One Week Before Winter Break!

Hey All! Sorry this is coming to you so late on Sunday. I have had a jam packed weekend and it looks like there is no end in site. I'm sure you are all going through the same.

This week we will continue with the game we are going to create for our Plate Tectonics Theory and Rock Cycle review. Students were introduced to the game at the latest by Friday, some on Thursday. Fifth hour had a meeting on Friday so they are a day behind. Please do not go out and buy anything for your child to create this game. One thing that I have asked them to do is create the game using things they have already at home, reduce, reuse and recycle. All games are due when students walk into class on Wednesday. They will have time in class to work on them on Monday and Tuesday. Students will rotate through the room on Wednesday and play each other's games and give feedback to the group. Students may fix anything last minute at home on Wednesday night and bring it back on Thursday.
We will then take the assessment on Thursday. Then on Friday, we will be working on making sure that our Science Binders are in the order they should be.

Please watch for your child's progress report to come home in the mail early next week.

Have a great Winter Break!

Monday, December 15
Science
Today, students will get the hour to work on creating their game on the Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonic Theory.

Science Connections
Today, students will be introduced to me since Mr. Allie has been their Connections teacher and he has now graduated. We will be looking at an article on biofuels and playing a game called Two Truths and a Lie. During the last 15 minutes of class, all students should have their silent reading book and be reading.

Tuesday, December 16
Science
Students will continue with Monday's game creation. The game is due tomorrow at the beginning of class.

Wednesday, December 17
Science
Today is game day! All games will be put out and other groups will be each take turns play the games and giving feedback to each group. This is also our assessment review.

Science Connections


Thursday, December 18
Science
Turn in any improved games from yesterday. Assessment for unit 3. Please bring a book to read in case you finish early.

Friday, December 19
Science
We will spend today working on getting all papers back and putting our Science Binder in the correct order. Students will work with a partner and give feedback to them about their Binder.

Science Connections

Mr. Allie's Last Week

Well, this is Mr. Allie's last week with us. He has been quite helpful to me and the students. Hopefully he has learned a lot and ready to go into the world and teach. We still might see him around as a substitute teacher. Thanks Mr. Allie!

This week we will continue to focus on the Advanced Rock Cycle. Probably next week we will be ending this unit.

Here's the schedule:

Monday, December 8

Science

E3.1A Discriminate between igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and describe the processes that change one kind of rock into another.

We have a short video on the Forces that shaped the Earth. There will be a short worksheet to check for student understanding to go along with it. Then Mr. Allie will be finishing his Webquest on Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic rocks and how they are formed.

Tuesday, December 9

Science

I will be working at WMU today and Mr. Allie will be in charge. He will be finishing the second part of the Word Boxes for Unit 3. This should be turned in before students leave.

Science Connections

Mr. Allie will be writing this lesson.

Wednesday, December 10

Science

E3.1B Explain the relationship between the rock cycle and plate tectonics theory in regard to the origins of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

We will be doing some Power Learning to help us remember the Tectonic Plate Theory. Students will learn a kinesthetic way to remember the plate boundaries and the land mass they form. They will then practice with a partner.

Next, students will work with a partner to read about the Rock Cycle p. 164 to 166 in our "Inside Earth" text book. We will work together to take Lancer Notes and write summaries. Then with a partner students will answer questions, 1a-2c. We will finish the questions in class tomorrow.

Here's an online rock cycle activity:

http://phschool.com/

Web code: cfp-1056

Thursday, December 11

Science

E3.1B Explain the relationship between the rock cycle and plate tectonics theory in regard to the origins of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

E3.1A Discriminate between igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and describe the processes that change one kind of rock into another.

Finish questions from Wednesday. See above. Turn in questions.

Students will be given a rubric on creating a game that shows the rock cycle and tectonic plate theory. They will be given class time today to begin to plan and put the game together. This process will assist students in reviewing for next week's assessment. This project will require team work (students will be responsible for their own performance with a group) and the actual game board. Students should NOT go out and purchase things to create their game, but instead, be creative about what things they already have that they could use instead (Unit 6-Sustainable Systems). I don't want anyone to feel they must go out and purchase things. We will be working in class on these games for three days (Thursday, Friday, and Monday). On Tuesday, we will be playing each other's games.

Students will have a rubric on how they are being graded on this project. They will be carrying this in their Science Binder so they can work toward the grade they would like.

Science Connection

Mr. Allie will be creating and teaching this lesson.

Friday, December 12

Science

Students will continue working on their gameboard from Thursday. See state standards from Thursday.

Web-quest

Today we are working on a web-quest on Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary Rocks.  To begin your web-quest click on this link and follow the directions of the webpage.  

http://www.mcsdk12.org/curr/webquests/rocks/rockswebquest.htm