GIZMOS have been added and info for anyone who didn't do their assignment.

I just added all of the GIZMOS for the unit. Now there are lots of GIZMOS. I expect that you will finish the Graphing and the Relative Humidity by October 5.   Finish the Graphing by your first day of class next week. Just print a copy of the exploration guide for Humidity. I think we should do some of this in class - it's a little complicated. You will do the assessment questions independently after we work together.

Some of you have not yet completed your student exploration packet for  the Plant Gizmo. That will be recorded as a zero.

I electronically picked up the Assessment Scores for the Plant Gizmo today. If you don't have a score that was registered by 09/27/09 you don't have a score. You have had too much time to complete that Gizmo. I assigned an alternative Gizmo so that you may make up the work and the grade. It is "Plants and Snails". If you received a Zero for the assessment of Plants then you MUST do Plants and Snails. If you scored less than an 80% on the assessment for Plants then you may also do Plants and Snails. Anyone who submits Plants and Snails must have it signed by their caregiver and they should understand that it is a makeup grade.

Some lab supplies needed for the next unit

Students,
In order to complete some cool demos and investigations we will need the following "lab" equipment. If you can bring something that will be great. We also need some clear tape for the table boxes.

Lab equipment

soft drink cans (the lift tab may be removed if you are saving them)
empty, clear, clean 2L bottles with caps
aluminum foil
liquid food coloring

juice or tea bottles: empty and clean and hopefully in pairs

Thanks Parents

I just want to extend another THANK YOU to the parents who volunteered as chaperones for our fieldtrip. I hope you enjoyed it as much as the students. It was a little warm during lunch, but what a great atmosphere for our two teams to be able to see their friends in an informal setting. Without our volunteers we couldn't have gone.

Also, a big THANK YOU to the parents who have sent in some team supplies. I know that your contributions are helping to make the sixth grade experience a good one for all of our students. Tissues, hand sanitizer, and soap may help to keep everyone just a little healthier and avoid some nasty germs and viruses. Paper and other office supplies means that although we are aren't wasteful, we don't have to be stingy.

So THANK YOU for all the help, support, and cooperation that you have provided so that your children can have a rich, meaningful, year.

Pick a topic for your Science Project.

It's time to pick a topic for your science project. All projects must be legal and follow the ISEF rules. We've brainstormed in class to get some ideas. Here's another way to find a topic. Remember, you may not talk to me about "your project" or "your experiment"  until you have a topic selected, 5 bibliography cards for important sources that helped you learn about your topic, and about 15 - 25 note cards so that I can see that you did some background reading about your topic.

Start at this site

http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/

Go to the Forms and Document Library which is the last entry in the ISEF section on the left of the screen

You should see this on the new page.

DOCUMENTS FOR STUDENTS QUALIFIED TO ENTER INTEL ISEF AND FOR STUDENTS IN LOCAL AND AFFILIATED FAIRS


• 2010 Rules and Regulations


• 2010 Student Handbook


• All Intel ISEF Forms for 2010


• Complete Intel ISEF 2010 Rules and Regulations booklet for printing purposes


• 2008 Rules and Regulations en Espanol

Click on the 2010 Rules and Regulations. This will be a pdf that you can save.


Go to page 5 of the Rules and Regulations to find the complete listing of topics and categories. Pick a category and/or topic and start reading about it and taking notes.

MOSH fieldtrip checklist for students

Have you paid? If not, pay Wednesday.
Did you turn in your permission slip? If not, do it Wednesday.
Planning your bag lunch? Make it on Wednesday.
Finding the right outfit and shoes. Do it on Wednesday.

Bringing your lunch and a drink -  in a plastic grocery bag with your name on it and the top tied shut? Thursday's the day!

Leaving the flip flops, high heels, hard to walk in shoes at home on Thursday? Great.
Wearing clothes that conform to the dress code? Maybe a school T-shirt? Great. Remember, all outfits must be appropriate in length. No beach clothes, short shorts, midriff shirts, tank tops, muscle shirts, or other "play time" clothes. We are going on a school trip out in public and we want to show the public how great our students from JLCP are.

You really won't need spending money. There's no good reason to go shopping in a gift shop in your own town. Go another day with your parents. In fact, I'm going to ask that chaperones NOT let anyone go shopping. There's a lot more to do than shop at the museum.

You also won't need any electronics or phones or cards, or toys. It takes about 10 minutes to drive to the museum so you shouldn't get too bored. You can talk to other students on the bus if you are allowed.

You will need a pencil or pen and some note cards. There will be assigned tasks at the museum that will be used for grades if you attend. If you don't - don't worry I will provide an alternative science assignment that you can complete at school or at home.

Wednesday is an early release day, so don't play too much until you are ready for MOSH.

We will have classes when we return. Thursday is A day. Be prepared.

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Lots of new info posted

There have been a total of 5 new posts today. Please continue reading to see all of them.
TYVM.

The test is coming, the test is coming...

Yes, there will be a test. It will be based on  the following Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSS) which I have incorporated into your activities since school began. You will have to answer questions that demonstrate that you can answer questions based on the NGSS.
SC.6.N.1.2 Explain why scientific investigations should be replicable.
SC.6.N.1.3 Explain the difference between an experiment and other types of scientific investigations.
SC.6.N.1.5 Recognize that science involves creativity in designing and explaining experiments.
SC.6.N.2.3 Recognize that scientists who make contributions come from all backgrounds.
SC.6.N.3.2 Students explains that a scientific law is a description of a specific relationship in the natural world.

You may want to review Chapter1 Sections 1 and 2 and Chapter 2 Sections 1 and 2 along with your ISN. A-day classes will test on Tuesday and B-day classes will test on Wednesday.

FIELDTRIP to MOSH and a picnic lunch at Friendship Fountain

Let's all hope for clear weather on Thursday, September 24. We're going to MOSH. Mrs. Hayden from Team A and I have arranged for all of our students to attend a planetarium show that will complement World History class lessons and for time to explore the museum. I am looking forward to everyone walking through the big mouth. Have you seen it?

It's really large and you just walk right in. Touching the tongue was really cool.

BUT........

You must have your $10.00 CASH and your permission slip turned in to me no later than TUESDAY so we can get the entry fee check ready. Yes, we are taking a bus and that raises the cost. We are also paying for the program so that's why we have to collect $$$.

Bring your bag lunch and wear your walking shoes. Please, no flip-flops  or high heels for safety reasons. Gym type shoes or CROCS are great.

GIZMO Due!!!

Everyone has had plenty of time to do the first GIZMO assignment so it is now officially due on TUESDAY, September 22. Be sure to have completed your STUDENT EXPLORATION GUIDE. This will need to be shown or handed in to me in class. You also have to do the assessment questions. I will get those scores electronically.

STUDENTS, please get parental permission before following these directions

Parents,
I recently purchased a subscription to Quia Web to use with my students. It requires that each student register for the "class". I am requesting that you enroll in the following class:

Class: Advanced Comprehensive Science Team B
Code: XBRRF933

I want to use this site for some assessments because there is immediate feedback for the students and me. They will know how they did and I can use the information to plan further instruction.

So, please allow your child to follow the directions below.  I anticipate using Quia on our next trip to the computer lab.



Step 1. Go to the Quia Web site at http://www.quia.com/web.

Step 2. Now, click the area labeled Students. When the next page appears, enter your username and password if you already have a Quia account. If you do not have an account, click the link Create my free account. Fill out the form that appears. Please use your correct name when you are registering although you may select your own log-in and password if you can remember them without my help. Select "Student" as the account type.  When you are done, press the Create my account button.

Step 3. You should now be in the Student Zone. Type in the class code XBRRF933 in the text field and press the Add class button. Now you're done!

Now that you have registered for the Advanced Comprehensive Science course, you can view your class web page, take quizzes, view your quiz results, and view time spent on Quia activities.


Follow these steps to view your results:



Step 1. Log in to your account. (Remember, go to the Quia Web home page at http://www.quia.com/web and click the area labeled Students.)


Step 2. Click on the class name.


Thank you.

Trip to Computer Lab is planned

I've scheduled all of my science classes for a trip to the 1st floor computer lab for Monday A and Tuesday B. You will be working on GIZMOS and yes, there will be an assignment made once I have all of you registered. You may also be working on taking the sciencebuddies survey to help you find a topic for your science project. Some of you may be working on Odyssey and we will try to make sure everyone has access and assignment for both GIZMOS and Odyssey.

Classes will meet in my room and will do the bellringer, turn in their vocabulary card, have a lesson on Theories, Laws, and hypotheses, and then we will go to the lab. Make sure you are on time to class. The tardies will be noted and you may earn a detention if you accumulate too many of them.

Cookie Report

Here are links to the Report to the Cookie Company directions and rubric. This is an activity that will be graded so make sure to turn it in at the beginning of your next class period. Choose either link.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AVkJPZ_sUMJnZGNoemh0d2hfN2YzYjNyOWcz&hl=en

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19402971/Report-to-the-Cookie-Company

Catching up with assignments and homework

Yes, there's a difference in finishing an assignment at home and homework. Assignments are the work of the class period. Adequate time has been allowed for the completion of the assignment. If a student chooses to spend more time on an assignment than is available in class then that assignment may be submitted at the next class period. Some assignments must be completed in class and are not allowed to go home for different reasons. Arrangements for additional time should be discussed with the teacher.

So.... Assignments for the week have included the investigations How many drops of water fit on a penny and Sinking Lincoln. A data table for group data should be in the ISN for How many drops and a data table for the class data should be in the ISN. A line plot of the class data should have been turned in. If you took it back to work on the REPORT then make sure you turn it back in.

The report for B day is due tomorrow unless it's already in and for A day it's due on Tuesday.

Assignment details will be posted later today.
Homework:

• Read Chapter 1 section 1 (1-1) in the GREEN Holt Science and Technology (HST green) book that stays at home.
• Do the activity Mission Impossible p.5 with your parents. Complete the Analysis Questions. Write the responses in your ISN.
• Read HST green 1-2