This Week on the Island

Dates to Remember:

• Wear Green Spirit day - 03/17
• Cesar Chavez Day 03/31 - No school

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

As we continue the study of Earth Systems, we will talk about another material that is recycled in the earth system. Water! You will play a fun game where you become a molecule of water and experience what it "feels" to travel through the cycle. Take care of your notes as you will need them to create a fun comic strip.

6^th Science 

Now that you know the difference between weather and climate, we will start developing more in-depth ideas about the weather. How do winds develop? How is this related to storms, and where does it all happen? These are some of the questions you will be able to answer by the end of the week!

7th Science

This week we start studying matter and how it reacts. You will build atoms and molecules, and determine the different properties of materials. How does matter change? Is it melting or dissolving?What is up with rust? Chemistry is so much fun!

7^th  Engineering

Your bridges are about to be done. How will they behave during testing this week? Which structure will withstand the most weight? As you prepare for the week, make sure you have all your documents in order.

8^th  Engineering

Need I say more? You have been put in charge of your own learning. It is time to hunker down and develop your idea. Show us what you are capable of doing. You can do it!

This Week on the Island 03/06-03/10

Dates to Remember:

• Wear Green Spirit day - 03/17
• Cesar Chavez Day 03/31 - No school

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

As we continue the study of Earth Systems, you will make some observations on different types of rocks. They may all look the same, but are they? What processes are at play as one rock is changed into another? What happens to rocks over long periods of time? These are some of the questions you will be able to answer as we explore how matter on Earth is recycled.

6^th Science 

Your response to the thermos challenge is almost ready. Who will win and make Mrs. Garcia's coffee stay warm the longest? Remember that you need to be able to explain how your product works. What types of heat transfer are being avoided? what types are inevitable?

7th Science

You are almost done explaining just how organisms interact in an ecosystem. Can an endangered species become invasive? Why or why not? How is your species affected by changes in the environment? These are the questions you will be able to explain as you present your projects on Wednesday 

7^th  Engineering

This week you will build your bridges. As you construct them, keep track of your work. It is not enough to build, you will need to be able to explain your choices. Get ready to test on Thursday so that you have all the information you need for your final report.

8^th  Engineering

Need I say more? You have been put in charge of your own learning. It is time to hunker down and develop your idea. Show us what you are capable of doing. You can do it!

This Week on the Island 02/27-03/03

Dates to Remember:

• End of Term is 03/03. My gradebook closes 03/01.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

We continue the study of Earth Systems, by looking inside the Earth. You will learn about the different plates and how they move using the WISE platform. You will explore how different plates interact to create volcanoes, mountains and earthquakes. Be on the lookout for interesting ideas as you work extra hard to complete all the assignments.

6^th Science 

After a brief re-cap of what you learned about heat, you will move on to how to limit the transfer of thermal energy. You will be presented with a design challenge. Work with all the information you gathered before as you explain your choices.

7th Science

This week you will work to identify the relationships between organisms in different contexts. Once you are comfortable with this idea, you will receive a challenge. You will have a choice of project to complete, showcasing your knowledge of how organisms interact with each other. 

7^th  Engineering

Monday you will have a final work hour to complete your filming of the Hero's Journey video. You will then move on to an interesting design challenge on bridges. How will you ensure that your work is stable and keeps its shape?

8^th  Engineering

Verify that your project has been approved by looking for the corresponding Level 1 badge. Start by developing a plan and make sure to keep us informed of your progress.

This Week on the Island - 02/13-02/17

Dates to Remember:

• February Break is 02/20-02/24. Enjoy your time off.
• End of Term is 03/03. My gradebook closes 03/01.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

We begin the study of Earth Systems, by looking inside the Earth. You will learn about the different plates and how they move using the WISE platform. Keep up with the workload, as there are many cool things to explore. By the end of the week you will have a clear understanding of why there are earthquakes in California, and what is all this "hoopla" about faults.

6^th Science 

This week is all about understanding the relationship between heat, temperature and matter. You will move through several activities developed in the Wizer.me platform, aimed at deepening your understanding of how matter behaves when energy is added. What does this have to do with popcorn? You will have to wait and see.

7th Science

This week is all about tracking how matter and energy flow through ecosystems. You already know a lot about it, in a different context. It is time to connect two pieces of information and create that mind map that will allow you to think deeper about concepts. Let your ideas cycle through, and put your thinking to good use.  

7^th  Engineering

We have partnered up with the 5th grade to create Hero's Journey videos. You will be meeting with your partners and decide on the different shots you need to fully explain their story. Be prepared with your script and shot list, so that you can pay homage to your partner's journey.

8^th  Engineering

As a class, you decided to tackle the Genius Hour project. This week, you will need to convince us that your idea is worthy of your time and effort. Read the IGNITE presentation instructions carefully (found both in Schoolloop and Edmodo), as the requirements have changed a tiny bit. Prepare to IGNITE us with your passion for your topic, and everything will be well. Remember to document your research using the CITE-IT rubric you created. These will be checked often!

This Week on the Island 02/06-02/10

Dates to Remember:

• Student Exhibition Night is on 02/08. Students should report to their 6th period class by 5:20.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

You have been working on how to solve some problems that arise when working collaboratively. Use what you learned during the CreaTV class to develop your videos. Don't forget your shot list and make sure your voices are heard. Work collaboratively to succeed in this mini-project.

6^th Science 

This is the final stretch. You are finalizing your character portfolios, and making them pop. Remember to make a decision about what you are presenting at SEN, and create your script/note cards to help you remember what you plan to say. Tell us what you know, not what you did!

7th Science

This is the final stretch. You are finalizing your character portfolios, and making them pop. Remember to make a decision about what you are presenting at SEN, and create your script/note cards to help you remember what you plan to say. Tell us what you know, not what you did! 

7^th  Engineering

This is the final stretch. You are finalizing your eco-houses, and making them pop. Remember to make a decision about what you are presenting at SEN, and create your script/note cards to help you remember what you plan to say. Tell us what you know, not what you did!

8^th  Engineering

This is the final stretch. You are finalizing your disaster-proof houses, and making them pop. Remember to make a decision about what you are presenting at SEN, and create your script/note cards to help you remember what you plan to say. Tell us what you know, not what you did!

This Week on the Island 01/09-01/13

Dates to Remember:

• End of Term 3: 01/13/17. My gradebook will close 01/11.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

We start the week by concluding our conversation about sphere interactions. We will then talk about how each biome is unique and determine what organisms need to survive regardless of the biome they inhabit. You will be introduced to the "We Survived" project, and begin research that will inform your decisions. Will you be able to survive the Biome?

6^th Science 

This week will be all about drafting the origins story for your superhero. As you research information about GMOs and mutations, you will immerse yourselves in the story of your character. Although this is a creative writing piece, do not forget that you must demonstrate knowledge of genetics. Weave your knowledge into your story and make it unique!

7th Science

You will begin the week drawing out the epigenetic effects of your superhero's lifestyle choices. As you are doing this, think about your own choices. Remember that the choices you make today could have beneficial effects much further down your life. Once we complete that, we will move on to understanding how your genetic make-up can be modified as you draft your superhero origins story. 

7^th  Engineering

Now that you have some information on different "greening" aspects, it is time to start making some decisions about the house you will build. You will get a chance to draw out your floor plans and begin your builds. Do not forget to keep scale measurements exact. Do you have what it takes to create the greenest build?

8^th  Engineering

Now that you have some information on the natural disaster that is prompting your build, it is time to start making some decisions about the house you will build. You will get a chance to draw out your floor plans and begin your builds. Be on the lookout for opportunities to redesign your plans as you confront Mother Nature's wrath.

This Week on the Islands 01/03-01/06

Dates to Remember:

• End of Term 3: 01/13/17. My gradebook will close 01/11.

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

This week we start our Biomes unit. We will learn about the earth's spheres and how we interact with them. We will get ready to talk about how organisms survive in different biomes, and what makes each biome unique.

6^th Science 

We have talked about how traits get passed on, but what about the effects the environment has on different traits, What can a person do to increase/decrease their chances of presenting a genetically based disease? What happens to your offspring if you do not take care of yourself? These are some of the questions you will be ready to answer as we continue our Heredity unit.

7th Science

You will begin the week determining the probability of traits passed on to your superhero babies, and you will have a chance to draw him/her out. Is your baby a superhero or a villain? Back it up with your Punnett work. 

7^th  Engineering

This week we begin our Eco-House unit. You will talk about climate change and how engineers are working to make sustainable dwellings for all of us. You will do some research on the solutions already available and make some choices, preparing yourself to become green engineers. How easy is it to build eco-friendly dwellings?

8^th  Engineering

This week we begin by exploring different natural disasters, and how they affect the construction of dwellings. You will do some research to see what types of housing and materials are available, and how engineers have used ancient construction techniques to develop housing that can survive specific natural disasters. Can you outwit Mother Nature?