Hope everyone is enjoying the snow. Sorry that the Blog was not updated last week, but it slipped my mind. I will earnestly work to not allow that to happen again. On Friday, January 12th your child took the microscope parts quiz and the last of our cell vocabulary quiz. All quizzes have been returned to them.

Our school is hosting the Amazing Reading Race right now. Students can sign up in the library and begin reading different genres of books. There are medals for students who read any two, five and 7 book genres. I am giving students EXTRA CREDIT FOR SIGNING UP FOR THE RACE AND READING ONE OR MORE BOOKS IN THE SCIENCE GENRE!!!!!

On Thursdays after school, Mr. Griffioen is beginning an after school club for students to look at different global warming issues and to find ways that they can help. Many students have had conversations with me about concern for their world and the effects of rising CO2 emissions. This may be a great way for students to be empowered and to really make changes in our world. I believe the program would run from 2:30 to 3:15.

Also, for the next 2 Thursdays, for the students who are applying to KAMSC and took the OLSAT test, we are offering writing workshops to help them to be able to write their best application. The next class is February 1st and runs from 2:30 to 3:15.

Here's what our week looks like:

Monday, January 29th

Science

Students have their quiz on the phases of Mitosis. They created flip books on Friday to help them study and were asked to take them home over the weekend. They were also told to bring back the books on Monday to turn them in for the grade. We also had a skit on Friday to help us remember the phases of Mitosis. Ask your child about it. Students will also go over the phases of Meiosis with some short notes and a fun, quick video called, The Meiosis Square Dance.

Creation Station

Students will learn about how to create borders around their different writing projects. They will then be given time to work on their big project. Talk to your child about what the project is that they are doing for class and keep tabs on where they are. We are making a chart in class for them to keep track of what they have completed toward their book. They have an outline in their portfolio/green folder that explains what projects they must have done for the final class. On the last day of this class, we will be celebrating our accomplishments and inviting others to come and view our books. We will keep you posted!

Tuesday, January 30th

Science

Ms. Oudesma will be teaching a lesson on writing a song to help students remember the phases of Meiosis. Students will then be able to perform their song or rap for the class. The performance will be for extra credit points.

Wednesday, January 31st

Science

LAB DAY. Students will be in the lab and taking a swab of their own cheek cells. They will then prepare their slide and view it under the microscope. They will draw and diagram their view in their science journal.

Creation Station

Students will have a mini-lesson on editing marks. Then they will have the rest of the hour to work on their project.

Thursday, February 1st

Science

Students will begin using the Internet to research different cell diseases. They will be given most of the period to work on gathering their research.

Friday, February 2nd

Science

Students will finish their research and create either a poster or a brochure to show others by Monday about their cell disease. All research should be completed today and the visual product must be ready to go on Monday to present to the class.

Creation Station

Students will have the entire period to work on their project.

We will be continuing to work with cells this week. Two important assessments (quizzes) that will be happening are the vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, January 16 and the microscope quiz on Friday, January 19. The last day for any late work is Wednesday, January 17. Your child should have brought home a Gear Up Questionnaire on Friday. Please return it as soon as possible. If you have another child at Milwood Magnet school, only complete one of the questionnaires and on the other write "Already filled out one." so that your child's class will still get credit for filling one out.

Let's have a great week!

Monday, January 15th

Science

We will finish our notes on cells from last week and then play a quick vocabulary game, Hot Seat, to prepare for our Vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 16th

Science

Today we will take our vocabulary quiz. If all of our notes and reading on cells is finished, we will go to the lab and using microscopes, look at different cells. Our job will be to draw the different cells in our journal and label the parts.

Creations Station

We will be completing our weekly contract and threshold activity. We will read from, Bridge to Terebithia, and then work on Diamante poetry. Any late or incomplete work should be handed in to me for credit on the report card.

Wednesday, January 17th

Science

We will be making Cells on the Ceiling. Students will be working with their tables to create a 3-D cell that will be placed on the ceiling. Bring any materials that you can for your group to use!

Thursday, January 18th

Science

If our Cells are complete, we will work on taking notes on Cell division and reading from our book.

Creation Station

We will be working on editing our poetry from Tuesday and then using computers to type it up and to use backgrounds.

Friday, January 19th

Science

Today is the microscope quiz. Then we will be working on a skit on Mitosis. It should be fun! Remember, there is no school for students on Monday. ENJOY YOUR 3 DAY WEEKEND!!!

Hello All! I hope you had a wonderful relaxing break! You should have received progress reports in the mail, if not they should be coming back to the school and we will be notified.

Science took an interesting turn in December and we are scrambling to be sure that because of the new state standards and benchmarks, that your child is going to be ready for high school. Originally, we were going to begin teaching Reproductive Health when we returned in January, but now that will be in February. We are going to begin working on "cells". Thank you for being so flexible.

I will be out for three days this week, attending a conference. Mr. Burtis will be here for me so he knows most of the routines and things should go smoothly. I will be here on Monday and back on Friday.

Let's have a great start to the new year!

Monday, January 8th

Science

Students will be going into the lab to work on using microscopes. Hopefully we will have some fresh pond water to look at, but at the moment, that is not looking promising. We will also briefly learn about the first microscope and looking at cells.


Creation Station

Students will be looking at their own name. The lesson is "What is in a Name?" We will be creating art from our name and reading a book on a creative person by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia.

Tuesday, January 9

Science

Students will be working on a graphic aid to help them understand what they know about cells, what they want to know about them and later, focusing on what they have learned about them.
This is a BKWLQ chart. There will also be articles on cells given to the class to help them to obtain background information on cells.

Wednesday, January 10

Science

Students will be creating Word Boxes on the vocabulary for this lesson on cells. They will be given the entire hour to work on these. If they do not complete them in class, they should complete them at home tonight to turn in tomorrow. It is so important for students to get down these words so that understanding the rest of the lesson is easier. We will be playing a vocabulary game with these words on Monday and there will be a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, January 16th.

Creation Station

Students will work on lap tops to continue with Monday's lesson on "What's in a name?". They will be researching famous people whose name has been used for something. This assignment is due at the end of the hour.


Thursday, January 11

Science

Students will review their BKWLQ diagram and then read from a trade book, National Geographic: Looking at Cells. They will be taking notes in their journal as a PowerPoint on cells is used to teach about the different parts of a cell. Students will work together at their table to draw their own cell as the lesson progresses.


Friday, January 12

Science

We will continue with yesterday's lesson on cells, continue the reading, note taking and finish drawing the cell. Remember that the vocabulary quiz is on Tuesday!

Creation Station

Students will have time in class to finish any work from their file that is not complete so they should also bring other work to do if they are done with their work from in here. A book to read is a great idea!