Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Photosynthesis Unit

Wednesday March 5

We are starting our Photosynthesis unit today with the kids.  We are mixing it up a bit because instead of using our notebooks we used in regular science class we are going to be making a booklet to use instead.  The kids will leave their booklets in the classroom until they need to use them for study purposes.

Check the calendar to see what your kids will be doing each week with the booklet.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Cell Test

On Tuesday, March 4 we will be having a cell test.  On Tuesday, Feb. 18, I made a presentation on all the information which is going to be on the test and shared it via student gmail accounts.  They have had the presentation since that time. 

Thursday Feb. 27, they will be getting their study guide to use to help study for the test.  There are lots of different things on the science website which will help them study for the test.  Hope they study!


Sunday, January 26, 2014

Cell Organelles

Tuesday January 28

Computer Activity for the day:
click on the this link Cell Organelle Activity.  You will need to have the blogger ready so you can read the directions for your task.

Follow my directions very carefully so you know what you are going to be doing during this activity.

You are going to be opening a PDF and you will also have to open up your google email in order to get to blogger.

Here we go:
Use the chart we created in class to record your information.  You will be looking for information about the cell organelles and their function or job (what do they do to help the cell) and an analogy (nickname) in the real world.

Open the PDF file on your computer
You will be starting on page 10 called What are Cells?  You will be reading through the comic strips to gather the information.

Part 1 
Page 10:
1. Look for a definition of a cell and record it.  Give a couple of examples of things that are made up of cells and things that aren't made up of cells.

2. How are new cells produced?  Use a complete sentence to answer the question.

Part 2
Skip to page 16
Cell Parts and their Function (chart)
1. Cell Wall
2. Cell Membrane
3. Cytoplasm
4. Mitochondria
5. Chloroplasts
6. Vacuoles
7. Nucleus
8. Nuclear Membrane
9.  Chromosomes

Part 3
Go to page 23 and check your chart answers.

Part 4
Go to page 28
Name some differences between plant and animal cells.  Make sure you are very specific with the information you gather. Check out page 30 for clarification.

Part 5
Go to CellsAlive
Choose the animal cell and click on the organelles within the cell.  Add any information you want to your chart.
Choose the plant cell and click on the organelles within the cell.  Add any information you want to your chart or just check the parts out.

Part 6
Game Time
Go to Cell Biology Games and Animations
There are two options here
    1. Play Cell Explorer: The Animal Cell
    2. Play Cell Craft

You can do both if you have time.  You will need to read and answer some questions in both of them.







New Unit: Micro-Life

We are starting a new unit on Micro-Life which includes Cells, Microscopes, and Photosynthesis.  Kids were given their learning targets last week and we started with Act. 37 Historians of the Cell Theory.  Kids also took a quiz on Friday, in which, they were able to use their flipbooks. 

We are going to start talking about the parts of cells and the functions of each part.  There are differences between plants and animals and we will be exploring that information in the next couple of days.  The kids will be working on the computers on Tuesday to determine the functions of cells and their parts. They will also determine what the different parts are between the plant and animal cell.

We also will be doing two labs this week.  One will see whether cells respire or breathe and the other one will determine what cells allow in and out of the cell membrane.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Week of Oct. 28-Nov. 1

The end of the term has come and we are down to the nitty gritty within the classroom.  We are wrapping up our unit on Hazardous Waste and the Scientific Method.  Kids have been doing all sorts of measuring to figure out what the materials are in the unlabeled jar.

We have a lot of things going this week...writing assessment is due at the EOH, end of hour, on Monday Oct. 28.  Study guide was given out on Friday and it is on the website in case your child doesn't have it.  Study guide is due on Tuesday Oct. 29.  We will play a review game on Tuesday for our test which is on Wednesday/Thursday.  Wednesday we will start our measurement lab and Thursday we will continue it and also take our written assessment. 

I will be allowing the kids practice on any of the lab measurement activities during class on Monday and on Tuesday.  However, I will not be telling them they have to do it, their choice!

Friday we start a new unit on Chemistry! 

Have a great week!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

This Week in Science: Oct. 14-18

Busy week for us here in Science class. Lots of labs this week dealing with measuring the volume of rectangular solids, cylinders and irregular solids.  We have been using rulers and graduated cylinder for our measuring practice.
All students need to know how to measure using formulas, water displacement, mass with a triple beam balance, density and know how to calculate the measurements.

There will be a notebook quiz on Friday over the end of Act. 7 - Act. 9.  Hopefully, charts and notes are complete so they can do well on their quiz!

Parentvue/Studentvue is now available, follow these directions:
Parents with students in grades 5-12 need to e-mail parentvue@nvps.net for their codes. The following information must be included in the e-mail - parent name, student(s) name(s), and their building. A reply will be sent with activation information. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response.

Have a great week and let me know if you have questions!

FYI: all missing assignments can be turned in until Wednesday, Oct. 30.