This Week on the Island 03/27-03/31

Dates to Remember:

• Cesar Chavez Day 03/31 - No school

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

This week you will start your Severe weather project. Read the assignment carefully and ask questions as you go along. I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

6^th Science 

We continue to work on climate change. This week we will focus on the different ways that humans are adding carbon to the atmosphere. You will explore the effects of climate change in ecosystems and in humans. You will also get an opportunity to think hard about how your own actions are contributing to the problem. What will you do about it?

7th Science

After an in-depth study about the periodic table visiting Castle Mendeleev, we will begin studying chemical reactions. Follow the different paths to understand how a molecule is formed, and how different reactants produce products. Get ready to use that knowledge in a challenging game.

7^th  Engineering

Impending doom is upon us, and only your team of engineers can help us! Discover how your knowledge of earth science can be applied to to avoid a mass extinction. Will you be able to save the people of Alabraska? Identify the problem this week, and determine how big a shelter you will need as you are introduced to the Asteroid Impact project.

8^th  Engineering

This is the last week! Use your time wisely to prepare for your Ted-talks. It is now time to show all that you accomplished!

This Week on the Island 03/20-03/24

Dates to Remember:

• Country Western Day - 03/24
• Cesar Chavez Day 03/31 - No school

Need help with something? Post your questions on Edmodo.

Classroom News

  5^th Science

Now that you know how water is recycled, you will start the week exploring how much water is actually available for use. Is it more or less than you thought it was? By wednesday we will start to make the connections between water and the atmosphere. You will get a chance to prove that air is really there is a fun lab, and finally discuss what does all of that have to do with the weather.

6^th Science 

Once we learn how to read weather maps on Monday, we will begin our discussion on the effects that carbon has on the weather system. You will get an opportunity to become a carbon molecule and decide what role you play in keeping the Earth warm. what can you do to curb carbon emissions, and why is this important? Find out as you graph carbon trends!

7th Science

We continue to study matter, adding isotopes to the mix. You will explore the periodic table in depth, and learn how to use it as a tool for investigations. Everything you ever wanted to know about a particular element is right at your fingertips. Stay focused as there are many concepts to learn and discuss.

7^th  Engineering

Impending doom is upon us, and only your team of engineers can help us! Discover how your knowledge of earth science can be applied to to avoid a mass extinction. Will you be able to save the people of Alabraska? Identify the problem this week, and determine how big a shelter you will need as you are introduced to the Asteroid Impact project.

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

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!