Weekly Plan Found Here!

I have decided to post a weekly plan here on my blog. I hope this will help my students to be more organized and successful. I also hope it will give parents an idea of what goes on in 8th grade science!

November 12 - 16

Mon: Exam on Heat, Light, Sound, and Waves

Tues: Notes on Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage

Wed:  We'll be making presentations in class on simple machines.

Thurs/Fri: Notes on LEVERS and Lever lab/lab write-up

SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

We just finished judging the Science Fair here at Crescent View Middle School. We are so proud of all of our students. We had some really high quality projects, so the judging was not easy! Congratulations to all of the students who participated in the Science Fair this year.

The Winners Are:

1st  Blow, Blow, Winter Wind - Anna Thomas
2nd   Water Quality Little Cottonwood Water - Cameron Horton
3rd  Fractal Antenna - Myles Bradley
4th Soil Erosion - Erin Smith
5th  What's in Milk - Amelia Dyck-McCrarey
6th  Best Lint Paper Products - Sydney Jensen
7th  Dancing Lights - Sabrina Macy
8th   Calcium Carbonate in Rock - Tanner Ogden

GREAT JOB! :)

Science Fair

As you are all well aware, the CVMS Science Fair is just around the corner! I hope you will use the upcoming winter break from school to perform your experiments and get up to date on any component you may have missed along the way.

Not only will you be required to have a tri-fold board display, but you will also need a "Science Fair Log Book" as described in the blue packet I handed out in class. If you have lost yours, or need additional help, please visit the district website at
http://csdscience.weebly.com/for-parent--students.html

All of the information in your Log book should be typed, with the exception of your observation notes. This log book should be a binder or nice looking portfolio of some sort.

Your packet suggests multiple runs on your experiment. This means you should conduct your experiment 3 times to ensure accuracy of your data before moving on to the analysis step of the scientific method.

Please be sure to visit with me before we break if you have any questions.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

I enjoyed meeting many of your parents at conferences last week. I appreciate those of you who made the effort to come with your parents to chat with me. What I ended up telling most of you is to remember that your tests in science are worth 60% of your grade, so make sure to always come prepared to take a test. Your next one will be on October 18, on Ecology. Looking at your "I can" statements, and studying your notes and graded assignments is the best way to prepare. Good Luck!

EXPLORE TESTING

We will be taking the Explore Test in Science this week and next. We'll test Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and then Monday through Wednesday of next week. Each test is 1/2 hour long. You will be tested on Science, English, Reading, and Math. Please be sure to get a lot of rest, and eat healthy meals. You'll want to do everything you can to score high on these tests, as it is your first opportunity to see if you're on track for the ACT.
GOOD LUCK!

What is Ecology?

ECOLOGY is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. We study ecology to have a better understanding of our surroundings and how we fit in. By understanding the interrelationships that exist, we can make educated decisions about our actions that might impact our ecosystem. "Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." - Chief Seattle (1854)

Do It Yourself Science - Bill Nye