11-15 December (Week 17)

Earth Science
Monday: Intro Ocean Formation, Ocean Formation Research
Tuesday: Ocean Formation Research PPT (Rubric, Template)
Wednesday: Ocean Formation Research PPT (Rubric, Template)
Thursday: Ocean Formation Research PPT (Rubric, Template)
Friday: Ocean Formation Research PPT (Rubric, Template, Green Textbook Citation)

Biology
Monday: Finish Organ Systems Visual Aids
Tuesday: Dichotomous Keys Gizmo
Wednesday: Peer Review Organ Systems Visual Aids, Fix Visual Aids
Thursday: Dichotomous Keys Gizmo
Friday: Pamishan Classification (Key)

4 - 8 December (Week 16)

Earth Science
Monday: Volcano Energy Transfer Basics (Partial Key), Earthquake Energy Transfer Basics (Partial Key), Design a Test
Tuesday: Spectroscope Exploration, Donors Choose Thank You's, Design a Test
Wednesday: EQ/V Energy Transfer Practice Quiz (Blank, Key), Donors Choose Project Creation WS
Thursday: TBD
Friday: Ocean Formation Research

Biology
Monday: Organ Systems Visual Aid (Planning WS, Instructions)
Tuesday: Organ Systems Visual Aid (Planning WS, Instructions)
Wednesday: Organ Systems Visual Aid (Planning WS, Instructions)
Thursday: Organ Systems Visual Aid (Planning WS, Instructions)
Friday: Organ Systems Visual Aid Due

27 November - 1 December (Week 15)

This week in Earth Science we will be learning some basics about earthquakes and volcanoes in order to describe how they transfer energy. In Biology, we will be combining our knowledge of organs and organ systems to create human organ system visual aids.

Note: I will be gone Tuesday (unplanned medical appointment for my son) and Thursday (planned curriculum development day with a science co-worker). 

Earth Science

Monday: Lithospheric Plates Study Tool, Intro Volcanoes/Earthquakes

Tuesday: Types of Volcanoes WS, Types of Seismic Waves, Volcano Energy Transfer Basics, Earthquake Energy Transfer Basics (Look under the "Cool Links" tab then "Earth Science" then "Geology" for websites with the answers.)

Wednesday: Lithospheric Plates Quiz Retakes (Sample, Key), 

Thursday: Types of Volcanoes WS (Key), Types of Seismic Waves (Key), Volcano Energy Transfer Basics, Earthquake Energy Transfer Basics, Design a Test

Friday: Volcano Energy Transfer Basics (Partial Key), Earthquake Energy Transfer Basics (Partial Key), Design a Test

Biology

Monday: Reward Magic School Bus

Tuesday: Human Organ Systems Visual Aid Planning (Instructions, Planning WS)

Wednesday: Human Organ Systems Visual Aid Planning (Instructions, Planning WS)

Thursday: Human Organ Systems Visual Aid Creation

Friday: Human Organ Systems Visual Aid Creation 

20 - 21 November (Week 14)

Happy Thanksgiving Week! With our short week, we are reviewing concepts using the ScienceWorld magazines as well as fixing up assignments that need fixed.

EarthScience
Monday: Lithospheric Plates Test (Sample, Key, Rubric), ScienceWorld Assignment, Peer Grading
Tuesday: Peer Grading, ScienceWorld Assignment, Fixing Work

Biology
Monday: ScienceWorld Assignment, Finishing/Fixing Flower Diagrams as needed
Tuesday: ScienceWorld Assignment, Fixing Flower Diagrams as needed

13 - 17 November (Week 13)

Happy November! The educational conference I went to was FANTASTIC and I'm excited for the things I'm applying in my classroom based on what I learned. Earth Science is shifting into learning about convection in the mantle and will finish the week off focusing on earthquakes or volcanoes. Biology is still studying organs and organ systems. We'll finish our flowering plant diagrams, take our organ systems tests, and start a human organ system project.

Earth Science
Monday: Revise Layers of the Earth Evidence WS
Tuesday: Basics of Convection
Wednesday: Convection Lab
Thursday: Finish Convection Lab (Worksheet, Rubric), ScienceWorld Review/Exploration Activity
Friday: Lithospheric Plates Practice Test (Test, Key, Rubric), ScienceWorld Review/Exploration Activity

Biology
Monday: Flowering Plant Diagram  (Worksheet, Sample)
Tuesday: Organ System Tests (Structure Samples: Mastery/Above Mastery; Functions Samples: Mastery/Above Mastery); Flowering Plant Diagram
Wednesday: Flowering Plant Diagram Peer Review
Thursday: ScienceWorld Review/Exploration Activity
Friday: ScienceWorld Review/Exploration Activity

6 - 10 November (Week 12)

As my students were informed, I will be at an educational conference Monday through Wednesday of this week. Although a communication inconvenience, I hope to gain valuable tools to help us all in our education. Meanwhile, detailed plans and instructions were provided so that our education will continue despite my absent. Be sure to keep yourself on task so that you finish your work on time and stay caught up. See you Thursday!

Earth Science
Monday: ScienceWorld Magazine Activities, Donors Choose Thank You Notes
Tuesday: Lithospheric Plates WS (Front Key, Back Key), Current Earthquakes & Volcanoes (English, Spanish)
Wednesday: Lithospheric Plates Study Tool, Current Earthquakes & Volcanoes (English, Spanish)
Thursday: Review material, Discuss Lithospheric Plates
Friday: Plate Boundaries WS

Biology
Monday: ScienceWorld Magazine Activities, Donors Choose Thank You Notes
Tuesday: Organ Systems Practice Tests (Structure Practice Test, Function Practice Test), Organ Parts/Functions Review
Wednesday: Flowering Plant Research WS
Thursday: Review (PPT)
Friday: Flowering Plant Diagram (Worksheet, Sample)

30 October - 3 November (Week 11)

Welcome to 2nd Quarter! As a reminder, the year should continue to get easier despite the content becoming more challenging. This is because we have improved our ability to balance all of our classes and learned what we need to do to be successful. A few things we talked about in class today to be ready for a great second quarter included: studying 5 minutes per day for mastery grades, avoiding procrastination (complete work on time and fix work shortly after it is graded), and get help (friends, parents, peer tutors, Ms. Morris). As a reminder, there are sign up sheets in my classroom for help from me. RTI tends to be a little bit busy but before and after school are usually only crowded the week or two before the end of a quarter. (Let's try to change that!)

For your information, I will be out of town attending an educational conference next Monday through Wednesday (November 6-8). Please note that I won't have appointment times before or after school or during RTI those days. I will also be unable to have appointments before school Thursday November 9th as I will need to review notes from my substitute in order to prepare for the day.

Earth Science
Monday: Layers of the Earth Models--Painting models & revising evidences (Model Prep WS, Model Creation Instructions, Model Grading Sheet) (St. 2.1.b-c, PPT)
Tuesday: Layers of the Earth Models--Adding evidences (Model Prep WS, Model Creation Instructions, Model Grading Sheet) (St. 2.1.b-c, PPT)
Wednesday: Review & Discuss Models (Models due, Model Grading Sheet) (St. 2.1.b-c, PPT)
Thursday: Video (Ms. Morris home sick)

Friday: Revise Evidence WS

Biology
Monday: Organ Systems Notes WS (St. 3.2.b, PPT)

Tuesday: Organ Basics Tests (Organ Labeling Practice Test, Organ Functions Mastery Practice Test, Organ Functions Above Mastery Test, Organ Basics Tests Grading Sheet) (St. 3.1.a-b, PPT)

Wednesday: Personal/Peer Review Organ Systems Note WS, Organ Systems Study Slides

Thursday: Video (Ms. Morris home sick)

Friday: Flower Dissections (St. 3.1.a-b, 3.2.b)

23 -26 October (Week 10)

Welcome to the end of 1st quarter and beginning of 2nd quarter! All assignments this week will be counted towards 2nd quarter grades. We have learned so much and, hopefully, are ready to learn even more! In Earth Science, we're wrapping up our study of the evidence for the layers of the Earth by creating a model displaying what we learned. We will finish off the week studying convection. In Biology, we're in the middle of studying the basics of key organs in plants and animals which will be tested on at the end of this week. Here are some study tools which may help you: Paper Organ Labeling & Functions Study Tool, Online Slideshow Organ Labeling Study Tool, Online Slideshow Organ Functions Study Tool. We started studying for this with two weeks notice for the test. Remember to study 5 minutes per day for basic mastery! We will also shift into the basics of key organ systems in plants and animals this week.

Earth Science
Monday: Layers of the Earth Models--Painting models & revising evidences (Model Prep WS, Model Creation Instructions, Model Grading Sheet) (St. 2.1.b-c, PPT)
Tuesday: Layers of the Earth Models--Adding evidences (Model Prep WS, Model Creation Instructions, Model Grading Sheet) (St. 2.1.b-c, PPT)
Wednesday: Basics of Convection, Convection in the Asthenosphere (St. 2.1.d, PPT)
Thursday: Convection Lab (Worksheet, Grading Rubric) (St. 2.1.d, PPT)

Biology
Monday: Organ Basics Practice Tests (Organ Labeling Practice Test, Organ Functions Mastery Practice Test), Organ Games Races (St. 3.1.a-b, PPT)
Tuesday: Organ Games Races, Intro Organ Systems (St. 3.1.a-b, St. 3.2.b, PPT)
Wednesday: Organ Systems WS (St. 3.2.b, PPT)
Thursday: Organ Basics Tests (Organ Labeling Practice Test, Organ Functions Mastery Practice Test, Organ Functions Above Mastery Test, Organ Basics Tests Grading Sheet), Organ Systems WS (St. 3.1.a-b, St. 3.2.b, PPT)

5 - 8 September (Week 3)

Earth Science
Tuesday: Changing Views of the Universe Notes, Investigating the Universe: Influence of Science (Rubric) & Influence of Technology (Rubric) (1.1.e, 1.1.f, PPT)
Wednesday: Review, Spectroscope Lab (1.1.b.2)
Thursday: Spectroscope Lab, Big Bang Notes (1.1.b.1-2, PPT)
Friday: Big Bang Notes, Big Bang Practice (1.1.b.1, PPT)

Biology
Tuesday: Practice Quiz, Elements & Macromolecules of Life (2.1.a-b, PPT)
Wednesday: Practice Quiz, Elements & Macromolecules of Life (2.1.a-b)
Thursday: Mastery Level Quiz 2.1.a-b, Structure of DNA (4.3.a, PPT)
Friday: Above Mastery Level Quiz 2.1.a-b, DNA Models (4.3.a, PPT)

28 August - 1 September (Week 2)

I'm seeing wonderful things in the classroom as we learn to be science. Thanks to the students who come each day ready to discover and learn new things! Thank you to the students who are so very respectful of themselves, their peers, and myself! Thank you to the students who come in ready to use their brains! I see a classroom of smart and amazing students full of potential. We're going to have an awesome year! This week the fun really begins as we start working on our content topics. Earth Science is starting with investigating methods used by scientists to investigate the Universe as well as starting to learn about the creation of the Universe. Biology started with the characteristics of life and we are now learning about the elements of life. Both classes will have an assignment in the grade book next Tuesday, September 5th. 

Earth Science

Monday: Mastery Level Posters (PPT Template) (Standards Based Grading)

Tuesday: SLO Pre-Tests (All standards, not graded)

Wednesday: Introduction to Universe Exploration (St. 1.1.e-f, PPT)

Thursday: Investigating the Universe: Influence of Science (Rubric) & Influence of Technology (Rubric) (1.1.e, 1.1.f, 1st Period PPT, 5th/6th Period PPT)

Friday: Investigating the Universe: Influence of Science (Rubric) & Influence of Technology (Rubric) (1.1.e, 1.1.f, PPT)

Biology

Monday: Mastery Level Posters (PPT Template) (Standards Based Grading)

Tuesday: SLO Pre-Tests (All standards, not graded)

Wednesday: Characteristics of Life (St.2,3,4,5, PPT)

Thursday: Characteristics of Life, Elements of Life (St. 2.1.a, PPT)

Friday: Elements of Life (St. 2.1.a, PPT)