Island Nations

Indian Ocean --
Comoros
Maldives
Madagascar
Mauritius
Seychelles
Sri Lanka

Mediterranean --
Malta
Cyprus

Pacific Ocean --
Figi
Kirbati
Marshall Islands
Naura
Palau
Vanuatu
Tuvalu
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Federated States of Micronesia
Solomon Islands Tonga

Carribean --
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Dominca
Grenada
Saint Kitts - Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines

Atlantic Ocean --
Cape Verde
Trinidad and Tobago

Egg-Speriment

SCIENCE – 6TH Grade: The Egg-speriment Introduction:
Our bodies are made up of cells that are responsible for every job our body does. But for our cells to perform all these jobs properly, they need to bring in certain particles from outside the cell. One way for particles to enter the cell and help it do its job is to simply pass through the cell membrane. All living cells are surrounded by a membrane which separates the stuff inside the cell (water, nucleus, etc.) from the stuff outside the cell (water, other cells, nutrients, etc.) This membrane determines what can enter the cell and what should stay outside. One way that it prevents certain particles from entering is by having holes only large enough to allow small particles to enter. It is therefore called a semi-permeable membrane. An analogy could be made to a basketball net. Only certain size balls will get through. That is, a tennis ball will go through the hoop, a basketball will go through the hoop, but a big beach ball will not. The same holds true with cell membranes. Many particles, such as sugars and salts that are dissolved in the water surrounding the cell try to enter the cell, but they are too big and therefore cannot pass through the membrane.
DEMONSTRATION NOTES:
Demonstration #1:
Materials:
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup dry beans
jar with lid (quart or liter)
colander
large bowl
Describe the procedure followed for this demonstration –



Describe what you observed during this demonstration –

What conclusion can you draw from this demonstration?


Demonstration #2:
Materials:
( 1 ) beaker or clear cup
1/2 cup of water
3-4 drops of food coloring
Describe the procedure followed for this demonstration –



Describe what you observed during this demonstration –



What conclusion can you draw from this demonstration?

EGG-SPERIMENT:
At last to the main part of the experiment -- here an egg will be the model for a cell. The “problem” or purpose in this experiment will be to explore and discover the processes of osmosis and diffusion. As you work through this experiment, look for information that will help you to understand how osmosis and diffusion work in a cell. First, the shell must be removed to expose the cell membrane. Vinegar takes care of this job very easily because it is an acid that reacts with the calcium in the shell to remove the shell.
Once the shell is removed, the concepts of diffusion and osmosis can be illustrated. The egg will be transferred from the beaker with vinegar to a beaker containing various other solutions. You and your team will make observations on the condition of your egg, on a daily basis throughout this experiment.
Objectives:
To understand one way that materials enter a cell
To understand the function of the cell membrane
To understand the principles of diffusion and osmosis
To record careful and detailed observations of a scientific experiment
Vocabulary (you will be expected to understand and be able to use this vocabulary by the time you complete this experiment):
cell
cell membrane
semipermeable membrane
concentration
diffusion
osmosis
circumference
Materials:
for each group of students:
(3) 250 ml beakers or big clear cups
(1) egg (be careful handling the egg!)
12" piece of string
ruler, paper and pencil to record observations
Procedure:
Carefully weigh and measure the egg that your teacher will give you. Use a triple balance scale to weigh the egg. Use a piece of string and a ruler to measure the circumference of the egg in both directions (lengthwise and around the “middle”).
Record your measurements in the table below.
Place egg into one of the beakers. (Be careful -- do not drop the egg in.)
Fill beaker with enough vinegar to cover the egg.
Record observations immediately. What do you notice? Continue to record observations over the next three days. Be sure to note how the egg feels when you touch it each day. Don't squeeze too hard – it will be fragile!
Throughout the remainder of this experiment, your egg will be immersed in a variety of solutions including corn syrup, plain tap water, water with food coloring, and salt water. Make a hypothesis about what you believe will happen to your egg as you work with it in this experiment.
Follow the directions given by your teacher for how to complete the rest of this experiment.

Required Outcomes:
Directions: Write your responses to the following on notebook paper (you may type it if you choose). All responses must be written in complete sentences where appropriate. Use your best handwriting, and pay attention to spelling and appropriate grammar.
§ Describe what you understand about the problem that was explored through this experiment.
§ Describe the procedures that you followed throughout this experiment.
§ List all of the materials used in this experiment.
§ Define the vocabulary given above.
§ Answer the following questions to turn in:

Why was the shell removed first?
How did the egg change from the beginning of the experiment to the middle to the end? Explain why using the vocabulary above.
How did the egg change while it was in the syrup? Explain why this change occurred?
What do you think would happen if the egg was placed in orange juice instead of corn syrup? Why?
What caused the changes that you observed when the egg was placed into water?
What did you observe when the egg was placed into salt water? Explain why this occurred.
If you could place the egg in another liquid of your choice, what would you choose? Predict the outcome for the egg in the solution you would choose for it.
§ Extension:
In order to make his shows more entertaining to the public, Mr. Barnum of Barnum and Bailey Circus, decided to collect whales from the ocean and display them for his audience. He collected the whales and kept them in large uncovered tanks until showtime. Unfortunately, it rained the opening day of his show. The salt water in the tanks, which held the whales, was diluted by the rain that fell that day. This change in the amount of salt in the water compared to the amount of water, caused the death of the whales. Unwilling to admit to his audience that the whales were dead, he told them that that day's rain would cause the cancellation of the show. Not to fear, he would give everyone a check that would allow them to see the next whale show. He would give them a rain check. Mr. Barnum is credited with coining the phrase "rain check".
What does the death of Mr. Barnum's whales have to do with the experiment you have just completed on the subject of osmosis?
To complete this experiment, you must attach your notes and observations to the written work required above.

Lab Report Evaluation Rubric --

0, 5, 10 -- Clear and Appropriate HEADING, TITLE, PROBLEM, and HYPOTHESIS.
0, 5, 10 -- All MATERIALS listed and a summary of PROCEDURE.
0, 10, 30, 50 -- Appropriate presentation of DATA and observations including graph(s), chart(s), drawing(s), etc. Accuracy of data.
0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 -- Clear and concise CONCLUSIONS. Conclusion addresses problem and states knowledge gained. Answers to all QUESTIONS.
0, 5, 10 -- Overall- NEATNESS, GRAMMAR, adheres to FORMAT, etc.

Homework Archive -- October, 2009

October 30 --Science -- Donations needed! We are beginning an experiment with eggs. Needed are approximately 2 gallons of corn syrup and 2 gallons of vinegar. If you can donate items, please send them to school with your child next week. Thank you!Social Studies -- groups should have completed play scripts ready to practice and present next Monday and Tuesday.October 29 --Geography -- Africa test, Part 2 is scheduled for tomorrow.Math Thales -- p. 59, problems 15, 16, 17Math Archimedes -- p. 64, problems 1-10October 28 --No homework this evening... Students should study for the Africa map test which is scheduled for Friday.October 27 --Science -- finish the Microscope Mania wordsearch and make-a-word challenge puzzles.Math Thales-- finish the TV in the bedroom frequency table worksheet.Math Archimedes -- Finish your adding machine tape bar for our graph. Include your name, a self-portrrait, your height in centimeters, your age in months, and a list of 10 talents that you have.Geography -- Africa Map test Part 1 -- October 28, Africa Map test Part 2 -- October 30October 26 --Science -- students worked with microscopes today. They have word puzzles which we will finish in class tomorrow.Geography -- Africa Map test Part 1 -- October 28, Africa Map test Part 2 -- October 30October 23 --Parents - Everyone that I talked to today, and every substitute's written notes, spoke to how kind, cooperative, polite and patient your children were during this week when I have been away from school with the flu. I am awfully proud of everyone of them, and I wanted you to know what a great group of kids you have raised. :-)Social Studies -- Finish the Giant Africa Map Travel project, and the map scale practice worksheet.Geography -- Africa Map test Part 1 -- October 28, Africa Map test Part 2 -- October 30October 15 --Math Thales -- make the foldable on p. 49Math Archimedes -- pp. 52-53, problems 3-5, 12, 13, 16Social Studies -- African Heroes research is due on 10/20Geography -- Africa map tests are scheduled as follows: Part I -- October 28, Part II-- October 30October 14 --Math Thales -- Chapter 1 test is tomorrow. Students may want to prepare by working with the practice test on p. 45.Science -- Write up for the plant a sock project is due tomorrow and should include the following items:**sketch of the original seed collection on the sock** sketches and notes taken in class today** answers to these questions: 1) Where did you collect your seeds? 2) Did your seeds sprout? 3) How would you explain what happened in your box?Social Studies -- African Heroes research is due on 10/20Geography -- Africa map tests are scheduled as follows: Part I -- October 28, Part II-- October 30October 13 --Math Archimedes -- Find another piece of writing to analyze for most commonly used words. Make a frequency table to record your data. Compare with the TV in the Bedroom article and compile YOUR list of the five most common words in the English language.Math Thales -- The chapter 1 test has been delayed until Thursday.Social Studies -- African Heroes project -- due 10/20.Geography -- Africa map tests are scheduled as follows: Part I -- October 28, Part II-- October 30October 12 --I did not get papers handed back today because we were gone for the field trip. Graded papers will be handed back tomorrow..Geography -- Africa map tests are scheduled as follows: Part I -- October 28, Part II-- October 30October 7 --Math Archimedes -- "TV in the Bedroom" frequency table activity.Math Thales -- ch. 1 test is on Wednesday, Oct. 14. To prepare, please work on these problems in the textbook: pages 42-44, problems 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 3,, 34, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 52, 55, 56, 57Social Studies -- Africa reading packet will be collected on 10/13Read the Wangari Maathai article. Do not start the hero activity.Geography -- Africa tests will be scheduled as follows: Part 1, Oct. 28 -- Part 2, Oct. 30October 6 --Math Thales -- p.41, problems 9-19 (odd)October 5--Math Archimedes -- Chapter 1 test is tomorrow.Math Thales -- Chapter 1 test is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14Health -- Personal Hygiene Product poster is due tomorrow.Social Studies -- Africa Reading packet is due 10/12October 2 --Health -- Personal Hygiene Product poster -- due 10/6Social Studies -- Africa Reading Packet -- due 10/12Science -- Plant a sock: due Monday, 10/5Math Thales -- p. 38, problems 1-3Math Archimedes -- Review for ch. 1 test (scheduled for Tuesday, 10/6). Recommendation: pp. 42-44, problems 1-7, 11-19 (odd), 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32-37, 38, 40, 41, 56, 57. NOTE: This is work that is recommended for student preparation. I will NOT collect review work. We will discuss issues and questions related to the work on Monday.October 1 --Health -- Personal Hygiene Product poster -- due 10/6Social Studies -- Africa Reading Packet -- due 10/12Science -- Plant a sock: due Monday, 10/5

Models of Circle Graphs

We're graphing. Lots and lots of different activities that help to review and expand the understandings that kids have of bar graphs, line graphs, and circle graphs... We'll tackle stem and leaf plots and box and whiskers plots in the next week. We'll figure out measures of central tendency. Then, we'll get busy analyzing the statistics of some of the best baseball players ever.

Here, the kids are working together to make circle graphs using adding machine tape and string.

Learning about Microscopes

As we begin the study of cells, it becomes important to learn how to use a microscope. Students worked to complete a series of stations that allowed them to gain experience with using microscopes, to learn to make a wet mount slide, to identify the various parts of a microscope, and to understand how magnification and resolution work. Materials for this set of activities were found at the Microscope Mania website.

Teacher Has Been Sick

Friday, October 23, 2009

I am finally back at school – feeling a bit weak and weary, but glad to be over the worst of the flu. Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts as I vanished from the scene. Between my class at Xavier last Friday, and the four days that I was home ill, I have been gone a whole week! To make it even more difficult for us all, I was unclear enough about what was really happening in my absence that I didn’t keep the website up either. So, for the record, here’s the list of things that students worked on this week:

Science –
P. 33 in the textbook – a worksheet and timeline
Cell parts worksheet
Cell parts flashcards

Social Studies –
Africa Heroes Reports were due on Tuesday
Africa Video Notes

Math Thales—
Chapter 2 Foldable
Notes from Lesson 2-1
p. 54-55, problems 1-10
Draw a Line Graph/Draw a Bar Graph worksheet

Math Archimedes –
p. 54-55, problems 1-10
Draw a Line Graph/Draw a Bar Graph worksheetExtra Practice, Lessons 2-1 and 2-2, pp. 596 & 597

Special Note: Many students have missed parts of the Terra Nova and InView tests. We will work to makeup these tests over the next week.

Looking At "Boxes of Dirt"

Late in September, students were asked to go out and walk around in their neighborhoods -- in their socks. The hope was that they would "capture" various seeds on their socks. They then "planted" their socks and waited to see what would sprout. By the time the projects came to school on October 5, there were only a few sprouts showing. We stashed the "boxes of dirt" all around the classroom and watered and watched and waited. By the early part of this week, we had many more seedlings up and growing and we took time to observe the developments. Plotting where the various seeds were gathered on a map of the city gave us a picture of the dispersion of our seeds, and knowing which ones grew and which didn't gave students a much clearer picture at the way plants are adapted to their environments in terms of their seed dispersal mechanisms.