Grade 5: Week of May 21st to 25th

Grade 5s will take EOGs this week.  The schedule is as follows:

Monday: Reading EOG
Tuesday: Math, calculator active
Wednesday:  Math, calculator inactive

We will receive the results of the Science retests and Math and Language Arts results Wednesday, May 23rd in the afternoon or early evening.  If your child makes a level 3 or 4, you will not receive a call.  If your child makes a Level 1 or 2, you will receive a call from Mrs. Dohner or Mrs. Berner and your child will receive remediation and a retest.  Students will not have Science homework in Science this week due to EOGs and remediation.

On Thursday and Friday, students will learn about Canada, which is part of the Grade 5 Social Studies curriculum.  Since I am a Canadian citizen, I will be teaching students about Canada's culture, customs, money, animals, transportation, and more.

Grade 6: Week of May 21st to 25th

Grade 6s will take EOGs this week.  The schedule is as follows:

Monday: Reading EOG
Tuesday: Math, calculator active
Wednesday:  Math, calculator inactive

We will receive the results of the Science retests and Math and Language Arts results Wednesday, May 23rd in the afternoon or early evening.  If your child makes a level 3 or 4, you will not receive a call.  If your child makes a Level 1 or 2, you will receive a call and your child will receive remediation and a retest.  Students will not have Science homework in Science this week due to EOGs and remediation.

On Thursday and Friday, students will continue to learn about soil, its uses, and its functions.

Grade 8: Week of May 21st to 25th

Grade 8s will take EOGs this week.  The schedule is as follows:

Monday: Reading EOG
Tuesday: Math, calculator active

We will receive the results of the Science retests and Math and Language Arts results Wednesday, May 23rd in the afternoon or early evening.  If your child makes a level 3 or 4, you will not receive a call.  If your child makes a Level 1 or 2, you will receive a call and your child will receive remediation and a retest.  Students will not have Science homework in Science this week due to EOGs and remediation.

Starting Wednesday, students will start researching about Science careers.  They will research duties of the job, education required, salary, benefits, and challenges of the job.   Students will participate in a mock career fare where they see if their qualifications match the job required.  Half the class will be employers and the others job seekers, and the jobs advertised will be those that the students have researched.

Grade 5: Week of May 14th to 18th

We will have our last day of review before the Science EOG on Tuesday.  Dr. Bunn advised me that we should know the results of the Science EOG by Wednesday night.   If your child makes a 3 or 4, passing, on the EOG then I will not call you.  Your child will receive the results when EOG testing is over.  However, if your child makes a 1 or 2, I will call you and get your permission to remediate on Thursday.  The Science EOG retest will be on Friday.  Students who pass the EOG will further practice Mathematics and Language Arts skills while I remediate for the Science EOG.  Due to the EOGs and tentative nature of next week, I am not assigning any homework.

Refunds for the EOG coach books are being processed.

I wish students the very best on their Science EOG!

Grade 6: Week of May 14th to 18th

I have really enjoyed students' presentations and other students in the class have too!  The presentation itself and presentation notes students write on others' presentations will count as test grades. We will listen to our final presentations on Monday and Tuesday, and watch a fascinating video on the Hubble Telescope.  On Wednesday we will begin learning about soil composition and its functions.  The only homework for next week is Pg. 495 questions on Thursday night.

We will not have an EOG in Science.  Grade 6 will take their EOGs in Mathematics and Language Arts next week from Monday to Wednesday.  I wish them the very best!

Grade 8: Week of May 14th to 18th

We will have our last day of review before the Science EOG on Tuesday.  Dr. Bunn advised me that we should know the results of the Science EOG by Wednesday night.   If your child makes a 3 or 4, passing, on the EOG then I will not call you.  Your child will receive the results when EOG testing is over.  However, if your child makes a 1 or 2, I will call you and get your permission to remediate on Thursday.  The Science EOG retest will be on Friday.  Students who pass the EOG will further practice Mathematics and Language Arts skills while I remediate for the Science EOG.  Due to the EOGs and tentative nature of next week, I am not assigning any homework.

Refunds for the EOG coach books are being processed.

I wish students the very best on their EOGs!

Progress Reports

Progress reports will go home this Wednesday.

Grade 5: Week of May 7th to 11th

This week students will receive a review sheet and their final chapter test on Ecosystems.  We will continue to review EOG questions as well, and write sentences for Column 5 and 6 vocabulary words. 5B and C will have their Ecosystem test on Wednesday.  5A will have their test on Thursday.

Homework for the week:

Monday:  Finish the review sheet, Column 5 sentences and pictures

Tuesday:  Column 6 sentences and pictures, study for the Ecosystem test

Wednesday:  Review sheet for Column 5 and 6; pg. 90-91 and pg. 142-143 questions in the EOG coach book

Thursday: Finish the Post test in the back of the EOG coach book. (Time was given in class to complete some of it.)

Grade 6: Week of May 7th to 11th

On Monday students will write their good copy from the corrections written on their draft research paper.  Then, they will practice their paragraphs and read them aloud to prepare for their presentation.  Presentations on the Space project will be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Please see last week's blog for specific details on the project assignments and grading.

Homework for the week:

Monday:  Finish the good copy of the research paper.

Tuesday:  Practice reading paragraphs aloud for the presentation.  Finish any late work for presentations Wednesday to Friday

Grade 8: Week of May 7th to 11th

Last week we were able to see interesting protists from the pond water students brought in.  This week students will finish their bacteria growth questions and graph, study cell theory, cell structure and function, and continue preparing for the EOG. 

Homework for the week:

Monday:  Bacteria questions and graph (if not finished in class), corrections on the EOG practice test, Post test questions #1-20

Tuesday:  Post test #20-39

Wednesday:  Post test #40-59

Thursday:  Post test #59-80

Grade 5 and 8 EOGs

The Science EOG  for Grade 5 and 8 will be Tuesday May 15th.  EOG week is from May 15th to May 21st.  I will update my blog with more information as I receive it.

Grade 5: Week of April 30th to May 4th

This week students and I will begin rapidly preparing for the End of Grade Science test.  We will go over the most missed questions every day as a warm up, will do homework from our EOG coach books, and will write sentences and pictures of the most important vocabulary words.  At the same time, we will finish up our final chapter on ecosystems and students will have their final chapter test next week.  Students will create their own food chain and food web using a certain ecosystem.  They will also choose a specific animal or plant and describe their niche, habitat, and adaptations.

I have graded the practice EOG tests and will be giving results to parents by email if your child received a Level 2.  I will support your child by providing extra tutoring two days per week.  Those who received Level 3 or 4 will be notified on the progress report.

Homework for the week:

Monday night:  EOG coach book - Read pgs. 52-54, answer questions pgs. 54-55 and pgs. 64-65

Tuesday night:  Finish food web, Column 3 sentences and pictures from the EOG coach book

Wednesday night:  Column 4 sentences and pictures from the EOG coach book

Thursday night:  Study for the Column 3 and 4 Vocabulary quiz, Niche/Habitat/Adaptation assignment

Grade 6: April 30th to May 4th

The Space project assignment requirements

and dates are the following:

Assignment	Mark	Date due
Notes: Notes on space facts, existence of life, and technology and exploration In note format – no full sentences or plagiarism	15 pts.	Friday April 27th
Bibliography: Four or more sources; no search engines	5 pts.	Friday April 27th
Visuals: Five or more visuals of space facts, existence of life, technology and exploration, and special characteristics Include a caption/sentence or more for each visual. The visuals may be put on flash drive, may be put on a poster or paper.  One or more visuals may be models.	5 pts.	Friday May 4th
Written research paper:  Draft  Five paragraphs on your planet including the introduction, space facts/special characteristics, existence of life, technology and exploration, and the conclusion	15 pts.	Friday May 4th (May be typed or hand written, double-spaced.)
Written research paper:  Good copy Rewrite the draft paper and include all peer and teacher corrections.  The good copy may be single spaced and/or typed.	10 pts.	Tuesday, May 8th
Presentation:  Eye contact, varied tone of voice, appropriate speed, prepared	10 pts. Counts as test mark	Wednesday May 9th , Thursday May 10th, Friday May 11th
Presentation notes: ·        Three or more notes on other students presentations	10 pts.	Friday May 11th
Participation: On task, cooperative, research brought to school, assignments handed in on time	10 pts.	ongoing

Grade 8: Week of April 30th to May 4th

This week we will review the twenty most missed questions on the practice EOG.  Students will study their Practice EOG test and have a small test on the previously missed questions.  We will also use microscopes in stations to view living protists and other types of microbes.  Some protists will come from a protist growing kit and other microbes will come from students bringing in pond water.  Meanwhile, we will begin reviewing for our Microbe unit test and writing the paragraphs for the Microbe book.

All students who scored a level 2 or borderline 2/3 will receive in school remediation 2:15 to 2:45 Monday and Wednesday and after school tutoring 2:45 to 3:30.  I will notify you by email if this is the case.  

Homework for the week:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday night: 
Write paragraphs and draw pictures of the Microbe book - due Friday;

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night:
Sections of the Post test from the EOG coach book each night

Thursday night:
Study for the small test on previously missed questions on the Practice EOG, finish the first page of the Microbe Review sheet

5A, B, and C Monday night homework

Testing has now been changed to Wednesday and Thursday.  Therefore, 5A homework for tonight is to finish the Review sheet using column 1 and 2 vocabulary words.  5B and C need to finish pgs. 78-80 #2-10, 24, 25 in the Competitive Edge.

Grade 5: Week of April 23rd to 28th

Students will receive a Practice Science EOG test on Tuesday and their Language Arts or Math Practice EOG test Wednesday.  I will have all Practice EOG exams marked by Friday and will communicate with you as soon as possible if your child received a Level 2.  Your results will also be communicated on the progress report.

I will not see 5B or 5C these Practice EOG days but will see 5A in the afternoon all five days. Therefore, homework and tests will be different for each group on some days.  5B and 5C will have their vocabulary quiz on columns 1 and 2 this Monday and 5A will have it on Thursday.  5B and C already completed a small review sheet last Friday and 5A will receive this Monday.

We will learn about food webs and food chains this week, and begin reviewing our Column 3 vocabulary words.  We will also review the different components a food web:  producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers, and scavengers.  All groups will receive a mini review lesson at the beginning of each class to prepare for the Science EOG.

Homework for all groups Monday night:  Competitive Edge Pgs. 78-80 #2-10, 24, 25 *full sentences for most questions

5B and 5C Tuesday and Wednesday night:  Food web tree map and Interactions in an Ecosystem sheet.  The tree map on the Food web will be started in class.  Students will need their Competitive Edge book to do this.

5A Tuesday night:  Interactions in an Ecosystem side of the worksheet only
5A Wednesday night:  study for the Vocabulary 1st and 2nd column quiz

Homework for Thursday night all groups:  Column 3 sentences and pictures

Grade 6: Week of April 23rd to 27th

Students will continue to research their planet at school and at home, and we will begin writing our paragraphs next week due to two days of Practice EOG tests and the Planetarium visit on Friday.  Please have your child bring in the Planetarium consent form and $5.00 as soon as possible.  Students will not be able to attend the educational on-site field trip presented by Morehead Planetarium without either of these.  We will have a change of lunch schedule on Friday  so we may go on the field trip at 11:30.  If bringing lunch to the school on Friday, bring it 11:00 to 11:30 or before.

A few students scored below 70% on their Sedimentary and Metamorphic rock test and need to retest.  The retest will be held 7:20 to 7:45 am or 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. Friday.  To retest, your child must do corrections of those s/he got wrong.  Students will write out the sentences with the correct word three times and include a picture.  The maximum mark that a student may receive on a retest is 70%.  In addition, students will not be allowed to retest if I have not checked their corrections.  This includes if they did them and are at home.

Our schedule for the week is as follows:

Monday:  research on the computer, go over the Sedimentary and Metamorphic rock test
Tuesday and Wednesday:  Practice EOG testing - I do not see students
Thursday:  Research on the computer, write the bibliography
Friday:  Research for 15 minutes, 11:00-11:30 eat lunch, 11:30-12:20 Planetarium visit to the "Dome"

Homework for the week:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night:

1. Bring in Planetarium and consent forms:  please do wait until Friday to do this!!!


2.  Write notes on the following subjects:

•  Planet facts and Special Characteristics (minimum 7 notes - no full sentences)
• Ability to support life (minimum 7 notes - no full sentences):  include gases in the atmosphere, organic/plant matter found on the planet, water, distance from the sun, temperature range, storms, wind speeds on the planet, and compare to Earth's ability to support life
• Technology used to explore the planet (minimum 7 notes - no full sentences):  include satellites, telescopes, rovers, probes, rockets

3.  Complete the Bibliography:

• Students must have at least four sources - 1 book and 3 websites.

4.  Study for the retest on Friday if you received less than 70%.  Do corrections and show them to me on Thursday.


Thursday night:  complete the bibliography and all research notes; study for the retest. 

I will mark the notes and bibliography over the weekend for a grade.  Students' notes will be graded on detail, scientific vocabulary, accuracy, and effort and receive a total of 15 marks.  Students' bibliography will be graded out of 5 marks for accuracy, completion, and neatness.

Grade 8: Week of April 23rd to 27th

Grade 8s will receive review every day until the EOGs.  We will have practice testing on Tuesday and Wednesday - Tuesday is the practice EOG Science test and it will be graded by Friday.  I will let you know the results on the progress reports and will contact you ASAP if your child makes a level 2 on the test.  Your child will also receive tutoring on Wednesday and Friday if they make a level 2 (plus regular in school remediation) - more details to come.  In addition, because we have practice EOG tests, I do not see 8b for two days, but see 8A in the afternoon so each group will have a different set of homework.

We are continuing to work on our Microbes booklet and I will show protist mini-videos of Euglena, Paramecium, and Amoebas.  Students will see how amoebas engulf their prey by a process called "phagocytosis".  We will explore how each protist moves, its animal and plant characteristics, special features, and binary fission.  We will also see a mini-video of how viruses reproduce themselves by attaching to cells, produced by npr.org.

Homework for the week - 8B only:

Monday night:  Questions on fungi
Tuesday:  Write pgs. 1-2 paragraphs and pictures
Wednesday:  Write pgs. 3-4 paragraphs and pictures
Thursday:  pg. 5, 6, 7 questions on protists (optional homework:  paragraphs and pictures of these pages)

Homework for the week - 8A only:

Monday night:  Questions on Bacteria and fungi
Tuesday:  Write pgs. 1-2 paragraphs and pictures
Wednesday:  Write pgs. 3-4 paragraphs and pictures
Thursday:  pg. 5, 6, 7 questions on protists (optional homework:  paragraphs and pictures of these pages)

Grade 5: Week of April 16th to 20th

Welcome back from spring break! I hope everyone is well rested and ready for a new week. I was waiting until I received the practice EOG testing schedule today to write the blog. Our practice EOG tests will be this Thursday and next Tuesday and Wednesday.

This week we are continuing to learn about ecosystems and will learn about producers, omnivores, herbivores, carnivores, scavengers, and decomposers. On Monday we learned about population, community, habitat, and niche. Students gave an example of an animal or plant population, its community, habitat, and niche and we took turns guessing what population it might be from their clues. In addition to learning about ecosystems, we will do a mini-review for the EOG everyday. Our EOG coach books have still not arrived. Mrs. Barbour will call the EOG coach company again.

I will be offering after school homework help/remediation for students starting this week until the EOGs. It will be from 3:15 to 3:50. You may pick up your child in the carpool line. If your child has remediation on Tuesday mornings, then s/he will also stay after school Thursday. If your child has remediation on Thursday morning, then s/he will also stay after school Tuesday.

Homework for the week:

Monday night: Pick another population of a specific animal or plant. Tell about its community, habitat, and niche.

Tuesday night: Write sentences for the second column of words. See definition sheet.

Wednesday night: fill in the blanks on the worksheet using the words provided.

Thursday night: study for the Column 1 and 2 vocabulary test using the definitions and sentences you wrote; pg. 75 #1-7 in Competitive Edge

Grade 6: Week of April 16th to 20th

Welcome back from spring break! I hope everyone is well rested and ready for a new week. I was waiting until I received the practice EOG testing schedule today to write the blog. Our practice EOG tests will be this Thursday and next Tuesday and Wednesday. Students do not take a Science EOG this year.

We have officially started our unit on space. Today we discussed what students knew about space and what they wondered. We also watched a short video on the Hubble Telescope: Deep Space which illustrated how expansive the universe really is.

To prepare for our Planet Project, we will learn about technology used to explore space on Tuesday and then begin the research project on Wednesday. Students will have time to research in the computer labs and with books I provide, but they will also need to do some research on their planet at home and write notes on it. I will send home a project sheet on Wednesday and post it on the blog.

We are still collecting $5 for the Planetarium visit on April 26th and 27th. Parents also need to sign a consent form for students to participate in this on-site field trip. Please bring in the money and form as soon as possible.

Homework for the week:

Tuesday - Thursday night: Bring in seeds for the garden, $5 and consent form for the field trip

Tuesday night: Pg. 227 questions; have a first, second, and third choice of planet for the project

Wednesday and Thursday night: get the project letter signed, research your planet and write notes

Grade 8: Microbes book

MICROBES BOOK Name: ___________________________

You will write a Microbes book on bacteria, viruses, protists, and fungi. Each page must include an illustration or picture printed from the internet and all of the information you collected on this sheet. I have included questions to help you and you will use this information to write your paragraphs. You may print or type the book, but the book must be written neatly on blank paper (I will provide this). Use your textbook, EOG coach book, and the internet to get information and pictures.

Structure of the book:

1. Title page: Include the title “Microbes” or “Microbiology”. Include the author (you), and an illustration or printout of microbes.
2. Introduction to Microbes: pg. 1
3. Viruses: pg. 2
4. Bacteria: pg. 3
5. Fungi: pg. 4
6. Protists: Introduction pg. 5
7. Protists: Euglena pg. 6
8. Protists:Amoeba pg. 7
9. Protists: Paramecium pg. 8
10. Protists: Volvox pg. 9
11. Uses of Microbiology and Biotechnology pg. 10

Page 1: Introduction to Microbes (pgs. 108-110, Lesson 46)

1. What are microbes or microorganisms? ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is microbiology? ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the types of microbes you will write about? ____________________________________________________________________________________

Page 2: Viruses (pgs. 111-115, Lesson 46/47/48)

1. What are viruses? ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. How are they like living things? ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. How are they like non-living things? ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. How do viruses reproduce themselves? Tell the steps of this cycle. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Give three examples of viruses. How does each virus pass from person to person or animal to animal. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Tell about the harmful effects of one virus: ____________________________________________________________________________________
7. ***Draw the reproduction cycle of the virus AND a picture of one virus. Label your virus.

Page 3: Bacteria (pgs.117-121, Lesson 46/47/48)

1. What are bacteria? ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Are they eukaryotes or prokaryotes? _____________________________________________________
3. How do bacteria move? _______________________________________________________________
4. How can bacteria reproduce so quickly? ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Tell about bacteria’s adaptability: ____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Tell about two benefits of bacteria. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Tell about two disadvantages of bacteria. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Tell three ways we can kill or slow down bacteria. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. ***Draw and label three examples of bacteria (see pg. 312 in EOG book).

Page 4: Fungi (pgs. 124-130)

1. What is fungi? ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Are they prokaryotic or eukaryotic? ______________________________________________________
3. How is fungi diverse? ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Tell two examples of how fungi is beneficial. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Tell two examples of how fungi is harmful. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Give three examples of fungi. ___________________________________________________________
7. ***Print out/draw a picture of fungi and label it.

Page 5: Protists – Introduction (pgs. 131-134)

1. What are protists? ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Are they prokaryotic or eukaryotic? _______________________________________________________
3. Give three examples of protists from your textbook. _________________________________________
4. Are all protists harmful? __________________________
5. Give two examples in which protists can harm humans or animals. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. *** Draw or print out a picture of a common protist and label it.

Page 6: Protists – Euglena (Lesson 44)

1. Is it unicellular or multicellular? __________________________________________
2. What does unicellular mean? ___________________________________________________________
3. How is Euglena similar to a plant? __________________________________________________________________________________
4. How is Euglena similar to an animal? ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. What function does its eyespot have? ___________________________________________________________________________________
6. How does it move? ___________________________________________________________________
7. ***Draw/print out a picture of a Euglena. Label its chloroplasts, nucleus, eyespot, and flagellum.

Page 7: Protists – Amoeba (Lesson 44)

1. Is it unicellular or multicellular? ________________________________________________________
2. How is an amoeba animal-like? ___________________________________________________________________________________
3. How does an amoeba “eat” another protist? ___________________________________________________________________________________
4. How does an amoeba move? ___________________________________________________________
5. *** Draw/print out a picture of an amoeba. Label its nucleus and psuedopod.

Page 8: Protists – Paramecium (Lesson 44)

1. It is unicellular or multicellular? _________________________________________________________
2. How is a paramecium animal like? _______________________________________________________
3. How does it move? ___________________________________________________________________
4. ***Draw/print out a picture of a paramecium. Label its nucleus and cilia.

Page 9: Protists – Volvox (Lesson 44)

1. The volvox is unicellular but lives in ______________________________________________________
2. How many volvox can live in one cell? ___________________________________________________
3. How does it move? ______________________________
4. ***Draw/print out a picture of a volvox. Label the flagella.

Page 10: Microbiology and Biotechnology – Its Uses in Every Day Life (Lesson 50, Chapter 7)

1. What is biotechnology? ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Give three ways biotechnology is used in every day life. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How has biotechnology helped North Carolina’s economy? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What some ethical issues of biotechnology? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. ***Draw/print out a picture of biotechnology or one of its uses.

Grade 8: Week of April 16th to 20th

Welcome back from spring break! I hope everyone is well rested and ready for a new week. I was waiting until I received the practice EOG testing schedule today to write the blog. Our practice EOG tests will be this Thursday and next Tuesday and Wednesday.

This week we are learning about Microorganisms/microbes. Students will learn about different types of microbes such as protists, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Some protists we will study are volvox, amoeba, paramecium, and euglena. To help students synthesize material, we will create a microbes book. First students will answer questions, and then put their answers in paragraph form and illustrate each microbe page.

At the same time, students will begin a research project on a specific microbe in technology class, which will start Thursday or Friday, depending on the testing schedule.

EOG coach books have still not arrived, so Mrs. Barbour will need to call the company again.

Homework: T.B.A

Grade 5: Week of April 2nd to 6th

Students received an ecosystem review sheet on Friday. This will review limiting factors, ecosystems and biomes. We will have a test on Wednesday. If any student is leaving early on Wednesday for spring break, s/he should tell me and take the test on Tuesday . Please note if any student does not finish their biome webs by Monday, s/he will receive detention for homework on Tuesday from 3:15 until 3:50.

We should receive our EOG coach books this week. If you would like an answer key, please let me know. If your child is struggling in Science, s/he can do the pretest and post test over spring break, you can check it with the answer key, and may help your child study. This has proven effective in past years.

I am sorry that we could not begin our vocabulary EOG words last week. The biome webs took much longer than usual and I gave that for homework instead. However, this week we will start our EOG vocabulary study. On Thursday we will watch a video on biomes. Any student who does not complete vocabulary homework on Wednesday will not get to watch the video, and will need to do their vocabulary homework instead. I am being strict on homework because certain students are not taking it seriously and we need to learn as much as possible, not only because Science is important, but because knowing vocabulary is essential to passing the Science EOG.

Homework:

Monday night: Finish the review sheet; study for the test on Wednesday

Tuesday: study for the test Wednesday

Wednesday: using the definitions in the EOG coach book, pg. 170, write sentences and pictures for the first column of vocabulary words (abiotic to condensation). Students may make flash cards with definitions, sentences, and pictures on one side and the word on the other, or may write the word, sentence, and picture in their notebook. If your child is making a D or C in Science, it is advisable to do flash cards so s/he may also write the definition and practice studying at home.

Optional homework over spring break: take the pretest and posttests in the EOG coach book, mark them using the answer key (please request a copy from me), and study

Grade 6: Week of April 2nd to 6th

Students will receive a Sedimentary/Metamorphic review sheet on Monday and we will have a test on Thursday. If any student is leaving early on Thursday, s/he should tell me and take the test on Wednesday. Please note that any students not doing their homework will receive a working lunch. Any student needing help with homework may see me at homeroom period 7:20-7:45 or after school any day of the week (except Monday because of supervision) but arriving with it incomplete is unacceptable.

Students will also receive a letter about the Morehead Planetarium coming to visit our school at the end of April. They will set up a dome in the gym and educate our students about space, which will be our next unit after spring break. The cost of the field trip is $5.00. I would appreciate if students could bring in the money before spring break. If it is difficult to bring in $5.00, please let me know, and we will make sure your child still goes on this field trip. Also, we will be planting seeds in our garden after spring break. Please bring in a packet of seeds that will sprout before school ends on June 5th. You can check the date of germination on the back of the packet. Many students planted watermelon seeds and other things that would not sprout until summer and were very disappointed :(. They may bring in flower, vegetable, or fruit seeds. We would request no corn seeds however.

Homework:

Monday night: Finish the first two pages of the review sheet; study for the test on Thursday; bring in seeds and field trip money

Tuesday: Finish the review sheet; study for the test Thursday; bring in seeds and field trip money

Wednesday: Study for the test Thursday; bring in seeds and field trip money

Grade 8: Week of April 2nd to 6th

Students will receive a Chemistry review sheet on Monday. This will not only review both chapters, but will have multiple choice questions reviewing everything we learned in Chemistry from Christmas until now. We will have a test on Thursday. If any student is leaving early on Thursday, s/he should tell me and take the test on Wednesday. Please note if any student does not finish their study guide words for chapter 11 and 12 by Tuesday, s/he will receive detention for homework on Wednesday. Students may study their study guide words and the review sheet. We should receive our EOG coach books this week.

Homework:

Monday night: Finish the first two pages of the review sheet; study for the test on Thursday
Tuesday: Finish the review sheet; study for the test Thursday
Wednesday: Study for the test Thursday

SACS visit this Tuesday and Wednesday

Neuse Charter School has been preparing evidence and documentation for the SACS process, which will accredit our school, and give our high school students more opportunities after graduation. The SACS visitors will interview 12 teachers in total on Tuesday and will be doing walk throughs on campus Tuesday and Wednesday. Thank you for all of your help during Deep Dish cleaning on Saturday! Thank you to my 6A students who helped me clean and I also cleaned until late Friday night.

Spring break: April 6th to 15th

Our spring break starts Friday, April 6th to 15th. Students return to school April 16th and then we begin the sprint to the EOGs which will begin May 15th (EOCs are the week after). For spring break I will be leading a trip to Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. These cities are 19 million people, 8 million people, and 23 million people respectively. When we return, I will give Mr. Lee photos to put in the newspaper, and describe our experiences there. It will be amazing!

Have a safe and restful holiday. Blessings during this Easter season.

Grade 8: Week of March 26th to 30th

We will begin officially reviewing for the EOG. Students will receive questions for warm up every day to start class and will receive a warm up class grade for a total of 10 points per week. Mrs. Barbour ordered our EOG coach books last week and they should be arriving some time this week.

Our new chapter is about exposure to chemicals. We will explore acute versus chronic exposure to chemicals, how chemicals enter our body through inhalation, ingestion, and absorption, and the difference between dose and concentration. We will discuss the threshold and potency of chemicals, and individual susceptibility based on factors such as age, gender, and lifestyle. Students will learn about chemical exposure through discussion of common chemicals in poison ivy, fried chicken, and vinegar. They will also explore chemicals they are probably not as familiar with such as dioxins, DDT, and mercury. Please note I am being quite strict about homework, and students will receive a detention slip to stay after school Wednesday if they do not complete Tuesday night's study guide homework.

Homework for the week:

Monday night: Study guide of pg. 343 words: definitions and examples (no examples for FDA, EPA, and toxicologists), pg. 343-344 Multiple choice #1-9

Tuesday: pg. 354 Review #1-3, Reflect #1-2

Wednesday: Homework: continue the study guide of words in bold in the text from exposure to metabolism

Thursday: Fill in the chart completely with two other chemicals of your choice. The first two chemicals were completed in class as model examples.

Grade 5: Week of March 26th to 30th

On Monday we will go over the Landforms Nine Week test, especially the most missed questions. We will discuss important vocabulary and do certain hands-on activities to reteach concepts missed. Students may expect to receive back their test this day. We will also check on our plants and see if the limiting factors of temperature, sunlight, nutrient-rich soil, and water have any effect on the pea plants' growth. On Tuesday we will begin learning about biomes, or large ecosystems, such as the rainforest, grassland, tundra, taiga, and deciduous forest. We will read about these biomes, answer questions, look at pictures, create webs, and do various review activities to learn many aspects about each biome. On Wednesday those receiving less than 77% may retake a landforms quiz (the most missed questions from the Landforms Nine Weeks Test).

At the same time we are learning about ecosystems, we will begin reviewing for the EOGs. Mrs. Barbour has ordered our EOG books. In the meantime, we will learn about one lesson at a time during the beginning of class. Students will also have EOG vocabulary words and will write definitions, draw pictures, and make sentences for each one. 5A will do these vocabulary words during Thursday class time and for homework. 5B and C will have these vocabulary words for homework Wednesday and Thursday and will receive instruction on them Wednesday.

Homework for the week:

Monday night: Research the temperature and precipitation of each ecosystem: the rainforest, grassland, tundra, taiga (coniferous forest), and deciduous forest. See google images for each ecosystem.

Tuesday: Competitive Edge Pg. 66 #1-5; those retaking the Landforms test need to restudy tonight. Students will retake a mini test on Wednesday on those questions most students missed.

Wednesday: pg. 67-68 #10-15; Pictures and sentences for the words: abiotic, abrasion, air mass, air pressure, balanced forces, biotic, canyon (5B, 5C only). Students will receive a sheet with definitions.

Thursday: pg. 68 #16-20; Pictures and sentences for the words: carnivore, climate, cloud, condensation, dam, deforestation; 5A will have all words for homework they do not finish in class,

Grade 6: Week of March 26 to 30th

We have finished our sedimentary rock inquiries and are moving on to metamorphic rocks, which form from igneous and sedimentary rocks, but under great heat and pressure. We will explore how rocks recrystallize from heat and pressure and form new rocks. Then we will summarize the rock cycle by acting it out. We will do this as a class first, and then in groups. Finally we will work on a "rock story". Students will choose an igneous rock and describe the process by which it turns into sedimentary and metamorphic rock. On Friday we will be cleaning the school for the SACS visit which occurs April 3rd and 4th. It is an extremely important visit, as we get accreditation for our school.

Homework for the week:

Monday: Pg. 480 Review #1-4, Reflect #1, 2

Tuesday: Choose the rock for the "rock story" and either draw or print out the rock. Color the picture.

Wednesday: Make sure at least half the story is finished.

Thursday: Finish the rock story to hand in Friday.

Friday: Show parents the report card and returned signed envelope on Monday or Tuesday of next week to the homeroom teacher.

Grade 5: Week of March 19th to 21st

On Monday students will have a brief time to study for the Landforms Nine Weeks test and then we will begin learning about our last unit of the year: Ecosystems. We will learn that ecosystems are groups of living and non-living things interacting together, and examine various biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors of ecosystems. On Tuesday students will have their Nine Weeks Landform test. Then on Wednesday we will explore the limiting factors on an ecosystem by planting pea pods in an area with no sunlight, with poor-nutrient soil (sand), in an undesirable temperature (the freezer), without water, and finally with all of the right factors for the pea plant to grow. This experiment has had surprising results in the past - we are looking forward to seeing how the pea plants grow in various conditions!

You will receive an email or letter from me this week about EOG coach books. I would very much appreciate if each parent could purchase an EOG coach book for Science. It will cost only $6.00 and students will use it on a regular basis to prepare for the EOG exam. It has mini-lessons, questions very similar to the EOG, and EOG practice tests. I will assign homework from the EOG coach book and we will do exercises in class and during remediation time. The cost break down of the book is the following: $4.99 + 12% for shipping + 6.75% NC sales tax/per book = $5.93 + 5.95 shipping and handling per order. I will pay the remainder of the shipping and handling so we can keep the book cost at an even $6.00. Please have the money in by Wednesday March 21st so we may order the books.

Homework of the week:

Monday: Study for the Nine Weeks Landform test

Tuesday: Read pgs. 83-85 and answer questions on pgs. 94-95 #1, 3, 4 in the Competitive Edge

Grade 6: Week of March 19th to 21st

We will continue to learn about sedimentary rocks this week and have learned about the sedimentary rocks shale, conglomerate, sandstone, limestone, and coal. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will do a sedimentary rock inquiry and examine the grain size, color, and other features of these sedimentary rocks.

*Please note that students only have until Wednesday to retake any Science test below 70% and then this grade will go on the report card.

Grade 8: Week of March 19th to 21st

This is our last unit on chemicals and students will explore various synthetic and natural made chemicals. We will discuss the risks and benefits of certain chemicals, including exposure, potency, and side effects. This week Mr. Wilkinson and I will coordinate so students can research a specific chemical in groups and present it to the class. Each group will research their chemical's Material Safety Data Sheet, level of toxicity, its status as a carcinogen, its risks and benefits, and if it is a preservative/sulfite/nitrate, etc.

You will receive an email or letter from me this week about EOG coach books. I would very much appreciate if each parent could purchase an EOG coach book for Science. It will cost only $6.00 and students will use it on a regular basis to prepare for the EOG exam. It has mini-lessons, questions very similar to the EOG, and EOG practice tests. I will assign homework from the EOG coach book and we will do exercises in class and during remediation time. The cost break down of the book is the following: $4.99 + 12% for shipping + 6.75% NC sales tax/per book = $5.93 + 5.95 shipping and handling per order. I will pay the remainder of the shipping and handling so we can keep the book cost at an even $6.00. Please have the money in by Wednesday March 21st so we may order the books.

Homework for the week:

Monday: pg. 329 Review #1-3, Reflect #1
Tuesday: pg. 333 all, start researching chemical

China trip

We will have our last doughnut fundraiser March 30th at 2:45 pm at carpool!

Unfortunately two people needed to cancel their trip to China, and we have two spots left. We will visit Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai over spring break from April 6th to 14th. Some highlights are the Great Wall of China, visiting a Chinese school, the world trade center in Shanghai, Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, and eating a traditional dinner with a Chinese family.

If you are interested in visiting China with us you may contact me at crennie@neusecharterschool.org. The cost of the trip is approximately $3000 and includes flights, domestic flights, hotels, tours, breakfast, and dinner.

Work days and report cards

Thursday March 22nd and March 23rd are teacher work days.

Friday March 30th is report card day.

Grade 5: Week of March 12th to 16th

We are continuing to learn about the impact of human activities on soil erosion, and how to prevent erosion. We are specifically examining construction, deforestation, dam building, and farming. This week we will begin preparing for our Nine Weeks Landforms test. Students will study their Competitive Edge (pgs. 209-212) and another sheet of multiple choice questions to prepare for the test. The Landforms Nine Weeks test covers all concepts from the quarter and is really a mini Practice EOG. Students will take this test next Tuesday (March 20th).

You will also receive an email or letter from me this week about EOG coach books. I would very much appreciate if each parent could purchase an EOG coach book for Science. It will cost only $6.00 and students will use it on a regular basis to prepare for the EOG exam. It has mini-lessons, questions very similar to the EOG, and EOG practice tests. I will assign homework from the EOG coach book and we will do exercises in class and during remediation time. The cost break down of the book is the following: $4.99 + 12% for shipping + 6.75% NC sales tax/per book = $5.93 + 5.95 shipping and handling per order. I will pay the remainder of the shipping and handling so we can keep the book cost at an even $6.00.

Homework for the week:

Monday night: pg. 207-208 questions #1-11 (already started in class)

Tuesday: pg. 209-210 #6-18 in the Competitive Edge book

Wednesday: sheet of multiple choice questions, study for the Landforms Nine Week test

Thursday: study for the Landforms Nine Weeks test

Grade 6: Week of March 12th to 16th

This week we will begin studying sedimentary rocks and the process by which they are formed. Today students read about how sedimentary rocks are formed through the processes of physical and chemical weathering, cementation, compaction, and leaching of minerals through the rock. Students will have many hands on activities, models, and animations to illustrate the process. I will show students how vinegar chemically weathers chalk, or limestone. We will do a cementation and compaction activity to "create" various types of rocks with clay, sand, and Plaster of Paris. Finally, we will learn about the different environments in which sedimentary rock form and the most common types.

Monday: pg. 475 Review #2, 4, 5

Tuesday: Add images/pictures to the Sedimentary rock flow chart students already made in class. Students may draw or print out images. I suggest students go to google images and search for physical weathering, chemical weathering, cementation, leaching, and compaction. If students do not have a printer at home, drawing the images is acceptable.

Wednesday: Pg. 475 Reflect #4, 5, 6

Thursday: Pg. 475 Review #1, Reflect #1-3

Grade 8: Week of March 12th to 16th

We are just finishing up our Law of Conservation of Mass unit and students learned about binary and polyatomic ions, as well as organic compounds. Students will receive their review sheet on Tuesday and we will have a test Friday. We will begin our new chapter on the risks and benefits of chemicals on Thursday.

You will receive an email or letter from me this week about EOG coach books. I would very much appreciate if each parent could purchase an EOG coach book for Science. It will cost only $6.00 and students will use it on a regular basis to prepare for the EOG exam. It has mini-lessons, questions very similar to the EOG, and EOG practice tests. I will assign homework from the EOG coach book and we will do exercises in class and during remediation time. The cost break down of the book is the following: $4.99 + 12% for shipping + 6.75% NC sales tax/per book = $5.93 + 5.95 shipping and handling per order. I will pay the remainder of the shipping and handling so we can keep the book cost at an even $6.00.

Homework for the week:

Monday night: pg. 317-318 multiple choice questions and Skills and Concepts #1-6

Tuesday: remainder of the review sheet

Wednesday and Thursday night: study for the Law of Conservation of Matter test

Grade 5: Week of March 5th to 9th

On Monday students observed our erosion student inquiry outside. On Friday we had deposited soil on a steep slope, a flat plain, a flat plain with crop residue on top, and underneath a plant. Already we observed that the steep slope had more erosion from the rain and thunderstorm on Friday and Saturday. We also did a lab involving chalk and vinegar to show chemical weathering. Student saw the vinegar start to dissolve the chalk/limestone right in front of their eyes.

On Tuesday we will watch various short videos on erosion such as landslides, mudslides, sinkholes, and tsunamis. We will examine the causes of each of these and if they could have been prevented or not. On Wednesday we will continue to review for the Weathering and Erosion test on Thursday. On Friday we will begin to examine human causes of erosion such as deforestation, land clearing, farming, and dams.

Homework for the week:

Monday: finish the review sheet (if not already done), study for the Weathering and Erosion test on Thursday

Tuesday and Wednesday night: study for the test on Thursday

Thursday night: Look at images of deforestation, the Hoover dam, the Three Gorges Dam, windbreaks, terraces, and slash and burn to prepare for Friday's lesson. Students will receive a bonus grade for printing them out. We have already enjoyed many other interesting pictures about landforms, weathering, erosion, and deposition! They are currently put on our wall for all to see.

Grade 6: Week of March 5th to 9th

On Monday students examined different types of igneous rock: granite, scoria, basalt, pumice, and obsidian to determine how and where they formed. They examined grain size, features of the rock such as holes and weight, and color. We will continue to work on this student inquiry Tuesday and then begin our review sheet on igneous rocks and minerals. Students will take their Minerals and Igneous Rock test on Friday.

Homework for the week:

Tuesday evening: first page of the review sheet, study for the test Friday

Wednesday evening: make sure the entire review sheet is complete, study for Friday's test

Thursday evening: study for Friday's test

Grade 8: Week of March 5-9th

Grade 8s have drawn both covalent and ionic bonds after watching short videos about bonding from the website "Brain pop". These bonds have proved to be a bit challenging since students have had to synthesize previous information and create their own bonds based on ionic and covalent bonding rules. We also started on our study guide today which is a support for students. This week we will do a lab on endothermic and exothermic reactions, and determine temperature changes. We will also study how to write basic chemical equations using ions, subscripts, coefficients, and oxidation numbers. Most of our compounds will be binary compounds, or compounds made of two elements, but we will touch on polyatomic atoms, or atoms that act together as one charge. Finally, we will do a lab to illustrate the Law of Conservation of Mass. We will determine the mass of the reactants and compare it to the mass of the products.

Homework of the week:

Monday evening: 1st page of the study guide

Tuesday: 2nd page of the study guide

Wednesday: 3rd page of the study guide: oxidation, subscripts, and binary compounds only

Thursday: worksheet - highlight the subscripts and circle the coefficients. Try to balance the first five equations for bonus marks. Review and study the study guide for ten or more minutes.

Conservation of Mass Study Guide

Conservation of Mass Study Guide Name: _____________________

DEFINITION	EXAMPLE 1 (in class)		EXAMPLE 2		EXAMPLE 3
Law of Conservation of Mass states matter cannot be ___________ or ____________, only change form. This means the mass of the _____________ in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the ________________.	10 grams of Sodium + 20 grams of Chlorine à _______ grams of Sodium Chloride OR 15 g of Hydrogen + ______ g of Oxygenà 18 g of Dihydrogen Oxide (water)		________g of hydrogen + 2 g of Chlorine à 18 g of Hydrogen Chloride OR 21 g of Zinc + 5 g of Sulfur à _________ g of Zinc Sulfide		Your own example:
A chemical reaction is any change which ____________ the chemical properties of a substance or which forms a __________________. It is the exchange of _____________ in the outer shell. Evidence of chemical reactions or chemical change is a change in ___________, _____________, burning, adding heat, the formation of a _________ (powder) or a _________ (see your notes). It is difficult or impossible to change substances in a chemical reaction back to _____________ form. Chemical reactions form compounds.	Na + Cl à NaCl Sodium + Chlorine à salt		(See pg. 209 and the periodic table). You may use both ionic and covalent bonds. Make at least two chemical reactions.		(See pg. 209 and the periodic table) You may use both ionic and covalent bonds. Make at least two chemical reactions.
The elements and chemicals to start a chemical reaction are the _____________. The substances that are formed during the reaction (or what we end with) are the ____________.	Reactants Na + Clà H2 + Oà	Products NaCl (salt) H2O (water)	Reactants K + Cl à __ + __à Ca + Cl2à	Products FeI3 _________	Reactants: your own examples	Products:
Almost every chemical reaction involves a change in ___________. Exothermic reactions produce ________. Think of “exo” as heat exiting the substance so we can feel it. Thermic means heat. Think of “thermos”. In exothermic reactions the temperature _________.	Example: Burning wood		Your own example:		Your own example:
Endothermic reactions are reactions that _________or require heat. “En” means the reaction will take energy in and use it up in the reaction. In endothermic reactions the temperature ____________ because the heat is used up in the chemical reaction.	Example: baking soda and vinegar		Your own example:		Your own example:
Ionic bonds form when an atom _________ or __________ electrons. It happens between a ___________ and non-metal. Ionic bonds produce __________ or positive and negative charges.	Na + Cl à NaCl Metal + non metal Na + Cl à Na Cl Picture:		(Include formula and picture)		(Include formula and picture)
Covalent bonds form when an atom __________ electrons. It happens between a _____________ and a non-metal. It does not produce _________.	H2 + O à H2O Non-metal + non-metal Picture (Lewis Dot Diagram):		Include formula and Lewis Dot Diagram.		Include formula and Lewis Dot Diagram.
Ions are __________ and _____________ charges formed by ionic compounds. Electrons have a _____________ charge. When Na (sodium) loses electron it becomes ___________. When Cl (Chlorine) gains an electron it becomes ____________.	Na + Cl à Na Cl		Choose a metal and non metal and show positive and negative charges.		Choose a metal and non metal and show positive and negative charges.
Oxidation number is the number of electrons an atom is capable of _____________, _____________ or sharing. (pg 301-302)	Calcium has an oxidation number of 2. This means it tends to lose two electrons, thus becoming positively charged. Ca²		Find the oxidation number and put the charge: H (hydrogen): ______ O (oxygen): ________ Si (silicon): _________ C (carbon): _________		Find the oxidation number and put the charge: Cl (Chlorine): ____ K (Potassium): ___ N (Nitrogen): _____ P (Phosphorus): ­­___
A subscript shows the number of ________ an element in a chemical reaction. A way to remember subscript is to remember “sub” which means ___________(pg. 301, 306)	Ca + Cl2 à CaCl2		Find the missing subscripts to balance the chemical equation/reaction. Fe2 + S à Fe__S Fe + I3 à Fe + I__ Cr + PO4 à CrPO__		Find the missing subscripts to balance the chemical equation/ reaction. Si + O2à O__ +Si HF4+ SiO2à SiF__ +HO__
A coefficient is a number written before the element symbol to ___________ an equation. It acts as a ___________ for the atom or molecule. One must___________ the equation because the Law of Conservation of Mass states the mass of the reactants must equal the mass of the __________.	Fe + 2HClà FeCl2 + H2 This means there are two hydrogen and two _____ on the reactant side and ______ Chlorine and _______ Hydrogen on the product side of an equation. (pg. 305-306) *Think of algebra equations for similar rules.		Find the missing coefficient to balance the equations/ reactions: ___K + SO4 à K3SO4 ___Li + Br2 à ___LiBr ___As+__NaOà As2+Na3O3 Au6 + ___Sà __Au +S4		Find the missing coefficient to balance the equations/ reactions: 2N2 +5O2 à __O+__N __HCl+ Znà ZnCl2+ H2
Binary compounds are made of ______ elements. “Bi” means _________. Think of bicycle. (Pg. 302)	Fe + S à FeS		Your own example:		Your own example:
Polyatomic ions are groups of atoms that act ___________ as a single charged atom or group. “Poly” means more than _______. It is like a group or gang of atoms with the same charge. (Pg. 303)	Iron (III) or F³ Nitrate NO³		Your own example:		Your own example:
Organic compounds are compounds containing ____________. They may be __________ or non-living. Over _____% of all known compounds contain carbon. 1st organic compound: Hydrocarbons contain ___________ and ____________. 2nd : Polymers are made synthetically (in the lab) from ______________. 3rd: Alcohols are composed of ________, ________and ________. 4th: Fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.	*Note the word organic in chemistry is not the same as organic farming! Hydrocarbons: fossil fuels such as methane: CH4 Polymers: are often plastics. Alcohols: propyl alcohol CH3CH2Ch2OH Protein: butyric fat in milk is CH3(CH2)2COOH but there are 11 more types of fat in milk + H20 and lactose		Put an example of each type of organic compound. Hydrocarbon: Polymer: Alcohols: Protein/fat/carbohydrate or vitamin:		Put an example of each type of organic compound. Hydrocarbon: Polymer: Alcohols: Protein/fat/carbohydrate or vitamin:
Valence electrons are electrons in the ________ electron shell of an element. An element needs ______ electrons or an octet to be _________ or not want to chemically react with another element.	Valence electrons of Helium: 8 so it is stable. *See the number at the top of the column, not the atomic number (this is the total number of protons or electrons it has, not the valence electrons).		Valence electrons of Sodium: _____ Calcium: _____ Oxygen: _____ Nitrogen: _____		Valence electrons of: Silicon: _______ Hydrogen: ______ Gold: ________ Mercury: ________