4/2/2012

We are working diligently on our Rube-Goldberg Projects.  Students are doing a great job thinking through how to make this work and use the simple machines required for the project.

They have great ideas but need materials to support what they are doing.  Please avoid purchasing items they need.  I have been encouraging them to recycle and look through items that their parents would want to discard. 

Right now we are in need of paint and paint brushes.  If you have any left over paint you would like to discard they will find a way to use it.

Thanks for your support.  Our plans are to have these available for academic night and during the science fair.

3/19/2012

DONATIONS NEEDED - Thank You

Wood (no nails or staples in the wood please)1X1 pieces, dows, MDF board,

Paint

Pulleys

PVC Pipe

No homework

Rube Goldberg Project

We will be working on rube goldberg projects with March 30th as the due date for expected completion.

I have some materials in class, but my supply is limited and their imaginations are vast, so any help you can provide with what your child needs would be appreciated.  I know pulleys are an issue.  I bought a few to use, but these can be bought relatively inexpensively at hardware stores.  I bought some for $2.38 at home depot.  Any donations of scrap wood would also be appreciated.  I have some, but most of it is already designated for other projects we are doing in the next unit.

3/5/2012

Homework Due Wednesday March 7th, 2012 Vocabulary Crossword

Students are beginning the unit on Simple Machines.  This week they will pre-test and investigate simple machines using a program to refresh their memories on past experiences on this topic.

Students will visit the following site;

http://www.edhead.com/activities/simple-machines/

We will then start getting ideas together for a rube goldberg set-up.  Your child may ask for donations for their project.  Do not send in anything that is of value or that you would want returned.

2/9/2012 

STEM Content Quizzes are coming home this week.  They are due back on Tuesday the 14th for 8-1 and Wednesday the 15th for 8-2 and 8-3.  They can refer to their notes but are not to look up answers on the web. 

Vocabualry crosswords will go home as homework on Monday the 13th and are due Thursday the 16th.

2/2/2012

We are completing the first section of Science and Technology, Applied Chemistry.  Students have been presenting to their peers and applying what they have learned to their own Oil Spill clean-Up.  As we wrap up this unit, we will develop our "Big Ideas" and create the content quiz that has been postponed until we were able to complete the clean-up.

Next area of learning will be nanotechnology which will begin next week. 

There is no homework at this time.

1/18/2012

Students have completed Vocabualry quizzes and are moving on to activity 5.1.3 Oil Spill Clean Up.

Each student will be given a plastic baggy today and will be required to collect some flora and natural elements found in your yards.  This will include small rocks, twigs of evergreens, grasses etc.  they will be simulating an oil spill in a natural environment and testing clean up methods.  Students will also compare costs of their chosen methods.

These materials are due Tuesday/Wednesday 1/24, 1/25

Content Quizzes are put off until next week when this activity has concluded.  PLease see the check off sheet in your child's binder for descriptions of assignments and due dates.

1/3/2012

Happy New Year.

With the new year we are starting a new unit in STEM class.   

Students will begin with Applied Chemistry Unit 5.1 in the Science and Technology portion of the Gateway to Technology curriculum.   This unit begins with the comparison of chemists and chemical engineers.

Our first activity included the introduction of the Concepts, Essential Questions and Key Terms.

All 8th grade students will receive the key terms list in the next two classes.  They will be quizzed on these terms next week.

In our first lab activity, we will be making ice cream.  This activity will be focus  on chemical engineering in the food industry and understanding characteristic properties can be important  in production of the food we eat. 

Homework: Key terms crossword due Monday/Tuesday (will be handed out Wednesday and Thursday) Quiz Wednesday

Lab Conclusion Questions -5.1.1  Let's Make Ice Cream - if not done in class must be completed by Friday 1/6/2012

12/21/2011

All 8th Grade students have been working on their activities and assignment on the checklist provided.

They can work on this at home as well.  

Just a reminder that the end of unti test has been postponed until we return from winter break.  I will post a list of study topics during the winter break.

Hope you all have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season.

12/16/2011

STEM-   8th Grade students are completing unit 4.2.3.  Each student has been given a check off list of work they are responsible to turn in by 12/20/2011- Please review this list to check progress to help your children prepare for class.

Students are currently investigating propulsion systems and fuel analysis.  They are using a model fuel to consider the speed at which a reaction occurrs and the resulting gas created.  They are then inferring how this would affect a rocket launch and how Newton's 3 Laws of Motion are applied.

Students will be taking an end of unit test on Wednesday or Thursday (depending on which day they have class)

I will post testing topics soon.