Moon Rise & Moon Set Info

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/rstt/onedaytable?ID=AA&year=2017&month=10&day=9&state=OR&place=medford

Recent Test Grades and Moving On

I talked with students today about the importance of focusing on learning every day in the Science classroom, about taking a few moments often, daily?, to study what we’ve learned.  I talked about students slowing down when taking a test (they had 53 minutes, and many finished in 15 minutes) to think about all of the answers (in a multiple choice test) and to choose the best one.  It might be interesting to know, that students were also allowed to check their answers during the last 5 minutes of the test using their Science Journals (which I told them to bring) and the majority of students chose not to use these.  (By the way, about 10 % of the students scored 100%.)

First test scores help students understand the types of questions to be prepared for (also, many questions were similar to Bellringer questions and closely discussed in class) – I always try to get kids very ready for tests, but some of this is a skill that kids need to develop (which, I believe, is what sixth grade is for), and to be more ready and focused in future learning.  Also, I told kids to keep in perspective the total number of (data) points that will make up the final grade.  (We’ve still got about 500 points to go, so one test score is not the only indicator for the final grade .) Although, some of you saw otherwise for a few hours today.  Again, sorry for the Synergy mix up on my part. 

Finally, extra credit is student directed and can take many forms.  I can offer up to 10 points to each student, and no more than 2% of the final grade (and all regularly assigned work must be turned in).  I suggested to one student to look up information about Alpha Centauri, our next closest star, and to present that information to the class.  There will also be an opportunity to earn extra credit in our upcoming Moon Phases Project which we will launch on Tuesday.

I hope this allays some concerns, and puts us on to current learning so we don’t get bogged down still studying the sun – although it will keep on shining!

Alison Richards 🙂

Moon Phase Project Begins Next Week!

Please photograph full moon today if possible for upcoming project.  Moonrise in Medford today at 7:11 PM

To photograph moon, be sure to have an object within the frame near the moon, examples a tree, roof line, bird,  plane, street light; hold keys “near” moon in photo frame.  Save pictures.  More info to follow.  Please do not send them to my email!  🙂

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/rstt/onedaytable?ID=AA&year=2017&month=10&day=5&state=OR&place=medford

Links for Mini-mini-mini Research Report

“Land on Pluto”

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/News-Article.php?page=20160714-2

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

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov

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

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album

www.mreclipse.com

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

http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon

Pick one planet.  Find 10 facts.

Choice 1: Poster (1 or 2 pictures, neat, colorful, title or slogan, 8 facts as bullet points)

Choice 2: Mini-Report (be sure to use own words) cite sources

Choice 3:  Letter from the planet describing it as if you are there.  2 – 3 paragraphs.  Make is sound exciting.

choice 4:  Cinquain.  (I have the form, should have 8 facts (will fit into format)

Choice 5:  List ten facts as short points (make bullet point look like the planet!)

May type or use computer graphics, or own drawings.  May hand write.  Glue to page 8.

Grading:  Science 8-10 facts (20 points)

Artistic Expression (5 points)

Extra Credit:  (based on going above and beyond! up to 5 points)

Welcome back to school!

Sometimes nature “takes my breath away” – maybe it was the smoke, but it sure made the sunset gorgeous last week!

Organelles in the Cytoplasm – PBSLearningMedia

https://soptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.cell.organelles/organelles-in-the-cytoplasm/#.WS2Q0dy1vIU

Grape leaf cells 100X (thank you for the picture ~ Ani!)

A little fun before our test today…

Solar Ovens Project

Student (groups of 3 or 4) will be building & testing solar ovens the week of June 5th.  Please start collecting the following items:

• shoe box (or something similar in size)
• aluminum foil
• black paper
• masking tape/duct tape/packaging tape (scotch tape is not strong enough)
• plastic wrap, or plastic sheets (please tape edges for safety before bringing to school)
• Any cutting needs to be done at home with adult supervision/help
• shelving, etc. is helpful
• hot pad/oven mitt
• dutch oven, covered pan, or baking bags to keep food “clean” while heating
• For smores:  marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers (most can be purchased from the dollar store).  Keep sealed & in lockers until use on Thursday, June 8.

There is not space in the classroom to store supplies, until that week.  Food should be kept in lockers sealed to keep out ants!

Thank you for your support!

Alison Richards

6th Grade Science

Scenic Middle School

Test make-ups

If students wish to improve grade to C-, he/she must meet with me during Ac. Lab to go over the test, and retake some of the questions.  No later than 05/16.