Spring Semester Exams: May 23-24-25

Exams will be May 23-24-25.    Schedule will be announced later.

6th Grade Spring Semester Exam:

Review for semester exam including Chapters 11 and 12 on Space Technology and the Solar System as well as questions overs all chapters covered in the spring semester.

Review the information on the Study Sheets to prepare for the test.  Packets signed by a parent will earn 3 extra credit points on the test grade.  For online review materials, refer the the section on PowerPoint slide presentations.

Exams will be May 23-24-25.    Schedule will be announced later.

8th Grade Spring Semester Exam:

The spring semester exam will be over the objectives of the unit on ecosystems and the frog dissection.

It will also include some questions from the 5th Six Weeks on the scientific method, oceans, weather, and landforms plus a few questions from the 4th Six Weeks unit on gathering data from the universe and plate tectonics.

Study all notes, vocabulary, and review worksheets.

Extra Credit will be given for reviews signed by a parent.


6th Grade Spring Semester Project-Due May 1 & 2

TEKS Objectives:

(1)  Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, conducts laboratory and field investigations following safety procedures and environmentally appropriate and ethical practices. The student is expected to:

(A)  demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and field investigations as outlined in the Texas Safety Standards; and

(B)  practice appropriate use and conservation of resources, including disposal, reuse, or recycling of materials

(2)  Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and field investigations. The student is expected to:

(A)  plan and implement comparative and descriptive investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, and using appropriate equipment and technology;

(B)  design and implement experimental investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and using appropriate equipment and technology;

(C)  collect and record data using the International System of Units (SI) and qualitative means such as labeled drawings, writing, and graphic organizers;

(D)  construct tables and graphs, using repeated trials and means, to organize data and identify patterns; and

(E)  analyze data to formulate reasonable explanations, communicate valid conclusions supported by the data, and predict trends.

(4)  Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student knows how to use a variety of tools and safety equipment to conduct science inquiry. The student is expected to:

(A)  use appropriate tools to collect, record, and analyze information, including journals/notebooks, beakers, Petri dishes, meter sticks, graduated cylinders, hot plates, test tubes, triple beam balances, microscopes, thermometers, calculators, computers, timing devices, and other equipment as needed to teach the curriculum; and

(B)  use preventative safety equipment, including chemical splash goggles, aprons, and gloves, and be prepared to use emergency safety equipment, including an eye/face wash, a fire blanket, and a fire extinguisher.

April 9-10, 2012

Introduce  semester project.  Read handout of guidelines to be followed and also signed by parents.  Discuss the steps of the scientific method and look at examples of student work.  See right margin of blog page for a slide presentation of the steps of the scientific method.

On their project students will earn 4 grades: (1) daily grade for lab work, (2) daily participation grade for effort and behavior, (3) the presentation will be a test grade for the 6th Six Weeks, and (4) major semester exam grade for presentation of project.

Brainstorm ideas for projects.

April 11-20, 2012

Begin Steps 1-3 of the scientific method.  Bring project materials and complete Steps 3 and 4.  Use data collected to complete Steps 5 and 6.

April 23-27, 2012

Complete any steps of the lab portion of the semester project not completed last week.

Discuss the steps needed to create a slide show presentation using Google  Apps.  Create slides for presenting project to the class.

April 24 & 22     STAAR Test

April 30-May 2, 2012

Complete semester project slide presentation.  Rehearse presentation.  The finished project will be due and presented to the class May 1 & 2.

May 1-2, 2012

Students will give an oral presentation of their project.  The grade for the presentation will be a test grade for the six weeks and 25% of the spring semester exam grade.

Fall Semester Exams Dec. 14 – 15 – 16

Exams will be Dec. 14-15-16    Schedule will be announced later.

6th Grade Fall Semester Exam:

Science exam will be over all objectives studied in the fall semester with emphasis on simple machines and graphs.

Review all study sheets carefully.

Extra points will be given to students who get their study sheets signed.


8th Grade Fall Semester Exam:

Exams will be Dec. 14-15-16    Schedule will be announced later.

FALL SEMESTER EXAM:

The fall semester exam will be over the objectives of:

Chapter 22 on the Earth and Moon,

Chapter 18 on tides, and

Chapter 24-on stars, galaxies, and the universe

It will also include some questions from the 2nd Six Weeks on chemical changes, Periodic Table, and laws of motion plus a few questions from the 1st Six Weeks unit on lab safety, science equipment, and the structure of atoms.  Study all notes, vocabulary, and review worksheets. Extra credit will be given for parent’s signatures on exam review.

8th Grade: Second blog post due Oct. 20/21

Fall Semester Project: 

Student blogs containing reflections and examples of their 8th grade science work will be the Fall Semester Project.  You can go to a student’s blog online by typing the following web address:  student’s first initiallast name.wonecks.net

FALL SEMESTER PROJECTS DUE: November 30/December 1  Until this date blogs will be graded periodically as a daily grade.  A major project grade will be given on Nov. 30/Dec. 1