Virtual Learning – Week of March 23rd!
VIRTUAL LEARNING – WEEK OF MARCH 23rd, 2020
6th Grade Science –
This week, we’ll be studying, analyzing, and investigating the connections between force and motion. Students will be examining concepts such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, net force, acceleration, and the difference between balanced & unbalanced forces. In addition, we’ll be focusing our efforts on preparing for the Science Fair, which will take place on May 4th, 2020. During this time, students should be finishing their experiments at home, collecting data, and taking photographs of their experimentation process.
HOMEWORK
1 – IXL Science 6.B.1 – Identify Control & Experimental Groups (Work on this anytime Monday-Wednesday: DUE ON WEDNESDAY) – Complete IXL Science 6.B.1 – you will need to earn at least a 95% to receive credit for this assignment. Since you’ll complete this work directly in the IXL website, you do not need to turn this into Google Classroom, however, YOU MUST LOG INTO IXL in order for your score to be recorded. Complete this IXL before the end of the school day on Wednesday (2:15pm). https://www.ixl.com/science/grade-6/identify-control-and-experimental-groups
2 – STEM Current Events – NewsELA – “Touching Moments in Prosthetics” – Article & STEM Current Events C-E-R Essay (Work on this anytime – Monday-Thursday: DUE ON THURSDAY) – First, you will need to read the NewsELA article, “Touching Moments in Prosthetics: New Bionic Limbs That Can Feel.” After reading the article, open the STEM Current Events C-E-R Essay assignment, read the directions thoroughly, and create a C-E-R (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) essay addressing the question: How has new technology enhanced prosthetic limbs, allowing disabled patients to “feel?” Please see the detailed instructions on the assignment sheet for guidelines and directions. Make sure to open this assignment in a new Google Doc, type your C-E-R essay into the document, and then submit your work in Google Classroom. Upload and turn in your assignment in Google Classroom by the end of the school day on Thursday (2:15pm)!
3 – Do Nows – Semester 3 (Work on this anytime Monday-Thursday: DUE ON THURSDAY) – Read over the following Do Now journal prompts and write your Do Now answers in your Semester 3 Google Doc (just update your Do Now Google Doc as you have been doing all semester in class). Make sure to include the date, prompt number, and your answer.
Do Now 1 – You’re in a moving car and a bug splattered on the windshield. Think about the direction that the bug and the car are moving in. What forces are at work? Are these forces equal? Opposite? Both equal & opposite? Explain your thinking.
Do Now 2 – In your own words, explain – What is a vector and how is it used by scientists? (Hint – “Vector” is one of your force & motion science glossary terms, so check out that document in Google Classroom if you’re feeling stuck).
Do Now 3 – In terms of your Science Fair project, what things do you need to work on to move your experiment/project forward? Make a quick to-do list and explain how you plan to check these tasks off of your list.
Complete your Do Nows in your Semester 3 Do Now Google Doc in Google Classroom before the end of the school day on Thursday (2:15pm).
4 – MiSTAR 6.4.2 – PhET Simulations – Force & Motion (Work on this anytime – Monday-Friday) – Spend some time checking out this neat set of PhET simulations to learn more about net force, motion, friction, and acceleration. Make sure to click through each of the activities (Net Force, Motion, Friction, and Acceleration) and manipulate the settings in each of the simulations to learn more about force and motion. (Since this is a set of simulations, there is no set “due date” for this assignment, but you’ll need to look this over before starting next week’s work). https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-motion-basics_en.html
5 – Science Fair Project (Work on this anytime – Monday-Friday) – Finish your experiment, collect data, and take photos of your experimentation process for your display board. (There is no set “due date” for your Science Fair project this week, since this is an on-going process. The Science Fair is scheduled to take place on May 4, 2020).
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7th Grade ELA –
This week, we’ll be discussing, practicing, and utilizing text dependent analysis (TDA) strategies to create evidence-based pieces of writing. Students will be comparing and contrasting different styles of TDA writing, and we’ll examine the reasons why authors must include a clear claim, evidence, and reasoning in their writing. In addition, we’ll be reviewing some literary devices to keep our skills sharp. Students will also need to continue working on Book Project 3, which is due on Thursday, April 16th. All of the Book Project 3 instructions, details, deadlines, and the rubric are available in Google Classroom.
HOMEWORK
1 – IXL ELA 7.M.1 – Use Personification (Work on this anytime Monday-Wednesday: DUE ON WEDNESDAY) – Complete IXL ELA 7.M.1 – you will need to earn at least a 95% to receive credit for this assignment. Since you’ll complete this work directly in the IXL website, you do not need to turn this into Google Classroom, however, YOU MUST LOG INTO IXL in order for your score to be recorded. Complete this IXL before the end of the school day on Wednesday (2:15pm). https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-7/use-personification
2 – Personification Practice Worksheet (Work on this anytime – Monday-Wednesday: DUE ON WEDNESDAY) – Complete the Personification Practice assignment by typing your answers into the worksheet. Upload and turn in your work in Google Classroom by the end of the school day on Wednesday (2:15pm)!
3 – STEM Current Events – NewsELA – “Touching Moments in Prosthetics” – Article & STEM Current Events C-E-R Essay (Work on this anytime – Monday-Wednesday: DUE ON THURSDAY) – First, you will need to read the NewsELA article, “Touching Moments in Prosthetics: New Bionic Limbs That Can Feel.” After reading the article, open the STEM Current Events C-E-R Essay assignment, read the directions thoroughly, and create a C-E-R (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) essay addressing the question: How has new technology enhanced prosthetic limbs, allowing disabled patients to “feel?” Please see the detailed instructions on the assignment sheet for guidelines and directions. Make sure to open this assignment in a new Google Doc, type your C-E-R essay into the document, and then submit your work in Google Classroom. Upload and turn in your assignment in Google Classroom by the end of the school day on Thursday (2:15pm)!
4 – Do Nows – Semester 3 (Work on this anytime Monday-Thursday: DUE ON THURSDAY) – Read over the following Do Now prompts and write your Do Now answers in your Semester 3 Google Doc (just update your Do Now Google Doc as you have been doing all semester in class). Make sure to include the date, prompt number, and your answer.
Do Now 1 – Journal – Write a 4-sentence mini story that ends with, “…and that’s how I know that he stole the very last slice of pizza.”
Do Now 2 – Journal – If you could be a character on any reality TV show, what would it be? Why?
Do Now 3 – Journal – Explain a time when you had to do something that you didn’t like, but knew that it was good for you. (No, “homework” can’t be an answer here – think deeply about this and share your reflection).
Complete your Do Nows in your Semester 3 Do Now Google Doc in Google Classroom before the end of the school day on Thursday (2:15pm).
5 – Book Project 3(Work on this anytime – Monday-Friday) – Continue to read your Book Project 3 novel, update your reading log, and work on your Book Project 3 project pieces. (There is no set “due date” for Book Project 3 this week, since this is an on-going process and the project is due on April 16th).
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8th Grade STEM Apps –
This week, we will be working with educational software to use problem-solving skills to address STEM challenges, explore different types of educational websites, test computer literacy skills, study how information is transmitted between people and electronic devices, and explore the digital world. In addition, we’ll be focusing our efforts on preparing for the Engineering Design Fair, which will take place on May 4th, 2020. During this time, students will explore topics, conduct research, and identify a real-world problem that will kick off their own Engineering Design Process. All Design Fair instructions, details, deadlines, and rubrics are available in Google Classroom. During this time, students should be finishing and testing their Design Fair prototype at home, collecting data, and taking photographs of their design process for their presentation board.
HOMEWORK
1 – IXL Science 8.C.2 – Evaluate Tests of Engineering Design Solutions (Work on this anytime Monday-Wednesday: DUE ON WEDNESDAY) – Complete IXL Science 8.C.2 – you will need to earn at least a 95% to receive credit for this assignment. Since you’ll complete this work directly in the IXL website, you do not need to turn this into Google Classroom, however, YOU MUST LOG INTO IXL in order for your score to be recorded. Complete this IXL before the end of the school day on Wednesday (2:15pm). https://www.ixl.com/science/grade-8/evaluate-tests-of-engineering-design-solutions
2 – STEM Current Events – NewsELA – “Touching Moments in Prosthetics” – Article & STEM Current Events C-E-R Essay (Work on this anytime – Monday-Wednesday: DUE ON THURSDAY) – First, you will need to read the NewsELA article, “Touching Moments in Prosthetics: New Bionic Limbs That Can Feel.” After reading the article, open the STEM Current Events C-E-R Essay assignment, read the directions thoroughly, and create a C-E-R (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) essay addressing the question: How has new technology enhanced prosthetic limbs, allowing disabled patients to “feel?” Please see the detailed instructions on the assignment sheet for guidelines and directions. Make sure to open this assignment in a new Google Doc, type your C-E-R essay into the document, and then submit your work in Google Classroom. Upload and turn in your assignment in Google Classroom by the end of the school day on Thursday (2:15pm)!
3 – Do Nows – Semester 3 – (Work on this anytime Monday-Thursday: DUE ON THURSDAY) – Read over the following Do Now prompts and write your Do Now answers in your Semester 3 Google Doc (just update your Do Now Google Doc as you have been doing all semester in class). Make sure to include the date, prompt number, and your answer.
Do Now 1 – Journal – How did it feel to work through an app design process (in Code.org)? Were the software design challenges easy for you to tackle, or did you struggle through this process? Explain your experience.
Do Now 2 – Journal – If you could design a robot to help you with everyday tasks, what would your robot specifically do? How could you get your robot to move? What might happen if your robot’s code malfunctioned, or if your robot doesn’t operate as planned?
Do Now 3 – Journal – In terms of your Engineering Design Fair project, what things do you need to work on to move your project & prototype forward? Make a quick to-do list and explain how you plan to check these tasks off of your list.
Complete your Do Nows in your Semester 3 Do Now Google Doc in Google Classroom before the end of the school day on Thursday (2:15pm).
4 – Engineering Design Fair Project (Work on this anytime – Monday-Friday) – Finish your prototype drawings (thumbnail, orthographic, and isometric) in your Engineering Notebook/Log, finish building your prototype design, update your Engineering Notebook/Log to catalog how your project is going and where you are at in the design process, test your prototype to ensure that it works, collect data, and take photos of your design process for your display board. (There is no “due date” for your Engineering Design Fair project this week, since this is an on-going process. The Design Fair is set to take place on May 4, 2020).
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As always, I will be available to answer questions or address homework concerns during normal school business hours, so e-mail me if you need me.