Earth & Life Under The Microscope - 7th grade Science with Fischer

Report cards arrived at homes a week ago; I sent home grade checks on Friday, before we left for break. You can calculate your GPA (grade point average). An average of A's means you have a GPA of 4.0, an average of B's means you have a GPA of 3.0, an average of C's means your GPA is 2.0, an average of D's means you have a GPA of 1.0. Follow the pattern and you know what comes next. For students headed to college and universities, the goal is to have a higher number. Research the minimum requirements for being admitted to your favorite college and/or university, and strive to surpass those minimums.

By the way, where it says, "number of units", put 1 (one). The computer can read the letter grade with the + and the - so you can just put them in. http://www.aad.berkeley.edu/gpacalc.html

Yes, I know it is vacation, but some of us are still working (I will be grading the portfolios and writing thank you cards), our students have a grade check to show parents and guardians and extra credit assignments to improve grades which can almost always be improved.

(total possible points) x (percent you would like in the class) = # of points you need to get that percent in the class

from this product, subtract the number of point you have currently. This gives you the number of points you need to earn. It can be through making up assignments, and doing extra credit.

There will be around 1,000. points (total) by the end of the semester, if you put that in as total possible points, you'll get an idea about the amount of work ahead of you.

Enjoy your vacation! (but not too much)

Thank you to G.L. in 6° who reminded me of the method I used in school to calculate how many points are required to attain a specific grade in a class. I used to use this equation to figure out how much I should study for a final exam. Also, thank you to the parent who emailed at the beginning of break, which sparked the idea for putting the equation onto the class webpage.

M 12/11- Cell Project due Tomorrow
T 12/12- Test tomorrow, bring all work you would like to use as notes (open notes and homework; closed book)
W 12/13- Cell & Microscope Portfolio due tomorrow
R 12/14- Be sure you turned in your portfolio.
F 12/15- See extra credit assignment below (last day to turn in extra credit work is Friday, 1/5/07).  Grade check given today, it is due with parent signature by Jan. 5, 2007.

Have a good Holiday Break (be safe out there!).  We will see you back at school on Tuesday, Janurary 2.
WinterbreakExtraCredit.pdf (21.54 KB)

Students, bring your family, come between 7 and 9 pm (you don't have to stay the whole time).  Meet us on the basketball courts (weather permitting... let us hope that it is clear this time), there will be telescopes out for us to use when looking at the stars and moon.

When: Thursday, December 7.  7pm-9pm
Where: Hoover Basket Ball Courts
Who: The Entier Hoover Family
Bring: Yourself dressed in warm clothing; if students come without their adults, there must be a permission slip with parent signature turned in.  Please, do not use flashlights or cell phones at the event.

Students get extra credit for attending if they see one of the Science teachers for the extra credit pass.

M 12/4- Finish top portion of Cell Project Assignment sheet (click at bottom of this weeks entry to download file).

Will you do an animal or plan cell?  What grade will you be going for, A, B, or C?  Will you be making a 3-D model or a brochure?

T 12/5- Work on Cell Project
W 12/6- Work on Cell Project
R 12/7- Work on cell project (Moon and Star Party is Tonight)
F 12/8- Work on Cell Project, due Tuesday; Cell and Microscope Unit Portfolio Assignmnet sheet handed out today, due Wednesday.  (click at the bottom of this weeks entry to download file).

Important Dates next week*:
Cell Project is due Tuesday, December 12 (the assignment sheet for this has the wrong day; extra credit is given for turning in the project early; late projects will NOT be accepted)
Test on Cells & Microscope is on Wednesday, December 13.
Portfolio #3 is due Thursday, December 14.

*If you will be leaving early, you must turn in assignments EARLY.
CellProjectAssignment06.pdf (100.2 KB)

3.CellPortfolioAssignment.pdf (47.48 KB)

DoughRecipes.pdf (28.04 KB)
Just in case you would like to make your own version of dough for the cell project; I pulled these recipes off of various websites (search used on Google: Dough Recipes)