This week we learned about lab SAFETY in science and started SCIENCE INQUIRY.  Students were required to get their LAB SAFETY contract signed and take a LAB SAFETY test and score 70% before they can participate in FULL labs.During lab safety, we also had fun learning safety with SPONGEBOB,  playing a lab safety symbols matching game , and playing a lab safety review game before our big LAB SAFETY TEST on FRIDAY. 

On Wednesday, student enjoyed learning how science works through our DOGS & TURNIPS ACTIVITY. Many students realized that our HYPOTHESIS changes as we get more information and that scientist may get different answers even seeing the same information because we all have different backgrounds and ideas.

On Thursday, students used the scientific method to see how scientist solve problems.  To jumpstart our brains, we saw a StudyJams video about Scientific Method (great cartoon that connected with kids), Mrs. DuBose then demonstrated the scientific method by walking the kids through the QUESTION: Which will hit faster a book or a sheet of paper. The kids all said the BOOK would hit 1st.  This was a GREAT discrepant event because I posed the question “what if it doesn’t matter how heavy an object is..these two objects are supposed to hit the ground as the same time”.  It was great hearing that IDEAS..Finally someone said “ball up the paper so it doesn’t have AIR resistance.”  GREAT SCIENTIFIC THINKING. After that students then applied their knowledge Drops on A Penny Lab.  (I did introduce the idea of surface tension by using my data projector to show me filling up a cup of water and showing the children the bubble across the top. Many students expected the water to spill out.)

The students were quite amazed by the number of drops that could fit on a PENNY.  After we completed our lab, I asked the students what else do you think could affect the number of drops on a penny.  Their ideas were.

1. Type of liquids
2. Types of soaps
3. Temperature of water

This was a great intro to learning about variables next week because they will get to experiment with how does “SOAPY WATER AFFECT THE NUMBER OF DROPS ON A PENNY”. Lastly, on Friday students took their LAB SAFETY TEST (required by our county). I am happy to report that over 98% of our team passed.    As an incentive to always study, I have a class challenge called BRAIN WARS where classes compete and whoever has highest classroom average gets a prize: a PBS ticket, piece of candy, 5 points EC, etc, 2 minutes added to Preferred Activity Time, etc.

DON’T FORGET TO check out this week’s

Hello Parents and Students, Welcome to the LIONS TEAM!. We thorughly enjoyed meeting you on Tuesday for Open House.  You had a chance to meet your wonderful teachers-Mrs. DuBose, Mrs. Hawthorne, Mr. Kiesler, and Mrs. Sayer. You got to take home and practice your locks, and even got a chance to practice your new sixth grade schedule.  The best part was finding out which LOCKER you had-BOTTOM OR TOP. AREN’T LOCKERS JUST SO COOL! We really debated about giving out locks and letting students take them home but then we realized that students would have the WONDERFUL opportunity to practice AT HOME and get that extra help that we can’t provide when we are all in ONE class with 28+ children.  That being said..Parents please make sure that your child brings their lock back on MONDAY.

Remember if your child LOSES their lock, IT IS A $5.00 replacement charge. PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE. Below you will find another copy of the SIXTH GRADE SUPPLY LIST and OUR TEAM WISHLIST..Thank you so much for coming out! SEE YOU ON MONDAY and remember to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE your LOCK!

SUPPLY LIST

• 1- 1.5 inch 3 ring binder
• 1-1/2 inch 3-ring binder
• 4— 1-subject notebooks
• 6 dividers
• Loose Leaf Paper
• Pencils
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Red pens (Green pens for AIG Language Arts)
• Pencil Sharpener (with shaving holder)
• Crayons, Markers, or Colored Pencils
• Zipper Pencil Holder (fits in notebook)
• 3×5 index cards

TEACHER WISHLIST (PLEASE GIVE TO HR TEACHER)

• Liquid Handsoap
• Hand Sanitizer
• Clorox Wipes
• Colored Printer Paper
• SUPER SCIENCE CLASSROOM SUBSCRIPTION

Mrs. DuBose needs 10 checks  for $20.00 (yep that $120.00)  in order to cover the cost of getting a classroom subscription ( 30 issues are 6.00 each + 9% shipping cost)) to SuperScience, a Scholastic science magazine that provides kid friendly articles tied to our curriculum, at home science experiments, opportunities to talk to REAL scientist, and much more (to learn more click here). TEN PARENTS ARE ALL WE NEED. Of course, I would take ONE CHECK from ONE parent, too .  Please make checks payable to CEDAR CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL.  YOUR HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED!!

TEAM..

TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHEIVES MORE!

Do you want your students to be more organized, increase their higher order thinking skills, and to be more engaged in their learning..WELL HERE’S THE ANSWER..
STUDENT INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS. I have been doing a lot of research into interactive notebooks in science. An interactive notebook (INB) allows students to have a personalized DIARY of learning about science. It is their own portfolio of work in ONE convenient spot. The INB also is a great ORGANIZATIONAL tool that gives students permission to be PLAYFUL AND CREATIVE in their responses without “messing up” your notes. The INB is a great model because it allows students to be like a REAL SCIENTIST. hen you will re-organize the information in some way that will help you understand it and remember it.

Setup
Students are given “input” (PLACED ON THE RIGHT SIDE) on from the teacher in the form of teacher guided notes, lab procedure, reading articles, etc and expected to re-organize the information in some way that will help you understand it and remember it. This is called processing. The best part of processing is it allows students to tap into their CREATIVE side. One of the most important part about the “output” (PLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE) on the left side is the use of COLOR which allows students to remember and make connections. To learn more about interactive notebooks click

Resources:
http://interactive-notebooks.wikispaces.com/
http://sciencenotebooks.org/

Discussion Question: If you have incorporated INBs in your class, what has your experience been like. Do you have any samples of student work to share?

While browsing the internet for some parent resources, I came upon an interesting new tool for parents called “Handipoints“.  The basics are that many children like working on computers or in the virtual world. However, many don’t particularly like doing chores.  So here comes Handipoints which is a online virtual world where children can keep chart the completion of chores in a fun and engaging way and parents can track how their kids helped out around the house.  The big kicker is that if the child successfully completes activities (such as cleaning their room, taking out the trash, or even brushing their teeth and eating an apple), they gain either of two types of points: so-called “handipoints” that can be redeemed for real-world items such as Nerf guns and toys; and “bonus points” that can be used to buy virtual goods in the online world. Parents determine which type of point, and how many of them, is rewarded for good behavior.   So if your Johnny or Jamila  hates doing chores but loves the computer, you might want to give Handpoints a shot to give that gentle LOVING nudge.

Discussion Question:Which side are you on..Do you think it is a great idea and helps kids develop responsibility or do you think it teaches kids that they have to get a reward in order to do something? 

Spaces are available in the fall for Imhotep Academy for middle school students (6th-8th grade) “Exploring Our World through Physics: Forces and Motions “. Middle school students will discover how mathematics, science and technology impact our lives through Physics applications. Fees to reserve your space are $125 before August 30 and $150 afterward. Mandatory Orientation is on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 6:30 PM and class sessions are Saturdays, September 22 – October 27, 2007. Learn more and register at

http://www.science-house.org/student/imhotep/ Spaces are limited and students are encouraged to enroll early.

About….

Imhotep Academy introduces under-represented students (African-Americans Hispanic, Native Americans, Women) sixth through eighth grades to science, mathematics and technology at NC State University. The program introduces students to the rigorous and exciting worlds of: chemistry, mathematics, marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, physics and statistics through laboratory experiments, research projects, classroom instruction, and field trips.