Grade 6: Week of January 3-7

This is the unit many students have been waiting for: Space! We will first explore our own solar system: the moon, sun, and planets. Then we will expand our view to the galaxies and universe at large.

Currently we are learning about the moon and its lunar phases. Your child will be recording the moon's phase every night for the next 29 days. We will model lunar and solar eclipses, discuss tides and the moon's gravitational pull. This week we will just touch on the sun, but discuss it in greater depth next week: its parts, solar mass ejections, and its effect on Earth.

Please expect a planet project letter to come home next week (more information to come). In addition, we have the Planetarium visiting Neuse Charter School in March with exhibits and fun simulations!

Grade 7: Week of January 3-7

Our new unit is the respiratory system, or the system whereby oxygen is used as energy in the body and then breathed out as carbon dioxide through the lungs. We are first learning about parts of the respiratory system and its functions. Students will explore vocal cords through the use of rubber bands to show vibration, and their own lung capacity. Students will learn how to perform the Heimlich maneuver in case of choking, and further examine the dangers of smoking. Due to inclement weather, we were not able to dissect the heart but will do so Friday - an interesting and informative activity for those who are not squeamish!

Grade 8: Week of January 3rd-7th

We begin our new unit on geologic, biological, and technical change, which comprises 20-25% of questions on the end of grade test. We will examine how scientists determine the age of rocks through radioactive dating and relative dating to give us our geologic time scale. Students will correlate fossils with different eras and learn about the laws of geology: the law of Horizontality, the Law of Superposition, and the Law of Cross Cutting Relationships. Students will apply these laws and study examples of the Grand Canyon and the Stawamus Chief in British Columbia, Canada. Then we will make our own geologic model and other groups will need to decipher the geological processes that occurred there to change the landscape over time.

Grade 5: Weeks of December 6-17th

We are studying Newton's Third Law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. We have discussed examples of balanced and unbalanced force, acted examples in front of the class, and did an inquiry on balanced and unbalanced for using a balloon. Students will further delve into gravitational pull and learn that all objects fall at the same rate, despite mass, given equal air resistance. Finally we will review Newton's Laws and examine how each law is applied in daily life. Students will receive a test on Newton's Laws on Tuesday December 14th or Wednesday December 15th.

Grade 6: Weeks of December 6-17th

We are wrapping up our unit on the rock cycle. Students are completing a story on a sedimentary rock of their choice: shale, limestone, conglomerate, sandstone, or coal. They detail the journey of their sedimentary rock, accurately describing the processes that occurred to form it. We will also learn about metamorphic rock and how it forms under intense heat and pressure. Students will draw a diagram of the entire rock cycle. Grade 6 will have the Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rock test on Tuesday, December 14th.

Grade 7: Weeks of December 6-17th

We are continuing to learn about the circulatory system. This week we will watch video clips of the circulatory system and its role in transporting nutrients, gases, and wastes. We will learn how to keep our heart healthy, and how to prevent a heart attack and stroke. Students will design a poster to promote healthy hearts. The circulatory system test will be next Tuesday or Wednesday (December 14-16). Our sheep heart has been ordered and we will be dissecting it when it arrives!

Grade 8: Weeks of December 6-17th

This week we are examining water pollution and human impact on the hydrosphere. We will learn about Linfen, China, one of the most polluted cities in the world, and discuss this year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Students will use their knowledge of water health indicators to determine how water has been affected in both areas. Please note students have a test on Friday.