6th Grade VOLCANOES!

Please finish your Quizlets by Wednesday Dec. 4th.

Here are the extra words AND pics of the volcano posters in the room.

5th grade Gardens for the Environment

What a GRRRREAT Fieldtrip - thank you to the SF Environment for providing the opportunity for our students to learn so much in three hours. From rainwater harvesting to composting to making salads with yummy organic ingredients, it was a super day. Thank you to Mrs. Torres and Mrs. Cristobal for chaperoning.

Learning the rules of respect: each other, the plants, other people and the tools.

Joshua and Zhari -TEAMWORK! Sifting put the twigs and sticks to get to the nutrient rich compost.

Good job Mayel, Francise and Gianna - using pitchforks to get out the compost.

The competiton is all on as the students weed out oxalis that compete for soil nutrients and water in the GFE. Mayel, Ethan, Ciarra, Rei, Nathan and Matthew. 

Using wheelbarrows and pitchforks to gather compost to cut into smaller pieces.

7th grade Bite, chew lab questions

5th grade

Iodine will turn a certain color in the presence of either a sugar or a starch.

Students checked this out by placing drops of iodine on various samples of carrot, potato, cracker and apple. After yielding and recording various results, they were given an opportunity to ask,"What would happen if I?".....

And so some students tested gummy bears, bread, potato chips, chocolate, Skittles, baking soda...after creating a hypothesis they checked out what would happen....

7th grade

Dissecting a chicken wing!

Dissecting is a really good way for students to explore and discover different things. 

There is definitely a skill to dissecting. It takes really paying close attention to detail, procedure and being observant. Clean up is a huge part of the lab and it is imperative that clean up is done properly. All in all the first dissection went well. Some students were even able to make slides to see what interested them most. Good job 7th grade!

Really good job Zoe and Elijah - clean cutting!

Isabella, Melissa and Joshua - FANTASTIC team work. Your technique is really strong. It will only get better! Thanks so much for taking your time, and doing a great job!

5th grade

Making models of the plant cell.

Students used shoeboxes, ziploc bags and other items to represent the various organelles and parts of a plant cell.

It was fun watching them plan their procedure and implement and trouble shoot. Problem solving skills abounded!

Ciarra making her "legend" to explain what the items represented.

Cris and Clark are at work, creating their models.

Joey and Tony adding the "cytoplasm".

Thanks Vincent! Smiling while you are working! Science is FUN!

Thanks Alex and Jackie - great legends!

7th grade

VHS dissection!

First step in doing dissections - why do dissections? What are the limitations? 

Students used tools to take apart a VHS tape to explore how they work.

GOOD WORK Melissa and Isabella!

Still making sure to sketch!

A message to my students

Science is much the same way, do not be afraid to think your thoughts and "throw it out there"....

I'm just sayin....

5th grade

Checking out images of models of plant cells on the iPads. Students researched images of models and decided which ones they liked. By doing a "Gallery Walk" students can see other choices and compare. Students also discuss both the benefits of using models to learn about cells as well as understand their respective limitations.

4th grade Zoomobile

Learning about food chains and food webs in class was great. But learning about it while having the animals present? Super duper!