News 01/25-01/29

Dates to Remember:

• Alternative Programs Information Faire - January 26 - 6:30 - 7:00 PM - Herman Cafeteria. If you know of a student or family that is interested in AdVENTURE or any of the other programs in the district, invite them to come meet us.
• February 1 is a teacher development day. No students in school.
• Semester grades will be mailed out soon. 

Classroom News

Birdbrain resumes for all this week. 

5th graders have a weekly blog

6th and 7th graders will do WAC.

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Matter: We will finish up our M&M explorations and move on to states and properties of matter. Once again, we will have labs most of the week, so come prepared with your observation skills. Can you identify a powder by looking at it closely, or by crushing it? Can you tell the difference between curious crystals? Your observation skills will be put to the test.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Source to Mouth. We continue to explore different features of rivers, and discover how a river changes due to age or slope. We will also dam our rivers and see what happens when people dump toxic waste near a river. Can you prevent your river from becoming polluted? Thursday you will receive your WAC assignment. Make sure you hone in on the benefits and damages caused by dams!

^7th Science - Laboratory

Genetics. You will continue to work on your Genetics project. Your debates should be almost ready. You have worked hard to understand these difficult topics and should be ready to take a stand. The debates themselves were moved to next week to accommodate our WAC writing, which will begin on Thursday. You have the information since you prepared for your debate. It is just a matter of committing your ideas to paper.


^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. Finish up brainstorming ideas and get ready to select ONE. Your choice will determine the course of the rest of your project, so make sure you have a clear purpose and that you are able to fully take ownership of its development from idea to finished product.

News 01/18 - 01/22

Dates to Remember:

• No school on January 18 and 19.
• Alternative Programs Information Faire - January 26 - 6:30 - 7:00 PM - Herman Cafeteria. If you know of a student or family that is interested in AdVENTURE or any of the other programs in the district, invite them to come meet us.

Classroom News

Due to the short week, there will be no blogs or birdbrain this week.

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science

Matter: We continue to work with our M&M experiments. This week we will investigate some very interesting properties of M&Ms. You will come to a conclusion on whether your observations only happen with these candies, or perhaps with some other things.

6^th Science

Source to Maouth. We cut our first rivers this week. We will experience meandering and canyon formation first hand. Prepare for a super fun week of intense exploration.

^7th Science

Genetics. You will continue to work on your Genetics project. The background research is done, and you start to uncover the ethical and practical consequences of each technology. Let's prepare a great debate.


^8th Engineering

You will continue your work on the YSC project. This week you will start thinking about one solution for your project and begin to make it a reality. What a great way to "Take over the World!"

News 01/11-0115

Dates to Remember:

• End of term is 01/15. Last day to submit anything for re-grades is 01/13.
• No school on January 18 and 19.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science

Matter: We begin our explorations on matter an its properties. We have lab days almost every day as we work to determine the specific properties of M&Ms and how they behave under different conditions. Be ready to be surprised!

6^th Science

Source to Maouth. We enter the San Joaquin river delta as we begin to understand the power of water in our river cutters unit. We will work on understanding the different parts of a river and just how the transportation of sediment changes the course of rivers.

^7th Science

Genetics. You have received your assignments for the Genetics debate. This week is about understanding your topic and making connections between what we learned and how it is applied in the real world. Make sure you are on the lookout for sources that can help others. Remember, "the enemy of your enemy could be your friend".


^8th Engineering

You will continue your work on the YSC project. This long term individual project has you working on a new technology that improves the health and well-being of humanity. By the end of the week you will have narrowed down your project to identify the idea that will guide you for the rest of the project. Don't worry about finding a solution just yet!

News 01/04-01/08

Dates to Remember:

• End of term is 01/15. Last day to submit anything for re-grades is 01/13.
• No school on January 18 and 19.

Classroom News

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science

Weather: This is a project work week. You already chose which of the four projects to complete and it is time to "buckle down" and do it. Make sure you read the requirements often and check your work against the rubrics. Where do you find those? Well on the project webpage of course.

6^th Science

Dirt on Soil. This is a project work week for you. You will put final touches on your Dirt on soil project and rehearse your presentations. What did your case tell you? Are your suggestions feasible? Check your work!

^7th Science

Genetics. We start the week off by studying sex-linked genes. We continue our studies by covering epigenetics (make sure you have your monsters handy) and pedigrees. Once our lessons are done, we begin our work on the Genetics Debate project. So much fun is awaiting you!


^8th Engineering

You will be introduced to the YSC project. This long term individual project will have you working on a new technology that improves the health and well-being of humanity. The first step for you, which is what you will work on this week, is to fully understand what is being required of you. That is what the quote at the top of this page is all about. I will expect quality work from you, even when nobody is looking :)

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!