Friday, October 21, 2016
Sweet DNA
Our sixth graders have been at it again! What's IT, you might ask? Science and candy! This time they have been learning about DNA, the building block of life and have been building models of this important molecule using Twizzlers, toothpicks, and colored marshmallows. As part of the project the students were to take home their molecule and teach parents about the importance of DNA. The molecules were a SWEET SUCCESS, and a great way to end our study of cells and cellular structures.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Plant Cell Model Cookies
Our sixth graders have been studying about the taxonomy of living organisms. Among the concepts introduced to them are the structures and functions of cellular organelles. Loads of new vocabulary words are presented to our students during this unit of study. To help them internalize the words and make concrete connections our students made models of plant cells using pop-tarts, frosting, and various candies.
Let's hope our cookies lead to sweet success in learning the cellular organelles!
Let's hope our cookies lead to sweet success in learning the cellular organelles!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Grade Six Word Cloud Book Reports
Sixth graders have been using our school's brand new Chrome books in many ways: answering an extended response question using Padlet, taking the STARS assessment tests, and making word clouds.
What's a word cloud? It is a visual representation of multiple verbal ideas to create a theme. Word clouds have been around a long time as far as computer technology goes. Some popular websites that help users create clouds are Wordle, ABCya, Tagxedo, and Tagul.
I introduced our sixth graders to Tagul on Sept. 19th after I showed them a video of word cloud book reports created by our current eighth graders. They were hooked! Word clouds look FUN! What they didn't realize is that there is MUCH thinking involved in creating a cloud, especially for a book report. No sentences can be written; thoughts are expressed in words, actually the size of words and the number of times a word appears. Imagine trying to develop a book report using only single words!
Here is what our students created...
Now that our sixth graders are familiar with word clouds, they can use them to do projects in other classes or make gifts/cards for family and friends. Words clouds created on Tagul are able to be printed and downloaded. When you download a word cloud file from Tagul, you can use it as a computer desktop background or as part of a screen saver. It is a typical image file just as a photo is. Students are welcome to use the class account that I opened for this project or they may create their own free account at Tagul with your permission.
What's a word cloud? It is a visual representation of multiple verbal ideas to create a theme. Word clouds have been around a long time as far as computer technology goes. Some popular websites that help users create clouds are Wordle, ABCya, Tagxedo, and Tagul.
I introduced our sixth graders to Tagul on Sept. 19th after I showed them a video of word cloud book reports created by our current eighth graders. They were hooked! Word clouds look FUN! What they didn't realize is that there is MUCH thinking involved in creating a cloud, especially for a book report. No sentences can be written; thoughts are expressed in words, actually the size of words and the number of times a word appears. Imagine trying to develop a book report using only single words!
Here is what our students created...
Now that our sixth graders are familiar with word clouds, they can use them to do projects in other classes or make gifts/cards for family and friends. Words clouds created on Tagul are able to be printed and downloaded. When you download a word cloud file from Tagul, you can use it as a computer desktop background or as part of a screen saver. It is a typical image file just as a photo is. Students are welcome to use the class account that I opened for this project or they may create their own free account at Tagul with your permission.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
I Survived... IT'S HERE!
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| Click HERE to grab your own copy! |
The newest installment of the "I Survived" series by Lauren Tarshis was released on Aug. 30, 2016. The title, "I Survived the Eruption of Mt. St. Helens 1980" marks an exciting departure for the author. The protagonist is female! The first 14 books in the series feature a male main character.
I am reading aloud this newest story to both sixth and seventh grade. As I read we focus on important literary elements and compare/contrast the previous editions with this one. Since these books are historical fiction they lend themselves to researching the actual history and information presented in them. "I Survived the Eruption of Mt. St. Helens" has already led to science discussions of what is a volcano and how is this eruption like the one in Pompeii (a book our seventh graders read in 5th grade).
Here are a few links for more research.
The British Museum timeline of events for the Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius
Computer simulated coverage of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius
As the students and I discover more links I will post them for all to share and enjoy.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
First Digital Assignment grs. 6 and 7
The year has begun! Let learning commence!
Many assignments this year will be technology related. Seventh graders are issued a laptop on which to do their school work while sixth graders will be utilizing brand new Chromebooks during the school day. These are housed in a special cart that can travel from classroom to classroom. Ms. Bloom and I will be sharing these computers between our classes.
The first digital assignment of the year is ready to go for both classes. Students are asked to answer one question pertaining to their summer reading assignment:
It will be a few days before the sixth graders will be able to access the assignment on our new Chromebooks. I am hoping to begin by Sept. 2nd.
Seventh graders have completed their first digital assignment. Some students may be tweaking their entries as they read and re-read them.
This particular website, Padlet, is a favorite of mine. Interactive and simple, it quickly engages students in technology use. Little to no experience is necessary to still be successful. Be on the lookout for MANY more Padlet assignments throughout the year.
Many assignments this year will be technology related. Seventh graders are issued a laptop on which to do their school work while sixth graders will be utilizing brand new Chromebooks during the school day. These are housed in a special cart that can travel from classroom to classroom. Ms. Bloom and I will be sharing these computers between our classes.
The first digital assignment of the year is ready to go for both classes. Students are asked to answer one question pertaining to their summer reading assignment:
It will be a few days before the sixth graders will be able to access the assignment on our new Chromebooks. I am hoping to begin by Sept. 2nd.
Seventh graders have completed their first digital assignment. Some students may be tweaking their entries as they read and re-read them.
This particular website, Padlet, is a favorite of mine. Interactive and simple, it quickly engages students in technology use. Little to no experience is necessary to still be successful. Be on the lookout for MANY more Padlet assignments throughout the year.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Monday, July 25, 2016
Gr. 7 Partial Supply List
UPDATED, August 20, 2017
Mrs. Campagne and I did the best we could compiling our supplies with what we definitely knew other teachers required. There may be a few more supplies seventh graders will need that are not on this list. Students will be informed on the first day of school. However, this list should allow you to get started on your school shopping while the sales are HOT!
pencils
Mrs. Campagne and I did the best we could compiling our supplies with what we definitely knew other teachers required. There may be a few more supplies seventh graders will need that are not on this list. Students will be informed on the first day of school. However, this list should allow you to get started on your school shopping while the sales are HOT!
pencils
blue/black pens
three to four single subject spiral notebooks (usually one per subject)
2 composition notebooks (one for Science, one for English)
looseleaf paper (and something to store it in)
dry erase markers
black fine line Sharpie marker
highlighter
colored pencils
small pencil sharpener
pack of small post-it notes
pack of small post-it notes
pack of white 3x5 in index cards
scissors
tape
Elmer's school glue (no glue stick, please)
something small to keep supplies in
Inexpensive set of headphones or earbuds
Inexpensive jump drive, thumb drive, memory stick, removable storage device (called by many names)
Please note that students are expected to have these supplies ALL YEAR LONG. Should a student run out of a needed item, they will need to procure more. It is advisable to purchase extra during the sale season prior to the beginning of the school year.
Inexpensive set of headphones or earbuds
Inexpensive jump drive, thumb drive, memory stick, removable storage device (called by many names)
Please note that students are expected to have these supplies ALL YEAR LONG. Should a student run out of a needed item, they will need to procure more. It is advisable to purchase extra during the sale season prior to the beginning of the school year.
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