Friday, October 21

Hello! Wow, have we been busy. We finished up our look at the scientific method and started working on plant and animal cells. The students will be making models of the two cells. I have given them the directions for what they need to do and the analysis sheet to the models. The models will be put together Monday and Tuesday of next week. After that, we will start our body systems projects. These will be put on our class wiki. I am so excited to have them start using another computer tool. This one is very fun. They can even open it from home and work with it. The first nine weeks ends today, so report cards will be out next Friday. The plays that the students have written and performed, using their vocabulary words, have turned out very well. The only mistake was with asexual reproduction. We discussed it after the play were finished, so that they can see where their mistake was. I have to say that it is a hard concept to understand, since there are no males or females involved. They have a hard time understanding an organism can have offspring without a male and a female. Well, have a good weekend and I will talk to you next week!

October 12, 2011

Hello, on this wet Wednesday. We are finishing up with lab safety and moving to the scientific method. I gave the kids the list of steps and had them write down, from the Smart board, what those steps mean. I tried to help them see the connection between the steps and how they are all connected to each other. I think it worked out very well. We will be starting to look at the science fair and what all that means. For those that participate in the fair, their projects will have to be completed on their own time. We will not be using class time for working on projects. The first big obstacle for them is going to be coming up with a question that will work. They need to have an experiment to test something and not a demonstration that shows something. They want to do more of the demonstrations. After our discussion on the scientific method, I am hoping they have a better understanding of the difference between the two. Don't forget that our field trip to Bob Evans Farm Festival is this Friday the 14th of October. Students will need to bring a sack lunch or money to buy lunch there. Crafts are available to buy, as well. I am hoping for good weather that day and it is not too muddy. Well, that is about it for now. Talk to you next week.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Hello!!! What an interesting week we have had. The students have been working on a safety pamphlet in class. I got some very interesting pamphlets returned to me after two days of working. They are really getting into the plays for vocabulary day (Friday). Any free time they have, they want to practice. I think that is totally awesome! Tomorrow, we are going to work with the Smart board and practice with more lab safety situations. Next week, we will begin the scientific method and start talking about the science fair. The science fair is optional. I do give extra credit to those who participate, but the student has to follow the scientific method and it has to be an experiment and not a demonstration. This seems to be the hard part for students to understand. We will discuss it next week. Have a great weekend.