Thursday, February 2nd --- 7th Grade Extra Credit
Graphite and diamond are not the only two allotropes of carbon. Can you find
at least two more? What are they called? How are the crystal structures
different from diamond and graphite? What are they used for? Use the
Internet or reference materials to help you research, and write a brief
paragraph describing what you’ve found.
Due Friday, February 3rd!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
7th grade will have a quiz this Friday covering the vocabulary from Mission
1 -- Tectonic Fury. On my download documents page you will find the
vocabulary list complete with definitions as well as review questions.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Welcome back to school! I hope all of you had an enjoyable winter break.
The first homework assignment is due Tuesday, January 10th. Students were
given a copy of the 7th grade science standards and a printout of their 1st
semester grades to analyze and write an Essay that includes the following
information:
Science Essay: Due Tuesday, January 10th
1.Introduction paragraph …
a.What is my objective ---
i.Students will analyze their first semester performance in terms of
final grades and standards learned.
2.Analyze and reflect on your first semester performance.
a.What were your grades? T1, T2, and S1
b.Did these grades meet your expectations and did they meet your parent’s
expectations?
c.What grade will you achieve this quarter (q3), quarter 4, and semester 2?
(What are your goals?)
3.Analyze grade 7 standards.
a.What have we covered so far?
b.How did you learn the material?
c.What do you still need to learn?
4.Closing paragraph …
a.Summarize what you have written related to the objective stated.
Monday, December 19th
Happy Holiday's from Me to YOU!
This week my 8th grade classes will be participating in their first JunkBox
Wars competition. The competition is titled "Zoom Machines." We will start
off watching an episode of Junkyard Wars to get students acquainted with the
process and in doing so they will analyze how teams work together and resolve
conflicts encountered during the process.
Wednesday will be the "build day" where they will be working in groups to
design and build their "Zoom Machine" using only the supplies on the list and
the quantities listed.
Possible supplies include: CD's, dowel rods, pencils, straws, spools, film
canisters, rubber bands, plastic containers, milk cartons, masking tape, hot
glue, index cards, paper, and pipe cleaners.
Check out the JunkBox Wars page NewsFlash..
Tuesday, November 22nd
I would like to wish all my students and their families a Happy
Thanksgiving...
REMINDER -- Metric Conversion packets are due on Monday if you wish to
improve you current grade.
See you Monday!
Tuesday, November 15th
7th Grade Assignment: Due Monday, November 21st
We’ve been working on an envelope investigation where students made
observations/inferences of antique envelopes/postcards then created a flow
chart to illustrate the Sequencing the Events
The sequence should include information about…
– the origin of the envelope
– the sender
– when and where it was mailed
– where it traveled
– duration of the travel
– who received it and where
– any information about the recipient
For the next task they are putting this information into a narrative (story
format) to illustrate the journey of their mail.
Develop Envelope History -- Your task is to develop a narrative account (aka
story) describing as much of the history of the envelope as you can infer.
– Hint… you may even want to think about the tree that was cut down to make
the paper for the envelope if you want to be really thorough.
Use your flow chart to guide you through this process and be as creative as
you can..
The completed assignment is due on Monday, November 21st.
Interesting article for 7th graders to read titled "Tracing a gem’s origins"
found on Science News for Kids website... A must
read...http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/335742/title/FOR_KIDS_Tracin
g_a_gem%E2%80%99s_origins
November 2nd
Glencoe Red Chapter 2 on Measurement and Metric System is now available as a
PDF file on my download documents page. Scroll down to the bottom and click
to open the file.
November 1st
7th and 8th grade students are now studying different curriculum. Please
check their planners and my web page for updates and information. 8th graders
completed a Physics pre-test today and 7th graders started our FOSS Earth
History module with Investigation 1 - Pushing the Envelope.
On Friday, November 4th, both 7th and 8th grade classes will take a test
covering chapter 2 material on Measuring and the Metric System. They have a
review packet that is also due Friday and worth up to 20 points if it is
complete. Should your child need to complete their packet for Friday they can
check out a textbook or use the online textbook (links are available on the
download documents page). http://glencoe.com/ose/ the code is F22EC11F62
***7th Grade Extra Credit Opportunity -- Create a classification system for
your Halloween Treats that includes at least 5 levels. Due Wednesday,
November 2nd. Worth up to 20 points EC.***
October 19th
I would like to thank parents/guardians who took time out of their busy days
and nights to come and meet with me this week. If you still have questions
please feel free to call and set up a time to meet with me. Most of all,
enjoy your Fall break, relax and come back refreshed and ready to work hard.
Starting Monday, October 24th the 8th grade classes will be working on our
Force and Motion curriculum and the 7th grade classes will begin our Earth
History unit. With each new unit new vocabulary naturally comes and we will
continue to have vocabulary quizzes weekly as such. Please note, it will be
important to review your notes nightly as we learn new information.
See you on Monday.
September 30th
HOMEWORK -- DUE OCT. 3rd
Assignment Information: Using the data provided in class (also located for
download on the "download documents" page) students are required to create a
"scale" drawing of the our classroom including all furniture. Make sure
labels are present and accurate. This was discussed in class.
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY -- DUE OCT. 3rd
Assignment information: Using the data provided, create a scale diagram of a
different classroom configuration. This must be creative and utilize space in
an effective way. All labels must be present, lines need to be drawn with a
ruler or straight edge. Colored pencils should be used to colorize the
sketch. In order to receive the maximum points, make sure the work is done to
the highest standard.
September 29th
Today students were informed that I am allowing them to increase their grades
by completing missing assignments. The one requirement I have is they need to
do the assignments in my classroom after school. Should your student choose
to come in after school to complete missing assignments they will receive full
credit for each assignment completed. I am making myself available after
school on Thursday, September 29th, Friday, September 30th, Monday, October
3rd, and Wednesday, October 5th.
Again, in order to receive credit they must complete the assignment in my
classroom during one of the days listed above.
September 28th
Homework: Writing Prompt and Reflection
Part I
Explain how and why scientists use the skills of modeling and predicting then
describe the importance of how models help us to better understand scientific
concepts.
Part II
Explain what Carl Sagan means when he says "you have to know the past in order
to predict the future."
Students will have their first notebook check worth 50 points on Thursday,
September 8th. Please check to make sure your table of contents is up to
date, all papers are glued or taped in their designated place, all pages are
numbered, notebook is neat and organized, and the first page of your book has
been personalized.
Parents/Guardians:
Many students are showing up unprepared for class. In order to be prepared
students are expected to have their science notebook, a pencil, their science
folder or a place in their binder, a planner, and any assignments that are
due. If your student has a D or an F in science class they are most likely
missing work and/or turning in late assignments.
Homework should be expected nightly and rarely are students given class time
to complete it. If you have questions please check PowerSchool or you can
email me directly.
On Monday, September 12th students have their first formal lab write-up due.
8th Graders will complete "The Great Bubble Gum Challenge" and 7th Graders
will complete "Consumer Challenge, A Paper Towel Experiment". Today they
received a packet to assist them in completing the assignment that includes a
detailed rubric, lab report guidelines, a sample analysis/conclusion and
reflection, and 2 sheets of graph paper. The report must be completed in
pencil. Please review the rubric and guidelines. You can find sample lab
reports on my web page in the "download documents" section.
As always please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
August 23rd, 2011:
Welcome back to school! So far the year is off to an awesome start and I am
so excited to be at Meadows. I am amazed and impressed with my students, they
are role models for citizenship.
This Friday, the 25th, students will have their first Weekly Science Current
Event due. Please remember that the age of the article is not critical
however the article must be science related.
On Friday, September 2nd students will take their first vocabulary quiz on
word parts, Suffixes. Additionally they will need to create flash cards each
week as well.
Please contact me if you have questions.
July 2011:
Welcome and thank you for visiting my web page. The 2011/2012 school year is
just around the corner. This year I will be teaching 7th and 8th grade
science at Madison Meadows. I am very excited about this opportunity and look
forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to this school as well as
working collaboratively with Ms. Bloom and Mrs. Van Cott.
We will start out the school year discussing what science is and learning
about scientific processes. I believe in the hands-on approach to learning as
well as making the learning process real, relevant, and most of all FUN! I
look forward to meeting all my new students and their families.
Thought to ponder; Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe
around him and calls the adventure Science. ~Edwin Powell Hubble, The Nature
of Science, 1954
See you soon.
Mrs. McKee
May 7, 2011
Time has flown this year and we are now in the final weeks of the school
year. Friday, May 13th students will take their unit test covering our Space
unit. Thursday, May 12 will be the final notebook check.
Do you have any missing assignments? If so, please make sure they are
completed and turned in by Friday, May 13th. If there are any missing
assignments after the 13th you will miss out on "JunkBox Wars" the final week
of school. Students who have missing assignments will use the time the rest
of the class is working on JunkBox Wars to complete any missing work.
Check out the NEWS FLASH page for more information about JunkBox Wars.
April 4, 2011
Check out the FAQ page for Professor Noggins Outer Space facts and trivia
questions.
March 19, 2011
Spring break is nearly over and boy did it go fast. We are down to the last
9 weeks of school so we have a lot of work to get done before the year is
finished. We will make "Magic Crystals" and analyze which type of solution
will grow the largest crystals and while we watch them grow we will move on
to our Astronomy Unit to learn about the Earth from space as well as the
other bodies in our solar system. When finished with this unit we will move
onto ecology.
February 18, 2011
Lab Notebooks were graded this week. Check with your student to see how
their notebook stacked up. Why do we use science notebooks? Research shows
science notebooks help students develop, practice, and refine their science
understanding, while also enhancing reading, writing, mathematics and
communication skills.
Why Is a Science Interactive Notebook Important?
Science Interactive Notebooks are important for many reasons. The first is
that writing is an integral part of the process of learning science. By
using notebooks, students model one of the most vital and enduring functions
of scientists in all disciplines – recording information, figures, and data.
Scientists across the world record their observations, data, and conclusions,
as well as comments on their research, readings and reflections. They rely
on their notes, figures and diagrams when sharing their findings with
colleagues and when preparing papers to share their work with the scientific
community. The notebooks of famous scientists such as Galileo and Einstein
have become part of the world’s cultural heritage.
A second reason for maintaining a Science Interactive Notebook is that it
provides the student with a ready reference for each unit as well as a
resource to consult when reviewing materials at the end of the unit.
Keeping a notebook enhances students’ writing skills. It gives them practice
in organizing material and in expressing themselves clearly. At the same
time, notebook writing can encourage students to connect science with other
areas of the curriculum. A Science Interactive Notebook also encourages
creativity. Extensions in the notebook can include any of the following;
poems; cartoon drawings; figure drawings; stories; songs; and notes from
research on any given topic.
Another advantage of the notebooks is that they get students more involved in
science. Students assume ownership of their notebooks. Students are
required to bring their notebooks with them to science class daily, to add
work and review their notes. With each new entry, their sense of pride in
what they have accomplished grows. Their confidence in science learning, as
well as in their overall knowledge and skills, also grows. They are becoming
life-long learners.
Lastly, the science notebook offers the teacher a unique means of assessing
student progress in the classroom. The notebook, beginning with the first
lesson of the unit and continuing to its conclusion, is a tool that can be
used to assess the growth in students’ understanding of science as well as in
their ability to summarize and express their thoughts and feelings.
Think as a scientist … Record as a scientist … And reflect as a scientist!
http://jyounghewes.tripod.com/science_notebooks.html
January 3, 2011
Happy New Year. Dear parents and students, after trying to find creative
ways to deal with students not turning in homework assignments I have decided
to implement a new policy. Students who do not turn in assignments when they
are due will receive at the most half credit and will be assigned after
school detention to be served with me on the Monday following the missing
assignment(s). I understand there are circumstances beyond control and those
situations will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students are given a
week to complete most assignments so they know well in advance. Current
event forms are always available in my classroom and as a reminder, if your
child should wish to complete them electronically they need to be able to
print them using the form provided. Your child is being required to fill out
their planner on Monday with the weekly agenda including any assignments that
will be due during the week. I am assigning 5 points for this task and will
be checking to make sure they are indeed completing this assignment.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
December 3, 2010
Monday, December 6th students will be re-taking the last test on Rocks and
Minerals. Here is a link to online resources to study and take practice
quizzes and tests.
http://glencoe.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/0078778026/student_view0/unit1/chapter3/section_1_self-
check_quiz-eng_.html#quest2
Please note the cutoff for all missing and incomplete assignments will be
December 10th. Anything received after that day will be recorded as a zero.
November 6, 2010
We are now midway through the second quarter and working on our FOSS Earth
History Module. We will continue to have weekly vocabulary assigned
including vocabulary flash cards and quizzes.
*Parents please continue to check your child's planner to make sure they
are filling out our weekly agenda posted on the board every Monday.
*Please remember your child has homework assigned a minimum of 1-2 times
per week and if they do not have it or it is incomplete they will be assigned
lunch and learn for that day or the next day if they are in my afternoon
classes. Current events and vocabulary are due weekly unless otherwise noted
by me and in that case it would not be in their planner...
*Please note if your child has any missing or incomplete assignments in
any class they will not be eligible for the PAWS reward trip at the end of
the quarter. Students will have one week after the assignment was due to
complete it and received up to half credit.
*Any student who needs help and/or has make-up work to complete is
welcome to come after school on Monday from 3:15 - 4:15.
September 27, 2010
We are in week 8 of the first quarter....Whew....where did time go?
*Parents please continue to check your child's planner to make sure they
are filling out our weekly agenda posted on the board every Monday.
*We are continuing with Science Process Skills and have covered
observing, inferring, classifying, predicting, and making models. We will
continue to work on this for a few more weeks before we get into the Earth
History unit.
*Please remember your child has homework assigned a minimum of 1-2 times
per week and if they do not have it or it is incomplete they will be assigned
lunch and learn for that day or the next day if they are in my afternoon
classes. Current events and vocabulary are due weekly unless otherwise noted
by me and in that case it would not be in their planner...
*Please note if your child has any missing or incomplete assignments in
any class they will not be eligible for the PAWS reward trip on October 14th
and they have until October 5th to get any of those assignments in.
September 5, 2010
We are about half way through the first quarter and working on the Scientific
Process - Science Skills. Parents, please check to see if your child is
using their planner to keep track of daily learning in science. Students
seem to be adjusting to life in the seventh grade and most are turning in
their assignments. Homework is assigned 2-3 days per week. Regular weekly
homework assignments include a science related current event and vocabulary.
I am giving students a one week break from vocabulary and a current event
this week only...
August 23, 2010
Students received information for their first project of the year that is due
on Tuesday, September 7th and worth 200 points. This project is an individual
effort and will need to be completed outside of class. Students were given a
menu of topics and items to choose from. Only one item from the menu should
be chosen to work on. Please be sure to read all instructions and pay
attention to the rubric on the reverse side. Please remember if you have
questions or need assistance (i.e. a computer for research) I am available
before or after school, just make arrangements before you come.
August 26, 2010
The weekly current event form will no longer be available to complete
electronically. I am unable to print the documents for them at school.
August 2010
Every week students will have an ongoing assignment. Each student will be
required to turn in a "Science Related" current event including a
completed "Science Current Event Form". The form is available in the
classrom and can be found on my "Download Documents" page on this website.
This assignment is worth 25 points and each student is expected to turn one
per week in.
If a student is absent, they are expected to turn the current event in on
Monday or the the day they return to class. Magazines and articles are
available in class for students who don't have access to computers at home.
If a student knows about an absence ahead of time it is recommended they turn
their assignment in beforehand. This assignment is not optional and could
result in reducing a students grade significantly.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Welcome Back to School!
I have an exciting year of science planned for you. I plan to
make your experience with science this year unforgettable!
To get yourself prepared for the first day of school I would like you to
start thinking about the following questions:
1. What is Science?
2. What does a scientist look like?
3. How does science affect our life everyday?
4. How have inventions like the cell phone, microwave, IPOD’s, CD's,
and the Internet affected our lives?
June 24, 2010
Thank you for visiting my web page. For the 2010/2011 school year I will be
teaching 2 sections of Health and Nutrition, one 8th grade section and 1 5th
grade section. I am very excited about this and look forward to bringing
prior knowledge and skills to this subject. Look for information and updates
on the main web page on Health and Nutrition.