Mon Nov 30th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Continue our exploration of Chemistry which we started before the Rotation Week activities 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Brainiacs Alkali Metals Reactions – we will watch this as a class first
  2. Chemistry Vocabulary List – Open this file (try the J-drive for a faster version) and copy it into the 3rd 6 Weeks section of your OneNote Science Notebook
  3. 3.2 OneNote Assignment - Open this file (try the J-drive for a faster version) and copy it into the 3rd 6 Weeks section of your OneNote Science Notebook  

Additional Information:

Tues Nov 24th

  1.  Science Rotation Week Survey - Please complete this survey (one per student) as soon as you can.  It will count as extra credit toward your grade if you complete it and your comments are appropriate. 
  2. Vote for Student Council here – Please enter your votes for student council (Today only!) using this form (one vote for each position per student... votes are tracked by ID number)
Thanks and have a nice holiday!

Mon Nov 16th through Tues Nov 24th

General Plan:

All 7th and 8th grade Science students will be conducting a data analysis and graphing rotation mini-course over these dates.  All students will spend 2 days in each of 3 different classrooms with 3 different teachers sharpening their skills in these critical areas.  I’ll return to posting daily assignments on this blog after the Thanksgiving Break.

Additional Information:

  • Have a great Thanksgiving!

Fri Nov 13th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Discuss, demonstrate and/or use Triple-Beam Balances
  • Discuss, demonstrate and/or complete the Copper Plating Lab
  • Discuss, create and/or use Power Word Wall
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. How to use a Triple Beam Balance – view these 5 slides to remember how to use a balance
  2. Copper Plating Lab – This lab will either be demonstrated or completed during class
  3. Power Words List  

Additional Information:

  • 2nd 6 Weeks grades go out today
  • Have a great weekend!

Thurs Nov 12th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Complete Chemistry basics video series
  • Assess our understanding of Atoms to Ecosystems
  • Review the proper use of a Triple Beam Balance
  • Practice basic balance skills
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete Chemical Reactions video series which we downloaded yesterday
    • Questions Form - Answer Video Question as you watch using this form… One form per person please!  If there are 2 names on the form, only the first name gets credit for this assignment…  I have paper copies for those without laptops.
  2. Interwrite self-assessment – Complete this activity to demonstrate your understanding of our 6 station rotation on Tuesday
    • Study Stack Atoms to Ecosystems – If you have problems completing the IW self-assessment, use this study stack to help you review the terms and pictures
  3. How to use a Triple Beam Balance – view these 5 slides to remember how to use a balance for tomorrow’s lab
  4. Practice using a triple beam balance – once you have completed all of the above, you can go to one of the 3 practice scales to review some basic measuring skills.

Additional Information:

Wed Nov 11th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Explore basic Chemistry concepts through a OneNote assignment and related video segments
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Open today’s 3.1 OneNote assignment and drag it into your 3rd 6 Weeks notebeook section.  The file can be found in 2 places:
    • The best (and quickest) option is to open it in my J-Drive folder
    • If that doesn’t work for you, try this link
  2. View Chemical Reactions Video Segments and answer the questions in the form (the clips should be dragged from the J-drive to your desktop to be viewed… use the links below only to view them at home
    • Questions Form (One form per person please!  If there are 2 names on the form, only the first name gets credit for this assignment…  I have paper copies for those without laptops)
    • Part 1
    • Part 2
    • Part 3

Additional Information:

Tues Nov 10th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Review Atoms to Ecosystems in a 6 station rotation
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Station 1:  arrange these 10 words (and 10 matching pictures) in order from smallest to largest: atom-molecule-cell-tissue-organs-organ system-organism-population-community-ecosystem
  2. Station 2: shuffle and match word cards to matching definition cards
  3. Station 3: play ‘I have – who has’ with the provided card set
  4. Station 4: examine critter sketches for patterns and arrange them in order from simplest to most complex
  5. Station 5: cut and paste a new Table-of-Contents onto page 20 of your Interactive Notebook
  6. Station 6: Complete the following statements and word pair matches on page 21 of your interactive notebook 
    • The difference between a population and a community is...
    • The BMS campus could be considered an ecosystem because...
    • Use these words to fill-in the matching blanks:  population element cell tissue family individual  atom person 
          _______ is to ________ as _______ is to ________
          _______ is to ________ as _______ is to ________

Additional Information:

  • The 7th Grade Science-wide Data Analysis unit has been postponed until next Mon Nov 16th

Mon Nov 9th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Screen for Data Analysis Stations placement later on this week
  • Self-correct workbook materials from last week 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete Stations Screening
    • Look for file named ‘Stations Screening’ in J-drive\BMercer folder
    • Answer on green scantron form and online form
  2. Self-correct workbook pages from last week using the key 
    • Look for file named ‘WB-key chapter1’ in J-drive\BMercer folder
    • Compare answers on key with answers in workbook and make corrections if necessary
  3. Once you have completed the two activities above, try Dabbleboard

Additional Information:

  • Data Analysis rotation stations in 3 different classrooms starts Wednesday of this week.  Please do your best on the screening today so you are placed in the right group!

Fri Nov 6th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Continue investigation of Chemistry of Life 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Read textbook Chpt 1 sect 2 (pgs 31-37)
  2. Complete the associated workbook pages (pgs 8 & 9, questions 1-12)
  3. Create foldable with the following vocabulary words, definitions and examples
    • Physical property
    • Chemical property
    • Element
    • Compound
    • Formula
    • Mixture
  4. Continue ‘Life in the Underbrush’ and complete Video Review sheet

Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th

Thurs Nov 5th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Begin new section on Chemistry of Life
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Read textbook Chpt 1 sect 1 (pgs 24-30)
  2. Complete the associated workbook pages (pgs 5-7, questions 1-19)
  3. Watch ‘Life in the Underbrush’ and complete Video Review sheet

Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th

Wed Nov 4th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Reinforce our understanding of cell structures and levels of organization in the body
Links and Tasks for today: 
  1. Read the following information on Cells and Cell Structures 
  2. Read the following review information on Levels of Organization in the body

Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th

Tues Nov 3rd

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Complete our 2-day mini-unit on designing an experiment
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete Experimental design notes
  2. Enter pages 18-21 into our iN
  3. Rotate stations to create IVCDV Tables based on lab scenarios at each station
  4. Graph the data from the table at the second station in the rotation

 Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th

Mon Nov 2nd

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Start a 2-day mini-unit on designing an experiment
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. View and discuss Experimental design notes
  2. Update iN with Experimental Design Materials
    • We will be adding pages 16 - 21

 Additional Information:

  • Today our new Principal, Ms. Watson, joins us