Finishing Matter Unit

As we race on towards the Christmas break, we are finishing up our Matter unit. So far we have learned what matter, mass, volume, and density are. We have learned how they are related. We have done 3 labs, Mass, Volume, and Density. If your student missed one of those labs, we have them set up during REAL time for makeup. If it isn't possible for your student to come during REAL time, they can make arrangements with me to stay after school and complete the labs. We will be reviewing Monday, Dec 14 and Tuesday, Dec 15. Our unit test is on Wednesday, Dec 16. For those who score below a 70% on the Matter test, they will attend a Reteaching session on Thursday and retake the test on Friday. For those who score above a 70%, they will have 2 days of Enrichment activities. When we return after the break we will be studying Earth's Layers.

Welcome to Science

We have done a few introductory activities to prepare for Science and had a blast with our Diet Coke-Mentos Challenge! Ask you student about it! This unit is on Matter. Your student should have brought home the book, Introduction to Matter. We have explored the development of the Atomic Theory, the structure of Atoms, and are beginning to study Mass, Volume and Density. This unit is approximately 5 weeks long, ending just before the Christmas break. You can help your student each evening by asking them to tell you what they learned in class. As your student explains to you, he or she will reinforce the material.

As we are in the middle of flu season, and students are home sick, it's important to encourage your student to complete the work they missed. REAL time is a great opportunity for students to receive extra time and help from teachers to makeup work. However, it is only 36 minutes twice a week. If a student misses more than a couple days, they will need to be spending time at home working on assignments also. Please contact me at school if you have any concerns!

Finishing Health!

Wow, I thought I was keeping this up, and can't believe 5 weeks have passed. Since there has been so much illness lately, I am going to post what we are doing each day:

Wed, Oct 21 - review what we have learned about Tobacco use, complete a group activity called "You Be the Judge".
Thurs, Oct 22 - a catch up day, we will briefly discuss lessons 6 and 7 in Chapter 11 and review for the test.
Fri, Oct 23 - Open Book test on Chapter 11
Mon, Oct 26 - We will begin Chapter 12 on Alcohol. We will read lessons 1 and 2, taking notes on important points in each section.
Tue, Oct 27 - We will continue reading lessons 3, 4, and 5, taking notes on each section.
Wed, Oct 28 - We will be reading lessons 6 and 7, and watch a movie on binge drinking
Thurs, Oct 29 - Students will complete a letter to a "cousin" or "friend" being pressured to try
alcohol. They will share information that has been learned.
Fri, Oct 30 - We will watch a movie on Girl Gangs, and begin Chapter 13 on Drugs
Mon, Nov 2 - We will read lessons 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as groups, sharing the important points with the class
Tue, Nov 3 - We will finish discussing lessons 7,8,and 9. We will begin creating a Brochure on drugs using our books.
Wed, Nov 4 - We will work on our brochures.
Thur, Nov 5 - We will finish our brochures. We will also work in groups for 20 minutes, working on preparations for our Inquiry Activity.
Fri, Nov 6 - We will prepare for Science by doing an Inquiry Activity, for which I have asked for donations of 2 liter bottles of Diet Coke.

I hope to figure out how to attach copies of the worksheets we will use ASAP! Please email me if you have any questions!

Fitness and Nutrition

We've had our second test and all students did considerably better! Our next unit is Chapter 4 and 5, Fitness and Nutrition. Your student will be bringing home a Fitness Log and Food Log to complete for the week of 9/14-9/20. They will need to record what they eat and drink and what physical activities they participate in for Monday through Sunday. Please help them remember to fill in their logs. We will be studying the food pyramid and essential nutrients. Our test will be on Friday, Sept. 25.

Coming Up

We've had our first test, and it was a little rough as most first tests are. However, the scores will improve and your students are amazing! I enjoy them so much! We are in Chapter 2 now. Your student will bring home a "At Home Activity" which they are to complete with you. It is due on Thursday, Sept. 3. The test on Chapter 2 will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Your student will bring home a review sheet which they can use to study. One of the best ways to help your student study is to have them tell you about the topics on the review sheet. Having them explain or teach it to you is the best way for them to learn and retain information!

First Test!

We will have our first test on Chapter 1 - Health and Wellness on Tuesday, August 25.
Your student will bring home a Review Sheet on Monday night. Please have them explain to you the concepts on it. It will help them to study if they have to explain the material to you. If they need any help, please have them get their Health Books out and review Chapter 1 with them. There are 4 short lessons in the chapter. For those students who do not score above a 70%, we will offer a reteaching/retesting session during REAL time on Thursday, August 27. My students are the best in the whole school, thanks for sharing them with me!

The New School Year Begins!

Just a quick hello before the students arrive and school officially begins. As some of you may know, in the 7th grade part of the Science curriculum is one trimester of health. We will begin with health, then move into 5 units of Science, Matter, the Earth's Layers, Cells, Heredity, and Classification. After the End of Level testing in May, we will move back into the Health curriculum for 2 weeks and complete a unit on Human Development. That unit requires parent permission to participate, and we will send home permission slips.

I can't wait for the kids to come, it is lots more fun when they are here!