challenge. This discussion will determine our next steps.

https://goo.gl/CbPliw

Science News 09/14-09/18

http://goo.gl/HhL3Ll

Dates to Remember:

• AdV Parent Information Mtng - September 16 @ 4:00 p.m.
• AdV Student Exhibition Night - October 21 @ 5:00 p.m.
• End of Term 1: October 2

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo and/or sign up for after school help. I am available Tuesday and Friday until 3:30.

Classroom News

Information about blogs can be found on my previous post.
Examples of "good" blogs from your peers:
7th grade
6th grade
5th grade

Right now, PowerMyLearning is your only source of Gold Coins. 

BirdBrain Readings start this week for 5th, 6th and 7th grade science. Remember you can re-take a reading as many times as needed until the due date (Fridays at 2:30)

5^th Science

http://goo.gl/Cncm3X 

As we begin our exploration of cells, we start the week paying particular attention to the differences between plant and animal cells. Each of you will receive an organelle to study. Once you have gathered information, you will work together to create an Organelle Wanted poster as you work on the Organelle trail. Your posters must be ready at the end of class on Friday so that the class can participate in the "Round-Up" next week.

6^th Science

https://goo.gl/jOq4WB

We begin our Plate Tectonics unit by "Riding the Rock Cycle". With the information you gather, you will create a "Journey through the Rock Cycle cartoon (due Wednesday at the end of class). On Thursday, come prepared to build the volcanos we will use during the rest of our unit. Finally, you will gather information about the different layers of the Earth, and use it to create a foldable.

^7th Science

   

Image: http://goo.gl/ImlBRs 

We continue to work on "Organelle Wars", and develop an election campaign for the new president of the cell. Give yourself enough time to create your election posters (due by Friday, 09/18) and TV advertisements (due by 09/23). We will listen to all candidates and then both the 5th grade and yourselves will vote. Don't forget to spread your smears out, and respond to your opposition on Edmodo. Organelle wars is on!

^8th Engineering

Image: https://goo.gl/CbPliw

First prototypes will be tested on Monday, and gather data to calculate the maximum impact speed your helmet can withstand. With that information, you will get an additional budget of $2.00 to refine/redesign your helmet, and re-test on W/Th. By Friday, we will determine which design was the most successful and name the winner of the Helmet challenge!

Science News 09/07-09/11

Image: http://goo.gl/pbyK3u 

Dates to Remember:

• AdV Parent Information Mtng - September 16 @ 4:00 p.m.
• AdV Student Exhibition Night - October 21 @ 5:00 p.m.
• End of Term 1: October 2

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo and/or sign up for after school help. This week I am available Wednesday and Thursday until 3:30.

Classroom News

Information about blogs can be found on my previous post.
Examples of "good" blogs from your peers:
7th grade
6th grade
5th grade

Right now, PowerMyLearning is your only source of Gold Coins: 

• 5th graders: You will create your accounts this week.
• 6th and 7th graders: Don't forget to log in and complete the required assignments. I have begun awarding gold coins. Check your balance in the Ranks page of your class website.

5^th Science

Image: http://goo.gl/j934NA

This week you will work in class to complete your Letter to the Board of Education. Remember, this can be either a formal letter or a pictorial - visit the assignment website if you need to refresh yourself on what this means. Use the ideas you collected in your notebook. Can you convince them to save science?
All work is due on Friday, 09/11/15 at the end of class.

6^th Science

In class, the whole week will be dedicated to your Scientific Method Cartoons. Check the rubric often as you work so as to obtain the maximum point value. The completed cartoons are due at the beginning of class on Friday, 09/11/15.
Your blogpost for the week is a project reflection.

^7th Science

   

Image: http://goo.gl/ImlBRs 

We will begin the week with a Gallery Walk of Famous scientists. Don't forget to bring your printed mini-posters to class on Tuesday, and have a couple of talking points ready.
Wednesday we will begin exploring cells, leading up to the a really fun Cell Wars project.
Your blogpost for the week is a project reflection on the Scientist Wanted Project.

^8th Engineering

Image: https://goo.gl/CbPliw

The Learn Section of the Helmet Challenge is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday. With this information in hand, you can begin to brainstorm helmet ideas. Detailed drawings and approved purchase orders will need to be complete by Friday in order to begin building your first prototype.

Grade Modification Policy - Including quizzes

This information can be found on the AdVENTURE Green Sheet. It is being placed here for your convenience. Please read it before you request a re-grading of your work, including Quizzes and Tests.

Grade Modification Policy

Assignments:

If a student submits incomplete work on time, which means he/she does not have a zero for the assignment, a grade modification can be requested. This grade modification request must be made by Schoolloop e-mail directly to the teacher, reference the assignment, due date and provide specifics about the items that were modified and wish to be re-graded.

Grade modification requests will only be addressed up to one week after the original grades for the assignment were posted.

Visit the following page and scroll down for video tutorials on how to request a grade modification and how to obtain the appropriate links for digital work.

http://goo.gl/ybAK8w   

Quizzes:

A student may retake quiz if they believe they can obtain a better grade. The student has one week from when the date the grade is posted to schedule and retake a quiz. In order for a retake to be scheduled, the student must provide evidence of having studied the material by:

• Providing a written statement from a guardian that witnessed the student studying the material.
• Coming in one or more times after school to get help from a teacher.
• Completing quiz corrections including why wrong answers were wrong and why right answers were right.

Re-takes will only be scheduled after school, not during classroom time.