BMS - Mr. Borgueta

02/02 - Thursday - Today the students began class by taking the Cell Quiz #1.

The students then read pages 16 - 24 in their textbook. The students were required to complete a Word/Term Map as they read.

The students then completed the Parts of a Cell 2-Column Notes Assignment.

HW:

Complete the Parts of a Cell 2 Column Notes Assignment.

02/01 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Cell Theory 321.

The students then completed the Microscope Practice Activity.

The students then viewed onion cells, single-celled organisms, and more complex microogranisms.

Finally, the students began their homework/study guide.

HW:

1. Complete the Discovering Cells Guided Reading Packet.

2. Study for tomorrow's quiz on cell theory, contributors to the cell theory, and the parts of the microscope.

01/31 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Discovering Cells Flowchart.

The students then participated in the Seeing is Believing Activity.

The students then reviewed the Parts of a Microscope and the proper technique to using one.

The students then began the Microscope Practice Activity.

HW:

1. Memorize Cell Theory

2. Memorize the key contributors and their contributions to the cell theory.

3. Cover book.

01/30 - Monday - Today the students began class by working with their new partner to complete the Cells Brainstorm Activity.

The students then worked on the How Big are Cells? activity.

Finally, the students worked together to complete the Discovering Cells Jigsaw.

HW:

1. Memorize the Cell Theory

2. Cover Book

3. Finish Discovering Cells Jigsaw

01/27 - Friday - Today the students went over the MidYear Assessment.

The students then completed the 6 Keys to Understanding Heat Transfer activity that was started yesterday.

HW:

1. Finish 6 Keys Activity

01/26 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Conduction Question.

The students then worked on the 6 Keys to Understanding Heat Transfer.

HW:

1. Bring in Textbook tomorrow to turn it in.

01/25 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Convection 321.

The students then read pages 10-12 in the Properties of Matter Workbook and wrote a summary paragraph about the article.

HW:

No homework.

01/24 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by answering the question, "What are conductors and insulators?"

The students then completed the Conduction Activity.

HW:

1. No homework.

01/23 - Monday - Science Midyear - Today, in class, the students watched the Heat Transfer Video.

HW:

No homework.

01/20 - Friday - Today the students began class by reading the Heat Transfer Summary Reading and completing the Heat Transfer Review and Reinforce Worksheet.

The students then completed the Heat Transfer Sketch.

HW:

No homework.

01/19 - Thursday - Today the students began class with another formative assessment. The students then read the Heat and Thermal Energy Reading and completed the Heat and Thermal Energy Review and Reinforce worksheet.

The students then viewed both the Temperature, Thermal Energy and Heat presentation and the Heat Transfer Presentation.

Finally, the students were given an opportunity to complete their homework.

HW:

1. Heat Transfer Reading.

2. Heat Transfer Two-Column Notes Worksheet

01/18 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by taking a formative assessment.

The students then completed the MacGuyver Lab.

HW:

1. Finish the ACES to the MacGyver Lab.

01/17 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the 321 Compounds vs. Mixtures.

The students then took the Solution and Suspension Notes.

The students then completed the "In Between" activity.

HW:

1. Look over Study Guide for the Mid-Year Assessment.

01/13 - Friday - Today the students began class by completing the Periodic Table 321.

The students then completed the Atoms and the Periodic Table practice sheet.

Finally, the students began their homework.

HW:

1. Read pages 80 - 87 in your text and complete the Organizing the Periodic Table Guided Reading Packet.

01/12 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Atoms and Molecules 321.

The students then took the Atoms Notes 2012.

The students then worked on the Electron Diagramming and Periodic Table Practice.

Click here for a copy of the Periodic Table.

HW:

Finish the Electron Diagramming and Periodic Table Practice.

01/11 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing yesterday's Lego activity.

The students then took a formative assessment to determine how well they were understanding the new material we've covered.

The students were then given time to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Read pages 74-79 in the textbook.

2. Complete the RKC questions 1-3 on page 79 in your science notebook using complete sentences.

01/10 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by answering questions 22-25 on page 38 of their textbook.

The students then worked on the Atoms, Molecules, Compounds, and Mixtures Lego Activity.

HW:

No homework in science.

01/09 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Law of Conservation of Mass 321.

The students then took the Matter Notes 2.2.

Finally, the students were given time to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Compound Mixture Review.

01/06 - Friday - Today the students flew their hot air balloons in order to demonstrate the principal of thermal expansion.

HW:

No Homework.

01/05 - Thursday - Today the students began class by reading an article about Thermal Expansion. The students then took part in a thermal expansion demonstration.

The students then completed parts 1 and 2 of the Law of Conservation of Matter Activity.

HW:

1. Complete part 3 of the Law of Conservation of Matter Activity.

01/04 - Wednesday - Today the students took the Matter Large Assessment.

The students then worked on their homework.

HW:

1. Read the Describing Matter Section Summary sheet.

2. Complete the Describing Matter Review and Reinforce sheet.

01/03 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Matter Self-Assessment. This was meant to help the students identify the material on tomorrow's large assessment that they should focus their studying on.

The students then worked with their classmates to make a concept map that reflected everything that we've learned about matter to this point.

HW:

1. Study for tomorrow's large assessment. Click here for the study guide.

12/23 - Friday - Today the students watched a variety of science related video clips.

HW:

No homework.

12/22 - Thursday - Today the students went on the Newport Mansions Field Trip.

HW:

No homework.

12/21 - Wednesday - Today the students completed the Marshmallow Challenge.

HW:

No homework.

12/20 - Tuesday - Today the students attempted to create a neutrally buoyant film cannister.

No TEST tomorrow.

HW:

No homework.

12/19 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Motion of Molecules during Heating 321. (Wednesday's ACES is directly related to this assignment.)

The students then received a Model ACES for the Boiling Point Lab.

The students then read pages 6-15 in their textbooks and completed the Describing Matter Guided Reading Practice packet.

Finally, the students completed the Reviewing Key Concepts Questions on page 15 in their notebooks using complete sentences.

HW:

Finish today's work.

12/16 - Friday - Today the students began class by completing the Boiling Point Lab.

The students were then given back their Phases of Matter Vocabulary Assessment. Click here for the questions to help you study for Wednesday's large assessment.

HW:

1. Finish the graph and ACES conclusion for the Boiling Point Lab.

12/15 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Heating Curve 321.

The students then completed the first part of the Boiling Point Lab.

The students then received a study guide for Wednesday's large assessment.

HW:

1. Finish the graph for part one of the Boiling Point Lab.

2. Study for Wednesday's Large Assessment

12/14 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Boiling Points of Unknown Substances 321.

The students then completed the Phase Change Gizmo and the Phases of Water Gizmo.

The students then began the Pre-Lab for the Boiling Point Lab. The students had to complete through the planning section. Remember, your planning sketch needs to answer the three questions below.

1. What is the independent variable and how will it be manipulated?

2. What are the controls of the experiment and how will they be controlled so that they don't influence the dependent variable? (5 controls)

3. What is the dependent variable and how will its response to the dependent variable be measured?

HW:

1. Finish the gizmos.

2. Finish the pre-lab.

12/13 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by answering a 321 prompt and then taking the Melting and Boiling Point Notes.

The students then worked on the Phase Change Gizmo using www.explorelearning.com.

HW:

1. No homework.

12/12 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Molecular Motion 321.

The students then were shown a real-world example of phase changes by Mr. Borgueta on the white board.

The students then did the Analyzing Data Activity on page 52 of their textbooks.

Finally, the students worked on the Heating Curves of Two Unknown Substances activity.

HW:

1. Finish the Heating Curves of Two Unknown Substances activity.

12/09 - Friday - Today the students began class by taking the States of Matter Small Assessment.

The students then watched the States of Matter Video.

Finally, the students read an article about the possible discovery of a new state of matter and completed a follow-up sheet.

HW:

1. Finish reading article and follow-up sheet.

12/08 - Thursday - Today the students completed the States of Matter Poster.

The students then began their homework.

HW:

1. Changes in Matter Review and Reinforce

2. Study for tomorrow's assessment on Phases and Phase Changes of Matter.

12/07 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the States of Matter 321.

The students then worked with their partners on the States of Matter Poster.

HW:

1. Read pages 48-53 in the textbook.

2. Complete the Changes in Matter Guided Reading Packet as you read.

3. Vocabulary Small Assessment on Friday

12/06 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by reading pages 22-25 of their science textbook. The students then wrote a 3-4 sentence summary paragraph that explained the 3 most important points made by the section.

The students then took the Matter Notes Part 2.

Finally, the students were given time to begin their homework.

HW:

1. Read pages 42-47 in your science textbook.

2. Complete a concept map for the section. Be sure to include all definitions and important information. Click here for a sample of a concept map.

12/05 - Monday - Today the students began class by reading the Physical and Chemical Change Reading and answer the questions in the margin and at the end.

The students then created a class concept map. Click here for an example.

HW:

1. No homework.

12/02 - Friday - Today the students took the Density Large Assessment.

HW:

1. Bring in materials for Hot Air Balloons.

12/01 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Density Column 321.

The students then used the website www.explorelearning.com to complete the DensityLab and DensitySlice gizmos.

The students can access this site from home. They know the username and password.

HW:

1. Finish gizmos and study for assessment. The assessment is on density, floating and sinking, and density columns.

2. Folder check tomorrow.

11/30 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by picking up item #17 for their science folder. This item is the science department's Constructed Response Scoring Guide. This scoring guide, or a modification of it, is used to score all of the constructed responses and/or conclusions that the students write in science.

The students then continued working on the Density Column Lab.

HW:

1. Finish Density Column Lab

2. Folder Check on Friday

3. Small Assessment on Friday (Density Columns and Float or Sink)

11/29 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by observing a Density vs Volume graph. The class then used this graph to go over last night's Sink or Swim Follow Up Questions.

The students then began working on the Density Column Lab.

HW:

1. Small Assessment on Friday

2. Folder Check on Friday (click here for a table of contents)

11/28 - Monday - Welcome back! Today the students began class by completing the Density After Thanksgiving 321.

The students then completed the Sink or Swim Lab 2011.

Finally, the students began working on the Sink or Swim Follow-Up Questions.

HW:

1. Finish Sink or Swim Lab

2. Complete the Sink or Swim Lab Follow Up Questions.

11/23 - Wednesday - Today the students continued to work on the Density of Water Lab from Monday.

HW:

1. Complete the line graph and ACES of the Density of Water Lab

11/22 - Tuesday - Today the students watched the "It's Chemical - Density in Solids" video.

The students then completed the Density Video Follow-Up Sheet.

HW:

1. Finish follow-up sheet.

11/21 - Monday - Today the students began class by answering the screen prompt, "According to Friday's article, why did the Titanic float?"

The students then reread the top of page 20 in their textbooks.

Finally, the students began the Density of Water Lab.

HW:

1. No homework.

11/18 - Friday - Today the students took the Density Assessment #1.

The students then began working on their homework.

HW:

1. Why did the Titanic Float? article.

2. Article Follow Up Sheet.

11/17 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Density 321 11/17/11.

The students then continued working on the Identifying Unknown Substances Activity.

The students then completed the second part of the activity, the Using Density to Identify Unknown Substances.

The students were then given time to work on the Calculating Density Practice Part 2. This is their study guide for tomorrow's assessment.

Here are the answers to Calculating Density Practice Part 2 and Part 1.

They should also study their density notes and 321s.

HW:

1. Study for tomorrow's assessment.

11/16 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Density 321 Pieces of Matter screen prompt and the Density Word Problem Sheet.

The students then began working on the Identifying Unknown Substances Activity.

HW:

1. Read pages 19-20 in your textbook.

2. Complete the Reviewing Key Concepts questions (1-4) on page 20 in your science notebooks using complete sentences or set ups.

11/15 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Density 321.

The students then went over the 321 and their homework.

The students then went over the Quarterly's essay rubric and received back their essay's for review.

The students were then given the opportunity to begin their homework.

HW:

1. Density Inquiry Practice

11/14 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Density 321 Review.

The students then continued working on the Density Activity that they began on Thursday.

If time remained the students worked on their homework.

HW:

1. Calculating Density Practice

2. Small Assessment on Friday.

11/11 - Friday - Thank you veterans!

11/10 - Thursday - Today the students began class by answering the question, "What is density?"

The students then read a short article about density and wrote a one sentence summary for each section of the reading.

The students then went over the 321 and took the Density Notes.

Finally, the students began working on the Density Activity. The Density Activity is a series of tasks aimed at helping the students to better understand how mass, volume, and density are related.

Task #1

Task #2

Task #3

The tasks will be completed on Monday.

HW:

1. No homework.

11/09 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Physical vs. Chemical Properties 321.

The students then went over the Large Assessment using the consteucted response scoring rubric.

Finally, the students continued working on the 6 Keys to Understanding Physical and Chemical Properties Activity

HW:

1. Finish the 6 Keys Activity.

11/08 - Tuesday - Today the students took the 7th Grade Quarterly Assessment.

HW:

1. No homework.

11/07 -Monday - Today the students began class by taking the Matter, Mass, Volume and Properties Large Assessment.

The students then picked up the 6 Keys to Understanding Physical and Chemical Properties Activity.

HW:

1. Study for tomorrow's quarterly.

11/04 - Friday - Today the students began class by taking Formative 1.2.

The students then observed some Physical and Chemical Properies of the element zinc.

The students then read the Properties of Matter Reading, while highlighting and annotating the important points.

HW:

1. Finish Reading

2. Study for Large Assessment on Monday

11/03 - Thursday - Today the students began class by reading the Physical vs. Chemical Properties of Matter Chart.

The students then discussed the "Is Air/Gas Matter?" lab and went over the small assessment on matter from last week.

Finally, the students took the Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter Notes.

HW:

Finish the following:

1. Physical vs. Chemical Properties of Matter Venn Diagram

2. Large Assessment Practice Problems

3. Enrichment Reading and Follow Up

4. Is Air Matter Lab

Study for the following:

1. Large Assessment on Monday

2. Quarterly on Tuesday

11/02 - Wednesday - No School students

11/01 - Tuesday - Today the students went on the Project COPE trip.

10/31 - Monday - Today the students began class by taking a Science Quarterly Study Guide from the back table.

The students then re-read pages 6-9 of their textbooks and completed the Physical vs. Chemical Property Venn Diagram.

The students then completed the Science Large Assessment Practice Problems in their science notebooks using complete sentences and setups.

Finally, the students completed the Science Enrichment Article and Follow-Up Questions.

HW:

1. Finish all work from Friday and Monday by Thursday of this week.

10/28 - Friday - Today the students began class by interpreting data from yesterday's Volume of Irregular Objects Activity. The students also turned in yesterday's Skills Test B: Measuring and Calculating homework.

The students then worked on the "Is Air Matter?" activity. This activity was the first true inquiry activity the students have been exposed to. Many students struggle with the fact that they are not given a "cookie-cutter" procedure to follow. This is a great learning experience for the students.

HW:

1. Finish the "Is Air Matter?" activity.

10/27 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Interpreting Data 321.

The students then completed the Volume of Irregular Objects Activity.

The students then worked on the "Skills Test B: Measuring and Calculating.

HW:

1. Finish the Skills Test B: Measuring and Calculating.

10/26 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Matter, Mass, and Volume Small Assessment.

The students then worked on the Volume of Irregularly Shaped Objects Activity.

HW:

No homework.

10/25 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Volume 321 assignment which was attached to the Volume of Liquids and Irregular Objects Notes that they took later in the period.

The students then went over their homework. The students were then given an opportunity to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Study for tomorrow's quiz. Click here for the study guide.

2. Complete the Skills Practice: Measuring Liquid Assignment

10/24 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Mass vs. Volume Liftoff.

The students then went over this weekend's homework.

Finally, the students began the Volume Activity.

HW:

1. Finish the Volume Activity

2. Study for Wednesday's Small Assessment

3. Gizmos due Tuesday.

10/21 - Friday - Today the students began class by reading pages 16-18 of the textbook and completing the Mass vs. Volume Venn Diagram.

The students then went over some of the responses to the Matter and Mass Exit Card.

The students then took the Volume Notes and began working on the Volume of Regular Objects practice.

HW:

1. Finish the Volume of Regular Objects Practice.

2. Quiz on Wednesday.

3. Gizmos due Tuesday.

10/20 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Mass Lab.

The students then completed the Matter and Mass Exit Card.

Finally, the students were given time to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Finish the Mass Lab

2. Complete the Mass Lab Follow Up

3. FAST gizmos Pendulum Clock and Triple-Beam Balance (Due Monday)

10/19 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Mass vs. Weight 321.

The students then started the Mass Lab. In this lab the students used their knowledge of mass and their newly polished measuring mass skills to determine the affect of the number scoops of sand on the total mass of a sand sample.

This was the first time that the students were required to design and complete a lab from scratch.

HW:

No homework.

10/18 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Massing Practice Activity.

The students then completed 2-Column Notes for pages 6-9 of their textbook. Click here for a list of terms that needs to be included in those notes.

The students were then given an opportunity to complete their homework.

HW:

1. Read the sheet entitled, "What is the difference between mass and weight?"

2. Complete the Sum it Up paragraph explained at the bottom of the sheet in your science notebook.

10/17 - Monday - Today the students began class by reading pages 6-9 in their textbooks and then completed three metric converstions.

The studnets then took the Matter Notes Part 1.

The students then learned the Steps to Follow When Massing and object using a triple-beam balance.

The students then learned how to calculate percent error.

Finally, the students began the Massing Practive Activity.

HW:

1. Skills Practice: Measuring Mass worksheet

10/14 - Friday - Today the students began class by taking a few minutes to do last minute preparations for their presentations.

The students were then given the Audience Expectations and What to Look For sheet. The Audience Expectations made clear how audiences should interact with the presenters. The What to Look For sheet provided the students with key points that the students should focus on while the presenters were explaining their experiments.

The students then presented their experiments and were given the opportunity to provide warm and cool feedback.

HW:

1. Be sure to bring textbooks to class with your other class materials.

10/13 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Designing an Experiment Group Project Poster.

Tomorrow the students will be presenting their experiments to a large group for critique.

The students will then gather the information from the peer review and make revisions. The project will then be turned in and graded as a small assessment grade.

HW:

1. Prepare your presentation for tomorrow. Use the Presentation Outline as a guide.

10/12 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Pendulum Lab Follow Up Question activity.

The students were then introduced to the Designing an Experiment Group Project.

Finally, the students began working on their group project.

HW:

No homework.

10/11 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Pendulum Lab and having their folder check.

The students then began working on the Pendulum Lab Follow Up Question activity.

HW:

No homework

10/07 - Friday - Today we sealed the Blue Cluster Time Capsule.

In class, the students continued working on the Pendulum Lab.

The folder check has been pushed back to Tuesday.

HW:

Enjoy the long weekend!

10/06 - Thursday - Today the students continued working on the Pendulum Lab.

HW:

1. No homework.

2. After school help for the Controlled Experiment Small Assessment Make-Up and Mentos Mini-Lab redo. Any student receiving below a 70 on the small assessment must make it up and any student receiving under an 80 on the Mentos Mini-Lab must redo it.

3. Don't forget folder check on Friday.

10/05 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Unfair Test 321.

The students then continued working on their Pendulum Labs.

HW:

1. No homework.

3. Don't forget folder check on Friday.

10/04 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Fair Test 321.

The students then received back their Controlled Experiment Small Assessments along with a model for a perfect ACES reponse.

Finally, Mr. Borgueta modeled the planning section of the Pendulum Lab on the white board and then the students began collecting data for their Pendulum Lab.

HW:

1. No homework.

3. Don't forget folder check on Friday.

10/03 - Monday - Today the students began class by picking up a Science Folder Table of Contents for Friday's folder check.

The class then went over Friday's formative.

The class then received back and went over the Mentos Lab Report. Any student receiving less than an 80% is required to redo and resubmit the lab report until an 80% is achieved. Click here for a model ACES conclusion to the Mentos Lab.

The class then was introduced to the planning section of the lab report.

Finally, the students were introduced to the Pendulum Lab and began work.

HW:

No homework but folders will be checked on Friday.

09/30 - Friday - Today the students began class by completing the Formative 1.1.

The students then went over the answers to Wednesday's Skills Practice: Measuring Length Assignment.

Finally, the students completed the Meter Stick Mania Activity.

HW:

No homework.

09/28 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by taking the Controlled Experiment Small Assessment.

The students then read the Skills Introduction: Measuring Sheet.

The students then completed the More Conversion Practice Part 2 sheet.

Click here for the answers to More Metric Conversion Practice Parts 1 and 2.

The students then read and completed the Skills Practice: Measuring Length sheet.

HW:

1. Finish today's class work.

09/27 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by putting together their Mentos Lab and handing it in.

The students then went over yesterday's Mentos Lab Follow-Up ACES. Click here for a model answer.

The students then went over last night's Metric System Conversion Practice. The students were given a Metric Conversion Help Sheet.

Finally, the students were given the opportunity to begin their homework.

HW:

1. Finish the More Metric Conversion Practice 2011

2. Study for tomorrow's small assessment. Click here for a study guide.

09/26 - Monday - Today the students completed the Mentos Lab Follow-Up ACES assignment. This assignment asked the students to explain whether or not the Mentos Lab that their class completed would be classified as a fair or unfair test of their hypothesis.

The students then read the What is and why should I use the Metric System? handout. The students then answered questions related to the reading as part of the Metric System Follow-Up Questions assignment.

The students were then given time to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Finish the What is and why should I use the Metric System? follow-up questions.

2. Complete the Metric System Conversion Practice.

09/23 - Friday - Today the students watched the Scientific Method and Measurement video.

HW:

Finish the Mentos Lab report for Monday.

09/22 - Thursday - Today the students began class by reading the Parts of a Lab Report handout.

The students then went over the Controls, Variables, and Testable Question formative.

The students then began to apply the Parts of a Lab Report to the Mentos Lab.

HW:

Finish the Mentos Lab Report by Monday.

09/21 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the Pre Lab 321.

The students then went over the 321 and their homework.

The students then created a data table for the Mentos Lab.

The students then ran three trials each for the Mentos Lab and recorded data.

HW:

No homework.

09/20 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Controls, Variables, and Testable Question Mini-Formative assessment.

The students then went over last night's homework and took the Hypothesis Notes.

The students then applied everything that they've learned to this point about controlled experiments to the Mentos Lab Pre-Lab. In this assignment the students identified the testable question, independent variable, dependent variable, and controls and wrote a hypothesis for the Mentos Lab.

The students were then given time to begin their homework.

HW:

Complete the Making Predictions and Writing Hypotheses sheet.

09/19 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Testable Question 321.

The students then received back and went over Friday's assessment on observations, inferences, and ACES responses.

The students then learned about controls and how controlling these factors leads to a "fair test" of an independent variable's influence on a dependent variable. The students were introduced to the concept with short Controls Notes and then applied the concept to their Mentos Lab.

Finally, the students were given the opportunity to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Complete the Scientific Method Controls and Variables Part 1 sheet.

09/16 - Friday - Today the students began class by taking the Observation, Inference, and ACES Constructed Response Assessment. The results have been posted on X2.

The students then went over yesterday's Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables Formative and last night's homework.

The student's then took the brief Testable Question Notes and wrote a testable question using the variables that their class chose for the Mentos Lab.

HW:

Bring in Mentos Lab materials for Monday.

09/15 - Thursday - Today the students began class by completing the Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables Formative.

The students the read the Asking Scientific Questions reading.

The students then worked together to decide what materials will be needed from home in order to complete the Mentos Experiment.

The students then reviewed the difference between a testable and not testable questions. After reviewing the difference the students took part in the Testable Question Table Activity. In this activity the students were asked to categorize a series of questions as either testable or not testable.

The students then used the questions they identified as testable to complete the Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables in Testable Questions Activity.

HW:

1. Study for tomorrow's assessment. Click here for a list of topics.

2. Finish the Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables in Testable Questions Activity.

09/14 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by completing the SpongeBob Clean Pants 321. This activity provided the students with practice identifying the difference between independent and dependent variables.

The students then shared the independent and dependent variables they listed about yesterday's Mentos observation in large groups.

The students then chose one independent variable and one dependent variable to use in our first experiment of the year.

Finally, the students were given the opportunity to begin working on their homework.

HW:

1. Study for Friday's assessment.

2. Complete the Identifying Independent and Dependent Variables HW sheet.

09/13 - Tuesday - Today the students began class by completing the Inference vs. Observation 321.

The class then went over the 321 and last night's homework. Click here for the answers to last night's ACES prompts.

The students then learned about the different types of variables in an experiment while taking the Variables Notes Part 1.

Finally, the students identified the possible independent and dependent variables in a Mentos explosion.

HW:

1. study for small assessment on Friday

09/12 - Monday - Today the students began class by completing the Inference Reading and Reading Response Item.

The students then went over the Inference Mini-Lab from Friday.

Finally, the students went over acceptable ACES responses to Thursday's Observation Constructed Response assignment.

The students then either worked on a "REDO" of that assignment or worked on their homework.

HW:

1. Complete the Observations vs. Inference HW sheet in your science notebook according to the directions.

2. Quiz this Friday on qualitative observations, quantitative observations, inferences, and writing an excellent ACES response.

09/09 - Friday - Today the students began class by completing the Inference 321.

The students then took the very short Inference Notes and took part in the Inference Activity. In this activity the students were asked to work with their groups to come up with two observations about photographs shown on the screen. The students then were asked to come up with one inference based on those two observations.

The students then took part in the Inference Mini-Lab. In this lab, the students traveled from station to station making observations about obscure objects. The students then had to come up with an inference about the object based on a leading question. For example one question might be, "What is the object and what is it used for?"

HW:

No homework unless homework is owed from earlier assignments.

09/08 - Thursday - Today the students began class by placing their name cards in the appropriate "In-Bin" and completing the Observation 321 assignment in their science notebooks. At this time homework was checked.

The students then learned how to answer constructed response questions in science using the ACES format. The students practiced this skill by completing the Observations ACES Practice.

Finally, the students took a short formative assessment to see how well they have mastered telling the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations.

HW:

1. Complete the Observations Constructed Response Homework sheet on the page using ACES format.

09/07 - Wednesday - Today the students began class by answering passing in their signed paperwork and having their books checked for covers.

The students then worked on the Observations 321. The students were asked to answer the question, "What is an observation?" The students were then asked to make a couple of observations based on an image that was projected on the screen in the front of the room.

The students then took the first part of the Observation Notes. The notes were then interrupted by a a video clip from the first Harry Potter film. The students were asked to make observations of the film clip first without knowing what questions I would ask about the film and then knowing the questions.

The students then took the second part of the Observation Notes.

Finally, the students were given time to work on their homework.

HW:

1. Name cards due tomorrow.

2. Observation Reading and Response Items.

09/06 - Tuesday - Welcome to Blue Cluster. Today the students began class by receiving a textbook, notebook, Safety Contract, and Course Oultline. Please be sure to cover the textbook, read, sign, and have your parents sign the Safety Contract and Course Outline tonight. Return each tomorrow in class.

The students then went over the classroom rituals and routines. Rituals and routines help establish a consistent, efficient, and productive classroom environment.

Finally, the students were given the opportunity to work on their name cards. These name cards will be used by the teacher to establish mixed groupings for assignments and lab activities. These need to be completed and turned in to Mr. Borgueta by Thursday.

HW:

Due tomorrow...

1. cover textbook

2. read and get signatures on Safety Contract

3. read and get signatures on Course Outline

Due Thursday...

4. Name Card