Zoomobile!

Having the Zoomobile come to our school was such a treat for all of the classes. Each class got to see various animals based on specific programs. For example, the curriculum and program for 4th grade was specific to "Food Chains". The 7th and 8th grades enjoyed learning about animals with the program titled, "Shifing the Balance".

Anytime children can be exposed to animals and learning through up close presentations, it helps to foster a connection to nature and our human obligation to extend environmental stewardship to God's beautiful and diverse creatures.

Checking out the Tiger Salamander.

The Ball Python. This animal will curl itself into a ball for protection. Perhaps it's skin also offer protection - the spots look like eyes... Nature's adaptations abound.

The African Hedgehog - prickly little thing!

29th Annual Juniperro Serra High School Trivia Contest and Scavenger Hunt

So the following questions are in Part One and there there is a list of scavenger items in Part Two.

If you have any of the items listed, please be assured they will be returned Wednesday. The judges just check them off the list after assuring authenticity.

Please send to friends and family, neighbors and congress people alike! Gooooooo BRONCOS!

5th grade

Wrapping up chemistry!

Students are working in pairs as they use "atoms" to visualize the four different types of chemical reactions: 

Single replacement double replacement, synthesis and decomposition. I encourage you to ask them the difference - see if they can use simple objects to demonstrate. Ask them to explain it to you sensibly.

They will be turning in an "Acrostic" style poem as we wrap up the basic unit of ALL matter: the atom.

We start the next smallest, basic unit of all life : the cell.

7th and 8th grade - Careers in Agriculture Fieldtrip

Thank you to California Agricultural Leadership for providing a very unique opportunity for STM students to attend this event at the Cow Palace. Transportation and lunches were provided through their grant.

Student visited booths and learned a bit about careers in agriculture that ranged from biology and veterinary sciences, engineering and technology, manufacturing and marketing.

8th grade

Making Gak! Always a messy lab, yet always fun. Another chemical change lab! And they cleaned it all up super well!

8th grade

Like a Shiny New Penny

This was the beginning of the labs that featured the concept of chemical reactions and chemical change.

As we wrap up this week with another lab focusing on chemical reactions, I am always grateful for the opportunity to work with students and watch them grow in how they process information and apply their knowledge in many ways. Setting up and running an experiment and leaving the lab looking like nothing happened takes time and effort and practice. They are a blast to work with and I am very lucky.

Thank you Class of 2014 - you are superstars!

5th grade

Periodic Chart of the Elements Fashion Show

The shirt designs they created were so fun and allowed them to utilize the Table of Elements for something artistic. We may have a science fashion designer in the midst!