Endangered Species Project in 7th grade Science

Research teams (of three students)  choose a threatened / endangered species.

As Research Scientists for the federal government, students conducted research to educate themselves about an animal’s habitat, reproduction, future, history, appearance/ behavior, enemies and survival.

Each team member chose between the following roles:  Ecologist, Zoologist and Conservationist and completed the individual background research.

 Teams worked to form a lobbyist group that developed a 5 minute persuasive plan of recovery to get their animal off the threatened / endangered species list using an Infographic Slide. 

Finally, the lobbyist group prepared and presented the information to Congress (Ms. Bitar and Ms. Hammoud) who selected the endangered animal that will be financially sponsored.

One team, consisting of Maya Othman, Max Polster, and Taylor Snow were selected to virtually adopt “Jimmy the Wombat” due to their in depth research on the Common Wombats endangered species status and ecological factors that contributed to their population decline. Here’s a picture of “Jimmy” and his new adopted parents (who are welcome to visit him at the Australian Zoo if they are ever in the neighborhood).

Here are the NGSS and CCSS covered in this Project.

  • MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
  • RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
  • SL.8.5 Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.

More information about Project Based Learning along with the resources used in this assignment, Check out the Dearborn PBL Blog at https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/pbldearborn/

Jimmy Certificate – Maya O, Max & Taylor (1)

Jimmy Letter – Maya O, Max & Taylor (1)

Collaboration Across Content Areas! Mr. Kade and the 7th Grade Science Teachers make a Great team!

The 7th grade Science Team  has been working on a Life Science Unit about the Impact Food Webs have on Ecosystems and  Animal Adaptations. Mr. Baerwalde and Mrs. Bitar’s science classes spent the hour with Mr. Kade exploring Ocean Literacy (A concept Mr. Kade explored through his N.O.A.A research expedition he experienced over the summer). Students made real world connections to their life science unit and academic vocabulary in preparation for their upcoming Project Based Learning assignment involving Endangered Animal Species.

     

Language and Literacy SIOP Strategies from Ms. Nadra Shami

Here’s an overview of the strategies Nadra presented during her professional development. Attached you will find the resources she provided for: Guided Highlighting, QSSSA, Structured Reading and Writing, with emphasis on Academic Vocabulary sorting.

As alway, share pictures of you and your students using these wonderful strategies.

**Don’t forget about her Bonus strategy: https://www.wordle.net/create

Guided Highlighting REVISED

GH and QSSSA_Slides to Share

QSSSA with examples

Academic Vocabulary Sort , Structured reading & Writing

Guidelines for choosing Academic Vocab

 

Mandatory Tutoring Started November 20th and will continue Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday every week from 3-4 pm

Students who are at-risk , received 1 or more “E’s” in Core classes, received a Green Form with their report cards. Forms must be signed and returned to Ms. Hammoud. This program is designed to support students who need help and prevent them from attending the Failing Summer School Program (that costs $245.00) and could also result in retention. 

Students will work for 1 concentrated hour on missing / late assignments, study for tests, and quizzes, take retakes, and receive a reteach and academic support from our teachers. Student connect will be checked daily. Progress monitoring and communication with classroom teachers will occur weekly. Student data tracking is an important part of the success of this program and will continue this year as well. Here is the data analysis from 2017-18 Extended Day Program.

**Teachers, it is important that collaborative efforts occur to ensure the students’ success. Please reach out to me, Mr. Radcliffe, or Ms. Taylor to improve the quality of support our students receive. Any missing summative assignments you would like us to focus on, send us an email with an attachment. Any test or quiz that you need students’ to study for, please attach. Retakes can happen during tutoring, as long as it is communicated and organized. Help us Help our students.

Tutoring Data 2017-2018

Star Strategy

 

Here’s a few more Star Strategies to get your kids motivated and back on track…
Ms. Caballero uses Scaffolding with her students during writing. She takes it a step further with some of her struggling students, by providing sentence stems and frames. She also uses color to help with the organization of the essay! Photos are attached.
Ms. Jaber uses mini-books to help students prepare for a test. As an accommodation, she allows students to use the mini-book on the test…students worked so hard preparing the mini-book, they inadvertently studied for the test and many didn’t need the book! Mind games people! I attached a template on how to construct a mini-book. It’s fun and easy.
Ms. Consiglio used a Flow map with her students to highlight the steps of good study habits. Metacognition is important and a great way to get students thinking about their learning and accountability. Photo attached.
Lastly, Newcomer students made Tree Maps to organize story elements during guided reading group. This is a great strategy for 6th grade ELA and Reading intervention!
Please share a Star Strategy that you feel worked well so we can all help our students shine 🌟

 

Mini Book Template

Student Flow Map for Test Prep (2) (1)

    

Star Strategy

In addition to all of the amazing Thinking Maps you have all been using with you students (check out how Mr. Kade enriches his Art Lesson with double bubble maps and Ms. Consiglio’s uses thinking maps for problem solving steps!), Here is another great strategy you can use…

Formative Assessment Game On!  Use dry erase boards to quickly formatively assess if your kids got it! Pull small groups for those who don’t, while the others who got it move on. Easy and fun way to see what your students need. Don’t have dry erase boards? Ms. Keveney is working on it..which means its as good as done!
If you would like to share a Star Strategy (or have a co-teacher who takes pictures when you are not looking…sorry Wellman) Please send them my way! So many wonderful things are happening and we could all use a great new strategy!

O3 Step Chart (1)

Simplify Alg Expressions (Yellow Page, Side 2) (1)

Solving Algebraic Equations (1)

 

Star Strategy

Check out these star strategies!

Ms. Edgerton uses Brace Maps to complete a Character Analysis. Remember that Brace maps show parts of a whole. What a cool way to describe a Character! 😀

Keep those Accommodations Coming! Wellman uses SIOP Strategies to reach EL (and lower achieving students) during a quiz on Volume. Formulas can be tricky for struggling students but he bypasses that with a few simple tricks. Check out how he highlighted key vocabulary in the Math problem and simplified for the win!
Many of us remember using the Thieves Strategy way back in the day. It’s a great strategy for the start of a Unit. Preview a text or chapter. Partner work is always a plus and it gets you and your students out of the boring routine. Here’s a refresher and a template you can use.
Lastly, Kids are getting restless this time of year. Try breaking up group configurations with Desk Olympics. It’s a fun way for kids to practice getting into groups quickly. Use a timer and make them compete against your other classes for fastest time…a sneaky way to maximize instructional time.
I hope you are enjoying the Star Strategies.
Send me pics of any lesson you thought went well and kept kids engaged. 🌟

 

 

 

Thieves Packet

 

Thieves Book Mark

 

Desk Olympics