5th grade

Learning about the structure of an atom and naming the sub-atomic particles.

Please ask your student the parts of an atom and where they are located AND the charge.

They are also learning about atomic number.

4th grade

Using maps to learn about California's unique Biomes. What a wonderfully diverse biome filled state we live in!

5th grade

Does air have mass?

Students designed and created a way to prove that air has mass. Their tools?

A balance

A balloon 

Popcorn kernels

Lots of teamwork and collaboration. Some trial and error and another balloon. But in the end - success.

Ask your student what they did. See if they can explain it to you and tell you how they know air does have mass.

8th grade

GPROPERTIES OF MATTER easy to define, a bit more challenging to apply. Using aluminum foil to explain the definition of: malleability, luster, conductivity, ductility, reactivity and magnetism.

7th grade

Learning about cells is sometimes very difficult. And learning about how cells functions can be even more confusing.

This activity was to help students understand that the cell membrane's function is to allow some particles in and out. But HOW that happens bears much more explanation.

So we make models and try to visualize a concept that's microscopic. These students work their brain ...cells!

5th grade finding volume of regular shaped objects

As we learn about matter - solid, liquid and gases - we learn about properties. One of which is volume. The students find volume by measuring and then calculating l x w x h.

Onto finding and calculating the formula for density D=m/v.

7th grade Science is...

"Science is..." statements were a start to our school year. I asked the students to illustrate the Science is... Statement of their choice. Did they agree? Disagree? Could it be portrayed in an illustration?

Again, the creativity and thought many students put into this was, as always, inspiring.

7th grade

7th grade science typically consists of primarily biology, anatomy/physiology and health.

We are starting out by thinking of what life is and then we will move into the basic unit of life - the cell.

Biology is a lot of fun and will run from body systems, to dissections to DNA, genetics, bacteria, viruses, animals, evolution, animal classifications, and the list goes on and on.

It is vital that students revisit notes, stay caught up on any reading and do well on all assignments and labs.

It's fun, it's exciting, but it IS WORK. and I can't wait!

CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP SATURDAY SEPT. 21, 2013

Who: Open to 6,7,8th graders - adults are WELCOME to join! The more the merrier!

Where: Sloat and the Great Highway - out by the SF Zoo. There is parking but it MIGHT be tough due to number of participants.

Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am

Things to know:

1) This is totally voluntary. NOT MANDATORY!

2) A waiver MUST be signed by parent for minors.

3) Must have own transportation to event and from event.

4) Must check in and check out with teacher.

5) We will be keeping data so participation and accuracy is crucial.

PLEASE read the following as it taken straight from the California Coastal Commission website.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HELP, PARTICIPATE - check out these statistics:

PLEASE READ:

What the WAIVER looks like:

Some thoughts I want to share...

Please encourage your student to be open to thinking of science as a different kind of opportunity to be creative. Science provides an opportunity to try things, but be responsible for gaining knowledge - not just doing a lab, activity, assignment to get through something.

Everybody has a sense of curiosity, I want that for our students. I encourage independent, critical thinking and problem solving skills. We do many activities that require them to work as a team. However, there are many times of sketchings and journal entries that allow for individual, self-directed thought. So I just ask that you encourage your student to be open and ready to sometimes be taken out of his/her comfort zones - not everything comes from a textbook - it can be a tool, a reference. We will combine science with math, art and literature. We build, design and create. It all comes together, it's science.

         Their individual abilities are amazing, their work as table teams or pairs is incredible.

                                                       The best part? 

                                 I get to be a part of that. It's a blessing and I am thankful.