Earth & Life Under The Microscope

 M 2.25- Practice Presentation (all students)   7th graders- test was listed on science calendar for this week, we are doing the research presentations instead.   6th graders- Since the computers worked today in class, we are back on track and beginning presentations tomorrow (Tuesday).

T 2.26-Signature on Science Calendar

W 2.27- 6th grade- What I got wrong and why for test returned in class (due Wednesday at latest)

6th grade HW/Notebook check (in order listed; organized in class and due in class)  
Science Calendar #4                  date
Symbols for topographic maps    6-Feb
Charting Ocean Floor Activity    11-Feb
Notes on Charting Ocean Floor     12-Feb
Holt wb pages from ch 12-2    14-Feb
Cleaning Oil Spill Activity    15-Feb
Yellow paper [2 were unstamped]    21-Feb and  22-Feb

7th grade- HW/Notebook Check- due tomorrow; slip handed out today listing the following assignments:

7th grade HW/Notebook Check:(in order listed)
___Science Calendar #4(blue)    date
___Classifying Fossils (activity)    5-Feb
___Design a dinosaur HW        6-Feb
___Keying Bacteria Activity    7-Feb
___Bacteria in Foods Lab        2-11Feb
___Circulatory System Booklet    11-13-Feb
___Body Story- Heart Attack     13-Feb
___Drawn heart with labels        15-Feb

R 2.28- 6th graders- What I got wrong and why.  Finish presentation notes (4 questions I have; 3 things I learned; 2 things that interested me; 1 thing I already knew)   Today or Monday after school you can come in for help to Re-do day on the Topographic Maps, come after school [during homework center time period] to the classroom and you can re-do the map.
7th grade- Finish taking Surprise quiz from 2/20 (can use website to find answers).  Credit is based on notes.  Changed to score on quiz being out of 6 instead of 10.   Classification Presentations Summary Form

F 2.29- Have a great weekend!

 7th grade Extra credit opportunity has been modified to be: Go to the link, watch the videos print or copy out the quiz and take it.  The computer is not sending me the results.  Submit the printed/written version of the quiz, so I may grade it and your score will be entered into the gradebook as extra credit.  Quiz must be submitted on/before Feb. 27, 2008. Click here for link.

This is because I just logged on to check the scores and it does not seem to be saving the quiz results.  The results are different than when I originally showed you this option for extra credit.  You will need to print/write out the quiz out (you still have time, the due date has not changed) and submit a paper copy with your marked answers in order to earn any extra credit [must include the questions; just the answers will earn zero points].  I am sorry that this is not working, but it is out of my control.   If you already took the extra credit online circulatory system quiz, you will need to take it again by printing out the quiz once you have opened the link, and submit it with your answers marked to Mrs. Fischer by the due date.

Wednesday in class 7th grade link:  http://vilenski.org/science/safari/menu/index.html
Take notes as you go through the 5 types of living things.
Then take play classification gameshow "Who wants to be a millionaire scientist?"by clicking on the expedition self test link (at bottom of safari screen).

M 2.17- No School
T 2.18- No School

W 2.19-6th grade- In class we're working on researching and creating Ocean Projects, next week, we will be presenting.  You can download the assignment sheet by clicking here: 6thgradeOceanProjects.pdf (81.16 KB) If you have not looked recently at your calendar, there is a test is scheduled for this week. Topics: Topographic Maps & Mapping (see quiz which was returned), Mapping the Ocean Floor, & Ocean Pollution. 
7th grade- p. 366-372- Read and do section Review Questions on p. 372 (1-3 required; #4 bonus)

Did you hear?  It's Wednesday night and there is supposed to be a Lunar Eclipse!  I'm not sure if we will be able to see it because of the weather, but if you're checking this Wednesday night around 7pm, go out and look at the moon!  SJ Mercury News Link; NBC11VideoClip  NASA link with more info  (this link does not appear to be working at the moment- I'd guess the server is overloaded)

R 2.20-6th grade- 3 questions on back of yellow paper; study for test.
7th grade- Continue researching about your assigned organism.  You will have tomorrow to research in class, if you need additional time to research, it is homework.  Click here to download the assignment sheet for the presentation: 7.ClassificationPresentation.pdf (92.35 KB) If you have not been assigned a group to research (due to absence), the following choices remain, select one:  Dicots, Centipedes, Round worms, Segmented worms, Arthropods, Lichen.

***Important Note: Tissue for the nose is desperately needed.  We have run out and are using scratchy paper towels.  If your family is willing & able to donate a box of tissues, please send it in with your child to class.  Thank you from the noses of F-2.****

F 2.21- 6th grade- Practice your presentation; parent verifies by initialing yellow paper at the bottom.  Postponed for 2° and 3° (first period also by default although they do not know it) due to district server issues during class time.  As a result, 6th grade homework is to enjoy your weekend.
7th grade- Finish your research and bring it to class on Monday.  We will prepare & practice presentations in class, you will also practice at home Monday night.

M 2.11- 6th- Answer questions on Charting the Ocean Floor activity from class (one is harder than others; do your best on it)
7th- Read p. 2 and 3 in Circulatory System booklet (handed out in class or download by clicking here: circulatorysystemspg08.pdf (641.26 KB)), do word search puzzle p. 4

T 2.12- 6th- We watched the above video in class, and took notes about older methods for mapping the ocean floor versus the new techniques discussed in the video clip.  Write 2 body paragraphs (these are NOT the introduction and conclusion) about the benefits of of the new technology to map the ocean floor.
7th- do the following things on page 6 of Circulatory System booklet (this page is called, "Comparing Circulatory Systems"), for each animal, draw a picture of the animal in the same box as its name.  For any 3 of the animals draw it's circulatory system in box below the name of the animal (second row of boxes).  The textbook includes diagrams of all except for arthropods, use the glossary to find where each animal can be found in the textbook.  You can also use online resources to help you find diagrams/illustrations.

7th grade Extra Credit Opportunity: Learn the "Pumps your blood" song and preform it (memorized) in front of the class for 10 points. Click here to link to hear the song and practice it Karaoke style.

W 2.13- 6th- In class, we evaluated each other's paragraphs (Rubric given in class), tonight, edit and rewrite paragraphs using  the  rubric.
7th- Label heart anatomy on p. 8; use p. 7 to assist you; the textbook has some parts (not all) and you may need to use other resources to help you.

R 2.14- 6th- Holt workbook read and answer questions for ch. 12 section 2  p. 2__ __ - 220?  (returned in class to those who stored them in the classroom, otherwise, at home; students read directly from the textbook in class today.
7th- On p. 7 and 8, color code the heart based on what the blood is carrying more of as it passes through each part of the heart (red if blood is oxygen rich/CO2 poor, blue if oxygen poor/CO2 rich); use colored pencils or crayon (not marker)

F 2.15- All students: Finish classwork if you did not finish at school, enjoy the 4 day weekend.  [6th grade-questions on back of Oil Spill lab activity; 7th grade-  heart drawing with parts outlined with name, 3 facts surrounding heart, backside with description of something which could go wrong in the circulatory system and how the entire body would respond/be affected.
7th graders- Extra credit opportunity: Go to the link, watch the videos and take the quiz online.  The computer sends me the results.  Your score will be entered into the gradebook as extra credit.  Quiz must be completed on/before Feb. 27, 2008. Click here for link.   This had to be changed, to.... Extra credit opportunity: Go to the link, watch the videos print or copy out the quiz and take it.  The computer is not sending me the results.  Submit the printed/written version of the quiz, so I may grade it and your score will be entered into the gradebook as extra credit.  Quiz must be submitted on/before Feb. 27, 2008. Click here for link.

Use these to study!

--School House Rock "Circulation"

--Slim Goodbody "Inside Story of your Heart"

-- more to be added

M 2.4-all students: Presentation Reflection: Answer the 4 reflection questions which were written from board onto paper (sorry 6°, forgot to have you do this today, here are the questions, and I'll extend this assignment for 6° to be due Wednesday).  Questions: 1. Which areas were strengths in your presentation?  2. Where do you think you can improve your presentation skills?  3. What did Mrs. F identify as your presentation strengths and improvement areas?  4. If you could do the presentation over, what would you do differently?

 VOLUME    
-0    Loud volume
-0.5    Good volume
-0.75    Good at times/ other times barely hear
-1    Barely hear
-1.5    Can't hear
-2    Silent/barely hear when something is said
-2.5    Silent (not participating in presentation) 

EYE CONTACT   
-0    Scanning Audience; always eye contact
-0.5    A lot of eye contact
-0.75    A lot of eye contact but some reading
-1    Some eye contact but reading
-1.5    Only Reading Poster
-2.5    None, doesn't participate

Other   
+0.5    Enthusiasm
+0.5    helps on computer (6th grade only)
+0.5    uses humor
-0.25    Talking during other presentations
-0.5    moves around a lot (fidgeting)
-0.5    uses filers (um, and…)
-2    not prepared

T 2.5- 6th- Topographic Maps Project/Performance Assessment due Friday.  Download below.
7th- Classifying Fossils part C.  (create your own key to classify the organisms shown).

W 2.6- 6th-Topographic Maps Project/Performance Assessment due Friday.  Download below.
7th- Design your Dinosaur

R 2.7- 6th-Topographic Maps Project/Performance Assessment due Friday.  Download below.
7th-

F 2.8- 6th-Enjoy your weekend!
7th-Enjoy your weekend!

Topographic Maps Project/Performance Assessment Document to download:  TopographicMapProect.pdf (18.86 KB)

Ever wonder how you can visit a website from India, China or other places across oceans?  These links provide information and maps on the fiber-optic cables which carry the information from other continents to your computer!

Information on Failure of Transcontinental fiber-optic submarine cables 

Map of Submarine Cables 

Ordering information for Map of Submarine Cables   (A little expensive to be a poster in your room, but a lot more educational than those fancy music storage devices.  Exactly what any 6th or 7th grader would like for their birthday, right?)

We have come a long way since the first transatlantic cable was completed in 1858, but had a number of problems along the way and did not last long. Click here for more details on early methods of communication. You can find more information by searching for "first transatlantic cable", and/or other information by searching for "first transcontinental cable"; consider including other key terms in your search such as "news article", or try removing the "first" from your search.  Consider how this effects your search results.

Extra Credit Options: 

• (5 points) Make a pro-con list of using the early cable communication system, turn it into Mrs. Fischer on or before the 6th of February.
  
  
• (20 point maximum) Write 3 paragraphs which compare and contrast the technology and cables used in the late 1800's with the cables which are now used.  Include at least 2 sources in MLA format bibliography (available from our school librarian; 7th graders already have this information from the Earth's Period's Project.  To make things easier, one student suggested using EasyBib.com). (turn it into Mrs. Fischer on or before the 6th of February)
  
  
• (10 points) Saturday, Feb. 9  Field Trip to Tech Museum- Mrs. Oliver, one of our 8th grade Science teachers, has kindly organized this opportunity to visit the tech museum and see "The Alps" IMAX for only $4 (prepay).  There are still spaces available, see Mrs. Fischer for a permission slip; the group would leave Bret Harte at 10am, and return at 1pm.  For parents/guardians available to drive, and/or chaperon, there is a form to fill out - it is included with the permission slip.  Those going would need to return the permission slip with the prepay in order to reserve a spot.  Mrs. Fischer will give you the extra credit information on this once you return your permission slip (some writing required) for 10 extra credit points.