Science Newsletter 4-7-17

A few science updates...

Today students received their report cards for the 3rd grading period.  Be sure to ask your child to see it.

It's hard to believe that we are in the final stretch of the year!  Be remember to keep checking our online grades as teachers update them frequently.  Encourage your child to ask questions and turn in assignments as well as pick up make-up work if he or she is absent.  Sometimes these are forgotten here at the end of the year!

In science this week, we've been working on an ISN assignment on phases and phase changes.  Students worked on these in class Monday through Thursday.  They are due to me by next Thursday, April 13.  

Also, they have an optional assignment on phases and phase changes.  The students who finished their ISN activity early worked on this yesterday in class while the others worked on finishing their ISNs.  I gave copies to students today and encouraged them to complete it but have made it optional.  I don't want to give students extra work but I also want everyone to have the opportunity to earn points if they'd like.  If students choose to complete it and turn it in, they will get a process completion grade.  If they do not choose to complete it, they will get an X in the gradebook which excuses them from it.

Students will be taking their state AIR test for math on Monday and Tuesday so we'll be adjusting our schedules around the test.  After Tuesday,we'll only have the state test for social studies left!

JMMS is also participating in Harvest for Hunger where we're donating food to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.  The most needed items are boxed cereal, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned tuna/chicken/ham, canned beef stew/chili, and peanut butter.  Any nonperishable food items will be appreciated!

Thank you so much for your support!  Have a wonderful weekend!

St. Baldrick's Shavees: "After" Pictures

The event on Sunday went so great!  JMMS raised over $22,000 coming in 2nd place among our Jackson district! This is pretty great considering it's the middle school's first year participating in the fundraiser!

Here are my now 17 brave students who shaved their heads on Sunday!

1st Period: Jake and Ricky

2nd Period: Draven, Drew, and Jayden

3rd Period: Aiden, Max, Kaleb, Ben, Hunter, Michael, Fletcher, Ben, and Seth

8/9th Period: Jacob, Logan, and Greg

St. Baldrick's Shavees: "Before" Pictures

The St. Baldrick's event is tomorrow at the North Canton Racquet Club!  I am lucky to have 15 brave and giving students who are getting their heads shaved to support and fundraise for childhood cancers tomorrow!

Here they are on Friday when they still have their hair!  Some decided to dye their hair to have fun before it's shaved off tomorrow :)

Look for the "after" pictures of them on Monday!

1st Period: Ricky and Jake

2nd Period: Draven, Drew, and Jayden

3rd Period: Aiden, Ben, Fletcher, Max, Seth, Ben, Michael

8/9th Period: Jacob, Greg, and Logan

Science Newsletter 3-6-17

A few science updates...

Students will be taking a test over the first 2/3 of the year this
Thursday, March 9.  This is over the main ideas within our life science and
earth science units (mostly rocks, minerals, and cells).

Students received a study guide today in class and we worked on finishing
it for a little over half of class.  We will spend tomorrow and Wednesday
reviewing topics and the study guide for the test. Some students didn't
finish their study guide today but we are going over the answers tomorrow
regardless.  It may be helpful for them to try the questions before we
discuss them if they have time but it is not officially homework to finish.

The study guide, as well as ISNs, are the best things to study for the
test.  The study guide is *very* similar to Thursday's test so if students
are doing well with it, they can expect to do well on Thursday!

Students actually took this exact same test as a pre-test within the first
couple weeks of the school year.  We will compare their pre and post-test
scores on Friday to see how much they've learned so far!

We'll then wrap up the earth science unit with a mini unit on soil and then
we'll be moving on to physical science to wrap up the year.

Thank you for all of your support!  Please let me know if you have any
questions or concerns.  Have a great day!

Science Newsletter 3-1-17

A few science updates...

Just a reminder that students have their Rock Cycle Tests tomorrow!  We checked and went over the study guides today so (hopefully) your child feels prepared!  There's a blank copy of the rock cycle diagram on my website under "My Resources" if your child would like to use that to practice filling it in.

Also, we are doing a lab on Friday that involves students having a snack.  They are able to complete the lab without a snack though.  If you are ok with them having a snack in class, they should bring something in for themselves; they are not sharing with the class.  I only ask that what they bring in is not huge in size and is not super messy; otherwise, whatever you think is ok is good with me!  I'm not able to have them bring in drinks in addition to snacks but they'll be able to get a drink from the drinking fountain during class.

We've also been working on a comic strip in class this week.  Students are creating a comic strip to show how a rock goes through the rock cycle.  Many of them have finished this in class but lots still need to finish.  These are in their ISNs so I'm doing an ISN Check at the same time as I grade the comics.  They are due to me by Tuesday, March 7.

Our school Book Fair will be during the week of March 13-17.  Students will have a chance to go during language arts and also during SA.  Information is getting passed out in homeroom tomorrow.  "It's Mardi Gras Ya'll!"

JMMS has a Girls on the Run team for 6th-8th grade girls!  They have a chance to be creative, feel confident, laugh, and try new things!  It is a 10-week program that begins the week of March 6th and will meet on Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Registration closes March 5th! Register online at GOTRStarkCty.org or call 330.244.9331. (Fees are income-based and financial assistance is available.)

Our state testing is coming up soon!  If your child doesn't know the dates of their tests, they'll be finding out soon.  We will let you and/or them know more details when the days get closer.

Please remember to check your child's grade online!  Many students are missing assignments/absent work so please help us to encourage them to turn those in!  

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  Have a wonderful evening!

Jackson's 1:1 Initiative

We have recently received some very exciting news!

In the fall of 2017, each student in grades 5, 6, 8 and 9 will receive a Chromebook as part of Jackson’s one-to-one learning initiative, enabling students, parents and teachers to connect, share content, access homework, participate in discussions and receive class information. 

We expect this economical and well-researched initiative to increase student engagement, provide more small group/individual instruction, improve critical thinking/problem solving skills, and allow for individualized student pacing.

Watch for a letter coming home this spring with more information!

Science Newsletter 2-23-17

Good evening!

A few science updates...

We've been learning about rocks and now we've learned all 3 types!  We've also learned how all 3 go together to make the rock cycle!  We'll be having a test over the rock cycle on Thursday, March 2.  Students received a list to study and a study guide.  The study guide is due by Wednesday, March 1 but students are welcome to turn them in early if they'd like!  I also have blank copies of the rock cycle on my website under the "My Resources" tab if anyone would like to use that to help them study! 

Here is the list to study for the rock cycle test:

Sedimentary:

*Sedimentary rocks are formed by extreme pressure under large bodies of water over millions of years

*Can form from sediments, the remains of living things, or dissolved minerals.

Igneous:

*Igneous rocks are formed from melted minerals that have cooled and hardened.

*Can form above ground (from lava/volcanoes/form quickly) or below ground (magma/form over millions of years)

*Can have small, large, or no mineral pieces showing

Metamorphic:

*Metamorphic rocks are formed from extreme heat and pressure deep underground over millions of years

*Metamorphic rocks can form from any type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic)

*Can be formed from all 3 types of rocks because all 3 types can be found underground

*Can either have bands or no bands

Rock Cycle:

*Rocks are made of minerals

*Be able to fill in a diagram of the rock cycle (will have the oval rock spaces filled in for you to start you off)

(You'll have a word bank to help you fill in the rest of the rock cycle)

**You will not need to know the names of the sub-categories for each rock

We are nearing the end of earth science in the next few weeks!  We will then spend the last part of the year on physical science topics!

We got to see the Saakumu Dance Troupe from Ghana on Monday!  Their presentation was so entertaining and impressive; it was a great experience for all of us!  Here is a link to a YouTube video about them if you're interested! 

Saakumu Dance Troupe

JMMS is participating in the St. Baldrick's fundraiser this year and we are off to a great start!  So far, the school has been selling wristbands, suckers, and shirts to help raise money for research on childhood cancer.  We are encouraging students to participate and for all of you to attend the event on Sunday, March 12 if you can!  It's a great cause!

Be sure to keep checking your child's online grades to make sure you and your child are aware of how they are doing in their classes!  As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  Have a great evening!