GREAT work on the MEAPs this week everyone. I am proud of all the students and our team's great teamwork! This is a big week for science because you will all be demonstrating what you have learned these past 7 weeks. Welcome to the 8th graders and their families who are joining our team this week. Next week we will be beginning a new science unit called, "eek!: Transportation Curriculum". We are excited to pilot this new curriculum with the Sustainable Futures Group.

Another THANK YOU to all who were able to attend the Fall Conferences this year. We enjoyed meeting you all and look forward to our continued work with you and your child.

Reminder: Mr. Burtis and I are here at lunch to help students every day. I am also at Homework Hub after school on Tuesday, Thursdays, and every other Wednesday to help any Milwood Magnet school student with homework. I look forward to seeing you there.
Monday, October 23rd,

Science
Students will finish their notes/Powerpoint on "Decomposition". Groups who have not completed their investigation on "Organic Matter in Soil" will complete it on Monday and turn in their investigation sheet.

Tuesday, October 24th,

Science
All student Vocabulary Games are due today!!!!
Students will begin reviewing for their assessment on Ecosystems by playing each others' vocabulary games for this period. Students worked in class for atleast two days to complete these games. Any games not completed should be finished as homework due today. The games will be graded in class and students will bring the games home today.

Connections
Students will listen to The Skin I'm In. They will then get into their Literature Circle groups and discuss their reading assignments and their literature circle job. Students receive a daily grade for: bringing their planner, their literature circle book, their red folder with the three packets in it, and having good behavior and participation. This is a daily grade of 25 points. Students should take home any group work that they did not complete in class to finish for the next class period. Their group depends on them having their work done for their discussion.

Wednesday, October 25th,

Science
Students will use the information that they have learned about "Decomposition" to complete today's "Leaf Litter Critters" activity. We will be looking at decomposition that is occuring in our own courtyards with the fallen leaves. Students will record data and observe the ecosystem within the leaves.

Thursday, October 26th,

Science
Students will use their notes and what they have learned to play "Ecosystem Jeopardy" to help them review for their test tomorrow. The winning group will receive extra credit toward their assessment tomorrow. Good Luck!

Connections
Students will listen to The Skin I'm In. They will then get into their Literature Circle groups to discuss the reading and their jobs. Students will receive their daily Literature Circle grade and will also complete their Weekly Connections Progress sheet for another grade.

Friday, October 27th,

Honor Roll/Points Up Party

Science-TEST TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Students will complete their end of the unit test on "Ecosystems". Bring something to read with you for when you complete your test.


Extra Credit: Due on Friday, October 27th.
Create a food web of Michigan organisms using pictures. The pictures can be from magazines or the internet or sketches. The food web must have atleast 7 organisms all from Michigan and be realistic. Mount the food web on construction paper (I have some in the room if anyone needs it). Write one paragraph on how your food web works. Then explain how the food web is affected if one organism is removed from that ecosystem. Turn in on Friday during class.