December 15th Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Finish Super Size ME!
Science: Parachute Challenge: Students will construct a parachute (using plastic wrap, 1 paper clip, and 1 meter sewing thread that will have the longest "hangtime" in seconds and the best accuracy (closest to the target) when dropped from a predetermined height. AZ Science Standard: Scientific Inquiry


Tuesday:
Health: Fast Food Analysis
Science: Sled Challenge: Students will create a paper sled that must support an egg from breaking when slid down a ramp into a target. The objective is to have the fastest sled time while keeping the egg from breaking. AZ Science Standard: Scientific Inquiry

Wednesday:
Health: Healthy foods end of quarter party! We will celebrate the end of health by eating healthy foods!
Science: Sled Challenge Day 2: Students will test their sleds to see who's design is the quickest. AZ Science Standard: Scientific Inquiry

Thursday:
Shortened classes: End of Quarter reward: The movie ELF~ please make sure your child has turned in their permission slip to their 4th hour teacher.

December 8th Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Finish Food Pyramid Assignment and healthy menu.
Science: Compile Geo-Journal project (due today)/Begin Rock cycle Cd cover design

Tuesday:
Health: Fats, Carbs, and Protein/Reading a food label.
Science: Science Idol: Students will present their rock cycle skits and songs.

Wedensday:
Health: Food Label Activity: Students will analyze food labels to identify healthy and unheathy foods.
Science: Study Hall~ Students can complete missed tests, quizzes, and assignments before 2nd quarter grades close.

Thursday:
Health: Fast Food Analysis
Science: Rock Cycle Game~ Students will work in groups to complete the rock cycle game.

Friday:
Health: Educationally Enhanced Super Size ME!
Science: Rock Cycle Quiz

December 1st Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Nutrition~ The food pyramid/Food Groups (Turn in Health Analysis if you didn't finish on Friday)
Science: Begin Rock Cycle Project~ This will be a 100pt. project. The project will consist of a webquest that will include a variety of tasks to be completed throughout the week. Tasks include classifying rocks, creating graphs, summarizing the rock cyle, creating a song, poem, or skit about the rock cycle, and many more. Students will have 4 days in the lab to type up summaries, do research, and ask me any question's about the project. The project will be due on Monday December 8th!



Tuesday:
Health: Food Pyramid Activity: Student will receive food cards and will classify them in to groups on the food pyramid.
Science: Computer Lab: Rock Cycle Project


Wednesday:
1/2 Day: Math Assessment


Thursday:
Health: Students will create their own food pyramid with healthy foods they eat and create a menu to go with it.
Science: Computer Lab: Rock Cycle Project


Friday:
Health: Work on Food Pyramid Assignment
Science: Computer Lab: Rock Cycle Project

November 24th Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Computer Lab Finish Analysis
Science: Review for tomorrow's test

Tuesday:
Health: Computer Lab: Type up summary of current nutritional health
Science: Test covering Rocks/Earth's Layers

Wednesday:
7th Grade Imax Field Trip!

Thursday:
No School Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday:
No School Happy Shopping!

November 17th Lessons/Assignments

AZ SCIENCE STANDARDS COVERED THIS WEEK:
Monday:
Strand 6: PO 2. Distinguish the components and characteristics of the rock cycle for the following types of rocks:
• igneous
• metamorphic
• sedimentary
Monday
Health: Film Above the Influence Commercials
Science: Finish Vocabulary Squares

Tuesday:
Health: Computer Lab/Mypyramid.gov Nutritional Analysis
Science: Lecture Igeneous Rocks: Students will be provided with guided notes.

Wednesday:
Health: Computer Lab/Mypramid.gov Nutritional Analysis
Science: Igeneous rock lab

Thursday:
Health: Computer Lab/Mypyramid.gov Nutritional Analysis
Science: Metamorphic Rock Lecture

Friday:
Health: Computer Lab~ Students will need to type up their summaries from the Mypyramid.gov activity. DUE AT THE END OF CLASS.
Science: Metamorphic Rock Lab~ Foliated vs. non-foliated.

November 10 Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Work on Above the Influence Commercials.
Science:Main idea: Earth's Layer's Review: Quiz on Wednesday. Science Strand 6

Tuesday:
No School Veteran's Day

Wednesday:
Health: Tobacco and Drugs Review Game
Science: Earth's Layers Quiz: Introduction to Rocks: Students will examine how rocks differ from minerals. Strand 6: PO 1, and PO2.

Thursday:
Health:Test on Tobacco/Drugs.
Science: Main Idea: Three major rock groups: Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary. Reading Study Guide DUE AT END OF CLASS. Science Strand 6.

Friday:
Health: Begin filming Above the Influence commercials.
Science: Main Idea: Rocks are classified by their orgin. Lecture on Igeneous rocks. Students will take notes and classify rocks in their kits according to INTRUSIVE vs. EXTRUSIVE. Science Strand 6

November 3rd Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Presentations
Science: Rock Candy Lab: Due to faulty electrical outlets on Friday we had to move our lab to Monday.


Tuesday:
Health: Powerpoint Presentations
Science: Earth's Layers: Students will be able to identify Earth's layers, their thickness, and their composition. Observe Rock Candy growth.


Wednesday: 1/2 day
Science: 30 minute classes: Observe rock candy growth: Begin foldable model of Earth's layers.

Thursday:
Health: Presentations/ Review illegal drug information
Science: Students will create a foldable model of Earth's layers.

Friday:
Health: Illegal Drug Review Game
Science: Rocks and Minerals movie

October 27th Lessons/Assignments

Monday:
Health: Illegal Drugs Research Project~ Computer Lab~ Students will be assigned an illegal drug (Marijuana, Methamphetamines, etc.) and will be required to create a power point presentation illustrating the effects of the drug (short and long term).
Science: Finish Mineral Testing Lab and Post Lab questions. Due at the end of the hour.

Tuesday:
Health: Drug Research Project~ Computer Lab
Science: Mineral Review: Students will create a foldable study guide for tomorrow's key terms quiz.

Wednesday:
Health: Drug Research Project~ Computer Lab
Science: Mineral Quiz

Thursday:
Health: Drug Research Project~ Computer Lab
Science: Graph Moh's Hardness Scale and do the pre-lab activity for tomorrow's rock candy lab. Explain Rock Candy Lab and review lab safety.

Friday:
Health: Drug Research Project~ Computer Lab
Science: Rock Candy Lab! Students will create their own rock candy and see first hand how minerals form through evaporation.

October 20th Lessons/Assignments

Monday:Health: Tobacco Pre-test/Begin Tobacco Lecture
Science: Main Idea~ Minerals are basic building blocks of Earth. Students will learn the four main charateristics of minerals (forms in nature, is a solid, definite chemical makeup, has a crystal structure)
Strand 6: Earth and Space Science Assignment: Reading Study Guide A and B to be completed in class.

Tuesday:Health: Tobacco Lecture
Science: Warm-up: What are the four characteristics of a mineral? How do scientist classify minerals? Main Idea: A mineral is identified by its properties. Students will learn how to identify minerals using distinct properties including (streak, luster, color, density, hardness) Assignment: Reading Study Guide A and B to be completed in class. Strand 6: Earth and Space Science

Wednesday: Health: Illegal Drugs Lecture
Science: Begin Mineral Identification Lab. Students will use the properties of streak, color, luster, etc. to identify minerals. Strand 6: Earth and Space Science

Thursday: Health: Explain Illegal drug research project.
Science: Moh's Hardness Scale/Density Test: Students will understand how to calculate density and use the Moh's Hardness scale to identify minerals. Strand 6: Earth and Space Science

Friday: Health: Computer Lab: Begin Drug Research Project
Science: Finish Mineral Identification Lab. Mineral Lab is due at the end of the hour! Strand 6: Earth and Space Science

October 14th Lessons/Assignments

Monday: No School

Tuesday: Health: Overview of class: Topics covered: nutrition, stress management, tobacco, illegal drugs.
Science: Go over movie worksheet/environmental issues project


Wednesday: Health: Discuss Red Ribbon week
Science: Earth Science Pre-test



Thursday: 1/2 Day:
Health: Pre-test
Science : Chocolate Unit


Friday: 1/2 Day:
Health: No health: Students goto specials
Science: Chocolate Unit

Conferences

Open conferences are on Wednesday October 15th. Feel free to stop in and talk to your child's teachers about their academic progress.

October 6th Lessons/Assignments

Monday: Pass Back Biome Quiz (go over answers) Continue working on Environmental Issues project. Students will be working on the planning piece of this assignment. No Homework



Tuesday: Students will make an environmental crest to advocate the importance of their problem.



Wednesday: 1/2 day: All-Write



Thursday: Present Environmental Issues project: Debate solutions to choose the best one!



Friday: Ms. Janaulis out: (her wonderful family is in town:) Planet Earth Movie: Worksheet due at the end of the hour. Mrs. Obrien will be subbing.

Lessons/ Assignments September 29

Monday: Jeopardy Review Game! Biome Quiz tomorrow. This quiz will not be multiple choice! It will be a combination of short answer and essay. Please make sure your child is using the 2-fold note study guides we created in class.

Tuesday: Biome Quiz

Wednesday: Students will analyze how human's impact the environment. Environmental issues brainstorming activity. In class activity: Multi-flow map

Thursday: Students will choose an environmental problem that they care about and investigate possible solutions. They will begin to discuss in their groups the causes of their problem and how they might fix it. Next week students will begin to propose solutions for their environmental problem. They will create a plan and present it to the class. The goal is to convince the class that their plan is the best one to solve the problem.

Friday: Lake Pleasant Field Trip!!!

September 22 Lessons/Assignments

Monday: Finish power point/Begin presentations. Students will be assigned a group grade based on the content of the presentation, overall knowledge of the biome, and delivery of the information to the class. No Homework


Tuesday: Biome Presentations/ No Homework

Wednesday: Biome Presentations/ No Homework

Thursday: Biome Presentations/Biome Review


Friday: Biome Quiz

Biome Project Requirements

• Biome Project
  There are large areas on Earth that have similar climates and distinct plant and animal populations. Each biome has its own producers, consumers, and decomposers. A biome usually covers parts of several continents (each continent has several biomes). There are six land biomes on Earth. These include the:
• Grassland
• Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Desert
• Tundra
• Taiga
• Tropical Rainforest
• Aquatic (ocean)
  
  
• Your Job:
  Research one biome and in a power point presentation include the following information:
  1. Areas where you can find this biome (continents)
  2. Amount of rain (precipitation) per year
  3. The average temperature
  4. Unique characteristics
  5. Plants found in this biome
  6. Animals or organisms found in this biome
  7. Animal adaptations that allow these animals to survive in the specific biome
  8. Identify the animals as producers, consumers, or decomposers.
  

~Make sure the powerpoint is colorful, contains pictures, and the writing is large enough for the whole class to see.
~Finally, you will present this information in a 2-3 minute presentation to the class. A good presentation is one where you are well informed on the topic. Each person in the group must speak during the presentation. You may also bring in any other visual aids that may add to your presentation.

September 15th Lessons / Assignments

Monday: Pass back test and go over answers. Begin Biome technology project! We will be learning about the different biomes of the world. Students will be researching and creating a powerpoint about one of the following biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Tropical Rainforest, Grassland, Desert, Deciduous Forest, or Aquatic (ocean). This will be a week long project with a 2-3 minute presentation requirement at the end. This project will be done entirely in class, and there will be no homework for the week.

Tuesday: Computer Lab: Research Day
Wednesday: Computer Lab: Research Day
Thursday: Computer Lab: Begin putting together power point presentation.
Friday: Computer Lab: Finish putting together power point presentation.

Presentations will be next week!!!

Ecology Test Study Guide

Ecology Test Study Guide
Tips for success: Re-read Chapter 1 sections 1.1 and 1.2 / Chapter 2 sections 2.1 and 2.2 (pages54-55).
Review your power point notes I gave you!!!! Very important!
Review your reading study guides!

Be able to define or match the following key terms:
Ecology
Ecosystem:
Abiotic
Biotic
Producer
Consumer
Decomposer
Species
Organism
Population
Community
Biome
Habitat
Niche
Predator
Prey
Carnivore
Omnivore
Herbivore
Scavenger
Adaptation
Structural (wings, feathers, feet, beaks, claws)
Behavioral (mating rituals, migration, hibernation)
Physiological (venom, octopus ink, skunk sprays)

More information to know!
Be able to label abiotic and biotic factors when given a picture.
Be able to list the 4 most important abiotic factors that affect an ecosystem (temperature, light, water, soil) Be able to explain why these are the most important.
Be able to give examples of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Know the two main types of decomposers
What is the primary energy source for most ecosystems?
Be able to identify the levels in an environment from smallest to largest and from largest to smallest (OrganismàpopulationàCommunityàEcosystemàBiome)
Be able to identify the different types of adaptations an animal has when given a passage to read.

Lessons and Assignments September 8th

Monday: Finish Animal Adpatations Project: Project Due at the end of the hour.

Tuesday: Work on Study Guide for Thursday's Test! Students will have the entire hour to complete the study guide. We will review the answers the next day.

Wedensday: In class review game! Test Tomorrow!

Thursday: Ecology Test

Friday: Introduction to Biomes! As a class we will read section 1.4 covering biomes and discuss the upcoming technology project.

Create-A-Creature Rubric

Create-A-Creature Rubric
Students will graded in three areas: Content, Work Quality & Effort, and Style and Mechanics.

Below is the breakdown for points: This project is out of 30pts!
Exceeds=10 pts
Good=7 pts
Fair=4 pts
Poor=2 pts

Creature Content
Exceeds:
The creature includes all information relevant to the project. For example all 3 adaptations are clearly identified on the index card.

Good
Creature includes all relevant information; however, it does not utilize the resources and/or is not well-organized. For example: You only include 2 out of the 3 adaptations.

Fair
Does not have all of the relevant information of the poster, or there is not enough information presented. Information is presented in an unorganized fashion. For example: you don’t include your adaptations, or if you do they are incorrect.

Poor
The creature is lacking all information. For example you have a picture drawn but you did not include any of the adaptations.

Work quality/effort
Exceeds
The work done demonstrates full effort that the learner is proud of. The effort that was put into this task is the best it can be by the learner.

Good
The work was done with good effort that shows what the learner is capable of. It is evident that time was put into this creature and presentation.

Fair
Work is done with fair effort, but the quality is still not what the learner is capable of. It is evident that the work was rushed.

Poor
Work is done with little effort; quality is not what the learner is capable of. It is evident that the work was rushed and little time was spent on the final product. Work is incomplete.

Style/Mechanics
Exceeds
The creature has an element of creativity and style, and is not just a list of adaptations with a stick person drawing. The poster is presented in a clear and concise manner with full understanding of the subject.

Good
The creature is organized and adaptations are clearly indicated. Contains facts as well as very few mistakes.

Fair
The creature lacks style and is very disorganized. The creature lacks neatness and clarity.

Poor
The creature lacks a clear understanding of the subject matter and there are many errors. Creature is not creative or orginal.

Teacher Comments:

TOTAL SCORE _______/30.

September 2nd Lessons/ Assignments

Monday: No School Labor Day!

Tuesday: Introduction to Predator-Prey Relationships. (AZ Strand 4, Concept 3) No Homework

Wednesday: Predator-Prey Lab/Game. Students will play a predator-prey game in order to understand how oraganisims survive. They will be introduced to animal adaptations. (AZ Strand 4) No Homework

Thrusday: Animal Adaptations: Students will understand the three types of adaptations (structural, behavioral, and physiological. They will define the word adaptation and give examples of each type.
No Homework

Friday: Create a creature project! Students will use what they know about animal adaptations to create a unique unknown creature. Their creature must have one-structural adaptation (beaks, claws, fangs), one-behavioral adaptation (migration), and one-physiological adaptation (venom/poision). They will have the hour to complete their creature creation!

August 25th Lessons/Assignments

Monday: Investigating Decomposers: Students will work with their lab tables to set up a lab experiment involving decaying fruit. They will make a prediction about what will happen over the course of a week. In class assignment: 1.3 reading study guide. AZ Strand 4: Concept 3

Tuesday: Ms. J out (I will be at a training) Study Hall: Students will have the entire hour to make-up any missing or late work. Study hall will be something that will happen weekly and it will be rotated between subjects (for example: one week study hall will be in science, the next week it will be in math and so on)

Wednesday: 1/2 Day: (Ms. J Out)Students will be working on an All-Write. They will write about an assigned topic for the entire day using the writing process. This will help to prepare them for the AIMS test in the spring.

Thursday: (Ms. J Out) Students will watch a movie about Biomes and Ecosystems to introduce the different biomes of the world. Movie worksheet due at the end of the hour!Next week we will start our technology project for the semester. AZ Strand 4, Concept 3

Friday: Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers. Students will learn the different energy roles within an ecosystem. AZ Strand 4, Concept 3

Lab Safety Poster Rubric

Lab Safety Poster Project

Directions: Before you can do any more labs in this class, you need to be aware of the lab safety rules. For this project, you are going to create a poster demonstrating a lab safety rule. You will have the rest of class today to brainstorm and start drawing sketches for your poster. (Paper for the poster will be provided.) Ms. Janaulis will need to see a sketch of your design before you may pick out your poster paper. Monday and Tuesday will be your only in-class workdays for this project. IT IS DUE by the end of class on Tuesday, AUGUST 19th. Ms. Janaulis will then decide which posters will hang in the science classroom this year. The illustrators of those posters will receive prizes. Have a plan, work hard, and be sure to follow the rubric below! You will need to have this rubric when you present on Wednesday!
_____________________________________________________________________________________


Name(s) _______________________________________________________________Period _____
Lab Safety Poster Rubric (20 Points)


1. Does the illustration correctly display the rule?

2. Did the group give a clear explanation of the rule and
Demonstrate their understanding of it?

3. Did both individuals do an equal share of the project?

4. Is the rule number and rule written clearly and in bold
letters so that people may read it from a distance?

5. Ms. J. MUST initial in this box for you to get full credit on this project! Was the draft completed and SHOWN TO Ms. J
before the actual poster was created?

6. Is the poster neatly done (color in the lines,
few eraser marks, straight writing)?

7. Did the individual help the group to use its time wisely?

TOTAL _______/20

August 18 Week Class/ Assignments

Science
Mon. Warm-up: Lab Safety Brainstorm. Discuss important lab safety rules. Inclass assignment: Spongebob read and identify the lab safety issues. Overview of Lab Safety Poster Project. Students will start the rough draft for the safety poster. No Homework

Tues. Lab Safety Poster Work Day! Students will have the hour to create thier lab safety poster. A rubric for this project will be provide. No Homework.

Wed. Ecology: Introduction to Abiotic vs. Biotic factors. Outdoor activity: Students will identify all the living and non-living things in their "school ecosystem." In class assignment: Read Section 1.1 in book complete study guide A and B inclass. AZ Standard 4 Concept 3

Thur. Ecology: Levels within an ecosystem. Discussion Organism->Population->Community->Ecosystem->Biome. No Homework AZ Standard 4 Concept 3

Fri. Ecology: Earth Science Pre-test: Students will take a pretest to assess their prior knowledge. No Homework! Have a great weekend!

August 11 Week Class/Homework

Lesson Plans
Ms. Janaulis

Science
Mon. Classroom policies, procedures, getting to know you activity.
No Homework

Science
Tues. Following Directions Paper Plane Activity
No Homework

Science
Wed. Book Check-out/Textbook Scavenger Hunt

Science
Thur. Introduction to the Scientific Method, Writing a Hypothesis, By Golly By Gum Lab. AZ Standard: Scientific Inquiry

Science
Fri. Finish By Golly By Gum Lab /Record data table and create graph.
AZ Standard: Scientific Inquiry