Friday, May 20, 2011

May 23-27

Dear Students:

In order to embrace the new, we must release the old. A trapeze artist cannot swing from one bar to another without letting go. An important part of preparing for the new school year is to review the past year—to release it—and to learn from it.…
The following questions should stimulate your thinking for this process. I hope that you take time out of your busy schedule to ponder where you are and where you've been.
Reflect upon what you did, how you felt, what you liked, what you didn’t and what you learned. Try to look at yourself and your experience with as much objectivity as you can—much like a biographer would.

Here are some suggestions to get you started in mulling over the past year—perhaps the last decade.
1. What did I learn? (skills, knowledge, awareness, etc.)
2. What did I accomplish? A list of my wins and achievements.
3. What would I have done differently? Why?
4. What did I complete or release? What still feels incomplete to me?
5. What were the most significant events of the year past?
6. What did I do right? What do I feel especially good about? What was my greatest contribution?
7. What were my biggest challenges/roadblocks/difficulties?
8. How am I different this year than last?
9. For what am I particularly grateful



This is the last week of school and we will continue to learn until the very last day. We will review important Scientific procedures and concepts. Please make sure your book is in good condition to be returned and that you search for your amazing scientific demonstration to share with the class.




Grades published in Power School

Key Terms Chapter 21




Important Dates to Keep in Mind

May 26 Books will be Collected
May 26 Science Demonstrations

Friday, May 13, 2011

May 16-20

Dear Students:

This week we continue with Chapter 22. We will be focusing in the chapter content as well as the Chapter Project. Please make sure you work on your work pack in a daily basis as well as the Key Concepts, for they will better prepare you for our evaluation.

Project requirements:

• Make a BIOME Model/poster to demonstrate your topic.

• Color your components as close as possible to the images that you can find in books or the internet.

• Prepare your display with ecological information for each part or subject.


• To make your project more advanced, develop a scaled model or any other type of attractive visual.

• Review the rubric before presentation date.


Important Dates to Keep in Mind

May 18 Test Chapter 22
May 18 Key Concepts Due
May 19 Project Presentation

Grades posted in Power School
]
Chapter 21 Content Test
Chapter 21 Key Terms Quiz
Key Terms Chapter 22

Friday, May 6, 2011

May 9-13

Dear Students:
This week we will begin Chapter 22. We continue with our Unit on Ecosystems. This Chapter offers us an opportunity to learm more about Biomes. Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell).
Biomes are classified in various ways. One can group biomes into five major types: aquatic, deserts, forests, grasslands, and tundra. Biomes may be broken down into smaller groups. The forest biomes can be further divided into tropical and temperate forest, or rain forest coniferous forest, and deciduous forest. The grasslands can be divided into the savannah and temperate grasslands. Tundras can be broken into arctic and alpine tundras.

So what do we have to do?"

Very Simply, your team is going to describe what you find out about a Biome by – making dioramas, posters, writing a descriptive page, and teaching the class about your Biome.
Start Working.............


Important Dates to Keep in Mind
May 11 Key Terms Due
May 18 Test Chapter 22
May 18 Key Concepts Due
May 20 Project Presentation