Let's get this done!

Hi All,

Posters are nearly finished. Great educational resources for the school - thank you!

Last thing is to finish the lab reports on our sunflowers and soil types for next Tuesday. Today we will focus on getting our graphs finished in class. I look forward to reading the report of all of your efforts related to this long experiment.

So, the last Wildcat science homework for you:

FOR TUESDAY, 6/14, FINISH THE LAB REPORT ACCORDING TO THE LAB REPORT GUIDELINES HANDED OUT IN THE LAST WEEK.

Wrapping up the year

Hi All,

Last week was quite productive as we took our density quizzes, and completed our "Inconvenient Essays."

FOR TUESDAY, 6/7, COMPLETE THE FIELD PROJECTS POSTERS - MANY OF YOU ALREADY HAVE. TUESDAY, WE SHOW THEM OFF!

In class on Tuesday, we get back to our sunflower and soil lab reports to check back in on our data analysis and draft our conclusions.

The rest of the year

Hi All,

A little change in plans as we wrap up the year. We have four things to complete:

1. Density - we will finish reviewing today, and will have our quiz next Tuesday, May 31st.

2. Inconvenient stories. Today we will take some time for you to work with your partner completing your document integrating key ideas expressed in Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

3. We will be wrapping up your field project posters on chickens, a lizard, or plants.

4. Next week, we will complete our lab reports on sunflowers and soil types.

Seems like a lot, but all have been making good progress on all of these projects. Keep up the good work!

The Next Two Weeks...

Hi All,

This week is kind of crazy with the testing schedule, but I am glad that we are getting in Two classes. Here is the schedule for the next two weeks.

DUE TOMORROW, THURSDAY, 5/19: YOUR DENSITY WORKSHEET PACKET
In class tomorrow, we will finish viewing An Inconvenient Truth, identifying the part of the system(s) in advance of building the connections.

DUE TUESDAY, 5/24, YOUR FIELD PROJECT POSTERS. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED FOR CLASS. SEE THE LIST OF WHO IS WORKING ON WHAT PROJECT:

Field Project Educational Posters
CHICKENS
Coup set-up (Trevor and Aden)
Daily and Weekly tasks (Maggie and Mia)
SPIKE THE BEARDED DRAGON
Natural range and habitat (Josh and Gabe)
How to care for your pet dragon (Ethan and Marco)
Tank environment
Daily tasks
PLANT POSTERS
Butterfly Bush (Sarah and Danny)
Seaside Daisy (Ameerat and Electra)
Ray Hartman Ceanothus (Henry and Willie)
Penstemon (Zoe N.)
Red Twig Dogwood (Evie and Zoe)
Naturtium (Carter)
Toyon (Mariah and Kailey)
Spearmint (Jonathan and Tien)
ALL plant posters will include the following:
* Common name
* Botanical name
* Native range
* Benefits to wildlife habitat
* Photo

ON THURSDAY, 5/26, STUDENTS HAVE A QUIZ ON DENSITY

For the remainder of the year, we will be completing our lab reports, and focusing on interconnectivity within local ecosystems.

Catching up

Hi All,

We have been busy on a variety of tasks. As we prepare to head out in the field next week, here is the status of 6th grade science:

DENSITY
Students have been working on models displaying concepts of density. They drew models of why cylinders of aluminum and copper have different masses. We when looked at models of density showing glasses with the same volume of wooden balls and glass marbles (of the same size) with different masses. One of the biggest concepts so far is the concept of the difference between the space between particles at the atomic level and air, and that the space within atoms are not nearly big enough to accommodate air molecules. Of key importance also is the idea that density is an intensive relationship between volume and mass. We will continue to work on this after field week, and tie it into some of the geology concepts that we have studied.

LAB REPORTS
Students have reached the point of analyzing the data that we all gathered related to the growth of sunflowers in various soil types. Ultimately, their data analyses will include well-written descriptive paragraphs and the integration of a least on computer-generated graph. We will finish these, and begin our conclusions after field week.

EDUCATION POSTERS
Students have also begun developing posters to educate the TBS community about Spike the Bearded Dragon, the newly-arrived chickens, and the habitat benefits of numerous plants in the TBS Butterfly Garden. This work will be finalized after field week, as well.

SYSTEMS
As we continue our work to understand systems, we have been learning about the importance of pollinators ecologically, and for our food supply. We are also in the middle of viewing Food, Inc., looking at the effects of industrialization of the food system. Look for us to be out in the field at least once in May to study more local ecosystems.

Approaching Spring Break

Hi All,

As Spring Break arrives, I hope that you all have a fun one! Here is where we are in science:

This week, pairs worked effectively to use a jumbo Koppen climate map to analyze different types of climates around the world and to think about how and why topsoil is produced and accessible in some areas of the planet, while not in others.

We continued our measurement of the sunflowers planted in various soil types. We will continue to test those hypotheses for at least one more week after spring break. We will continue to graph various components of the data after the break to consider various ways to analyze out findings.

After break we will (finally) do some activities around density and spend the remainder of the year studying connections within local ecological systems.

Lab Reports, Climate, and Soil

Hi All,

Most of you got your lab reports (so far) typed up. If you did not finish this, it is homework for tomorrow, Wednesday, 3/23.

Tomorrow, we will resume our conversation on how climate affects soil.

Wow are we busy!

Hi All,

This week we took our Geology Tests on Tuesday, contemplating the finer qualities of rocks, minerals, and soil. ALL TESTS WERE TO BE SIGNED BY A PARENT BY YESTERDAY.

After the test, we reflected on how we prepared for the test, and areas in which we are demonstrating strong understanding and those that still have work to be done. See the list below for ideas on how to successfully prepare for quizzes and tests.

We have also begun a new experiment on sunflowers and soil. Students took the initial measurements yesterday for the seeds planted on Wednesday, March 2nd.

HOMEWORK FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 15: COMPLETE CONFERENCE PREPARATION SHEET WITH ACCOMPANYING WORK.
Content areas addressed have included:
Rocks (on the test)
Minerals (test and hands-on minerals lab)
Soil (Test, Soil Profile, Soil Lab)
Ecosystems (Desert and Amazing Journeys)
Scientific Method (Sunflower lab sheet)

Ideas for Quiz and Test Preparation
Pay attention in class.
Read over material (a lot).
Read questions and answers out loud.
Re-read information and highlight it.
Re-write information.
Get quizzed by a family member or classmate.
During free time, recite information in your head.
Repeat answers in your head.
Create a compiled study guide sheet.
Use flash cards.
Begin studying earlier than you think you should.
Study more than you think you should.
Continue your studying up until the test or quiz.
DO NOT THINK THAT CRAMMING WILL SUFFICE.

Quiz this Tuesday

Hope you all had a great weekend!

***Reminder that you have a quiz this Tuesday (3/8) on the main types of rocks and how they are formed, the distinguishing characteristics of minerals, and the basics of soil formation and structure (including soil profile).****

Sunflowers for our experiment have begun to sprout. YOUR ONE SOLID HYPOTHESIS FOR YOUR EXPERIMENT IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, 3/9.

Back at it!

Hi All,

I hope that you have had a great break!

Looking forward to this week, we will be reassigning the field projects, and preparing for our quiz on Tuesday, March 8th. The quiz will be on the defining characteristics of minerals, which we used in our lab explorations a couple of weeks ago. The quiz will also include the basic of the soil formation and profile.

Your soil profiles, which were created on Thursday before break, demonstrated effective teamwork, and incorporated important information about the different soil horizons.

ONGOING HOMEWORK FOR MARCH 8TH:
STUDY FOR YOUR QUIZ ON THE DEFINING QUALITIES OF MINERALS (THE LAB SHEET) AND THE BASICS OF SOIL FORMATION AND THE SOIL PROFILE. WE WILL REVIEW THESE IN THE COMING WEEK.

Lawrence Hall of Science Homework

Hi All,

I am looking forward to having a class with all of you tomorrow. I feel like all of the field work this week has pulled us in numerous directions. Thank you for the field efforts on the wetland, butterfly garden, and chicken projects this afternoon.

Congratulations to the 12 students who completed the survey with the Lawrence Hall of Science today. YOU 12 HAVE HOMEWORK FOR TOMORROW: PLEASE ANSWER THE TWO PROMPTS ABOUT THE CREATURES OF THE ABYSS:
1. WHAT IS ONE ORGANISM YOU SAW IN THE EXHIBIT, AND HOW IS IT ADAPTED TO SURVIVE IN ITS ENVIRONMENT?
2. HOW DO HUMANS AFFECT THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT?

See you all tomorrow!

Minerals and Soil

Hi All,

Effective engagement in the lab today - lots of good mineral explorations!

HOMEWORK, DUE TUESDAY, 2/15:
FINISH YOUR SOIL PACKET
* Read and highlight important information.
* In the Classwork section of your binder, answer all of the circled questions with as much detail and description as possible.
* Answer the following prompts with as much detail and description as possible:
1. Describe how soil is formed.

2. Some scientists say the “soil is alive.” What do they mean by this statement?

3. Why are pore spaces important for good plant growth?

4. Describe a typical soil profile.

5. Compare the following types of soil particles:
gravel, sand, silt, clay.



FOR LHS SURVEY PART 2 PARTICIPANTS, DUE TOMORROW, 2/9: RETURN YOUR PERMISSION SLIPS FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY'S FIELD TRIP

Rocks, Climate, and Soil

Hi All,

Tomorrow is a field day, and the last classroom day for the LHS survey participants.

Thursday we will finish going over our rocks and mineral questions, and get hands-on with minerals.

FOR HOMEWORK, DUE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD:
READ "SOME FACTS ABOUT CLIMATE." AND "SEASONS" IN THE HANDOUT.
ANSWER THIS QUESTION: HOW DOES CLIMATE RELATE TO SOIL?

Catching up!

Hi All,

Here is where we are in class......

Thank you for your efforts on Amazing Journeys today. We will take time on Thursday to share that work while it is still fresh in our minds. The film visits a number of different ecosystems, making some expected and unexpected connections between living things and their environments - that's cool ecology!

Tomorrow is field day, when we can continue our efforts at Chaparral House and on our field projects.

Time permitting on Thursday, we will resume our geology studies as we discuss characteristics of minerals before more hands-on learning next week.

Reminder for those doing the second phase of the Lawrence Hall study with Sherry, the second card's journal entries and photos are due tomorrow. See you then!

This week in Science

Hi All,

This week, we will be continuing our studies of rocks, minerals, and soil.

Wednesday will be a chance to wrap up that work for some, while others will take some time to meet with the folks from Lawrence Hall of Science on their validation survey (step 2).

THURSDAY, WE HAVE A QUIZ ON THE ROCK CYCLE. We will be reviewing this material and discussing some studying startegies in class on Tuesday.

LHS Validation Study

Hi Parents,

For those of you participating in the Lawrence Hall of Science survey, thank you!

There is also currently an option of taking part in a qualitative survey, which will enable students to explore their use of science in their everyday lives. Of the 16 engaged in the first part of the survey, it is our hope that seven or so may choose to participate in this next step.

Please ask your sixth grader about this. If you choose to have your child participate in this second survey, please make sure the student and parent consent forms are in by this Friday.

Thanks!

Rocks, Minerals, and Soil

Hi All,

While half of you are in the field with me today, the other half are working to complete some background information on rocks, minerals, and soil. Please make sure you are working to complete the following

Rocks and Mineral Packet
* Read and Highlight the important information.
* In the Classwork section of your binder, answer all of the circled questions with as much detail and description as possible.

Soil Packet
* Read and highlight important information.
* In the Classwork section of your binder, answer all of the circled questions with as much detail and description as possible.
* Answer the following prompts with as much detail and description as possible:
1. Describe how soil is formed.

2. Some scientists say the “soil is alive.” What do they mean by this statement?

3. Why are pore spaces important for good plant growth?

4. Describe a typical soil profile.

5. Compare the following types of soil particles:
gravel, sand, silt, clay.

There is no homework.