Our week has gone pretty well. We learned about molecules and atoms and what happens with hydrogen and oxygen atoms when water decomposes. During class, each person received a model kit to build models of water and then show what happens when the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are separated from one another. It was fun and we got to eat the marshmallows when we were done. Not as exciting as doing another lab, but the kids did a really nice job. We are going to finish this lesson on Friday 5/4/07 instead of working on the Science Fair. We will work on the Science Fair instead, next week. Remember, the Science Fair is May 24th!

Also, watch for a letter to be coming home about all the end of the year activities for 8th graders and what the criteria is for them to attend. If you haven't seen it, ask your child for it because it should be coming home with them on Monday.

Progress Reports should be coming home next week on May 18th!!!!!!!!!!

Here's our schedule:

Monday, May 7th,

Science

We will be working on the science fair today. All classes should begin the experiments.

Creation Station

Students will arrive in class and choose to either copy a poem or to write a Diary entry of their choice. We will look over the criteria for our final book project and begin to work on them. The books will be due the last full week of school so be ready!

Tuesday, May 8th,

Science

We will work again on our Science Fair project for the class. Hopefully, everything will pretty much be done today.

Wednesday, May 9th,

Science

Today we will go back to our chemistry books and begin lesson 14 "Atoms in Equals Atoms Out:Rusting". The key question here is, "How can atoms and molecules be used to explain the formation of new substances? How can they be used to explain the Law of Conservation of Matter?" Your child should be becoming very familiar with this Law. We will be completing the Think and Write questions from page 67-68. If this is not finished during class, it is expected that it will be completed as homework.

Creation Station

Diary entry or poem activity upon entry. Then we will look at our Heart Mapping activity. We will pick out a subject and work on writing a poem on it. We will also be choosing our topic for our book today and using any extra time to begin working on it.

Thursday, May 10th,

Science

We will continue to work on the same key question as with lessons #13 and #14. Lesson # 15 is, "Atoms in Equals Atoms Out:Baking Soda and Vinegar". Again we will be working on models, formulas, and balancing a basic equation. In class we will begin to work on the Think and Write page 73 #1-5. If it does not get finished in class, it should be finished at home.

Friday, May 11th,

Science

Same key question as all of this week, but for lesson #16, "Atoms in Equals Atoms Out:Burning Butane". We will build models again and complete the chart that we have been using all week long. We will begin Think and Write page 76-77 in class and it should be completed at home.

Creation Station

Begin with our normal threshold activity and then have the rest of the time to work on a project for our book project.