Mrs. DuBose’s Class: AdVeNtUrEs iN ScIeNcE

Hi Super Scientist

This week we enjoyed learning about ecosystems.  We enjoyed watching Finding Nemo and applying what we have learned about ecosystems: abiotic and biotic factors, habitat, symbiosis, and food webs. We created our own cycle of life by creating food chain from National Geographic magazines. 

A food chain includes plants, or producers, plant-eating animals called herbivores, a meat-eating animals called carnivores, animals that eat both plants and other animals (omnivores), and tiny creature, or decomposers, that break down dead plant or animal remains

Last week we learned what a mineral is and the 8 ways they can be identified. This week were are learning how rocks and minerals are related. Minerals are the building rocks for rocks! There are 3 main types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic).

An igneous rocks forms when magma or lava hardens. There are 2 Types: extrusive (forms small crystals because lava cools quickly once it reaches earth’s surface) or intrusive (forms large crystals because magma cools slowly beneath earth’s surface)A sedimentary rock is made from pieces of sediments, rock fragments, animal or plant remains.There are 3 types of sedimentary rocks: clastic (rocks stick together), chemical (formed from solutions), and organic (remains of plants and animals/living things. The last type of rock is a metamorphic rock (morph means to change..think if the POWER Rangers) are rock made from rock that has been put under heat and pressure deep within Earth. There are 2 type foliated (minerals grains have been flattened and aligned) and non-foliated

We will use crayon shaving to take a ride on the rock cycle (thank to scienceclass.net) as we explore how rocks are formed. We will be acting out the Rock Cycle and students will have the opportunity to be creative by  song, rap, poem, or story that goes with the Rock Cycle ! If you are great with video and love music, you may create a music video that incorporates the Rock Cycle. This project would be due by May 29th! Make sure you complete your vocabulary foldables on Rocks and Minerals. These are great review before your Minerals and Rock test this Friday.  If time permits, we may be playing a review game on Thursday

IGNEOUS ——————- SEDIMENTARY————— METAMORPHIC
Check out the Rock Cycle Animation below and Da Rock Cycle to the tune of Webbie’s Independent

• What are the 3 Types of Rocks
• Interactive Rock Cycle
• Rock Cycle Interactive
• Interactive Rock Cycle Animation
• Rocky’s Journey on the Rock Cycle
• Fun Rock Cycle Activities for Home

Your project is due WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11th, 2009…

Presentations will be 1-3 min. & take place MARCH 11-13

You have been appointed by National Geographic to research and study a volcano. Normally they go with highly qualified adults; however, I was able to talk them into giving you, a sixth grade student, a chance to show what you know. The existence of the modern world is dependent on your research and model. Real estate agents are standing by waiting for your information, so they can sell, sell, sell houses, condos, and retail property.

Volcano Project Page

Our next unit will be Earthquakes and Volcanoes.  We will start of the unit label the Earth’s plates, coloring the 3 types of plate boundaries.  We will then plot the earthquakes and volcanoes and observe the pattern of where they occur.  Our major lab this weeks involves a tasty morsel named Snickers. We will use it to model the different motion of earths plates: convergent, divergent, and transform.  We will then review our knowledge this week by completing our Plate Tectonics Adapted Reading and creating a Plate Tectonics vocabulary Foldable.

Divergent               Convergent                      Transform

This week we have wrapped up our the Journey to the Center of the Earth.  We thoroughly enjoyed our Journey to the Center of Earth Jeopardy review game for our upcoming test.  We wrapped up the week by going on a webquest that showed us how Earth’s Plate are A Movin’ and Groovin’.  This unit got students really engaged for how plate movement effects, named EARTHQUAKES and VOLCANOES.

This week we have wrapped up our sun, stars, and galaxies unit. Students have been learning about our closest star, the sun. We have created a model of the sun and now we are learning how stars go through a life cycle like humans. We will wrap up our star unit by making a classroom into a planeterium as we get the chance to observe constellations in the classroom. Our next journey will take us back to Earth as we Journey to the Center of the Earth

SPIRAL                                    ELLIPTICAL                       IRREGULAR

This week we wrapped up the Earth-Moon-Sun system by having a Jeopardy style review game for our TEST on THURSDAY. Students had a great time being contestants. The winning groups earned 5 PBS tickets, 5 OREO cookies, and 5 points on their quiz.

• Block 1: Rusty, Michaela, Cole, and Sarah
• Block 2: Stephen, Gabriel, and Doquan
• Block 3: Aaliyah, Caylee, Luke, and Jeremy
• Block 4: Nathaniel, Emma, Mark, and Coatie

To check out the Earth-Moon-Sun Jeopardy review game, click here! Our next mini-unit before we get out for Christmas, is learning about our closest star-the Sun!. In this unit we will be building a model sun, learning that stars go through life cycles like humans, and learn the characteristics of stars. This mini unit promises to be amazing as we see the SUN come alive. Enjoy!

Hi Super Scientist

We are taking a Tour around the World as we explore BIOMES.   We got a little taste of the biomes through our Brainpop videos and then you and your partner chose your favorite biome. You and your partners job  is to  study one of the seven major biomes found in the world. Your objective is to construct a 3-dimensional representation of your assigned biome using your shoe box.  To go to the biome project, click HERE

Important rules to remember…

1. I understand that this is a shared grade between my partner and me.
2. If I choose to do the project individually I understand that I will have to provide my own box, resources, and have to devote more work since I am working solo.
3.  I understand that this project will count as TWO test grades.
4. This project will take about 2 weeks to complete and is due on May 30th.
5. I will be given time in class to do research in class and create my box. However, it is my responsibility to bring in supplies to create my box.
6. Mrs. DuBose will be able to supply construction paper, limited printing, access to magazines, and books and computers for research.
7. You and your parent’s signature is DUE BACK SIGNED BY MONDAY, May 20.  This is worth 2 HW GRADES
   

Hey Super Scientist,

You have your Weathering and Soil Formation test this THURSDAY!  The test covers chapter 4. You took home your weathering and soil formation study packet.  If you need extra help, you may go to the online textbook (SEE MOODLE) and take the online chapter quizzes for instant feedback (you have to login to the online textbook and go to Chapt 4).  Check out these ONLINE QUIZZES for extra help!!

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW

• Your vocabulary words
• 5 types of mechanical weathering
• 5 types of chemical weathering
• Soil horizons (formation, leaching, amount of humus)
• Soil conservation (conservation plowing, contour plowing, and crop rotation)
• 5 Agents of Erosion
• 4 Types of mass movement

Online Quizzes

Interactive GAMES

Hey Super Scientist,

You have your Rock and Minerals Test!  The test covers chapters 2 and 3. You took home your rocks and minerals study guide and graphic organizers today.  If you need extra help, you may go to the online textbook (SEE MOODLE) and take the online chapter quizzes for instant feedback.  Check out these ONLINE QUIZZES for extra help!!

Online Quizzes

• Minerals
• Minerals 2
• Mineral Identification
• Uses of Minerals
• Mineral Resources
• Rocks
• The Rock Cycle
• Igneous Rocks
• Metamorphic Rocks
• Sedimentary Rocks
• Rocks & Minerals
• Concentration Game – Rocks
• Minerals Crossword Puzzle

Interactive & Resource Websites