Well it's official, Spring Break has begun =) Enjoy the time off and for those of you who are traveling, be safe. School resumes on April 9th.
Also, I want everyone to know that progress reports were given out on Thursday in class. Progress reports are worth points, so make sure it returns safely to school and is signed.
Finally, a big round of applause to the encouraging audience and to those who participated in the Student vs. Staff basketball game. Everyone had a great time and did a marvelous job!

Hope everyone enjoyed their first taste of spring! As you can see we've been busy with chemistry. But before I forget, just a reminder that we do not have school on Friday and Spring Break begins April 1st - 6th. So enjoy the warm weather, read a book, go to the museum and don't forget to relax!

Now let's take a look at our upcoming week:




Monday, March 26th

Science

Today the students will be finishing up Lesson 5 (pages 21-24 in their Student Pages) by presenting and discussing their data with the class. They should begin working on the Think and Write found on pages 23 & 24 in their Student Pages.

Creation Station

Today, we will look at more student memoirs and begin writing our own.

Tuesday, March 27th

Science

Solids, liquids, gases and plasma oh my! Today we explore the states of matter by observing various experiments set up around the classroom. The students will have a hand-out that can help organize their curious thoughts as they venture to the different stations. We will conclude class with a discussion about how the particles move during each phase and even introduce some new scientific terms!





Wednesday, March 28th


Science

If I drop a crayon in a beaker of water what do you predict will happen to the crayon? Come to our classroom and find out! We will be watching a short clip on density and conducting experiments that will help further our understanding of this tough concept.

Creation Station

Today we will be writing our Memoir. The first draft is due when students return from break.

Thursday, March 29th


Science


Today is huge day, especially for those future engineers, because we have a speaker coming to visit our classroom! The speaker will be talking to the kids about the importance of their academics, different science concepts, engineering and (if we are lucky) maybe we can get them to perform a cool experiment that only engineers know how to do?! This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who has questions about engineering and science, so let's all take full advantage of this!
Also, this is our last day together until April 9th so enjoy your time off and have a wonderful Spring Break! :)




Friday, March 30th

NO SCHOOL
You are to enjoy the weather or stay home and read a book!

Thanks everyone for attending conferences! It was wonderful seeing you all. Can you believe that it was your last middle school conference?! Here is what we are doing in Creation Station this week.

Tuesday, March 20th

Creation Station

Students will look at a poem and write their thoughts and comments on it. Then there will be a class discussion about the poem. We will look back at our Writing Territories and begin to ask some questions about them and share them with our peers.


Thursday, March 22nd

Creation Station

Students will look at a poem and write their thoughts and comments on it. Then there will be a class discussion about the poem. We will look at some examples of good memoirs and poor memoirs and discuss what makes them good or bad. Also, we will start picking out which Writing Territories intrigue us most.

Hello to all! My name is Molly Oudsema and I'm the intern teacher for Mrs. Kahler. I will be updating the Blog every Thursday. There will be a brief description of the exciting Chemistry activity for each day. If there are any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to stop by or call me at 337-0670 ext. 236. I look forward to meeting you!

Next, we would like to start off by thanking all the wonderful parents and students who took the time to attend conferences! It was such a pleasure to meet all of you and have a chance to discuss your child's success.

With all that being said, let's take a look at our exciting upcoming week.




Monday, March 19th

Science

Today we will start off the week by attacking our third set of vocabulary words! We will be creating our Word Boxes that will be DUE ON THURSDAY. Let's make sure that we use these to study for our vocabulary QUIZ ON THURSDAY.





Tuesday, March 20th

Science

What does mixing substances, goggles, a butane lighter, beakers, wires, batteries, steel wool, charts and safety all have in common? You guessed it! Another day exploring chemistry in the lab. Students will be completing the experiments and descriptions found in Lesson 2 (pages 6-12 in their Student Pages).






Wednesday, March 21st

Science

Can you tell me the history and other facts about Hydrogen? Perhaps, but if you are unsure today will refresh your memory. We will be doing a fun hands-on learning activity that uses technology to explore the perodic table!

Reminders:

* Word Box * - DUE TOMORROW

* Quiz * - TOMORROW






Thursday, March 22nd

Science

Today we begin by handing in our Word Boxes and taking our vocabulary quiz. Then we will begin our exploration on weight change. The students will observe physical changes in matter and make predictions about weight changes involved. But the fun does not stop there! Then they will share and discuss their predictions with their group and then with the entire class! Just another fun day of chemistry.

Reminder:

* HALF DAY TOMORROW *




Friday, March 23rd

Science

HALF DAY! Today we will be reviewing all the vocabulary words we've had up until this point. Let the games begin!

Monday, March 12th

Science

Students will be finishing up Lesson 1 (page 2-5 in their blue Student Pages) by demonstrating their chemical experiments to the class. If your student did not take their Vocabulary Quiz on Friday they will take it on Monday.


Creation Station

Welcome! We will be discussing the classroom routines for Creation Station, taking an inventory on reading and writing, and beginning our Writing Territories.

Tuesday, March 13th

Science

Today we will start our next 11 vocabulary words. We will be making word boxes in class to help them understand their new science terms. Any word box that is not finished in classes will be taken home for homework. These will be due on Thursday for a homework grade and immediately handed back so they have them to study for the quiz on Friday.






Wednesday, March 14th

Science

The students will begin Lesson 2 (page 7-12 in their Student Pages) by reviewing and discussing as a whole class what the lesson is going to be about, lab safety precautions, key questions and what is expected from them for points.

~REMINDERS~
* HOMEWORK * - Word Box due Thursday for 30 points!
* QUIZ* - Friday

Creation Station

Today we will work on writing about a poem and completing our Reading Territories. We will have a brief writing time.

Thursday, March 14th

Science

HALF DAY for all students!
MYTH BUSTERS!! Today we will be linking to Discovery Channel to watch a Myth Buster clip on the scientific process. We will use these clips to further our understanding of the Scientific Method.

~REMINDER~
*HOMEWORK* - Word Box DUE TODAY!
* QUIZ * - Vocabulary Quiz TOMMORROW!





Friday, March 15th

Science

Today we will continue with Lesson 2 (pages 7-12 in their Student Pages) and conduct our experiments! Please remind your child not to wear loose clothing for proper lab safety precautions.

~REMINDER~
* QUIZ *- Vocabulary Quiz TODAY!

Creation Station

Today we will begin the hour with another poem. We will begin with work on a Memoir and possibly a scavenger hunt on writing.

Hello Families! Sorry about last week's blog, I completely forgot. We worked on Reproductive Health and are now going to take a break and allow Ms. Oudsema to begin her teaching with the 8th grade Chemistry unit. She will also begin to take over writing the weekly blog.

Literacy night was a great success. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it and had fun being with their family. It was wonderful to see families together and enjoying one another.

Conferences are coming!!! The last day for students to hand in late work was Friday, but come talk with me if there are extenuating circumstances and we can take work then until Tuesday. Friday is half day for students so teachers can complete report cards. Parent Teacher conferences are the following week on March 14th from 5 to 8 and March 15th from 12 to 3 and again from 5 to 8. Please note that all conferences will be at Milwood Magnet School this time.

Monday, March 5th

Science

Students will receive their books for Chemistry. We will begin by looking through them and seeing how the book is made up. Then students will take a pretest on chemistry to help Ms. Oudsema and myself understand what students already know and what they will need more help with.

Tuesday, March 6th

Science

Students will be working on an activity in class to look at Chemistry words and their meanings. They will then be given 10 vocabulary words that they will then put into word boxes. They will start this activity in class and finish it tonight for homework.

Creation Station

Students will be working on their last day for projects on Creation Station. All families are invited to attend their book showing on Thursday from 1:45 to 2:15. Any staff that is available to attend will also be invited.

Wednesday, March 7th

Science

We will be working in the lab today and tomorrow. Our focus is to have students identify that house hold products are chemicals and that they can have varying reactions when mixed together. Students will be given a specific kit to work with to ensure that all items that are mixed together, are safe. Teachers will also be observing lab safety which we have been working on for the past month. This has been identified by the high school teachers as something all incoming freshmen should already know.

Thursday, March 8th

Science

Students will complete the lab and demonstrate one mixture that they had for other students to observe. Students should also have their chart completed. There will also be a writing activity for them to complete in their journal.

Creation Station

CELEBRATION! Our books should be completed and we will be showing them to each other and those who can come in and enjoy them. We will have some goodies to enjoy also. Books will not go home today, but will be passed out in the next few weeks.

Friday, March 9th

Science

Students will be working on an activity about the different forms of matter and how it changes. They will also be looking at the periodic table.