Mrs. Reisbeck's Life Science

Here we go, only 7 more school days left! All students are entering the final stages of their science research projects. Please note that the final day of school, Tuesday the 14th, is a full day! We will be going to String Lake for a picnic that day. Please have your students dress appropriately for the weather and bring any beverages they will want. I have enjoyed each and every one of your children and look forward to seeing them next year as 8th graders! Have a great summer.

Monday: Final board construction.

Tuesday: Write and practice oral presentations.

Wednesday: Showtime!

Thursday: More showtime!

Friday: Talent Show and any remaining presentations.

Monday: “There’s a Hair in My Dirt” by Gary Larson

Tuesday: String Lake picnic and last day of school!

I hope you all enjoyed your 3 day weekend! We are moving right along with our exploration of the scientific method through individual research projects. All students have completed their experiments, made data tables and charts and most have completed their analysis paragraphs. This week we will write conclusion paragraphs and design and create our display boards. Boards are available in the front office for $6.00.

Monday: No school.

Tuesday: Writing conclusion paragraphs.

Wednesday: Final editing and revisions of all work.

Thursday: Designing presentation boards.

Friday: More presentation boards.

Last week we had some very interesting experiments going on in our science classroom! This week students will learn how to display and interpret their raw data.

Monday: Excel tutorial and making data charts.

Tuesday: Graphing data for interpretation. Graphs due at the end of class Wednesday.

Wednesday: How to write and analysis paragraph.

Thursday: Writing individual analysis paragraphs.

Friday: Complete analysis paragraphs. Due at the end of class today.

All students should have completed their introduction papers and are ready to move on to the next steps of the scientific method. This week students will be forming hypotheses (30 points), outlining their methods and materials (30 points) and conducting their experiments. As you can see, it is a busy week so please help to keep your student on track.

Monday: Generating hypotheses.

Tuesday: Outlining methods and materials for upcoming experiments. Homework:Bring any materials needed for experiments to class Wednesday.

Wednesday: Complete hypotheses and methodology and begin experiments.

Thursday and Friday: Conducting experiments! Raw data is due at the end of class Friday!

Well, we made it through the first week of our science research project without any casualties. Most of our students will be creating a guided inquiry investigation into Armidillidium vulgare, or the common pill bug. Some students have chosen and will investigate other topics. This next week will be somewhat abbreviated. In the early part of the week students will edit and revise their introduction papers. On Thursday we will travel to the high school to see both the Renaissance Man and student created Medieval People Projects. Friday will be our 7th grade Medieval Faire.

Monday: Meet pill bugs, peer review and revisions.

Tuesday: Noodletools in the Media Center. Homework: Final paper is due at the end of class Wednesday.

Wednesday: Final revisions. The introduction paper is due at the end of class today!

Thursday: Renaissance Man and Medieval People Projects.

Friday: Medieval Faire:)

The beginning of the end is near! Our learning in life science will culminate in the science research project. Students will research a topic, form a testable hypothesis, design and conduct an experiment. They will then create charts and graphs that will be used to analyze data and form conclusions. Finally, students will share their findings with a visual display and oral presentation. All work is designed to be completed in class, however if portions are not finished on time they automatically become homework. As this is a sequential project, it is very important to stay caught up.

Monday: Review of experimental controls and variables.

Tuesday: What a good project looks like and introduction writing.

Wednesday: In the Media Center with Ms. Swiggum.

Thursday: Research! Three credible sources due by Friday!

Friday: Introduction writing. Rough draft due at the start of class Monday.

Wow! Is it really the last week of April? This week students will be finishing up the human body systems unit. Our final exam covering all body systems will be on Friday. Encourage your student to study a little bit every night. Next week we will begin our individual science research projects that will carry us through the end of the school year. Information will be coming home on how to help your child select a topic.

Monday: No school for students.

Tuesday: Bodies Exhibit field trip! Study!

Wednesday: Students will create review activities. Study!

Thursday: Students will engage in their created activities. Study!

Friday: Body Systems Unit Exam.

This week students will study the male and female reproductive systems and dissect frogs! If I do not have a signed permission slip, your child will be given an alternate assignment. Also, if you have not signed and returned your child’s permission slip for the Bodies Exhibit, please do so ASAP.

Monday: Chapter 8, Section 2.

Tuesday: The Miracle of Life

Wednesday: Class notes and Questions from the Can

Thursday: Begin Frog dissections.

Friday: Complete frog dissections.

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great spring break and is ready to push into the last quarter of the year. This week students will continue their human body system studies by examining the digestive system. Additionally, we are very fortunate to announce that the entire 7th grade class will be traveling to the Museum of Idaho to see the Bodies Exhibit. Please look for your child’s permission slip. We need it signed and returned by Friday, April 15th. We will also need several parent volunteers to accompany us on the trip. If you are interested, please contact me or Ms. Brewer.

Monday: Review of cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Tuesday: Chapter 3, section 3.

Wednesday: Chapter 3, section 4 and class notes. Homework: Writing prompt due Friday.

Thursday: Life-size digestive system models. Homework: Finish writing prompt and study for quiz.

Friday: Quiz and finish models.

Students are half way through their PAWS testing and we are up to our elbows in hearts, veins and blood! We have begun our examination of the cardiovascular system. Students will demonstrate their new-found knowledge by creating a Comic Life strip about the circulatory system. We will venture into the respiratory system during the latter part of the week.

Monday: 4.1-The heart and blood flow.

Tuesday: 4.3-The components of blood.

Wednesday: Comic Life

Thursday: Comic Life

Friday: 5.1-The respiratory system.