April 23, 2012
Field trip forms for the Phoenix Art Museum have been handed out. Please
return signed forms by Friday,April 27, 2012. Test on the human skeletal
names and locations will be on Wednesday. In social studies,students need to
memorize Preamble to the Constitution by Monday, April 30, 2012.
Constitutional Pamphlet is due this Wednesday.
Upcoming Events:
SRP Visit April 30th
Phoenix Art Museum Field Trip May 3rd
Solar Oven Due Date May 14th
April 20, 2012
AIMS week is over! I want to thank the students for doing their best, as well
as the parents that donated snacks for AIMS week.
The remaining time this week was learning about the following Arizona Standards:
Strand 4: Life Science
Life Science expands students’ biological understanding of life by focusing on
the characteristics of living things, the diversity of life, and how organisms
and populations change over time in terms of biological adaptation and
genetics. This understanding includes the relationship of structures to their
functions and life cycles, interrelationships of matter and energy in living
organisms, and the interactions of living organisms with their environment.
Concept 1: Structure and Function in Living Systems
Understand the relationships between structures and functions of organisms.
PO 1. Identify the functions and parts of the skeletal system:
• protection – rib cage, cranium
• support – vertebrae
• movement – pelvis, femur, hip
PO 2. Identify the following types of muscles:
• cardiac – heart
• smooth – stomach
• skeletal – biceps
PO 3. Identify the functions and parts of the nervous system:
• control center – brain
• relay mechanism – spinal cord
• transport messages – nerves
PO 4. Distinguish between voluntary and involuntary responses
Students should be working on their solar ovens. They should be researching
designs, and be in the process of building. Students should test prior to
the Solar Cooking Special Day on May 15th. All solar cookers are due on May 14th.
Students have the written directions, information, and grade sheet.
April 12, 2012
Students have started working on the Solar Energy Unit. Their major project
is to design, build , and test a working solar oven, due on May 14, 2012.
Students have a rubric and instructions. The big testing day for the solar
ovens will be on May 15th.
Next weeks is AIMS Week.
Students have begun their solar energy unit beginning with an SRP "ejourney".
This online program allows the students to learn by "traveling back in time"
about the history and uses of solar energy. Students need to complete an
"ejourney" packet to decode important information about solar energy. This
week, students will also be obtaining information on their solar cooker
project. Remember,there is no school this Friday, April 6, 2012.
Progress reports will be handed out this Wednesday.
March 21, 2012
Students designed, built and tested a "Mars Lander" project that was dropped
from a height of fifteen feet. The objective was for the lander (actually a
water balloon) to survive the fall. A total of four projects survived the
fall. One lander actually survived a total of three falls. We will be
finishing the variables unit this week. We will begin reviewing science word
problems for AIMS before beginning our unit on solar energy.
Next Science in the News is due Wednesday of Tuesday of next week worth 200
points. Students need to get my approval on the article before completing.
Please look for the extra credit assignment on the "Assignment" link.
March 6, 2012
We continue to examine through experimentation how independent variables have
an effect on the outcome of a dependent variable . This is done by flying a
classroom built "airplane" across a flight line to gather data and graph the
results.
Students also will be having homework regarding the scientific method.
In social studies, students did very well on their projects. The dioramas,
plays and game activities created were very well done and shows the students
understanding of the French and Indian War.
On March 7, 2012, many students will be going on the PAWS Reward Trip.
Students staying back will have a reading piece on the innovations of Flight.
Please remember that Spring Break is next week.
February 19, 2012
We are working on the science of inquiry; collecting information, asking
questions, developing an hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, analyzing data
and developing a conclusion. How? We have studied pendulums. What variables
change the number of cycles a pendulums make? Was it the mass? Was it the
the release angle? Was it the length of the pendulum? The students know based
on testing the hypothesis. The inverse relationship occurs: the shorter the
length of the pendulum , the greater the number of the cycles. The longer the
length of the pendulum, the shorter the number of cycles.
This past week, we have studied lifeboats, again, asking questions, developing
an hypothesis, testing it, analyzing the data, and concluding that there is a
relationship between the capacity of a boat and the number of passengers it
can hold.
Next week, we will read about density and buoyancy, as well as beginning
working with airplanes and studying about the variables of wing length.
We will be having science homework this week. Please look on the Assignments
schedule.
Please remember to look over the planner and sign each week. Thank you.
January 23, 2012
Students are learning about the different characteristics of the planets and
how to determine their individual weight as it relates to each of the planets.
Students will be creating "craters" to help explore meteorites and asteroids.
Comets will also be discussed. Next week, we start variables.
January 13, 2011
How far does light travel in a year? What are the Highlands and the Maria
regions of the Moon? What is an astronomical unit?, How does gravity affect
the weight of objects on different planets? What is a meteoroid? These are
just some of the questions students are studying during our space unit. They
are completing activities and packets that directly relate to the fifth grade
science standards.
Thanks to all who participated in Fifth Grade Space Night. It was a great
success.
December 14, 2011
We have just completed our Mixtures and Solutions unit in science. The
students were very excited to learn about chemical reactions. The next Science
in the News is due on December 19th, and we begin our Space unit next week.
We have some exciting news! On January 10, 2012 ( yes, 2012), we will have an
event for fifth graders at #1 that will be out of this world: Space Night!
Telescope viewing
Space memorabilia
How a Rocket Works and Meteorite Mysteries Classes
Distance Model of the Solar System
No school on Monday, January 16, 2012.
Updated Nov. 18th
Any students who have missing work was given a missing work report sheet on
Monday.
Updated November 17, 2011
This week, we have been learning about concentration of solutions and how we
can compare concentration of solutions by simplifying fractions and testing
using a balance scale.
Students will have a response sheet that they need to complete and show their
work. (page #12 in the packet). This is due on Friday.
We will continue to test mystery solutions for concentration on Monday and
Tuesday of next week.
Students in social studies are creating an illustrated summary on Spain
building an Empire (Chapter four) that is due Friday.
Students will have a test over chapter four on Monday in social studies. They
will be able to use notes.
Please remember that Wednesday through Friday is Thanksgiving Break,and there
will be no school.
Please remember that the Thanksgiving Food Drive – Turkeys and Trimmings -
sponsored by PTO continues through November 18th.
The seventh grade Civil War Night is from 6:00-7:30 on Thursday.
Updated November 8, 2011
The class is continuing to investigate the behavior of solid materials in
water, gain experience with the concept of saturation and comparing the
solubility of materials in water.
In social studies, we are studying the purposes of Columbus's voyages to the
to the Americas. Define the Columbian Exchange and explain causes and rffects,
and explain the impact of Columbus's voyage on the Americas.
Field Day is Thursday. No School this Friday-Veteran's Day.
Updated October 31, 2011
This week , we continue with mixtures and solutions by investigating the
behavior of solid materials in water.
We will have a test on chapter three in social studies and start on chapter
four on Tuesday.
There is a Thanksgiving Food Drive-Cleaning supplies sponsored by the PTO in
progress.
Science in the News is due on November 14, 2011. Students need a completed
web page, and one page summary.
---------------------
This week, we continue to work on mixtures and solutions, while we observe
salt crystals.
Please remember Wednesday is a half day for conferences. Thursday and Friday
is Fall Break.
Please sign and return the report card envelopes sent out on Friday.
This week students are participating in "Junkbox Wars", an activity in which
students develop viable solutions to a need or problem using common materials.
On Monday, students built a structure that is to hold the most number of
pennies without falling over. Tuesday, they will be testing the structure,
and Thursday, they will evaluate their ability to develop a solution.
There will be a half day early release on October 7, 2011 at 11:35 a.m.
Faculty Follies will be October 13, from 6:30-8:00.
Picture Day Retakes will be Oct 6th for any students absent or new students.
Updated September 27, 2011
We have just completed the unit on levers and pulleys. I was overall very
happy with the classes new knowledge and their abilities to demonstrate their
new knowledge in a variety of ways. We will be competing in a "Junkbox Wars"
on Friday and Monday before starting our next unit; Mixtures and Solutions.
In social studies, we will be finishing chapter one this week. Next week, we
begin to study the Native Americans of North America.
Please remember it is a half day release on September 28, 2011.
FACULTY FOLLIES....SEE YOUR TEACHERS ON STAGE! October 13, 2011 6:00-8:30!
Revised Sept. 19, 2011
This week, we continue to study pulley systems. Students will formulate a
rule as to the effort needed to lift a load based on the number of ropes used.
They will also look at the distance of effort used to lift the load a certain
distance.
Originally, I told the students the test will be Thursday or Friday. I need
to reschedule the test for Monday, Sept. 26th.
In social studies, students are working on their creating their own "time
capsule" using "artifacts".
Please remember that Wednesday, September 21st is a half day 11:30 release.
Revised 9-11-2011
This week, student continue to demonstrate their knowledge on Pulley systems,
as well as being introduced to the Science in the News report. This report
directly relates to the fifth grade science standards:
Strand 2: History and Nature of Science
Scientific investigation grows from the contributions of many people. History
and Nature of Science emphasizes the importance of the inclusion of historical
perspectives and the advances that each new development brings to technology
and human knowledge. This strand focuses on the human aspects of
science and the role that scientists play in the development of various
cultures.
Concept 2: Nature of Scientific Knowledge
Understand how science is a process for generating knowledge
PO 2. Explain the cycle by which new scientific knowledge generates new
scientific inquiry.
PO 3. Describe how scientific knowledge is subject to modification and/or
change as new information/technology
challenges prevailing theories
Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives emphasizes developing the ability
to design a solution to a problem, to understand the relationship between
science and technology, and the ways people are involved in both. Students
understand the impact of science and technology on human activity and the
environment. This strand affords students the opportunity to understand their
place in the world – as living creatures, consumers, decision makers, problem
solvers, managers, and planners
Concept 2: Science and Technology in Society
Develop viable solutions to a need or problem.
PO 1. Describe the relationship between science and technology.
PO 2. Explain how scientific knowledge, skills, and technological
capabilities are integral to a variety of careers.
Students will have a math related science problem relating to pulleys. It
will be worth 25 extra credit points. They will also have their first science
n the news report due next Wednesday. We will be going over this on
Wednesday.
Grades for their science posters on lever systems will be posted this week.
Homework page will be updated.
In social studies, students will be having some homework as well on Chapter 1,
lesson 3.
Revised 9-7-2011
Students are doing a fine job with building pulley systems. Students build
both a single fixed and single movable pulley systems. They are able to tell
whether or not the pulley system has mechanical or directional advantage.
We will continue to work with pulley systems through next week. Students will
be building their own pulley systems at home, as well.
Progress reports go home this week. Please sign and return the form.
In social studies , we continue to learn about migration.
Revised 8/29/2011
This week, we continue our explorations with different lever systems and look
at real world examples of levers. In social studies, we will have an
assessment over the map skill activities completed in class and for homework.
On Thursday , we will begin our lessons from Building a Nation textbook.
Health screening is on Monday. Next Monday is Labor Day....no school.
Revised 8-22-2011
Wow, what a great second week of school! We are learning so much about
levers. Did you know that there are three types of lever systems? The
students will be learning about class 1, 2, and 3 type lever systems.
In social studies we are reviewing globe and atlas skills.
Remember, picture day is August 25th!
Revised 8-15-2011
We had a great first week. Students worked in teams to create mission patches.
They also wrote a letter to send out to people they know to acquire knowledge
of the fifty states. We went over the school rules and learned the six
pillars of character for school success.
This week, we will be learning about levers and pulleys, and begin to use the
Atlas and maps to gather and analyze information.
Please remember that Back to School Night is Tuesday night, August 16th from
6:00-8:30
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As I start my fifteenth year teaching, I am looking forward to teaching your
child science and/or social studies. I started out teaching fourth grade at
Simis Elementary for four years before taking a position at the NASA Dryden
Flight Research Center as an Aerospace Educational Specialist. I returned
back to the classroom, teaching sixth grade at #1, while still working as a
contractor as a Lunar meteorite Specialist. For the last seven years, I
taught eighth grade science at #1. This year, I wanted a new , but familiar
challenge of teaching the fifth graders at #1.
I am very excited about what your child will be studying. For science, the
inquiry process will be taught, as well as, the history and nature of
science,structure and function in living systems properties and changes in
matter, gravity, friction, and Earth in the solar system.
We will also be planning a Space Science Adventure Night(s) at school.
In social studies, we will be studying concepts for mastery in skills relating
to American history, world history, civics and governments,geography, and
economics.
The complete science standards and social studies standards can be found on
the link section of our school website. While information is on the website,
all information for all students will be found in their planner. Please look
over their planner nightly to provide a parent signature. This ensures the
best communication between you and the teachers.
Back to school night will provide more information to you on August 16th., but
please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. The class website is
http://teacherweb.com/AZ/Madison1/LazarusScienceGrade8 (for right now, please
enter, as it states). It is the fifth grade website.
Sincerely,
Robert Lazarus
Fifth grade Science/ Social Studies
(602) 664-7145
rlazarus@msd38.org