Visiting with the Delegation from China

We had the opportunity to spend time with students from China last week. Although our students found that language presented a challenge on both sides, it didn't take long for them to find ways to communicate. We shared greetings in Chinese and Spanish, asked and answered a lot of questions, played Heads Up Seven Up, and danced the Macarena, the Bunny Hop, and the Hokey Pokey. Mostly, we laughed a lot and made friends.

Studying Tropisms in Plants

One of the topics for 6th grade life science is Plants. As students study how plants grow, they come to understand that plants exhibit a number of behaviors that are called tropisms. Tropisms are specific responses to environmental influences. One of these is the response to light stimuli that causes a plant to "follow" or "seek" the light. We are in the midst of an experiment that has students observing the growth and reactions of pinto bean plants to an environment that provides very limited light from a very controlled direction. To do this, students have constructed "light" boxes from shoeboxes. The boxes have relatively small holes cut into the top or side, and then a further light diverting baffle placed on the inside. As the bean plants grow, it is possible to see the effect of the tropism for light sensitivity.

Measurement Mania -- Flying Saucers

One of the activities of our Measurement Mania event was building flying saucers. Students made flying saucers from circles cut out of poster board. We didn't have time to test fly them on that day, but now that our springtime weather has improved, we have gone out and measured how far our saucers fly. Students also had the opportunity to modify their saucers and examine what changing their saucer designs would make. Lots of measuring and lots of discussing what the data that they collected might mean...

Measurement Mania

The very first day after spring break, we staged a daylong event that we called "Measurement Mania." Students, working in small groups, worked their way through a series of six different hands on activites -- all related to measurement. They investigated a crime scene, made flying saucers, built sand clocks, created scale models of traditional Chinese courtyard houses, plotted the change in the mass of chewing gum as it is chewed, and calculated the volume of boxes as their dimensions changed. We had the help of a great, very game group of parent volunteers, and the students had a great time. Here are some pictures taken that day --

Homework Archive -- March, 2010

March 31-- Social Studies -- Middle ages reading packet, due 4/7. Math -- 4th Quarter Problem Solving Project is due by 5/21. March 30 -- Geography -- South America Map test will be given on 3/31. Social Studies -- Middle ages reading packet, due 4/7. Math -- 4th Quarter Problem Solving Project is due by 5/21. March 29-- Geography -- South America Map test will be given on 3/31. Social Studies -- Middle ages reading packet, due 4/7. March 26 -- Geography -- South America Map test will be given on 3/31. Social Studies -- Middle ages reading packet, due 4/7. March 24-- Geography -- South America Map test is 3/31 March 23 -- Social Studies -- students who do not have the fstudy guide finished must take the chapter `18 test. March 11 -- Science/Health -- finish reading the Puberty packet. Share it with a parent and ask them to sign the front page. Math -- study for the decimal, percent, fraction equivalents quiz tomorrow. March 10-- Health -- finish work from the website: http://kidshealth.org/teen/. Write 25 sentences about interesting ideas that you find. Math -- Fraction/Decimal/Percent memorization quiz on Friday -- use study aid we made in class. Geography -- South America map test -- 3/31 March 9 -- Math -- Fraction/Decimal/Percent memorization quiz on Friday -- use study aid we made in class. Social Studies -- Essay on war/civil disobedience is due on Wednesday. NOTE -- I have 3 parent volunteers for the full day of Measure Mania on March 22, and two other volunteers that can work part of the day. I could still really use at least a couple more volunteers if anyone can spare the time... Please?!?!?!? March 8 -- Math -- Fraction/Decimal/Percent memorization quiz on Friday -- use study aid we made in class. Social Studies -- 9-choice project is due tomorrow. Essay on war/civil disobedience is due on Wednesday. March 5 -- Social Studies -- 9-choice project is due on Tuesday, 3/9 Math -- Making Ends Meet project write-up is due on Monday. Math -- what do you think NEEDS to be covered out of chapter 5 -- are there parts of this that you are already comfortable with? March 4 -- Social Studies -- 9 choice project is due by 3/9. Geography -- South America test on 3/31 March 3 -- Math -- Chapter 4 test tomorrow. Budget project final work is due on Monday. Social Studies -- Ring of Fire worksheet. Geography -- South America map test -- 3/31 March 2 -- Social Studies -- Asia reading packet is due tomorrow, 3/3. Math -- budget project work, steps 1-5 must be done by tomorrow. Math -- chapter 4 test on Thursday. Social Studies -- 9 choice project on Asis is due 3/9. March 1- Social Studies -- Asia reading packet is due on 3/3. Math -- budget project work, steps 1-5 must be completed before we go to the computer lab on 3/3. Final project write up will be due on Monday, 3/8. Math -- Chapter 4 test -- Thursday, 3/4.