Metric System Quiz – Friday, 01/18/19

Closed note but may bring decimeter ruler made in class.  Metric rulers will be available to use during test.

Physics – Trimester 2

We just (finally) completed our testing for our Space Unit.  Kids worked really hard studying, using Quizlet flashcards, marking text, and reviewing using a study guide.  Some students improved scores quite a bit, others, well, they’ve practiced the process, and the scores will follow eventually.  The recent test was used to assess overall learning, much like an end of year assessment.   The goal was 70% and about 50% of students made that target.  This is actually pretty good, considering the breadth of the exam, and the length of time from starting the unit (back at the beginning of the school year).

We are now on to our physics unit.  We begin with reviewing the metric system.  Students will learn how to accurately measure length, volume, and mass using metric units.  We will then begin a two week unit on density, where students will determine the density of 9 “unknown” cubes, and identify the substance based on their calculations (and measurements).

Next we will study the basics of the atom. And then we will begin our unit on Newton’s Laws – getting matter into motion.

Happy January!  Its been a good couple of days.  Kids seem rested.  Please remember to send a snack for afternoons for your growing kids.  Lunch is early (about 10:30) and I had a few sleepy/hungry kiddos today during that 6th period class.  Happy minds make good students.

Regards,

A Richards

Quizlet

https://quizlet.com/_5shgfa

What causes tides and what causes them to change?

In-class tutorial using the following links (beginning Tuesday).  Test on Friday!  Don’t forget to bring one page of notes, pencil, and colored pencils (if you want) to the test on Friday. Print in library from your Google Docs.

Use the following links.  Take notes in Google Docs. Don’t copy whole sections.  No more than five word phrases.  Better to do in own words so you are learning!

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides01_intro.html

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_tides/tides02_cause.html

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides03_gravity.html

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides06_variations.html

2019 Moon Phase Project – LOOK for the moon and document data! See below!

6th Grade  Science

Moon Phases Project & Rubric (below)

100 points possible

Due Nov. 22, 2019

https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/usa/medford

Students are to produce an engaging informative presentation to explain lunar phase changes.  They will have access to Google Slides, however, if they prefer to utilize some other format, they can discuss this with me for approval.  Parents/Guardians may assist with technical aspects, only, please.  Project research begins Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 ~  Presentations may take a couple of days, but please submit document/slides/ with me via Google Classroom on or before Nov. 22 so they will be ready to present.

Title page: should consist of title, date, group members names, or individual name (if decline to work in group); 6th Grade Science, teacher’s name (this latter part can be smaller font at bottom).  Groups of no more than 4 will submit one project to Google Classroom, and then each member of the group will also submit their 3 slide minimum.

Instructions: Students are to begin studying lunar phases in class, and finding evidence of these changes through observation (sketches like Galileo made), photographs, paintings, internet research, news copy, descriptive writings, journal entries.  These observations should be explained in writing and in the presentation, for each piece of evidence and connected accurately to the lunar orbit of Earth.  Evidence should include:  compass/directions, time of day (AM or PM are critical to accuracy), and the geometry of sun/moon/Earth.  Additionally, students should include information anecdotal evidence (story) related to sighting of the moon, and how the student experienced seeing it, finding it, predicting its location using the calendar, diagrams, charts, https://stardate.org/astro-guide/lunar-phases, https://stardate.org/nightsky/moon, and other websites listed on my blog see Planet Mini Project.

Science vocabulary include but are not limited to the following:

Waxing Crescent, Waning Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter, Last Quarter, lunar, Luna, Earth, orbit, rotation, illuminated, etc. For more ideas, see vocabulary in Holt, Science & Technology Text book, chapter 20; section 2.

Additional points for creativity can be earned with additional contributions to the knowledge of the moon through  music, poetry, cool facts , etc.  created specifically for the project

Four or more references required, and subject to MLA formatting:

http://www.easybib.com/

Presentations will be Nov. 22 & 25.  (The trimester ends on the 27^th and grades will be due, therefor late projects will not be accepted.)

Please photograph moon if you see it. To know when the moon will be visible, check https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/usa/medford

In the meantime, begin noticing location of the moon, sun, and phase.  Take a photograph of the moon, mark compass setting for both sun, moon, time of phase and the angle of the sun, Earth, moon.

Tips for photographing moon:  have something “next” to the moon, in picture (tree, edge of mountain, building, roof line).  Try focusing on areas around moon to get better lighting otherwise the “shape” of the moon will get distorted in the photo.  Practice a lot!  Ask a grown up to help.  (Don’t go outside without letting your parents know!)  Be Safe. and don’t stand inthe middle of traffic!!!

Happy moon hunting!

A helpful website for moonrise, set, transit go to

Wed & Thurs. make up missing Science work during lunch A7

For Planet or other Space Topic Use this link only, Monday, 10/01

for quizlet flash cards

https://quizlet.com/_5shgfa

https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov

https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/albumwww.mreclipse.com

http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/

http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon

“A teeny tiny report”

Select a topic of interest, and read and take some notes.  You may highlight one picture.  You can open a google doc to take your notes, which we can later link to your web page you are creating in Mr. D’s class.  (You may also read/research/take notes on paper.  More instructions to follow. GO TO GOOGLE CLASSROOM FOR MORE INSTRUCTIONS; DUE 10/09  Topic ideas include:

• planet other than Earth
• dwarf planet
• moons of Jupiter
• Milky Way Galaxy

Earth – Sun – Moon System unit begins!

Quizlet flash cards

https://quizlet.com/_5shgfa

We’ve started our new unit on the Earth – Sun – Moon System!  Learning Targets this week will include the orbit order of planets in our solar system, and a sense of our place (and the size) of the universe.  It’s a great time to talk with your child about space & to share your thoughts about this very “big” topic.

Also, ask to see your child’s Science Journal.  It is ordered by topic, and each page has a specific item assigned to it.  Notice the increasing level of rigor, and watch for the student response pages which will be the left side page (evens).

Also, sometime next week, I will assign students to share their journals.  Please take a few moments and respond.  It means a lot to kids (as you well know) to have someone other than the teacher appreciate and comment on their work.  Look for content as well as neatness, creativity and your child’s enthusiasm for the topic.

Thank you for your support!

Alison Richards

Science Journal due Friday 09/21

We will go over pages in table of contents.  (Some pages are still to be worked on this week; but grading pages 4 – 11 for completion, neatness, and content.)  So far we’ve completed 4, 7, 9, 10, and 11.

Hi Everyone! Its almost the first day of school!

If you happened to look for the moon last night, were you successful in finding it?  Why was it in the east last night, and in the west this morning?  What is moving – the moon, the earth, the sun?  Please comment, and I can post a few of them below this post.  (School appropriate please!)  🙂