Enjoy the Holiday!

No homework is assigned for the evening of September 28, except for students who have missing homework to make up. 

All classes will have vocabulary quizzes on Tuesday October 4.  The quizzes are cumulative, meaning I will ask not only about the most recent vocabulary discussed, but also about at least one vocabulary word that was assigned earlier this year. Students should begin to study for that quiz as soon as possible. 

Also, I plan to give each class a unit test on Friday Oct. 7, subject to how much progress we make next week. 

See you next week!

Sept. 27, 2011

It's my late day again.  As some of you may know, I teach a 21st Century Community Learning Center class under the leadership of our very own Ms. Demetria.  The class is Forensic Science / Stamford CSI.  Today, after homework, snacks, and a brief powerpoint, we went out to the garden in the school's North courtyard to discuss footprints. 

Vincent and Jaden found what appears to be a bit of exposed skull under a fresh mound.   Sick (that's a good thing - ask your kid)!  Next week, after the students (Travis, Jason) are done staking out a grid in square feet, then they'll carefully excavate (Brianna, Jazzlyn, Ivory, Jahmelia, and Maria) and document the layout of the clues with digital photos (by Jasmine) and drafting (Rebecca).  Brianna and my students will use a shovel to search the rest of the garden in the weeds for other clues.  In later lessons, we'll study gunshot residue, presumptive blood & saliva testing, hair and fiber analysis, bullet trajectory, fingerprints and footprints. I'm hoping to figure out a lesson on simulating DNA with limited lab skills and equipment. Possible culminating activity: visit the CSI exhibit at the Discovery Museum in Times Square.

Tonight's homework:  7th Grade students are to read the lesson "Studying People Qualitatively and Quantitatively" and answer the questions on page A33 of the SEPUP online text "Issues and Life Science."

6th Graders : read and answer triangle questions 1-5, Checking Concepts 1-6, and Thinking Critically 7-9 for How Does Matter Change State (section 1-4, not from SEPUP) handed out in class today.

Homework for Sept. 26, 2011

7th Graders (per. 1:) -- You have to skim or re-read pages A15 through A19, then answer questions 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Combine your answers with the answers to the packet that you were supposed to answer last week (1, 3, 4) I gave you last week (with another copy this morning). If you can 't access those, use the online book (see the Resources for Students insert from first week of school). If all else fails, call your Study Buddy.




6th Graders (pers. 2& 3): Please read, then answer the questions (triangle 1-5, CC 1-5, TC 7) , that we discussed in class on the "States of Matter" worksheet. Answer on a separate sheet of paper, NOT in your science notebook.



Both grades: Extra credit opportunity: make 1-2 Word Wall word cards. Use a piece of paper, any color, about the size of half a sheet of copy paper. Write the vocab word (e.g., 6th: mixture, element, compound, etc; for 7th: observation, inference, ethics, etc.) in letters at least 2 1/2 inches high. Be as creative as you can in making the graphics: for instance you could use hieroglyphics, calligraphy, bubble or graffiti letters, and color them in. At the bottom of the page, write the definition in letters no more than 1/2 " high. Make it creative as possible. Draw a picture around, or even out of, the words.

Weekend Homework!!! ???

No, not if you've been keeping up.  If you have not turned in a homework assignment from last week, you may turn it in to me for partial credit on Monday if you mark it "late" on top and have your parent sign underneath.  If you owe me the "Matter - An Introduction" homework, you must research, cite, and write an additional 3 sentences about matter underneath the multiple choice questions that we've already answered in class. Now, I know what you're thinking: What does that mean?  Research means: find out something about Matter on the internet that is not already discussed in the reading.  Cite means write down the name of the author, name of the article, date, and source.  Write means use your own words!

Enjoy your weekend!

[PHOTO CREDIT: FOERDER AND REISS/CUNY, published in "An Elephant's "aha" Moment" fr. Science News for Kids, http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/09/an -elephants-aha-moment]. 

Current Events: Assigned for Thursday night homework to both 6th and 7th Grade students. The following was discussed in class (and distributed, so this should be in each students' science notebooks):
" Current Events – (keep this)
*Current Events are due every Friday except for holidays (e.g., Friday after Thanksgiving)
Basic version requirements (what you must write down for basic Current Events, on a separate sheet of paper to be handed in at the start of class):
      1.       Article Title
      2.       Article Author
      3.       Source  and date.  (“Source” means where it came from, like the name of the newspaper or website.  NEVER give a search engine like Google or Yahoo as a source).
      4.       Attach a copy of the article (tape, staple, clip, or fold).
      5.       Write a 3-sentence summary of the article.  A summary is:
                  a.       A short statement;
                  b.      About something you’ve read
                  c.       That focuses on the main idea (what is important in the article)
                  d.      Strengthened with supporting details; and
                  e.      Not simply repeating the material you’ve read (Use your own words). "

6th Graders:  have each been given a copy of an article called "An Elephant's "aha" Moment" from Science News for Kids.

7th Graders: find an article about science that interests you and prepare a Current Event.

Hi   Now that 21st Century Forensic Science is over, I can blog about tonight's homework: 

7th Graders:  See the electronic version of  your book at the SEPUP / Lab-Aids Online book access site. Use the user name and password on the "Resources for Students" sheet that should be in your Science Notebook.  Turn to pp. A9 - A10, and answer Questions 1-4  on a separate sheet of paper.

6th Graders: Answer questions 1-4 on pg. A-9 of your book, found at the SEPUP / Lab-Aids Online book access .  Use the user name and password on the "Resources for Students" sheet that should be in your Science Notebook. 

Homework for this week

Homework planned*** for this week includes: ..............................................................................................
7th Grade  - MONDAY: Flash cards for 5 vocab words; Describe (in a Reflection) how you've made an inference in your life.  TUESDAY: Write answers to Analysis Questions 1-7 on p. A9 to A10, study for vocab quiz.  WEDNESDAY:  Read pp. A15 through A17 plus A20; take notes, answer questions.  THURSDAY:  Current  Event (find an article using one of the Links websites listed in the column to the right).

6th Grade - MONDAY: Read and answer questions on worksheet 1-2, including "triangle" questions 1-3 and checking concepts 1-5 and Thinking Critically 6;  Answer number 7 for a 4-score. TUESDAY:            .WEDNESDAY:     . THURSDAY: Current Event (find an article using one of the Links websites listed in the column to the right.





*** Homework will be changed if needed.

9/15 Homework

All classes:  Tonight's homework is to cite (describe) and summarize an article about a Current Event.                *
7th graders: use the article that you turned in or find another one.                                           *
6th graders: Use the article passed out in class.  If you don't have that article, find it at http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/24/strong-east-coast-earthquake-highly-unusual-scientist-says/. 

Here are the directions for what you are supposed to produce:
On a separate sheet of paper, write down the article's:                                       :
1)  title
2) author (here, it is Reuters News Service)
3) Source & date
4) Write a 3-sentence summary.  What is the most important point of the article (a/k/a the Main Idea)?   In a short statement , write down the main idea, add a few supporting details, write it in your own words. To the back of the paper you are supposed to turn in, staple or tape or clip or attach a copy of the article.

Also, please take a minute to respond to the survey at the bottom of this page!  Thanks!

Homework for Sept. 14, 2011:
Gr. 7 - In the HANDOUT, look carefully at the pictures of lab work or experiments.  Find the violations of safety rules and label them. **********************************************



Gr. 6 (per. 2) - Go to the ONLINE SEPUP book (http://www.lab-aids.com/) shown on your copy of the handout "Resources for Students" or see the Link in the column on the right hand side of this page.  CLick on the section entitled "Issues and Physical Science" then go to the lesson entitled "Studying Substances Scientifically".  Find page A-5 and locate the Analysis Questions.  On a separate sheet of paper, write your answers to Analysis Questions 1-4.     ***If you are not allowed to go on the internet, please ask your parent to allow you access long enough to complete this assignment. If you don't have a computer with internet access, try to get access by going to a neighbor, family member, friend, or library; last resort, come see me before school after 7 am but before morning homeroom.  Do your own work: no duplicate answers allowed.



Gr. 6 (Per. 3) - In the HANDOUT, look carefully at the pictures of lab work or experiments.  Find the violations of safety rules and label them. **********************************************
 

Tonight's Homework: In the links column to the right, I've added about 10 websites where you can look for articles. * Gr. 7 - Find an article about an experiment *********************************************** Gr. 6 (per. 2) - Identify safety experiments in the pictures******************************************* Gr. 6 (Per. 3) - Find an article about hazardous materials.******************************************* If you are not allowed to go on the internet, please ask your parent to allow you access long enough to complete this assignment. If you don't have a computer with internet access, try to get access by going to a neighbor, family member, friend, or library; last resort, come see me before school after 7 am but before morning homeroom. If you are unable to print, copy the article's title and web address on to a piece of paper to hand in. No duplicates allowed.

Welcome back to school ! Now that we've gotten some ground rules established in class, we'll start doing labs and other activities using Lab-Aids SEPUP materials. First, up: the "Save Fred" activity for 7th graders, and the lesson entitled "Handling Hazardous Materials" for 6th graders. Tomorrow students will be given a sheet to place in their science notebook that will let them access their science books on-line whenever they want. Seventh graders are beginning a unit called Studying People Scientifically. Tonight's homework is for them to practice writing 5 STAR note questions on today's notes and handout. Remember, each question must be a complete sentence, usually starting with a 5W question (Who, what, when, where, why or how), subject, verb, object, and question mark at the end. Sixth graders are starting a unit called Studying Materials Scientifically. Depending on their class, they were either assigned to: * practice writing 5 STAR note questions on today's notes and handout; or * find and bring in a copy of a recent article about hazardous materials. I'm looking forward to a great year with all of Rippowam's blossoming scientists! For extra credit, post a hello or other constructive message to my blog, and sign it with your first name and last initial (since otherwise, I won't know to whom I should give credit).