Matter Unit

Here we are almost half way through the school year! We have spent 3 weeks on Matter with 3 more to go. All of your students have taken the first Matter test. We are now working on measuring and finding mass, volume, and density. We will spend several days in the lab. The last week before Christmas break, your student will take a Matter Lab final. They will have 15 lab procedures to complete and 10 calculation problems. As always, all students are able to retake any test or quiz as many times as they would like. Our policy as a Science 7 department is that all students scoring below 70% are required to attend a reteaching class and retake the test until they score above 70%.

A Change of Plans!

After looking at the FACS curriculum which covers Nutrition very well, we have decided to move on to Chapter 6, A Healthy Body, A Healthy Weight. We have spent this week exploring Body Image, Unhealthy Eating Habits, Fast Food Restaurants, and how to Maintain Good Health. Next week, we will be creating brochures on Body Image. The students will work on them in class, and it will be their final assessment for this chapter. I am excited to see how each student will present the material they have learned. They will receive a information packet on Monday which will detail the assignment. It will be self-evaluated using a rubric. You should only see it come home for homework on Thursday if it is not almost done. Ask you student to share what they have learned about Body Image!

So Much for Good Intentions!!

Here we are one month into the school year, and I am finally finding time to begin my blog for the 2010-2011 school year! Before I update you on what is happening in Science/Health 7, I want you to know what a wonderful bunch of children you have! Some are quiet, some are lively, some are funny, some are serious. All together they are awesome!

We are beginning Chapter 4, Physical Fitness today. We will spend 2 or 3 days on chapter 4, completing lessons 1-4. Next week we will begin Chapter 5, Nutrition. We will cover all 4 lessons in Chapter 5. The Unit test will cover both chapters and will be given on 9/24. You will see a homework assignment come home next week. You student will be recording his or her meals and physical activity for one week. Almost all of our assignments should be completed in class. Very rarely will I assign homework, so I expect it to be turned in on time when it is assigned! Occasionally your student will have to finish assignments at home if they did not finish in class. Also just a reminder, if your student is absent, they will have homework to complete what they missed.

Heredity Unit

We are beginning the 3rd trimester, and will time fly now! We are studying Heredity for the next 3 weeks. We are learning about how traits are passed from parents to children. Your student should have surveyed your family and extended family in order to see what traits are more common in your family. We are working on an activity called the Great Gene Shuffle in which we pass our traits down to fictitious children and grandchildren. We will learn about adaptations in nature and natural selection to finish out our unit. The Heredity test will be on March 19 after we return from Spring Break.

Cells Unit

We have begun a unit on Cells, their organelles, levels of organization, and body sytems. We have read chapter one in the Green Cells Book and done directed reading assignments on lessons one and two. We are learning the organelles and their functions, finishing this week with coloring pages on animal and plant cells. Next week we will talk about Diffusion, do a Microscope Lab, and begin talking about the organ systems in Humans. Our unit test will be on Wednesday, Feb 12. Our next unit will be on Heredity, and we will finish our curriculum with Classification.

A New Year in Science

We are half done with the school year, and these next few months will fly by. We are beginning our Earth Unit. This is a fun unit, since most of our activities are hands-on and active. There are 3 important assignments that the students will have. Due on 1/12/2010 is a Dirt Bottle. Your student needs a clear plastic bottle half filled with dirt and fille 3/4 of the way with water. They are to bring them to class; make sure the lid is on tight! Due on 1/15/2010 is a tennis ball. It doesn't have to be new. Students will receive extra credit for bringing in extra tennis balls to share with those who are unable to find one. Due on 1/19/2010 is the 3-D Earth Model. It can be made out of any material found around your house. Each student has a rubric which gives detailed information on how the model will be graded. Creativity is encouraged, and expensive materials are not needed. Our end of unit test is on Wednesday, Jan 20.