8th: Today we worked on the properties of Electromagnetic Waves and got a homework assignment over section 3.2 in the text.  We also drew a diagram of all the waves in the spectrum and came up with a pneumonic device to remember them: “Rhinos Might Ingest Velocoraptors Under Xylophone Giraffes.”

7th: Today we reviewed the properties of metals and watched a video on “The Blue Guy” from last year.  We’re also working through a worksheet on the reactivity of metals.

8th: Today we went through the assessment questions on page 73 for the electromagnetic spectrum.  After that, we played the “Draw a Turkey Dice Game and decorated the room for the holiday!

7th:  Today we went through the section 3.3 guided reading over metals, and then made some turkeys.

8th: Today we watched a video from the TED Talks about optical illusions and how color changes our perspective on what we see.  After that, we reviewed the properties of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.  

7th: Today we finished any leftover projects that were floating around, and some still need to work from home.  I appreciate the work the kids put in, however I think we might need to revisit our behavior goals.   Also, we are starting to study the metals of the periodic table.

8th: We started the Electromagnetic Spectrum and Light today.  Section 3.1 guided reading is homework.

7th:  Today we finished our Adopt and Element project in the computer lab.

8th: Today was a quiz over the Properties of Sound and then we broke the sound barrier with some paper poppers.

7th: Today was reserved so we could finish their Periodic Table Poster projects.  No quiz.

8th: Today we watched a video on how lions roar (Inside the Big Cats) and the sounds they make.  We also had a powerpoint review of the Properties of Sound After that we worked though a “Squawker Lab” which was fun and obnoxious and helped relate the concepts of frequency, intensity, volume and vibration.

7th: Today we started our Adopt and Element project online.  They are to research an element, find the relevant information as per the assignment and create a cool and informative project.  It can be a Comic Life presentation, Powerpoint or anything else that displays the element in an informative way.  Show me creativity!  Here’s the link for the information site:  www.ptable.com

8th: Today we finished the tuning fork lab and went over our findings.  I’ve noticed that we need to focus on how to complete a lab report, so we will revisit that exercise.

7th: Today we went over the section 3.2 guided reading on the periodic table.  After that we worked on our Periodic Table Poster project.

8th: Tuning Fork Lab:  This exercise was fun, but we might have to revisit the material to make sure we all understand it.

7th: Periodic Table Project started today.  Guided reading over section 3.2 tomorrow.

8th: Today we started in on the properties of sound and how loudness occurs.  Most kids still need to make an instrument for me.

7th: We began section 3.2 on organizing the elements.  We will be memorizing the alkali metals this week!

8th: Today we took a quiz over the Nature of Sound.  I’m noticing a lack of effort by a surprising majority of my students.  Because of this, I think we need to revisit our goals about education in an effort to raise their level of concern for their grade.

7th:  Today we took a quiz over the atomic structure and first 18 elements.