Week of Feb. 8

Reminder - data & graphs due on Feb. 17 - the long weekend will be a good opportunity to get some experimenting done!! Boards are still available.

8th grade is learning how to calculate speed & acceleration.

7th grade will have a test this week, and then will move on to an Animal Behavior Unit. Miss Johnson, our jr. hi. student teacher will be teaching part of this unit to the 7th grade classes.

Week of 2/1

Science fair procedures and materials lists were due last Friday. I have reviewed them and made comments and suggestions for all students. Now is the time to carry out the experiment. Data and graphs are due on Feb. 17. I still have project boards available here at school for $3.00.

7th grade will be learning about the fungus kingdom, writing poems, and looking at some fungus under our microscopes.

8th grade is finishing their chemistry unit with a test on Wednesday and beginning their physics unit soon after that.

Week of 1/25

7th grade continues its study of the kingdoms of life. We will be moving into the protist and fungi kingdoms after a Ch. 10 Test on Wednesday.

8th grade is finishing their chemistry unit with a study of pH and other indicators of acids and bases including a short introduction to organic chemistry.

Both grades have materials list and procedures due for the Science Fair on Friday. After I have OK'd the procedures, there is an approximately 2 week window for the experiment itself to be completed.

Week of 1/19

Science fair is upon us! Though I know the thought of science fair strikes fear in many parents' hearts (including mine! :)), it is an important experience for students to plan, execute, and present a finished project within deadlines. That in itself is applicable to almost any job in which a student may have an interest. Additionally, the proper procedure of stating a problem and searching for a solution is a valuable process. I have outlined the steps for students to follow and assigned due dates to help them pace their progress.

8th grade will have a test this week and will then move on to the last chapter in our chemistry unit.

7th grade is beginning a unit which will take a closer look at each of the kingdoms of life. We hope to find the answer to the pressing question "What area of the school will grow the largest bacteria culture????"