8th: Today we reviewed some Force, Mass and Acceleration problems via a Powerpoint Pop Quiz before we started day 1 or our Newton Scooter “research and development” project.  The kids really like building things, and this is a great physics project!

7th: Today we reviewed the characteristics of Viruses and looked at the devastating Flu of 1918 from PBS/Nova and created a cartoon comparing the attacks of hidden and active viruses.

Reminder, if anyone wants to meet with me about their child’s grades or behavior and didn’t get to during parent-teacher conferences, you can email me at jbenson2@lps.org, call me here at school or come visit me anytime before or after school!  I love hearing from and talking to parents!

8th: Today we learned how to calculate Force, Mass and Acceleration before we started day 1 or our Newton Scooter “research and development” project.  The kids really like building things, and this is a great physics project!

7th: Today we went over section 2.1 on Viruses and caught up on old homework and missing assignments, as well as completed the guided reading for section 2.1 in the text.

8th: Today we worked on Newton’s third law and completed the guided reading.  Tomorrow we should be starting our balloon car project build in class!

7th: Today we started with the Characteristics of Viruses and completed the guided reading for pages 40-46.  If they didn’t get it complete, they need to finish it for homework.

I was sick yesterday, unfortunately, and I missed the student led conferences.  If anyone wants to meet with me, I am open to any time before or after school any day of the week.  I will have outdoor duty certain days before school, so scheduling an appointment will be appreciated.

8th: today we reviewed some forces, friction and Newton’s laws, as well as worked through several force questions through a powerpoint.  Next week we will delve deeper into Newton’s laws and start working on a balloon car project.

7th: Today we finished out tests, checked them and watched a short video on human/lice coevolution.  It was kinda gross, but kinda fun at the same time!

8th: Great conversation about high school registration with the counselors today.  I want to talk more about this tomorrow!

7th: Today we finished our review for the test tomorrow.  BE READY!!

8th: Today we reviewed Newton’s Laws and took a short quiz over them.  After that I introduced a graphing exercise on Net Force, Mass and Changes in Motion.  They have to have it done for class tomorrow.

7th: Today we started a “cheat sheet” for a big test coming up Thursday over the last 4 sections of the text.  We will work on it tomorrow as well.

I was out of town last weekend and I had a sub on Friday.  Just letting everyone know that things went well with my absence and we didn’t have any issues.

8th: Today we started working through the first two of Newton’s Laws and completed the guided reading of that section in the text.  Tomorrow we will review some more and work through some formulas.

7th: Today we worked through the origins of life fro the last section of the chapter.  We also watched a little of Steven Hawkins’ Brave New World on medical advances in biology.  Very interesting stuff!

8th: Today we reviewed friction and gravity and we will continue to do so tomorrow.  I am out of town tomorrow and I expect excellent behavior from my students.

7th: Today we reviewed the domains and kingdoms, and we really needed it!  Snow days are fun, but tough to come back from!  Tomorrow we will start in on the origins of life.

8th: Today was a struggle getting the kids to understand the importance of mathematics in physics.  I received a lot of questions as to how speed and acceleration problem solving is important in real life.  I don’t mind at all stopping any lesson and relating our curriculum to the lives of my students!  After some problem solving, I assigned the guided reading for section 2.2 in the text on Friction and Gravity.

7th: Today we worked on a taxonomic key exercise, and then did our “Wee Beasties” taxonomy worksheet.  It was fun and hard at the same time.  Good stuff.

8: Today we worked on a reading strategy called “color notes” which is a way to increase reading retention.  The kids copied down the colored and bold print words throughout their text in order and color.  After that I gave the kids an assignment for homework:  Speed and Acceleration problems 20-24.

7th: TOday we started working with “color notes” as well, and watched a short video on the Evolution of Laughter.  No homework!