News 03/21-03/25

Dates to Remember:

• Spring Break is March 28-April 1. 
• End of term April 20th

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30
Check the links to the new blog descriptions and rubrics on the right hand side of this page. 
5th graders, start prepping for your CST. Play ZONDLE today!

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Electricity and Magnetism: We continue our exploration of circuits. We will create parallel circuits and switches and be able to explain how the energy travels through them. We will then study how the energy we use in our homes is generated. We will put on our big thinking caps and defend why some energy sources are "better" than others.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Ocean currents We start our new unit - Ocean Currents. We will use different activities to determine how ocean currents affect us, and compare our Earth to humans. Throughout this unit, you will discover how the oceans are related to our weather and just why should we care about what happens in an ocean far away from us.

^7th Science - Laboratory

Evolution. Now that we have all the information about evolution available to us, we begin our evolution project. You will have many options to explore and demonstrate what you know about evolution. From creating a new species to understanding the origins of flight or just why is it that doctors should not give you antibiotics for illnesses like the common cold.

^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. Now it is time to work on your plan and begin developing your idea in earnest. Remember you have to have a working prototype of your invention AND have a way to test it. The end of YSC is nigh!

News 03/14-03/18

Dates to Remember:

• Spring Break is March 28-April 1. 

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30
Check the links to the new blog descriptions and rubrics on the right hand side of this page. 
5th graders, start prepping for your CST. Play ZONDLE today!

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Electricity and Magnetism: This week you begin to explore electricity. Throughout this unit you will understand what electricity is, how it is transferred and most importantly how to stay safe around electricity. Discover the difference between series circuits and parallel circuits. A journey of exploration on these topics awaits you.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Ecodetectives The final stretch of our eco-detectives unit is upon us. This week you will take your writing to a new level as you complete your Letter to the Editor of the Gray Bay. Make sure you provide readers with ample evidence. Use all your resources and name the culprit!

^7th Science - Laboratory

Evolution. After our Fossil Record Experience we will briefly discuss homologous structures and embryology as evidence for evolution. You will observe patterns that illustrate how different organisms are related before moving on to cladistics and creating cladograms. You will finally have the evidence in hand to really understand what the classical image of human evolution really means.

^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. Now it is time to work on your plan and begin developing your idea in earnest. Remember you have to have a working prototype of your invention AND have a way to test it. 

News 03/07-03/11

Dates to Remember:

• 7th grade Intel permission slips are due

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30
Check the links to the new blog descriptions and rubrics on the right hand side of this page. 

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Minerals: The Adopt a Pet Mineral project starts Monday, and its due Friday. Use everything you learned about rocks and minerals to make a decision. Can't wait to see who you will adopt.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Ecodetectives We continue our Ecodetectives unit by discussing the happenings at Parallel Park. We then move on to phosphates and the risks they carry to algae and fish. We are about to determine the culprit. Who do you think it is?

^7th Science - Laboratory

Evolution. This week we will  uncover how fossils give us clues about evolution. Past lives, paleoecology and biodiversity will be what we need to uncover the clues.

^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. Now it is time to work on your plan and begin developing your idea in earnest. Remember you have to have a working prototype of your invention AND have a way to test it. 

News 02/29-03/04

Dates to Remember:

• End of Term 03/04. Last day to turn in anything for a regrade 03/02.
• Permission slips for 7/8 field trip to Stanford due 03/01.

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30
Check the links to the new blog descriptions and rubrics on the right hand side of this page. 

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Minerals: We start our Rocks and minerals unit by exploring the rock cycle. We will then discover the forces of weathering and erosion so that we can finally visit some mines. This week you will learn about the physical and chemical properties of different minerals as you explore MasterMines.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Ecodetectives You have now figured out that chlorine is harmful to fish and that there is something "fishy" about Ken Unballe. But is he the responsible for the fish kill? Wait until you gather more evidence as we discuss the effects of acid rain and sediment. You may very well change your mind...

^7th Science - Laboratory

Evolution. This week we will work on the forces that drive natural selection. What does survival of the fittest really mean? Should it perhaps be survival of the fit enough? How can a flea a turtle or bacteria be considered fittest? Maybe we should change our paradigms...

^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. Now it is time to work on your plan and begin developing your idea in earnest. Remember you have to have a working prototype of your invention AND have a way to test it. 

News 02/22-02/26

Dates to Remember:

• Open House/Student Exhibition Night is February 24th. 

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30
Check the links to the new blog descriptions and rubrics on the right hand side of this page. 

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Matter: This week will be dedicated to your Element Baby Book as we close our matter unit. Follow the template provided to obtain maximum points.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Ecodetectives You will present your river documentaries on Monday and Tuesday. You thought that we were done with rivers! Kind of, but not really. This week we will begin the Eco-detectives unit so be ready to put everything you learned about rivers to good use.

^7th Science - Laboratory

Evolution. This week we will begin our study of Evolution and discover just why it is called "The Greatest Show on Earth". We will discover some of the driving forces of evolution and perform two labs that will illustrate just how evolution happens.

^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. Now that you have finished your IGNITE presentations it is time to get to work and make your project a reality. Keep up the good work.

News 02/08-02/12

Dates to Remember:

• February break is next week. No school 02/15-02/19

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Matter: We are gaining an understanding of the properties of matter. Our background research on Matter is done, and we move on to atomic theory and elements, compounds and mixtures. By the end of the week you will be able to distinguish between the three with ease.

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Source to Mouth. Your river documentaries are well under way. Remember that they are due on Friday. Can't wait to see them!

^7th Science - Laboratory

Geologic Time. We have left the Genetics unit behind us, and we are ready to explore Geologic Time. Come prepared with your creative hats on as you explore different epochs and eras. You will create an interactive poster!

^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. You have selected the main focus for your work. It is time to develop your IGNITE presentations to convince us that your project will be worth your while.

News 02/01-02/05

Dates to Remember:

• Semester grades will be mailed out soon. 

Classroom News

Birdbrain is due on Friday by 2:30

Cumulative XP:

5^th Science - Castle

Matter: We will continue to explore the properties of solids as we learn about solubility and recrystallization. Can these tests help you identify an unknown solid? We will then add a new white powder to our list, and begin our matter background research. Matter project, here we come!

6^th Science - Enchanted Forest

Source to Mouth. You will receive your river assignments and begin your work on the Source to Mouth project. You will learn about different rivers and what makes them unique. Get ready to produce your very first documentary!

^7th Science - Laboratory

Genetics. Tuesday and Wednesday are slated for the Genetics Debate. It is time to present your hard work. Towards the end of the week we will begin exploring Geologic time. What can fossils tell you?


^8th Engineering - Website

You will continue your work on the YSC project. You have selected the main focus for your work. It is time to develop your IGNITE presentations to convince us that your project will be worth your while.