Dear Parents,
I hope all is well, that you’ve had a blessed Lent, and that you are looking forward to a great spring. Here is what we’ll be doing in our Science & Spanish class this upcoming fourth quarter.
8th GRADE SCIENCE
*Ch. 11=Intro. To Electricity
-Comparison of conductors with insulators
-Photocells and thermocouple production of electrical energy
-Ohm’s Law
-Five essential parts of a circuit
-Comparison of series circuits w/parallel circuits
LABS:
-Stop the Static Electricity!
-Potato Power!
-Circuitry
*Ch. 13=The Periodic Table
-Arrangement of elements on the periodic table
-Comparison of metals, non-metals, and metalloids based on their properties and location on the periodic table
-Explanation of why elements in a group often have similar properties
LABS:
-Conduction Connection
-Create a Periodic Table
7th GRADE SCIENCE
*Ch. 14=Invertebrates
-Describe the difference between radial and bilateral symmetry
-Describe the body parts of a mollusk
-List the four main characteristics of anthropods
-Explain metamorphosis in insects
LABS:
-Dissecting a crayfish and an earthworm
-Cricket Caper
-What a star!-Starfish
*Ch. 15=Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles
-Define vertebrates and list the main characteristics of vertebrates
-List four characteristics of chordates
-Describe the function of a swim bladder and an oily liver
-Describe metamorphosis in amphibians
-Explain the adaptations that allow reptiles to live on land
LABS:
-Observe animals in our classroom aquariums
-Dissecting a fish-search for a swim bladder
-Dissecting a frog
6th GRADE SCIENCE
Ch. 10= The Flow of Fresh Water
-Illustrate the Water Cycle
-Explain major factors that affect the rate of steam erosion
-Identify stages of river development
-Describe characteristics of an aquifer
-Using water wisely
LABS:
-Water Cycle
-Degree of permeability
-Clean up your act
Ch. 11=Agents of Erosion and Deposition
-Explain the connection between storms and wave erosion
-Describe how beaches form
-Describe the effects of wind erosion
-Describe the difference between dunes and loess
-Explain how ice in a glacier flows
-State how gravity affects mass movement
LABS:
-Dune Movement
-Gliding Glaciers
-Creating a Kettle
SPANISH – 6TH GRADE
*Learning how to conjugate –ar, -er, and –ir verbs
*Conjugating verbs with stem changes
*Conjugating irregular verbs
**Spanish Projects**
-create a Spanish comic strip
-“Mi Familia”
SPANISH – 7TH GRADE
*Conjugating irregular verbs
*Introducing preterit verbs
*Learning the culture and history of the states of Guanajuato and Jalisco
**Spanish Projects**
-create a skit/dialogue in Spanish
-create a travel brochure to a city in Mexico
SPANISH – 8TH GRADE
*Working with preterit verbs
*Creating a dialogue as if ordering food in a restaurant
*Learning the use of possessive adjectives (mi/tu/mis/tus)
**Spanish Projects**
-create a report on a state from Mexico
-create a travel brochure for a city in Mexico
Dear Parents,
I hope all is well and that you’ve had a great winter break. Here is what we’ll be doing in our Science class this upcoming quarter. I am looking forward to an exciting 2012.
Grade 6:
• Plate Tectonics (Ch. 6)
o Identify & describe the layers of the Earth
o Understand the three types of tectonic plates
o Explain major types of faults
o LAB=Crack in the Hard-Boiled Earth
• Earthquakes (Ch. 7)
o What are the causes of earthquakes? Where do earthquakes come from?
o How detected? How to locate?
o Safeguarding buildings
o Earthquake safety procedures
o LAB=Create an earthquake proof building
Grade 7:
• Heredity (Ch. 6)
o Experiments of Gregor Mendel
o Recessive trait & dominant trait
o Genes and alleles related to phenotypes and genotypes
o Differences between mitosis and meiosis
o LAB=Tracing Traits-goldfish
o LAB=Round or Wrinkled
• Genes and Gene Technology (Ch. 7)
o Describe the basic structure of the DNA molecule
o Explain how DNA molecules can be copied
o Define mutation, and give an example of it
o Explain how DNA works
o LAB=Extracting DNA from a kiwi
o LAB=Fingerprint your friends
Grade 8:
Matter in Motion (Ch. 5)
o Observations of motion/speed/acceleration/velocity
o What is a force?
o Force that opposes motion
o Gravity force of attraction
o LAB=Domino Derby
o LAB=Hot Wheels
Forces in Motion (Ch. 6)
o Gravity & Motion
o Air Resistance/ Projectile Motion
o Newton’s Laws- 1st/2nd/3rd
o Momentum
o LAB= Projectile Motion
o LAB=Let’s go fly!
