Welcome! Homework assignments as well as a brief description of the week's activities are available on this site.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 3/21/08 - Chemistry and Magnetism packet Set up your packet by stapling all of your loose papers together and filling out the cover sheet. You do not need to get a parent signature since your parents will sign your packet at parent conferences next week.
Due Friday, 3/21/08 - Long term project - Find your long term project and compare it to the unweathered examples at school. Record your obervarions in your long term project booklet (they are kept in my room - look for the stack of booklets on the front lab table). After recording your observations, bring your project back home to continue weathering. If you cannot find your project, make a new one and record this in your project booklet.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
This week we are continuing to prepare for the science SBA (to be taken on April 4th) by going over sample questions at the start of the class period as part of our journal. The remainder of each class period is spent working on the electricity labs. We will have two class demonstrations this week, one involving a very strong magnet and a length of copper tubing and the other involving static electricity and the Van de Graaff generator. It should be electrifying!
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 2/29/08 - Choose 2 labs to do from the paper you received in class. Record your observations and your conclusion for each lab on a piece of paper and turn it in on Friday.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
I've been out two days this week and am sorry this is so late! This week the students finished their acid/base lab. Periods 3 and 6 began on the electricity and magnetism unit. They looked at magnetic field lines on Thursday and will be experimenting with electromagnets on Friday. Periods 4 and 5 are finishing the chemistry unit by looking at nuclear power. They viewed a news broadcast reporting on the Chernobyl disaster and read through information about the current condition of the people and animals in the area. They did a lab on the half-life of radioactive materials on Thursday and will then be starting the electricity and magnetism unit on Friday.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 2/22 - Quiz on acids and bases. Review the sections you did on acids and bases last week to study for the quiz.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
This week we are finishing our chemistry labs and we will spend some time working with acids and bases in lab. Period 4 and 5 are also trying to determine what caused the sparks in the magic candle lab. They are devising tests to determine if the chemical in the candles matches the characteristics of iron filings.
HOMEWORK
Due Tuesday, 2/12 - Read p. 14-21 and do p. 21 # 1-5.
Due Wednesday, 2/13 - Read p. 90-95 and do p. 95 #1-4.
Due Thursday, 2/14 - Read p. 96-101 and do p. 101 #1-4.
Due Friday, 2/15 - Read p. 104-106 and do p. 106 #1-4. Be ready for your quiz on Friday. Periods 3 and 6 will have a quiz on recognizing if a chemical reaction is occurring and on being able to classify a reaction (decomposition, single displacement, etc.) Periods 4 and 5 will also be quizzed on balancing equations.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
This week we are doing 11 chemistry labs and 2 bonus labs. The students are measuring various chemicals and combining them to see if they result in a chemical reaction. The students are recording the evidence of a chemical or physical change on their data tables and will be doing an analysis of their results - all of this is due on Friday. They are also practicing how to follow written directions, how to accurately measure volume and mass and how to work safely in lab. It's been a busy week!
HOMEWORK
Periods 3 and 6 only
Due Tuesday, 2/5 - Classification of Chemical Reactions #1-5
Due Wednesday, 2/6 - Classification of Chemical Reactions #6-10
Due Thursday, 2/7 - Balancing Chemical Equations (Classify each equation - you do not need to balance them at this time) #1-6
Due Friday, 2/8 - Balancing Chemical Equations (classify each equation - do not balance them at this time) #7-13
Due Friday, 2/8 - Chemistry packet signed by parents and reflections filled out
Periods 4 and 5 only
Due Tuesday, 2/5 - Classification of Chemical Reactions #1-10
Due Wednesday, 2/6 - Balancing Chemical Equations - Balance #1-6
Due Thursday, 2/7 - Balancing Chemical Equations - Balance #7-13
Due Friday, 2/8 - Balancing Chemical Equations - Balance the odd questions only
Due Friday, 2/8 - Chemistry packet signed by parents and reflections filled out
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
2/4 - 2/8/08
This week we are learning how to classify reactions and how to recognize chemical reactions when they are occurring. Periods 4 and 5 are also learning how to balance the reactants and products of a reaction. By the end of the week, each student should know how to turn on the gass, light and adjust a bunsen burner and how to turn off the burner safely. The students will start to do several labs and try to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred starting on Friday and continuing through next week. I have also started to go over the science practice test for the Standards Based Assessments in April. Each day the students answer two practice questions and we discuss test taking strategies in anticipation of the test on April 4th.
HOMEWORK
Due Wednesday, 1/30/08 - Reading Formulas #1-6
Due Thursday, 1/31/08 - Reading Formulas #7-14
Due Friday, 2/1/08 - Counting Atoms
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
1/28 - 2/1/08
This week we will be reviewing how to read chemical formulas and we will determine how to recognize if a chemical reaction is occurring. Periods 4 and 5 will also get a start at learning how to balance equations at the end of this week and the beginning of the next. We are looking forward to several labs and demonstrations in the next two weeks so ask your kids about what they did in science!
HOMEWORK
Due Wednesday, 1/23 - Do the first 5 problems of "Writing Formulas" Na+ through Mg 2+
Due Thursday, 1/24 - Finish "Writing Formulas" paper
Due Friday, 1/25 - Test on Lewis dot diagrams, ionic bonds, covalent bonds and writing formulas (Basically the test is on the information we covered last week in class - Chapter 2, sections 2-4 should be helpful to study).
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
1/22 - 1/25/08
This week we are reviewing the information on bonding we learned last week. We are also doing a lab to determine whether various compounds can conduct electricity and what this tells us about the type of bonds in those compounds. On Friday we will have a test.
HOMEWORK
Due Tuesday, 1/15 - Lewis Dot Diagram worksheet
Due Wednesday, 1/16 - Ionic Bonding worksheet
Due Thursday, 1/17 - Covalent Bonding worksheet
Due Friday, 1/18 - Writing Formulas worksheet- THIS ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT WEEK
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
1/14 - 1/18/08
This week we will start by viewing a short film on the Hindenburg as an example of the importance of chemistry and its impact on our lives. On Tuesday we will do the Periodic Table Relay (to demonstrate the orgainization of the periodic table) and we will learn about ionic bonding. We will learn about covalent bonding and how compounds are produced from various ions in the latter half of the week.
HOMEWORK
We will have a test on the following on Friday, 1/11
1.Where are protons, neutrons, and electrons found and what are their charges?
2. How to draw a Bohr model of the atom
3. How to draw an electron dot diagram
4. What are ions and isotopes?
5. What are valence electrons and why are they important?
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
1/7-1/11/08
This week we started into chemistry and checked out a new book, "Chemical Interactions". We are reviewing atomic structure and other topics your student learned in seventh grade as we begin this unit.
HOMEWORK
1. "Predicting" home lab due Friday.
2. Long term project booklets and face/head variation activity due Friday.
3. "Making Pedigrees" paper due Wednesday if not finished in class.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
12/3-12/7/07
We started the week by sucessfully extracting DNA from an onion. We learned how to make a pedigree on Tuesday and found out how it can be used to show traits that pass through a family. Next we will learn about sex-linked traits such a hemophilia and color blindness and will see how these can be followed on a pedigree. We will end the week by doing a paper chromatography lab to simulate what occurs during gel electrophoresis of DNA. On Tuesday, the students received the field trip permission form for our trip to UAA on December 19th.
HOMEWORK
1.Return signed progress reports on Thursday.
2.Period 6 will have a genetics quiz on Thursday.
3.Period 3&6 - Due Friday Read pages 101-106 and do the worksheet "Probability & Genetics"/"DNA connection"
Period 4&5 - Due Friday Read pages 101-106 and do the worksheet "The Cell and Inheritance"/"The Genetic Code"
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
11/26-11/30/07
This week we are looking at DNA, RNA, mutations, genetic engineering and selective breeding. The students will also receive their progress report on Tuesday in class. They will need to return it with a parent or guardian signature on Thursday. If you missed class on Tuesday, click on the United Streaming link above. Login using the username "nroohi" and the password "library". You will need to search using the key word "genetics". Period 3 saw and took notes on the video "Biologically Speaking: Genetics and Heredity" Periods 4 and 5 saw and took notes on "Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Genetics". Period 6 saw and took notes on "Genes, Genetics, and DNA". We should be extracting DNA from onions on Friday!
HOMEWORK
Genetics quiz on Tuesday (11/20/07)
Punnet square poster due on Wednesday (11/21/07)
Bring in your long term project index card on Wednesday - if yours is lost you will make a new one in class.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
11/19 - 11/21/07
This week we are working on the Face/head variation paper (the one in which we flip a coin for traits) and we will be taking a quiz on genetics. We will be looking at the results so far on our long term project to see how they have weathered the changes from August until now. Once we compare them to the samples in class and have recorded our observations we will send them back into the great outdoors and will allow them to continue braving the rain, wind, sun and snow.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 11/16/07
Periods 4 and 5 - Genetics website critique
Go to nettrekker.com (you can click on the link above). Click on "login" on the free trial d.i. button (written in gold) and then click on "Register" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. It will ask you to fill in a username, password, and give an answer to a question. Please make sure you are registering as a student. After registering, please make sure you are on the middle school tab (it defaults to the high school tab) and search for "genetics". Do the following for 3 sites that you find. A. Give the title of the site and its URL. B. Summarize the information you found on this site. Be sure to give specific examples of what you learned. C. Write a critique of the site. You may discuss for which grade level/age this site would be best suited, the ease of use, if the links are still current and updated, the amount and quality of the information present, etc.
Periods 3 and 6 Choose one of the following options. This assignment is due Friday, 11/16/07.
Option #1 - Do the assignment for periods 4 and 5 shown above.
Option #2 - Do questions 1-3 of the Section Review for Chapter 3-1 on page 85 and do questions 1-4 of the Section Review for Chapter 3-2 on page 93.
CLASSWORK
11/12 - 11/16/07
Thank you to all of the parents and students who attended stuldent-led conferences last week!
This week we are learning how to create and interpret Punnet Squares as we continue our studies in genetics. We should be extracting DNA during lab at some point late this week or early next week. We will also be looking at what a possible offspring would look like for two people who are heterozygous for various traits. The students pair up and flip coins for the traits of their offspring and then draw a sketch of their child at age sixteen. Although it is more simplistic than in real life, this simulation does give the students a chance to see how some traits come from multiple genes. On Monday, we added the following words to our genetics study guide: dominant allele, recessive allele, purebred, hybrid, genotype, phenotype, heterozygous, homozygous.
HOMEWORK
Due this week
Student Led Conference Homework - Students and parents will work together to complete this assignment during student led conferences on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Please sign up for a conference time on our team page. If you will not be able to attend student led conferences, your student will need to bring their folder home so the two of you can complete this assignment at home.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
11/5 - 11/8/07
This week we are continuing to share Energy and Resources projects in class. Each student will have the opportunity to critique other projects in class using the project rubric. So far the students have done an excellent job in using the rubric - they have a good sense of what was expected and how the projects measure up to the rubric. We will also practice using our new knowlege about bias to identify sources of bias introduced by different experimental designs. We will also begin to look at the topic of genetics. Our vocabulary for this week and the next will include the following words: traits, heredity, genetics, genes, alleles, purebred, hybrid, probability, phenotype, genotype, Punnet square, codominance, meiosis chromosomes and sex cells.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 11/2/07
Energy and Resources project
You were given an information sheet about this project in class last Monday. We will spend two days in class this week working on the project. Please ask Mrs. Lynn if you do not understand how to do this project.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
10/29 - 11/2/07
This week we continued looking at bias and what steps the scientific community takes to avoid it. We started a brief introduction of genetics and tallied ten genetic traits found in the students of each class (such as the ability to do "taco tongue" or the presence of a widow's peak). This activity will be continued next week. We spent two days in class working on the finishing touches to our Energy and Resources project. On Friday, students began to share their projects with the class.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 10/26/07
Ecology packet - Organize your graded papers and record the assignment titles and scores on the cover sheet you received on Monday. Fill out the reflections section and then give the packet to your parents so they can look through it and sign it.
Due Friday, 11/2/07
Energy and Resources project
You were given an information sheet about this project in class on Monday. Please ask Mrs. Lynn if you do not understand how to do this project.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
10/22-10-26/07
This week we are working on learning about renewable and nonrenewable energy, the environmental consequences of obtaining and using various sources of energy and how the local environment is used by competing interests. We are spending Wednesday and Thursday in the computer lab so the students can look up information on their energy or resource topic. The students should be able to look at a sample of the grading sheet for this project by going to http://gvnet while they are on the school's computers. We will spend Friday working on the energy and resource project in class and the rest of the project will be done as homework to be turned in next week Friday. Our last topic in life science will be genetics, which we may start as soon as next week. We will also be spending the next two weeks studying about bias in scientific studies - how to recognize it and how to avoid it.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 10/12/07
1. Three kinds of variables packet - this was handed out in class.
2. Bird-and-worm lab write up - the questions for this were handed out in class.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
10/8 -10/12
I had a sub on Monday so the kids worked on their bird-and-worm lab and they finished their AVB lesson. This week we are studying about the three kinds of variables: controlled, manipulated, and responding. We have read newspaper articles ("Students studied at studies") and done activities (predator-prey relay) in which we have worked on determining the three types of variables. The predator-prey relay also showed the effect of color on the survival of prey. After doing the predator-prey relay, the kids will work in their groups to get the mean, graph the data and share their results and analysis with the rest of the class. We will then do a quick food pyramid activity and discuss the results on Thursday. We will finish by creating a food web and exploring the relationship between various members of the web.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 10/5/07 Field Study Project - Use the following checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your field study.
1. Do you have a map?
2. Do you have photographs or full-color drawings of your area?
3. Do you have samples of rocks, soil, leaves and flowers?
4. Did you name and estimate the number of living things you saw? (If you did this in your journal section, highlight it in your journal.)
5. Did you do 7 journal entries?
6. Do your journal entries have
- the date?
- the time of day?
- the weather?
- your notes of what you saw?
7. Did you answer questions a-g from your packet?
8. Is it neat?
9. Does it show good effort?
10. Does it have your name and period on it?
Due by October 18 - Extra credit (see below)
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
10/1 - 10/5/07
The "Bird and Worm" activity took a few extra days so we are just a bit behind my original plan. We finished the last "Bird and Worm" simulation today and will spend some time in class this week doing the write up and graphs for that lab. Then we will study about adaptation and natural selection. We will look at actual butterflies to determine their adaptations for survival and we will do the "Hide a Butterfly" activity. We will then study competition, predation and symbiosis and do the "Predator/Prey" lab. We will finish the week by reviewing food chains and food webs and we will do our AVB lesson on Friday.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 9/28/07
Periods 3,4,5,6 -"Defining Variables Operationally" - This was handed out in class on Monday. We are doing examples of this each day for our journal.
Period 3 "Unlimited Population Growth" paper
Periods 4,5,6 - "Studying Populations" paper
Quiz on Friday, 9/28/07 -This will be on vocabulary words from section 1-1, niche and limiting factors.
Due Monday, 10/1/07 - Signed progress report - This will be handed out in class on Friday.
Due October 1-5 Field Study
Due October 18 Extra credit assignment (see below)
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
9/24 - 9/28/07
This week we will be using a different method to determine population size as we complete the "Mark-and-Recapture" lab. We will also look at changes in population size and limiting factors as we complete the "Bird and Worm" activity. On Wednesday we will study about adaptation and natural selection. We will look at actual butterflies to determine their adaptations for survival and we will do the "Hide a Butterfly" activity. We will then study competition, predation and symbiosis and do the "Predator/Prey" lab. Our science skill for this week is defining variables operationally, which is a fancy way of saying we are looking at how to measure a particular variable.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 9/21/07 "Identifying Variables" paper - this was handed out in class on Monday. We are doing examples of this each day for our journal.
Due October 1-5 Field Study - You need to be working on this! I have not given much homework this week so as to give you time to do your field study. It is 150 points and will have a huge effect on your final grade for the quarter.
Due by October 18 - Extra Credit assignment (see below)
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
9/17 - 9/21/07
This week we will finish our lab presentations and will learn several more skills (making a plaster cast of animal tracks, making leaf rubbings and pressed leaves/flowers) to help with the field study. This week's science skill is identifying variables. We will also be getting the Environmental Science textbooks this week.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 9/14/07
1. Inference picture and 3 interviews - Tape a picture from a magazine/newspaper to a piece of paper with your name and period on it. Cover the caption with a post-it note or cut it out and tape it to the back of the paper. Show the picture to 3 different people and record their inferences about the picture on the back of the paper.
2. Period 3 only - newspaper article (directions are on the paper)
Periods 4,5,6 only - "Making Inferences" paper (directions are on the paper)
Due the week of October 1-5 - Field Study
Due before the end of the quarter on October 18-
Extra credit (see the instructions below)
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
9/10 - 9/14/07
This week we will be working on two science skills: metric measurement and making inferences. We will finish our Metric Estimation lab and analyze our results to determine our strengths and weaknesses in estimating metric measurements. We will then design an experiment to determine how the approximate measurements on beakers and flasks differ from the actual measurements. This activity is designed to give more measurement practice and to have the students collaborate in designing and conducting a simple investigation (standard SA1.2). Later in the week we should spend some time outdoors (if the weather cooperates) so the students can learn how to do their field study project. They will receive a handout of instructions to help them with this project.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 9/7/07
1. Safety packet - this will be graded on the following:
a. the cover sheet is completely filled out - this was handed out on Monday
b. the papers are stapled in the order shown on the cover sheet
c. the packet is signed by your parents
2. Signature on long term project - Put your long term project outdoors and have your parents write a note that has this information: a. your full name b. where you put your project outdoors c. their signature
3. Make a list of 10 qualitative and 10 quantitative observations of a person, place or thing.
Due before the end of the quarter on October 18
Extra credit - Email me from this schoolnotes website. Your message should be your first and last name. You can also sign up to be notified when this website is updated by clicking on "Notify me" and following the directions, if you would like. (Students without internet access at home may do this assignment from the computers in the team pod or the library.)
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
9/4-9/7/07
This week we are starting to practice various scientific skills such as making accurate observations, measuring using metric units and making inferences. We are also learning how to set up unit packets and we will review how to find grades and assignments online. We will practice making accurate descriptions in pairs by trying to accurately describe a sample of artwork to a partner so that they can try to reproduce it. We will also watch and write about a guppy to practice making qualitative and quantiative observations.
HOMEWORK
Due Friday, 8/31/07
1. Return signed safety contract. Must be returned before you may do labs.
2. Study for safety test on Friday. You must earn at least a "C" in order to be able to do labs.
3. Who Am I? card - Using photos, pictures, drawings or realia, create a collage about your likes/hobbies/interests on one side of your index card and write your full name on the back.
4. 2222- Bring in 2 pieces each of 2 different materials to test in our long term breakdown lab. The pieces must be 2 x 2 cm. Please do not bring in pieces from plastic grocery bags, corrugated cardboard, aluminum foil, brown paper towels or plastic milk jugs since I will provide those for you.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
8/27- 8/31/07
This week we are continuing to learn each others names and the procedures for class (fire drill, using planners, journal writing). We are spending time each day learning about safety rules in preparation for the test on Friday. We will also be setting up a yearlong study on the time it takes for various products to breakdown outdoors.
HOMEWORK
Due Monday, 8-26-07
1. Index card containing parent contact information. It should contain the student's name, parent/guardian name, phone numbers and email addresses.
2. Class materials - The students need a single subject notebook for use in science only, paper and pencils. I prefer a simple 1" notebook with a plastic cover, as it prevents water and chemicals from destroying the student's papers.
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
8/22-8/24/07
This week we started learning each other's names, discussed rules and expectations, began going over safety rules and practiced classroom procedures.
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