10/27/09

It's now the 2nd grading period. Be prepared to really churn and burn now that you are experienced 6th grade students.
Some due dates are:
A Day
Quiz on Thursday, 10/29 over Chapter 3 Section 2 (3-2).
**Revised Graph and Report are due on 11/2.
Science Project Update due on 11/2.

B Day (following class on 10/28)

Quiz on Friday, 10/30 over Chapter 3 Section 2 (3-2).
**Graph and Report are due on 11/3.
Science Project Update due on 11/3.

A & B
You may begin working on the Gizmos: Hurricane Action. It is due by November 10. If you don't have class that day just get it to me in the hall.

** You have the opportunity to revise your report and graph. I'm hoping to post the links to the task and the rubric.

Rubric

Yearbook Pictures

October 20. Check the Landon web site for more info?

What's due next week?

The Student Exploration Guide for Coastal Winds is due by Wednesday, 10/21. This is for both A and B days. You may turn the Student Exploration Guide in earlier if you want. I will collect the scores for the Assessment questions on Thursday morning. If you don't score at least a 4/5 on the questions I suggest you review and retest yourself. Rather than asking me to re-set the score just print out your score and bring it to class. That way if you don't do well there's no reason to not do better.

There will be no do-overs accepted for this Gizmo.

ALL DO-OVERS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE THURSDAY, 10/22.
THE ONLY ASSIGNMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR DO-OVERS ARE THE FOLLOWING:
The Report to the Cookie Company.



Gizmos: GRAPHING: Student Exploration Guide and Assessment Questions (print out the score you get on the questions so that I don't have to go looking for it).
 There is no do-over for Plants. You just have to complete Plants and Snails and turn it in.

Three ways that energy is transferred.


The Official Do-Over form is available
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AVkJPZ_sUMJnZGNoemh0d2hfMTFnanRkZHhkag&hl=en

Weather vs Climate notes

I have uploaded the file again and now I think this link should work. Thanks for your patience. I really don't want to "invite" people. I want you to have easy access. Let me know if it doesn't work.

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AVkJPZ_sUMJnZGNoemh0d2hfMjVkcGpyamhjaA&hl=en

Notes about Climate and Weather

A Day - These are the notes for today's lesson. Although 1st and 2nd period received the handout,
I neglected to give 3rd period the handout. - Sorry. I am posting the notes on google docs. If you want to download it go ahead. If anyone else wants a copy, help yourself. I suggest printing it out as a handout with multiple slides on a sheet.

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AVkJPZ_sUMJnZGNoemh0d2hfMjVkcGpyamhjaA&hl=en

Science Project Presentation to Parents on 10/13

Thank you to all of the parents who came to the presentation. I hope it was helpful. The whirly-gigs may have helped you see that science is fun and developing a project really isn't rocket science -yet.

I've posted the presentation. Here's the link

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AVkJPZ_sUMJnZGNoemh0d2hfMTJkanNuanRnNw&hl=en

Unit Challenge: this week and next

All classes will have an opportunity to plan, run, and report on the Unit Challenge. All of the work will be completed in class. Anyone who doesn't do the project or can't do the project will have the opportunity to take the exam instead.  I think the project will be a good challenge for everyone. Part of the project will be assessed as an activity, but the majority of the project will count as an assessment. Be prepared to work hard and use your time and resources wisely.

Coastal Winds Gizmo

A day classes will discuss Coastal Winds on Friday and B day will discuss them on Monday.. That means that the Gizmo should be completed and submitted on or before 10/21.

Update for Science Project Program for Parents

The 2nd annual JLCP Science Project Program  for Parents will be held on Tuesday,
October 13. It will be from 6-7pm. During the program Mrs. Hayden (6A) and I (6B) will briefly review the process, the forms, the rules, and how to help your child through the science project process. We will have a quick hands on activity to help you refresh your understanding of variables and a quick question and answer period will follow. Hoping to see you there.
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Do You Need a Do-Over?

Sometimes in life we all need a "do-over" when we don't make the best choices. I have decided to offer a chance to  "do-over" certain activities. If I'm grading an activity, it is important and should be completed. It's not Rocket Science in 6th grade, but you may be a Rocket Scientist when you are older and you might just remember that even NASA wants a "do-over" sometimes when things don't go right.

Here are the current "Do-Over" policies.
You may have a do-over on selected activities.  Not everything qualifies.
You have to print out a Do-Over form, complete it, sign it, have your parent/caregiver sign it, staple it to the activity, and turn it in before the Do-Over Window of Opportunity closes.

Right now the following "Do-Overs" are available:

1. The Report to the Cookie Company.
2. Gizmos: Graphing Student Exploration Guide and Assessment Questions (print out the score you get on the questions so that I don't have to go looking for it). There is no do-over for Plants. You just have to complete Plants and Snails and turn it in.

The Official Do-Over form is available

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AVkJPZ_sUMJnZGNoemh0d2hfMTFnanRkZHhkag&hl=en

The closing of the window of opportunity will be announced next week.
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Relative Humidity Assignment

All classes have the following assignment. B-day classes were assigned it on Wednesday. A-day classes received the assignment on Thursday.
Do the Assessment Questions for the Gizmo: Relative Humidity. It is due for everyone on 10/12. That is Monday. That is the day before the Science Program for science projects. Remember, I get these grades electronically.

If you have already completed the Assessment Questions and the computer accepted your score of 100% then I have your score. If you scored an 80% or lower I deleted your score. Don't worry, I recorded them before I deleted them. This way anyone who earned an 80% or lower has another chance at total success. I will print the grades again on Monday afternoon at 2:30 pm. Please make sure that you have completed your assignment. See me if there's a problem.

Bonus Opportunity:
If you complete the Student Exploration Guide for Relative Humidity and submit it you can receive up to 10 bonus points in the Technology category. I know we did it in class. You will get points for working on it with your class, but this is a way to earn more points - just in case.

Re: Response time for parent contacts

Parents,

I would love to immediately respond to your e-mails and calls, but that's just not possible. I hope to respond to each phone message or e-mail within 2 business days. Please be patient. I have to prioritize where and how I allocate my time. The students in my classes are my first and highest priority.

I have heard from some parents that my blogging updates are not made at convenient times. I make them when I can. You may notice the time signature of this blog entry and several others. I often have to make them on my own time. Yes, it's 0610 on a Friday morning and I'm blogging. I know many of you also have to squeeze work into your personal time like I do. I will try to give enough lead time from a post to a due date.

Have a great day - I'm planning on doing so :)
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TYVM - No More Foil, Cans, or Bottles needed!

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of several parents we have enough foil, aluminum cans, and 2 L bottles for investigations.

Here's a heads up for the unit project. It requires the use of 3 "regular sized" water bottles by each group, so that's our target size right now. More details will be posted next week.

Thank you parents for your continued support. If you can donate a box of tissues or some hand sanitizer both of those are being used daily to help our students stay healthy. And I really appreciate the students who are very conscientious about using both.

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Science Project Program for Parents

On Tuesday, October 13, there will be a program at JLCP presented by the JLCP science department and the topic will be SCIENCE PROJECTS!!!!

I am leading the presentation so I will gear it for parents of 6th graders and students new to the science project process. Variables, questions,  and hypothesis development  will be addressed. The forms and websites will also be mentioned. Everyone is invited. An information flyer should be coming home later this week to announce the time. I will also post it here as soon as everything is finalized.

Have you had trouble opening your documents at school?

Many of you and your families have Word 2007/Office 2007 and at school we don't have it. We have an earlier version of Word.

Here's a snippet that I received in some tech helps. It should help you open documents at school.


"How can Microsoft Word 2007 save a document automatically in a Word 97 – 2003 version?


In Microsoft Word:
a. Click the Office Button.
b. Click Word Options.
c. Selected, Save from the left column

d. Under Save Documents, “Save files in this format” select Word 97-2003 Document (*doc.) from the dropdown menu.
Word will now automatically save documents in this version."

Directions: All A day classes must finish the questions before coming to class. B day classes will have time to work on them in class, but my want to work ahead.

Analysis of Observations


1. Explain why you made your prediction in diagram 1 (one minute)?

2. Explain what you saw after 1 minute.

3. Explain what you saw after 5 minutes.

4. When did you make your last observation?

5. Explain your last observation.

6. Why did you predict that your diagram would change?

7. What do you predict would happen if you left the demonstration for 24 hours?

8. What was the difference between the red and blue liquids (besides color)?

9. Summarize what happened in this demonstration.

10. What caused the movement of the red and blue liquids?