Monday Class

Today in science we continue to work on our final stop-animation films. Please follow the checklist found below to complete your project.

Finish “Four C’s” Research Sheet

Finish Storyboard

Create Props/Characters/Background/Letters

Using iMotionHD app, create stop animation. Make Sure you title your film on your ipad.

Save your stop animation to your camera roll.

Open IMovie and create a new project.

Import your stop animation from the camera roll into your iMovie Project.

Add Voiceover/Narration

If Needed: Add Title slides and IMovie Extras.

If Time: Create background music in GarageBand or other important music.

Save New IMovie onto your camera roll.

Upload Movie on camera roll into your Vimeo Account.

Embed Vimeo movie into your “Who Am I” portfolio.

Friday Class

Students are continuing to build their stop animation films... Here is a checklist that we are using to guide student work:

• Finish “Four C’s” Research Sheet
• Finish Storyboard
• Create Props/Characters/Background/Letters
• Using iMotionHD app, create stop animation. Make Sure you title your film on your ipad.
• Save your stop animation to your camera roll.
• Open IMovie and create a new project.
• Import your stop animation from the camera roll into your iMovie Project.
• Add Voiceover/Narration
• If Needed: Add Title slides and IMovie Extras.
• If Time: Create background music in GarageBand or other important music.
• Save New IMovie onto your camera roll.
• Upload Movie on camera roll into your Vimeo Account.
• Embed Vimeo movie into your “Who Am I” portfolio.

Wednesday Class

Today in science students will continue researching their topic of choice for the film they are creating.  After initial research is completed, students will create a 2X2 matrix on the 4C's....Components, Characteristics, Challenges, and Characters for their film.

Monday Class

Today we will begin researching the topic for our stop animation film.  Utilizing the articles we read in language arts class along with the articles on the following link we will create a "Character Sketch" of our topic.

Research Articles

Character Sketch Activity

Friday Class

Wednesday and Thursday Class

Today in science students will be dissecting owl pellets to gain deeper understanding of food webs.

• Here is a link to the resource page.

• Here is a link to the Lab Handout/Procedure

By the end of Thursday: Students will have all the bones needed to put together a reconstruction.

Come and Check it Out!

Last week we wrapped up the bee project. Students have been working on developing sustainable solutions that could increase the bee population in West Michigan. Students created models and visuals to display their ideas. Many ideas revolved around the idea finding ways to increase the biodiversity of "food" for bees to harvest from. Other ideas revolved around the use of pesticides and beekeeping. The displays are set up in the library media center and room 33. We would welcome you to visit anytime this week to check it out!

Tuesday Class

Today in science students completed a "Invasive Species Prototype Checklist". This activity had students create a 3D model of their invasive organism, create a short script about their model, and film 5 different scenes using different camera angles. (Please use the above link for full details)

Monday Class

Today in science, we started our next design challenge in which students will be creating a stop animation film that helps make sense of  current Great Lakes Ecology issues.
Here is our introductory slideshow...




Below is the link for today's activity...in which students are researching one invasive species. Tomorrow, students are asked to bring in some small household items to create a quick 3D model of their organism to use in a camera activity.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_59996---,00.html

Tuesday Class

Enjoy your upcoming Thanksgiving Weekend!!!!

Today in science (those students who had science) had the opportunity to view and observe the projects. The displays will be up next week for all (including parents and community members) to see.

This afternoon we had a great time with the Turkey Trot!

Monday Class

Here is the link to today's assessments:

1st Hour Ecology Relationships Retake

2nd Hour Ecology Relationships Retake

6th Hour Ecology Relationships Retake

7th Hour Ecology Relationships Retake

Today in science we did three things:
1. Relationships Assessment

2. Complete Survey and work on catching up on missing assessments.

3. Set up our product displays on display tables throughout the building.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!

3rd Hour Choices Survey

Please click on the survey below regarding possible choices for Third Hour

You are NOT Guaranteed your first choice.

3rd Hour Survey

Thursday Class

Today in science we continue to work on creating our final products for our gallery display we will be setting up next week Monday.

Tuesday Class

Today in science we completed two things:

1. Wrapped up final prototypes to share out.

2. Conducted peer feedback gallery walk in which students give two kinds of feedback... I like and I would add...

Tomorrow we construct our final products!

Monday Class

Today in science we showed the last tidbit of information before student finalize their "final rough draft". We used the TED talk found below...

Students finished prototypes to be used tomorrow for a feedback based gallery walk. Students look to complete the entire project this week...

Ecosystem Dynamics Re-Assessment

Click on the link for your hour to access the quiz.


1st Hour Assessment Link

2nd Hour Assessment Link

6th Hour Assessment Link

7th Hour Assessment Link

Tuesday Class

Today in science students worked on the one page writing task for this project. The writing piece will go along with their product when we share out our final solutions.

Click here to access the information sheet on this writing task.

Thursday Class

Today in science students were introduced to the next deliverable in the project which is a "Gallery Walk Preview Sheet". Please click here to access that sheet!

• Most student groups are in the process of creating and revising the Preview Sheet.
• Some groups have moved on to actually creating their Gallery Walk Poster. The Gallery walk is used as a final opportunity for feedback on their ideas before they build the actual product.
• Some students had an opportunity today to work in a breakout session with Coach Wandel. The breakout session focused on a review of science concepts taught this year.

Enjoy the day!!!!

Wednesday Class

Today in science students continue to work on developing their solutions and refining their ideas. Students used a combination of small sketches and written communication to define their solutions. Tomorrow, these ideas will be crafted into a rough prototype for a gallery walk early next week.

Click here for today's sheet.

Click here for the resource page full of links!

Monday Class

Today in science we continue our work on developing solutions for our challenge of finding a sustainable solution that ensures a healthy bee population in West Michigan for years to come. Below is the deliverable that needs to be met by the end of tomorrows class. Some groups may need to finish their 15 solution brainstorm as homework tonight.

2x2 Matrix Deliverable Click Here!

Thursday Class

Fail Early...Fail Often...

Good montra today as many groups revised original focus because it became clear they were down a wrong path... Good opportunity to learn!

Today we entered the brainstorm phase of the project as students were challenged to begin the process of idea generation.

Wednesday Class

Students did three things today in science:

1. Students posted/displayed their "stakeholder" profiles on our inspiration wall.

2. Students formed teams to complete the "Bee the Hope" project.

3. Students found focus for their project moving forward.

• Students decided on a stakeholder to focus on.
• Students decided on 3-5 insights to connect their stakeholder to. 
• Students developed "how might we..." or "what if..." statements that will be the root of their idea brainstorm session tomorrow.

Next Up:

Thursday: Brainstorm

Friday: Make Apple Cider

Monday: First Prototypes

Monday Class

Today in science:

Insights From Research and Reading

• Due: End of Class Monday (Today)
• Each partner must submit their edited insight developed last week.
• When possible, try to include some science terms such as: mutualism, symbiosis, interdependence, ecosystem, population, community, species, relationships.
• Remember the rules posted on our blog last week!

Profile of A Stakeholder in the current Bee Problem

• Due: Beginning of Class Wednesday (October 30, 2013)
• Each group must construct TWO profiles of potential stakeholders they want to target a solution for. Ultimately, you will select one in the end and in fact may choose another stakeholder that you didn’t plan for.
• Use the following procedure to guide this work:

1. Use the list developed in Social Studies class to guide your decision. Pick the two you want to focus on.
2. Research how these “stakeholders” interact and hold a relationship with the honey bee. Focus on the following:
1. How might they depend on honey bees and how do honey bees depend on them?
2. How might this stakeholder help preserve the honey bee’s existence?
3. How does this stakeholder feel about the current honey bee problem?
4. How sustainable is their “business” if the honey bee population continues to go down?
3. Using a regular size paper, create a “profile” visual combining visual sketches and words to communicate the background of this “stakeholder”.
4. Post this “profile” on the front wall.

We are entering a period in the project where students will need to access a variety of resources... We have started a resource page with links to various websites.

Wednesday Class

Today in science we:
1. Discussed symbiosis, mutualism, and parasitism. We did this by using a mixture of video clips and photos. Below you will find embedded resources.

2. Created insights based on the themes we collected yesterday in our saturate and group activity. These insights will provide the foundation for our brainstorms and product creation.

Tuesday Class

Today in science students finished their story share and capture of the articles they read on the honey bee issue. This process follows a protocol in which students take the article they were assigned and share information in the form of a story to their group members who did not read that article. Those members listen and take down information on sticky notes. These sticky notes are organized into themes which help identify insights into the problem.

Students handed in their "Reading Synthesis Quads" for this activity.


 We have 6 articles that each team needs to read. Each person is responsible for reading 2 articles...therefore each team needs to make sure all 6 articles are covered. We are expecting a text marking strategy to be used in reading and all articles will end with a synthesis quad. These articles are used to gather our "need to knows". Please click here to access our need to know list!

Here are the electronic versions of the articles: 

1. National Geographic Article (The Plight of the Honeybee)
2. Time Magazine Article 
3. NBC Article ("Declining honeybees a threat to food supply)
4. Ethiopia: Bees make honey money
5. Honeybee Mystery (Kids National Geographic)
6. The Honey Hunters of Nepal

Monday Class 10/21

Today we are collecting surveys!  Thank you to all who participated.  We appreciate the feedback.  We are constantly looking for ways to improve what we do here.

In science today we took student individual feedback as well as continued looking at how bees live, function, and survive.

Friday Class

We have done a great job sharing information with one another based upon articles we covered this week about relationships in ecosystems regarding bees.  Students are doing a great job of comprehending informational text.

We are in a time that we want to reflect on our science class and what we can improve.  We have already thought of a few ideas to make the experience better for kids here at school.  Today we are sending home a short survey for you to fill it out.  Please have your child bring it back to school and slip it into the box in the science room on Monday!

Here is a link to the survey if you would like to see it:

Survey Link

Monday Class

Welcome back after a great weekend!

Today in science we recapped the interviews and presentations from last Friday by the Blueberry Farm and Beekeeper. We did this by using a story share and capture method in which students shared insights that captured their attention. This information was used to create a group and saturate wall. This is a very big part in trying to make sense and find focus on this problem.

Thursday Class

Today in science we did not see everyone because of MEAP... Those classes we did have finished the reading that we started a couple days ago:

 We have 6 articles that each team needs to read. Each person is responsible for reading 2 articles...therefore each team needs to make sure all 6 articles are covered. We are expecting a text marking strategy to be used in reading and all articles will end with a synthesis quad. These articles are used to gather our "need to knows". Please click here to access our need to know list!

Here are the electronic versions of the articles: 

1. National Geographic Article (The Plight of the Honeybee)
2. Time Magazine Article 
3. NBC Article ("Declining honeybees a threat to food supply)
4. Ethiopia: Bees make honey money
5. Honeybee Mystery (Kids National Geographic)
6. The Honey Hunters of Nepal

Check out our highlight documentary of our Bottle Project '13! 

Wednesday Class

Today in science class we continue to work on our challenge: Design a sustainable solution that ensures a healthy bee population in West Michigan for years to come.

In the shortened class period due to MEAP, we did the following:

1. Discussed our need to know list.

2. Developed interview questions for our guest speakers on Friday.

3. Developed an empathy map to record information on Friday.

See the previous blog post for information that Mr. Wandel and Mrs. Fuzak did in the social studies portion.

Citation Practice II

Take it to the next level!  Here is another chance to practice this skill you will use for life!

Citation Practice II

Tuesday Class

A reminder....this project is a joint effort between science and social studies!

Yesterday, Mrs Striegle and Mr. Malefyt teamed in science to work on a text marking reading strategy that ended in the completion of a Synthesis Quad. 

Today: We have 6 articles that each team needs to read. Each person is responsible for reading 2 articles...therefore each team needs to make sure all 6 articles are covered. We are expecting a text marking strategy to be used in reading and all articles will end with a synthesis quad. These articles are used to gather our "need to knows". Please click here to access our need to know list!

Here are the electronic versions of the articles: (Watch throughout the day for these to be loaded in)

1. National Geographic Article (The Plight of the Honeybee)
2. Time Magazine Article 
3. NBC Article ("Declining honeybees a threat to food supply)
4. Ethiopia: Bees make honey money
5. Honeybee Mystery (Kids National Geographic)
6. The Honey Hunters of Nepal

Monday Class

Today we are focusing on technical reading and writing as a way to gather information for projects.  The following links will support the learning for today:

Citation Guide

Friday Class

Design Challenge: Design a sustainable solution that ensures a healthy bee population in West Michigan for years to come.

Today we developed our need to knows for the gathering stage. This took most of the day...

We were able to build in some group team building as we have different groups for this project!

Enjoy the weekend!!!!

Thursday Class

Today we begin with a assessment opportunity from the bottle eco-column content.

• 6th Hour Students Click Here

• 7th  Hour Students Click Here

Then we watched the following short video as an entry event into our bee project.



Finally, we handed out the project flyer... this was taken from our website page.

Wednesday Class

Today in science we:

1. Finished yesterday's activity.

2. We held a writers seminar based on our science journals. We recently graded the journals and the quality was not very good. We had a good discussion with examples shown.

3. We did a visualization activity that was a entry event into our bee project that we will introduce tomorrow.

Tuesday Class

Today in science we take a break from project work as we find ourselves in between projects.

Today we complete an activity called, "Wolf Survival is Just A Roll Away". Click here to access that activity.

When students are finished, they are to create a drawing that represents the story of their two wolf packs...no words can be used.

Here are the rules in google presentation format:

Monday Class

Last day of the Bottle Design Challenge.

1. Students were assessed on their bottles within small group interactions.

2. Students completed a journal reflection on what their eco-columns would look like 2 weeks from now.

3. Students cleaned-up their projects and work space.

We look forward to beginning our next project, "Bee the Hope" later this week!

Friday Class

Today in science, students had a chance to finalize their revisions from yesterday's bottle eco-column work. We had a chance to go outside to recollect items needed to increase biodiversity in our eco-columns. Monday we will re-assess each of the columns!

Thursday Class

Today in science we accomplished the following:

1. Content Assessment: Here is a link to today's assessment on our ecology content from the Bottle Biology Project. All students will be taking this.

2. Reflection Journal:

3. Revision of Bottles Based on yesterday's feedback and grades...students have the opportunity to improve their prototypes and revise their structure. Tomorrow we will be outside with different tools to collect a more diverse factor set!

Wednesday Class

Today in science we had shorter class periods due to the ACT Explore testing in the morning. Students completed their eco-columns and were graded on their product. Tomorrow we will take a content assessment, assess our collaboration, and reflect on our work.

Monday Class

Today students had a choice:
1. Stay inside to finish the construction of their eco-columns. or...

2. Go Outside and collect organisms to go in their eco-columns.

The Deliverable for this project is a constructed eco-column. Here is a link to the rubric that will be used to grade the products. The Deliverable date set is this WEDNESDAY. 

Friday Class

Today in science was a build day! Students built their bottle eco-columns. Here is a link to the rubric that will be used to grade the products.

On Monday and Tuesday, students will have the opportunity to go outside to a variety of habitats to collect factors for their eco-columns.

The deliverable date for the end product is next Wednesday, September 25.

Thursday Class

In science today...

1. We started class with a whole class formative activity on species, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

2. Students finished the road maps. Here is the link to the road map!

3. Students Entered the Brainstorm process of the project.

4. Students received feedback in the form of "I Likes" and "I Wonders" on their design sketches.

*Students will need to bring in their bottles (2 liter pop bottles the best) tomorrow so they can start to construct.

Check out the amazing inspiration wall students put together in making sense of what they gathered!

Wednesday Class

Today in science we look at finishing our gathering phase of the project. Students continue to use the road map to gather their need to knows.

Here is the link to the road map!

In finding focus and organizing their collection, students are creating a inspiration wall that highlights the differences between species, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

Finally, some groups are getting to the brainstorm stage of developing sketches of their potential eco-columns. We are instructing students to bring in 2 liter bottles tomorrow and Friday to construct their eco-column. We are looking at Monday as organism collection day to fill our bottles...although that may change as we move forward. 

Take a look at todays double rainbow outside our classroom!

Monday and Tuesday Class

In science we continue to focus on gathering our need to knows for the design challenge: Design a bottle eco-column that highlights the components of an ecosystem.

In gathering the need to knows...students complete a road map of teacher structured activities and resources.
Here is the link to the road map!

Thursday Class

Today in science we enter the "Gather Our Need To Know" stage of the design process. Using the need to know's students developed yesterday, we developed a "Road Map" for students to use to gather answers.

Here is the link to the road map!

Wednesday Class

Today we introduced our first design challenge of the year!

Design a bottle eco-column that highlights the components of an ecosystem. 

After we introduced the challenge we did a number of things:

1. Developed our Need To Know List
2. Developed Groups and established core group values.
3. Handed out Journals and submitted journal entry: " What can I bring to my team to make this project successful?

Tuesday Class

Today in science we kicked off our first project of the year. This project is based around some general ecological concepts. Tomorrow we will introduce the design challenge. However, we first held a "entry event" today to get everyone thinking about how things interact in nature...we did this by doing a ecological scavenger hunt!

Monday Class

First of all...Welcome to a new group of 7th grade science students!!!!

Here is a link to today's pre-assessment.

Today we do three things:

1. Talk with Mr. Kramer and Mr. Frens
2. Pre-Assessment
3. Resource Tools Search

Wednesday Class (Last Day of School Year)

Today we had students redo some content assessments....

Here is the link to the Atoms Quiz

Here is the link to the Compounds, Molecules, and Changes!

Thursday Class

Today in science we work on putting the final touches to our demonstrations. Tomorrow we begin the process of actually giving our presentations!

Driving Question: How can we bring to "life" the "magic" of chemistry?

Wednesday Class

Driving Question: How can we bring to "life" the "magic" of chemistry?

Today we split up into two groups:

1. The first group traveled with Mr. Wandel to the lab room to run a lab on physical change. A major point of emphasis of this lab is to teach proper safety procedures.

2. The second group worked with Mr. Malefyt on their demonstration research.

The Major Demonstration Database will give you resources to begin searching for ideas for your final demonstration. 

CHECK OUT THIS DOCUMENT LOADED WITH LINKS!

Keep up the good work!!!!

Friday and Monday

We will be continuing to investigate physical and chemical change via the Roadmap #2 on the last blog entry.  Students will be designing their edible demonstration to be done on Monday.  This will help students to develop a frame of reference to improve with for their final demonstration at the end of the project.

Groups:  Students will have SOME voice in their groups.  Teachers will make the final CHOICE for their groups for the final demonstration.  Groups will be formed next week.

The Major Demonstration Database will give you resources to begin searching for ideas for your final demonstration.

CHECK OUT THIS DOCUMENT LOADED WITH LINKS!

The Final Demonstration Application will need to be filled out by each demonstration group.

Monday Through Wednesday! Chemical and Physical Change

Here is the link to the second road map!

Sorry it was late.  The post I originally sent did not go through!

Physical and Chemical Change Roadmap

Friday Class

Today in science we continue to work on our gathering of data for our chemistry project.

1. Students completed the "adopt an element" activity.

2. Students worked on completing the first road map.

3. Coach Wandel provided a cool demonstration!

Thursday.....Adopt An Element

Today students will be working on the Adopt an Element activity to help them gather more information about Elements and The Periodic Table.  Below are the links kids can use to search for information to create their poster!

Web Elements
PTable.com
Chemicool
Los Alamos Periodic Table 
Visual Elements
Lenntech Periodic Table
It's Elemental TableElemental Fascination
All Periodic Tables.com
Chemical Elements.com
American Elements.com
Chemical Comics
Interactive Periodic Table 
Periodic Table Structure 
Periodic Table Trends 
Electron Configuration
CHEMystery Periodic TablePeriodic Table Videos
Chemistry in its Element 
Rota Period 
ACS Periodic Table 

Tuesday Class

Today in science we continue to work on our chemistry project: How can we bring to life the "magic" of chemistry? 

Students are currently gathering information on atoms, compounds, and molecules. The roadmap about atoms, compounds, and molecules is below. 
Chemistry Roadmap 1

Enjoy the weather!

Friday Class

Today students enjoyed playing their fossil games while conversations and assessment took place. We will be pulling out model games to be highlighted and stored for future standardized test review!

Well done and enjoy the weather this weekend!!!! Monday we continue the work on our chemistry project: How can we bring to life the "magic" of chemistry? 

Today we begin our study of Chemistry.  The roadmap about atoms, compounds, and molecules is below.

Chemistry Roadmap 1

Friday Class

Today and yesterday in science class we worked on building/constructing our games. Next week we will have some assessments with limited time to finish up the building phase of the project.

Monday Through Wednesday Class

A Team will occur during science class this week Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Students have been asked to work at home on their game's as much as possible during these three days. Students will be given Thursday and Friday to work.

Thursday Class

Today in science most groups received their "building permit" to make their game. In order to receive this "permit" students needed to bring the following to a teacher interview session:

1. Their Gallery Walk Paper
2. Feedback from their Gallery Walk Paper
3. Evidence of Revision either written or drawn
4. Final sketch of game

The Target End Date Is: Friday, April 19, 2013

Monday Class

Welcome Back!

Today in science we continue to work on our design challenge: Design an original and engaging board game for 8th graders that incorporates fossils, earth history, and math.

Students developed insights and started to generate their ideas today.

Tomorrow will be a full out brainstorm session!!!!

Wednesday Class

A Great Day in 7th Grade Science!

1. We welcomed the third graders from Hamilton Elementary to our last day of Art Trash 2013 display!

2. We Made sure we finished the 2x2 matrix from yesterday on fossils.

3. Use yesterday's blog entry to research game design...

4. Completed a 2x2 matrix on game design...

Have a Great Spring Break Everyone!!!! When we get back we generate our game boards and build them!!!!!

Game Board Design Articles

Explore these resources.  Use the information you discover to complete your 2x2 on designing a quality game.

Game Board Wiki

First Steps in Game Design

Game Supply Ideas

What to look for in a Board Game

Board Games + Math =  Fun???

Board Game Resources

Monday Class

We continue to design an original and engaging board game for 8th graders that incorporates fossils, earth history, and the use of math.

Here is your order of importance today:

1. Finish The Fossil/Earth History time lines activities from the past week. Use previous blog entries to guide your work.

2. Complete a 2x2 matrix on your fossil work. One Line should be "Boring vs Interesting". The other line should be "Important vs Non-Important". In addition, you need to include at least 20 items on this matrix. This 2x2 needs to be posted on the wall when completed!

3. Complete a character profile of an 8th grader. Click here for the activity background...

In addition, today we will have a breakout session covering some misconceptions about overpopulation.

Thursday/Friday Update

Thursday:
Students spend time observing the land, ocean, and air environments of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time periods...the "Age of Dinosaurs". This continues to address the need to knows for gathering understanding about fossils and earth history.

Friday: Students will be gather need to knows on game design.

Early Next Week: Students wrap up all the need to knows and enter the "Make Sense" or "Interpretation" phase of the project.

In addition, we will be offering re-take sessions from various topics in the year!!!!

Monday Class

Today in science we continue to GATHER our need to knows for this game project based on fossils.

1. Students Should Refer to Their Geological Time Map throughout the process...

2. Use the following program to view information on each of the time periods. Please find the appropriate handouts for each time period that you will complete as you watch the videos. Most time period handouts have actual fossils for you to view.

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

Please Click Here For A Old Road Map that has copies of all the handouts!