Ms. LeSueur’s Science

Today students started the Cell Catalog Project.  We will be working on this all next week and it will be worth 120 points.  For more instructions and examples, see the links below.

Reminder: Science Fair experiments should be done by Tuesday, December 1st. You’ve had one month to get this completed.  Hopefully no one will have to do their experiment while eating turkey and pumpkin pie.  Make sure you have made and filled out your data table and have a parent signature on the blue Data Collection Sheet. We will be doing the graph and conclusion in class in December and the final Power Points on the computer in January.

Worksheets:

Cell Catalog Project

Cell Catalog page example:

This week we are learning about the functions of cell organelles.  Monday and Tuesday students made Cell Fold-Outs to help quiz themselves. They also had a worksheet called Cell City that has the students compare organelles and their jobs to those of different parts in a city.  Papers for both assignments are in the Old Work folders for pick-up if you were absent.

Today we started our unit on cells.  Students had a lesson on the different types of cells, cell organelles, and their functions.  Notes were taken during the lesson.  Afterward students worked on a cell packet.  You can download the notes here if you were absent, but you will have to pick up the packet in class.

Cell Notes

Study guide for the matter test will be due tomorrow in class.  We will be correcting it and discussing the answers so you have the right information to study.

• Study Guide for Matter Test

There was very minimal participation today with bringing jars and dirt, so our sorting jar activity has been postponed until Monday.  PLEASE, bring your assigned item.  It is now an official assignment that will be worth points.  Dirt is free.  You can get it from the side of the road.  If you don’t have an old empty pickle jar at your house, you can get a cheap jar at Hobby Lobby for .99 cents.

As a heads-up, the Test on Matter will still be on Wednesday.  These are the topics that the test will cover:

1. Atoms & Molecules
2. Phases of Matter
3. Mass, Volume, and Density
4. Earth Layers & Sorting

There will be a study guide handed out on Monday. Please also remember to do your science fair experiment by December 1st.

Tomorrow please bring either a jar with a lid or a sandwich baggie full of dirt (from the earth, not potting soil)  for our Sorting Jars activity.  Your group should have assigned you one of these things to bring.

Please bring a calculator to class for the next 3 weeks. We will be doing density problems which will not be easy to calculate by hand.

Sorry that there has not been an update here for awhile.  Grading at the end of the quarter will do that to a teacher. So, to get you up to speed:

• This week we are learning about mass, volume, and density.
• Quiz this Friday on phases of matter, mass, and volume.
• This month students will be working on their science fair experiments at home.  Remember, if you are testing on humans, you need the human testing forms signed by Ms. Gochnour, our school psychologist, before you begin.
• Test on matter is scheduled for November 17th.  Subject to change.

Monday and Tuesday – Students have been working on activity called the Atom Timeline.  For this activity, students worked in groups 2-4 to research information about a scientist who contributed to our current theory of the atom.  They then presented this information to the class.  The students filled out a timeline as the groups presented their information.  If you were absent, use the internet or check out a 7th grade Matter text book from the library to fill in the timeline.

AtomTimeline

Atomtimeline2

Tomorrow we will be learning more about molecules.  There will be a QUIZ on Thursday on atoms and molecules for Rise and Stretch.  Remember that Thursday is also the last day to turn in missing work for this quarter in my class.

Here is a great video clip showing our current day theory of the atom!

Today students spent half the period working on their fourth source for science fair research.  Remember that if you were not able to finish your research in the five days given in class then you must finish it at home.  All research for science fair is due tomorrow at the start of class.

The second half of the period I gave a lesson on atoms and molecules.  There were notes that went along with this lesson.  Tomorrow we will be watching a Bill Nye movie on atoms.

Atom Notes

REMINDER: The last day to turn in any missing or absent work for my class is Thursday, Oct. 22nd.

photo source: ecorazzi.com