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June 1 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn all about how rivers change from their upper, to middle, to lower course.  For clarity, we will also watch the following...

Why do rivers meander?

How are delta's formed?

How does a river change?

Homework:  Please study for your assessment on Tuesday.

May 31 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will do a final review of the Aquatic Assessment to make sure we have to gaps in our understanding.  I will also upload a video recording to the Google Drive of what will be on the assessment on the first class of next week! If you need help with changes in states of, click this link!

Homework:  Make sure you know all of the vocabulary from Lesson 4

May 29 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our Aquatic Assessment and Lesson 4 to make sure we have basic comprehension of phase change and the water cycle.  If you want a helpful resource linking all of our work, I suggest this awesome video

1.  Please make a private copy of the Aquatic Assessment Review

2.  Take 10 minutes to prepare for a Lesson 4, verbal rapid fire review

3.  After the Lesson 4 review, we will go over the Aquatic Assessment

Homework:  Study Lessons 2-4 for your assessment on Friday.

May 23 (G)

Learning Objective:  The lessons we have done so far for the water cycle are...

1.  The Water Within         2.  The Chemistry of Water        3.  The Origins of Water

Today we will start lesson number 4.  Water Worlds.  Please make a copy of this document and have as much of it completed as you can by the end of the period. 

Homework:  Please have Activities #1 and 2 completed by tomorrow at the beginning of class.  In addition, find one cool video related to water...your choice!

May14 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn how to effectively speak about science using our experiments from the science fair.  You can find all the information that you need on the ASM Science Fair page.

Homework:  Science fair posters will be printed on Wednesday at 1:25 pm.

May11 (G)

Homework:  Finish poster! 

May 8 (D)

 Learning Objective:  Today we will peer edit each others poster rough drafts.  Keep the following ideas in mind when reviewing your classmates work...

1.  What is your IMMEDIATE reaction to the poster?

2.  Does the poster have good flow and transition?

3.  Is their conclusion supported by the data?

4.  Do they follow the principle of parsimony?

Homework:  Please study for your mini-formative assessment that will be given at the end of the week.  I will let you film/record me telling you what to study.

May 2 (H) - May May 4 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will work independently and collaboratively on our data and posters for the ASM Science Fair.  I really liked the work we did last class and I hope you continue to be responsible and motivated.

Homework:  Complete poster rough draft by Tuesday of next week.  Our first class.

April30 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn about how earth got its water and then review everything that we have learned this week.  You've done good work so far!

Homework:  Check the ASM Science Fair page

April 26 (E)

April 24 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn about the chemistry of water molecules and how the polarityof the water molecule make it such a special substance.  

Homework:  Continue working on your science fair projects!!!

April 20 (B)

 Learning Objective:  Today we will learn about the importance of water for us humans and where the Earth got its water in the first place.  To do this you will complete the The Water Within google document in your class drive (private copy)

Image:  The Hadean Earth without water approximately 4 billion years ago

Homework:  Continue working on your experiments at home!!!

April 17 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our assessments and then we will work either individually or in small groups to learn about the water cycle.  Today you are going to build as much background knowledge on the topic as possible and next class we will officially start our unit on the hydrosphere!  

The Dunkleosteus

Homework:  Begin working on your science experiment!

April 12 (D)

Learning Objective: Today we will review how to write a procedure, the difference between qualitative and quantitative data, and then do a final review of atomic structures.  This will be the periodic table you can use on the assessment Friday

Homework: Study for your assessment on Friday

April 10 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our work on drawing atomic diagrams and then we will work on our atomic comics.  Our summative assessment for the chemistry fundamentals will be this Friday.  We will review Thursdayas well!

Homework:  Please study the chemistry fundamental sheet and review the formative assessment.  Thursdaywe will start Checkpoint #4 for the Science Fair

March 30 (H)

March 28 (F)

March 26 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today's class will be divided in two parts with the emphasis on research and becoming more knowledgeable about our experiment and atoms

Part I (first 30 minutes):  Work on Checkpoint #3 for the Science Fair

Part II (last 30 minutes):  Go to your class Drive and begin working on the Atomic Comic.  Make sure you read the instructions very carefully please!

Homework:  Continue working on Checkpoint #3

March 22 (B)

March 20 (H)

March 19 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will assess our knowledge of basic chemistry and then we will continue to work on our Checkpoint #2 assignment for Friday review

Homework:  You may finish your assessment if you didn't have enough classtime

March 15 (E)

March 14 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn about basic chemistry as preparation for our upcoming unit on the water cycle.  The "Chemistry Fundamentals" document is located in your class google drive and I also have a hard copy for each of you!!!

Homework:  Tomorrow we will review the Checkpoints

March 12 (C)

Learning Objective:  Today we will take some time to work on Checkpoint #1.5 and then we will learn about how the Greenhouse Effect works and what albedo is!

Homework:  Continue perfecting Checkpoint #1.5

March 8

Learning Objective:  In honor of International Women's Day, we will start our class by learning about important women who changed the world of science! After, we will conclude our presentations and if time permits, preview our next unit!

Homework:  Check the ASM Science Fair page tomorrow for you next assignment that is due next Friday.  

March 5 & March 7

Learning Objective:  Today we will begin our Summative Volcano Presentations.  Audience participation and respect are the expectation of our classroom culture.

Homework:  Make sure that you are ready to share out your Science Fair Checkpoint 1 homework during our next class.  No excuses for late work!

March 2 (D)

Learning Objective:  Go to the ASM Science Fair page on the menu and follow the instructions for the day.  I shared a new folder with you and would like you to set up your class folder just like we do for our regular class.

Homework:  Have Checkpoint 1 completed by Tuesday at 8 am

February 27 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will continue working on our presentations.  I have made a modification in that you will not have to do an infographic because I would like you to really focus on the quality of the slides and your presentation.

Homework:  Make sure to practice rehearsing your slides with your parents if they have the time.  In specific, ask them what questions they had for your to clarify your topic and any things they think that you can improve upon. 

February 26 (H)

Learning Objective:  Each group will be responsible for these tasks, which are to be completed by the next D-day (Friday).  I will be available for group conferences.

1.  Google Slide (click here for the rubric)

2.  Infographic

3.  Optional visual 

Homework:  Please make sure to complete this assignment by Friday.

February 16 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our ESRT 5 diagnostic and then we will begin a group project on volcanoes!  By the end of the classyou must provide me with a tangible note sheet (it may be digital, written, or a combination of both)...

Homework:  Enjoy your White Week!

February 14 (E)

Homework:  Please finish your classwork from today.

February 13 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will have a special presentation from Ms. Shelby on a topic that she will be introducing because its a surprise! Lets be super respectful

Homework:  Reflect on what you learned today about healthy friendships and try to practice what you learned.  

February 9 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will see how the continents have moved during the Phanerozoic Eon, look at more evidence for plate tectonics, and then we will take a formative assessment.  Before we start, lets take a look at how a tsunami looks!

Homework:  Enjoy your weekend!

February 7 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will have guest visitor Alfred Wegener explain to us how plate tectonics works and we will see how fossil evidence supports this idea.  This will be a review to question 2 from yesterday.  The links below provide more information on this topic if you are in any doubt.  We will look at them next class!

How the continents have moved during the Phanerozoic Eon 

What is the evidence supporting Wegener's Plate Tectonics?

 Homework:  Make a cheat sheet for a brief formative assessment on earthquakes and tsunamis on Thursday (A).  Anything from those two pages is fair game!!!

February 6

Learning Objective:  Today we will share out our Earthquake myths and then we will complete a reading analysis of parts of Chapter 10 in The Magic of Reality 

Homework:  Be ready to share out your answers from the Chapter 10 reading!

BLUE AND WHITE DAY (February 2)

Learning Objective:  Today we will grade our summative assessments and then review the earthquake myths.  We will also learn some interesting camel facts...

Homework: Please have your Earthquake Myth created by next Tuesday.

FAMOUS CHARACTER DAY (February 1)

Learning Objective:  Today we will have a live Skype feed to Antarctica...sweet!!!

Homework:  Make sure to have the Earthquake Myth homework completed for review in class tomorrow! I expect everybody to do a very good and thorough job.

RETRO DAY (January 30)

January 25 (G)

 Learning Objection:  Today we will review how plate tectonics works and then we will see if any organism could survive the disappearance of the magnetosphere...

Homework:  Please continue to study for your Summative Assessment tomorrow

January 23 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our Formative Assessment from last week and then we will learn about how the outer core keeps us alive.

What is the magnetosphere?

Homework:  Continue studying for your assessment (last class of the week).

January 22 (D)

Homework:  Please complete the last two questions on the assessment.  

January 18 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn about how convection moves the crust and what different land-forms are created because of these interactions.

Homework:  You will have a Formative Assessment on Monday regarding the material that we have covered so far in this unit.

January 16 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today I will be out of the building but we still have a busy day. We will start class with three presentations and then we will break into groups of 3 and create a Google Slides Presentation on "How Convection Works."  It is due at the end of class and should include the following information:

1.  What are the different layers of the Earth and their basic properties?

2.  What is density and how does it determine how the Earth is layered?

3.  What is convection?!

*As you will not be presenting these slides, you should include more written information that would be included in one you would present.  I will be checking them for effort, accuracy, and attention to detail!!!          

Homework:  You must know all of the terms posted in the orange box with the Essential Questions (below January 10).

January 15 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review the concept of density because last week I felt as thought we still had some misconceptions.  Afterwards, we will model how convection in the mantle works.

Homework:  I want you to  to think about how the the Earth would change if I increased the density of the crust or decreased the density of the mantle...hmmm

January 11 (E)

                                                                                                                                                  After learning about density, we will review what we learned about the crust and the mantle.  The image below is what the Earth would look like without water...        

Homework:  Enjoy your weekend!

January 10 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will begin our Dynamic Earth unit!  Lets start by reviewing the Essential Questions and then we will complete the following...

1.  Watch Everything You Need To Know About Planet Earth

2.  Fill in the Structure of the Earth graphic organizer in your Drive                                                   

Homework:  Make sure the graphic organizer is completed. 

dynamic earth

1. 1.  How does density determine the structure of the earth?

2.  Why does the Earth move? 

3.  What good evidence do we have that supports the theory of plate tectonics?

4.  What different land-forms are produced by different types of plate interactions?

5.  How likely are you to be killed by an earthquake or volcano and why?

VOCABULARY

January 8 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will begin the Peer Review Process for our Ice Age presentations.  We will use the cool feedback/warm feedback protocol.  See below

Homework:  Be prepared to share your presentation. We will do 1 a day at the beginning of each class. 

December 19 (E) 

December 18 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today will we assess our knowledge on the History of the Earth.  I know that many of you have other assessments this week and I think this would be a good time to get some extra studying done.  

Homework:  Many of you have been asking for the name of the series we watched on the elephant dissection and it is called Inside Nature's Giants.  

December 15 (F)

December 13 (D)

Learning Objective:  I have heard that you have a lot of assessments coming next week.  In order to help alleviate some of that stress and because we are a day ahead of schedule, you will be given the privilege of using this period to...

1.  Improve your timeline if you feel it could be more complete

2.  Working on your Geologic Time Cheat sheet

3.  Studying the Nebular Theory and/or Human Ancestors

4.  Practice writing your 3 paragraphs on the history of the earth

Paragraph I:   Nebular Theory

Paragraph II:  Precambrian Time (Archean and Proterozoic)

Paragraph III: Phanerozoic Eon 

Homework:  Continue to prepare for the Summative Assessment

December 11 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will accomplish the following tasks with the goal of learning more about the history of the Earth and the organisms that inhabit it...

1.  Correct Part II of our formative assessment

2.  Review the material that we learned last class

3.  Begin reading Earth Science Reference Tables 8 and 9

Homework:  Study for your Summative Assessment next week on Monday.  See below for the general Study Guide on what you need to know for this assessment

December 5 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will start class with a mini lesson on how humans evolved over the last 7 million years focusing on the hominids featured in our time-line.  The image below is of The Taung Child, a 3 year old Australopithecus.

Homework:  Have your timeline completed by next Monday at the start of class.

December 4 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today you will investigate our human origins and make a basic timeline of human evolution using this resource.  Click the images icons on the right side of that page to explore different parts of our past.  Make your timeline visually appealing with hand drawn images and neat, written explanations (if you aren't a good artist you you can draw simple diagrams and emojis to express your thoughts on this).

Homework:  Timeline rough draft is due at the end of class tomorrow.  You will be given 20 minutes in class tomorrow and may work on this at home tonight if you want.  

November 30 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review the material listed below and then we will learn about the story of human evolution starting 6 million years ago.  To do this we will use this infographic and this video.

1.  Formative Assessment Part I

2.  Geologic Time reading

3.  Introduction to ESRT 8 and 9 Google Slides

"After Altamira, all is decadence" - Pablo Picasso after seeing the Neolithic cave paintings drawn 35,600 years ago.

Homework:  None

November 29 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will take a formative assessment to see how well we have mastered the concepts of the Nebular Theory and Geologic Time.  After you finish, complete the Introduction to ESRT 8 and 9 Google Slides on our Drive.

Homework:  Complete the Introduction to ESRT 8 and 9 Google Slide by tomorrow

November 27 (B)

Homework:  Formative Assessment on Wednesday (D).  Material will cover information on the two Nebular Theory Sheets and the Geologic Time reading.  

November 21 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will finish our discussion and drawings of how the Earth was created 4.6 bya in the process known as The Nebular Theory.  After we complete this objective we will return to our Geologic Time cheat sheet work.

Earth during the Hadean Time.  This is not a geologic time.

Homework:  Enjoy your Thanksgiving Break!

November 20 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn about Geologic Time.*  Each of you will make a private copy of the Geologic Time document and then you will complete as much as you can within this class period.

Homework:  Make sure you know all of the terms from the Nebular Theory Page 1

*The reason for this break in learning about the Nebular Theory is that I have to go get a government document and might not be in school.

November 16 (E)

Learning Objective:  We will start our class by each person sharing out something cool they learned from the Scale of the Universe and then we will travel back 4.6 billion years  to see how the Earth formed.  Here is a video showing this process.

Homework:  Study the vocabulary on the Nebular Theory story boards that were handed out today.  At the beginning of next week we will have a brief formative assessment on this process and basic information onthe scale of the universe.  

November 15 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will travel back 4.6 billion years and see how the Earth and solar system formed from a giant cloud of gas and dust in outer space.

Before we start, we will look at Background Information #3 to see how big the objects we will be discussing are when compared to one another.  Very important!

Homework:  Fill out this Google Document recording some interesting facts you learned from the interactive Website we began exploring today in class.

November 13 (B)

Learning Objective: Today we will look at our Essential Questions posted below in the orange box and then we will look at Earth creation myths from cultures around the world.  Afterwards, we will write our own Earth creation story and look at  some background information to give us a better understanding of the Universe!

1. Background Information #1 (The Known Universe)
2. Background Information #2 (History of Life on Earth)

Homework:  Please have your personal creation myth completed by Wednesday. 

History of the Earth

1.  How was the Earth created and how has it changed over time?

2.  What can rocks and fossils tell us about the story of Earth?

3.  How are fossils created and what does this tell us about the Earth?

4.  How have and how will humans influence the history of the Earth?

November 7 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our Google Slides and then compose a list of things "To Do" and "Not To Do" when making and delivering a presentation.  We will then begin grading our Summative Assessments on Mapping the World.

November 6 (G)

Learning Objective:  We will take the summative assessment on Mapping the Earth.  Please use the map below for questions #19-22 on the assessment.

Homework: None!

November 2 (E)

Homework:  Study for the summative assessment on Monday.

October 31 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will take a formative assessment that will cover our recent work on understanding topographic maps and creating topographic profiles

The images below are the answer key for the last series of topographic profiles

Homework:  Please have the formative assessment completed if you didn't in class

October 27 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our 4 topographic profiles from yesterday focusing particularly on Profile G --> H.  After, we will continue practicing with another topographic map.

Homework:  Please finish the map profiles if you were unable to finish them at home.  Thank you and have a great weekend.

October 25 (H)

Learning Objective: Today we will learn how to make topographic profiles using topographic maps.  Another word for a topographic map is a contour map.

Homework:  Please finish the topographic profiles from today if you did not finish during our class period.  It is okay to be incorrect as long as you try your best!

October 20 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today I will give a tutorial on how to construct topographic profiles and then we will practice this new skill before completing our maps.

Homework:  Complete as much of your earthquake and volcano mapping as you can.  Mark all earthquakes with a blue dot and all volcanoes with a red dot.

October 19 (D)

Learning Objective: Today we will review the Retest Review and then begin our mapping of earthquakes using the +/- coordinate system.  This will be lots of fun!

One of our Review questions talks about hypergolic and cryogenic fuel used in rockets.  Lets check out how they actually work...

Homework:  Please complete 15-20 minutes of earthquake mapping tonight.

October 17 (B)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn how to use the +/- mapping system after doing work on the Cardinal Direction mapping system from yesterday.  If you were absent, this is the visual guide that we made from our last class period.

Homework:  15 minutes of mapping volcanoes.

October 13 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will learn how to read a map using our Introduction to Mapping slides and then we will start Mapping Earthquakes and Volcanoes.  

Homework:  Have your 6 locations with reasons for visiting completed.

October 12 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will draw conclusions from our Unit 1 Summative Assessment data, review our homework from yesterday, and then we will learn look at interesting places to visit in the world and specific reasons for visiting them!

Homework:  Have 3 places you want to visit completed by tomorrows class.

October 10 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today we will complete our summative assessment review and then we will preview our next unit on mapping by...

1.  Looking at the true size of the continents

2.  Investigating if we can make an accurate map

Homework: Make sure to complete Task #2 from today by our next class period which is on Thursday (G).  

September 29 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our summative assessment from last class and then we will analyze the data from that assessment using this sheet.

Homework: Pack for Switzerland!

September 27

Learning Objective:  Today we will take our summative assessment.  When instructed, go to the Google Drive and await further instructions.  Thank you!

Homework:  Relax and if you want you can create some cool math art using this Arabic Art Tile Creator.  The gallery below shows some of my 7th graders work. 

September 25 (H)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review all of the material we have covered thus far in preparation for out summative assessment on Wednesday (B).

Homework:  Study for summative assessment on Wednesday (B).

September 22 (G)

Learning Objective:  Today we will conduct a student-directed lab that answers the question, "What is the effect of typing with your non-dominant hand on the number of words per minute you can type?  You will use this typing program.

Homework:  Finish your self-directed lab by the next class period and please be aware there will be a Summative Assessment on Wednesday of next week.

September 20 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today we are going to complete a Lab Skills Review.

1.  Make a copy of the Lab Skills Review and save it to your private folder

2.  There is blank paper for the last two experiments in the front of the class

3.  I will be checking these documents from my location outside of school

4.  I expect you to treat our substitute, each other, and yourself with...

Homework:  Have the Lab Skills Review completed by Friday

September 19 (D)

Learning Objective:  Today we will complete our Metal versus Memory experiment from yesterday in order to review the following vocabulary terms...

Homework:  Have lab completed by tomorrow's class (E).

September 15 (B)

Learning Objective:  We will assess our knowledge of the scientific method and Excel.  We will then learn 4 new terms through an experiment that asks, "What effect does listening to metal have on a students ability to memorize words?"

Homework: Enjoy your weekend

September 13 (H)

Learning Objective: Today we will complete our first lab using the format shown on the Lab Report Template.

Homework:  

1. Make sure you have your Skunk Works Lab completed and neatly formatted by Friday (B)

2.  Formative assessment on Friday (B) that will cover the scientific method, how to make graphs on excel, and the material we learned today. 

September 12 (G)

Homework: Make sure to have your 10 Things I learned completed by our next class tomorrow (H)

September 8 (E)

Learning Objective:  Today we will review our PURPOSE and HYPOTHESIS (based on RESEARCH) before creating a procedure to TEST OUR HYPOTHESIS.  If time permits we will ANALYZE OUR DATA and then DRAW CONCLUSIONS. 

Homework:  Have the PROCEDURE section completed by next Tuesday (G)

September 7 (D)

Learning Objective:  Learn what the scientific method is and how we can use it to solve real world problem.  See thumbnail below for the scientific method posters.

Homework:  

1.  Make sure that you have your Student Profile completed by the date posted on September 4 (scroll down).

2.  Complete the PURPOSE and HYPOTHESIS section of the lab by Friday (E)

Unit 1: The Scientific Method

1. Essential Questions

3. 1.  What is the scientific method and why is each step within it important for answering questions we have about the world around us?
5. 2.  What makes an experiment a ‘good’ one?

3.  How do we use data to make decisions?

4.  In what ways can data be organized to misrepresent findings?

September 5 (B)

Learning Objective:  Discuss our classroom culture and set up our Google Drive folders for each class.  Your class will be assigned a code name based on 1 of the 4 Galilean Moons.  Click the following links for your class syllabus:  Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Homework:  Complete Student Profile in Google Drive by this Friday (E).  The more complete your answers, the better I can help you learn this year.