Attention 7th Graders and Parents!

We will be taking a trip to the Post Falls Water Treatment Plant on Thursday, April 5th.

Departure time from Charter: 7:30 am

Return time to Charter 8:55.

Parents will be driving and your student will be assigned to a car for the trip.  Permission slips will be emailed home.

Hey Anyone in My Science Classes!

You are eligible to compete in the 1st Annual KidWind Challenge.  Think you have what it takes to build a wind turbine and make it work….all while challenging other schools in Idaho?  Come to an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 2 at 2:50 in my room.  You must be one of my current students to participate.  Below are the contest requirements.

Idaho KidWind Collaborative 2012 DRAFT
www.kidwind.org
coen.boisestate.edu/windenergy/WfS/KidWind-Collaborative
These rules are a draft document for planning purposes and are subject to change before
the KidWind Collaborative in April 2012.
About the KidWind Challenge
Elementary School Grades 1-5
Middle School    Grades 6 – 8
High School  Grades 9 – 12
Prizes
Since this is a collaboration, winners will not be announced and prizes will not be awarded.
We encourage participating classes to communicate and collaborate about their ideas and
designs via e-mail, Skype, etc.  The final results and all supporting documents will be posted
online (coen.boisestate.edu/windenergy/WfS/KidWind-Collaborative) so students can see
how their turbines compare to other designs from across the state.
Registration
Teachers must register by 3/16/12 to be eligible to participate.  To register, click on
the“Registration” link on coen.boisestate.edu/windenergy/WfS/KidWind-Collaborative
website.  If a teacher is registering multiple teams in the same or different courses/grade
levels, only one registration form is required.  The registration form includes the following
information:
● School and teacher’s name, grade-level(s), course(s), location
● Total number of teams, total number of female and male students participating
● Teacher or class contact info (e-mail and Skype info, if available).
● Authorization to make non-personal contact info available (Contact e-mail and Skype,
if available, grade-level(s), course(s), location) ONLY to other teachers/students also
participating in collaborative
Once teachers register their students, they will receive a confirmation e-mail.  Contact
information for other participating teams will be provided, via e-mail, within one week of
registration if the teacher chose to authorize release of non-personal information.
In order to participate, each team must have their own hub and access to a turbine stand,
KidWind generator, multi-meter, box fan, and wind meter.  Teachers should have these
materials from a teacher training, or they can order additional materials at www.kidwind.org,
from an online retailer or purchase select materials locally.   It may be possible to check out
some of these items at your nearest iSTEM center.

Egg Drop Assignment
The goal of this assignment is to create some sort of lining for an egg to be protected from breakage in a shoe box as the box is dropped from a ladder.
The only real requirements are:
• The box itself may not be altered in any way that provides reinforcement to the structural integrity of the box.
• The box must be a standard shoe box with a removable lid that will be duct taped down after the egg is placed inside.
• The egg will be provided by so it may not be altered prior to the competition.
The Egg Drop will be held in class on Friday, April 6th with the final round coming on April 9th at lunch.

Earth Science Schedule
Nov 4—-topographic map activity
Nov 7—finish topo map activity, grade in class
Nov 8—shortened schedule, finish up Chapter 2
Nov 9—Study Guide Chapter 2 due
Nov 10—Test Chapter 2
Nov 11—Exploravision work day, work on WebpageGraphics on Powerpoint
Nov 14—Topographic map activity
Nov 15—finish activity; Start Chapter 19

Life Science Schedule

Nov 7—Lab: Comparing plant and animal cells
Nov 8—finish lab; Lecture: Cell Theory
Nov 9—-Viruses
Nov 10—Study Guide Chapter 2
Nov 11—Exploravision work day, work on Webpage Graphics on Powerpoint
Nov 14—Test Chapter 2

Hey Seventh Graders!

Don’t worry about that study guide just yet.  We have only barely begun the chapter so it won’t be due until at least November 1.  Have fun with the microscope lab and be patient with the scopes, if you haven’t used one before it does take a little practice!  And speaking of practice, I am not sure if Mr.Johnson told you study your microscope parts and function, but it would probably be a GOOD IDEA!!!

I will return Monday morning….have you started your foldable for Chapter 2 vocabulary?

Have a good weekend!

Mrs.R

Hi 8th Grade Parents!

I am at home with a case of pneumonia…must have been the 4 inches of snow in Idaho Falls when I was there…only had sandals to wear….snow wasn’t predicted, 80 degrees the day before:(

I will not be returning to school until Monday.  I will have the room open at 7:30 for kids to take a last peak at the rocks.  I left some more complete information for my sub to use to help the kids.  I think with one more class period to study most kids will do fine.  The biggest issue they will have is remembering to bring their ‘Rock Books’ to class on Monday because they are due at the time of the test.  The best preparation for the test will be to get a good night’s sleep Sunday night, eat breakfast Monday morning and relax and breathe deep as they take the test.  As always, I have not yet determined whether or not they will be allowed to use their Rock books on the test.  I will make that determination Monday at the start or each class period.  This is another good reason to be sure to bring those Rock books the day of the test!

So have a great weekend and I will see your kids Monday!

Mrs. R

  The ISS may be viewed on the following days.  If your child sights it, they should have you verify they saw it and extra credit may be earned                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               THE FOLLOWING ISS SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM WED SEP 07 TO THU SEP 22

JASON Online ALERT!!

Your child has an online JASON homework assignment.  I have copied the assignment to this email and will post it online. I will post JASON ALERTS on my website and via email.  For the majority of kids the JASON user name is their last name and first initial.  Everyone’s password is rocks.  The assignment can be found in the message box at the top menu bar.  The journal where the notes are to be typed up and saved is on the MY JOURNAL tab.  When that comes up there is a dropdown menu where it says all journal entries.  Click on the drop down and your student’s class journal page will be one of the choices.  When they click on this, a journal will open up and it will look very much like a WORD document.  They can save their journal until they want to hand it in.  This class journal is the only option that will give you a command to save and hand in to teacher.  Good luck to the kids and it is due on September 23.

 Fri,Sep 30

 Friday, Oct 7

ExploraVision is a project where you work as a team to compete in the NSTA/Toshiba ExploraVision contest.  The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to combine their imagination with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of future technology.  It is a contest open to all students of all interest, skill and ability levels in grades kindergarten through grade 12.  All entrants must be citizens of theUnited States orCanada or a legal resident living within theU.S. and its territories, orCanada.

Students will work in teams of two to prepare an entry for the contest.  This team will simulate a Research and Development team.  Each team must have a coach (myself) and may have an adult mentor (optional).  The team will select a technology, or an aspect of a technology, that is present in the home, school and/or community or any other technology relevant to their lives.  Teams may select an idea as simple as a pencil or as complex as a computer.

ExploraVision offers a ready-made tool to put into practice many of the National Science Education Standards — particularly in the areas of “science and technology” and “science in personal and social perspectives.” The competition is also an excellent way for students to learn how to work in collaborative learning groups on an interdisciplinary project. Through the process of putting together an ExploraVision entry, students must apply knowledge gained from lessons in life science, physical science, and earth and space science. The experience will help students understand:

1. The importance of invention in history
2. The scientific breakthroughs required to create an invention
3. The gradual “building block” nature of scientific progress
4. How science relies on the constant improvement of its technological tools in order to progress
5. That all new technologies have both positive and negative impacts on our lives

All of these areas are covered in the science content standards.

Judges look at creativity, scientific accuracy, communication, and feasibility of your group’s vision when they award points.  Present Technology (15 points) History(10 points),  Future Technology (20 points), Breakthroughs (15 points), and Consequences (15 points) make up the body of your Description.  An Abstract ,  a Bibliography(5 points) and 5 simulated Web Page Graphics (20 points) make up the rest of your project.  Pace and plan accordingly.

Each student is limited to one entry per year. Each complete entry must consist of:

• A Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Entry Form, signed by the students, coach and mentor
• An Abstract
• The project description
• Bibliography
• Five simulated web page graphics

Entry materials will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your records. You may photocopy any part of the entry materials. Unfortunately, due to the volume of entries, it is impossible to give individual critiques to entrants.

As recognition for their outstanding achievement, national finalist team members and their parents/guardians will travel to Washington, D.C.in June for ExploraVision Awards Weekend.

ExploraVision prizes include:

• First Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $10,000* at maturity for each student.
• Second Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $5,000* at maturity for each student.
• Regional Prize (24 teams): A Toshiba notebook computer for each regional winning school, and a special gift for each student, teacher and mentor.
• Honorable Mention Recognition

Every student team member who enters the competition with a complete entry will receive a certificate of participation and a small gift. Student entry certificates and gifts will be sent to the coach for distribution. Coaches are encouraged to submit all completed ExploraVision projects so that every student can be recognized for his or her effort.

Each team member will turn in rough drafts of each of the items in the description.  The final product should be a melding of ideas together into one final paper.

Check-in Dates to know…Assignments will be due at the end of the hour on each Monday listed and computer time will be available during class

Monday, September 19       Group of 2 students, topic, and mentor (optional) identified;

no changes will be permitted.

Friday, September 30         Work on Projects

Monday, October 3           Rough draft for Present Technology;

Rough draft for History due.

Monday, October 17              Rough draft for Future Technology; this is the main body of the project so it has focus of its own.

Friday, October 28           Work day in class

Monday, October 31          Breakthroughs should provide the answers to “Why doesn’t this technology exist today?”

Consequences  “What are the positive and negative consequences our

new technology could bring?”  (Simple, concise responses

are needed!)

Friday November 11          Workday in class

Friday, November 18         Workday in class

Monday, November 21        Rough draft/ideas labeled for Web Page Graphics due.

Rough draft Bibliographyand Abstract  due.

Friday, December 2           Work on final draft

Monday-Wednesday,

December 5-7                 Work on final draft  

December 7                    Final Draft due typed copy of  “Description” (includes

Abstract, Present Technology, History, Future Technology,

                                Breakthroughs, Consequences, Design Process and

“Bibliography”; final version of the five Web Page

                                Graphics.

This is what your project grade will be based upon!

Monday and Tuesday January 9 & 10  Polish contest copy (not for a grade)

Tuesday, January 10          Contest copy due…..no exceptions!

Project Components

Abstract is an introduction and conclusion to your project.  You will want to catch the reader’s attention, or in this case the Judges’ attention by introducing what your ideas are intended to do.  This must be summed up in 150 words or less and is not a part of the actual Description portion of the project.

Project Description—final components of this must be assembled in this order!

Present Technology—this component will tell the current state of technology of whatever it is the project team has chosen for an idea.  References must be cited in MLA format.

History—tells the reader of how this technology arrived at its present state of technology.  For instance, if the present technology is that of a pencil, one would trace the beginnings of the pencil, possibly as far back as cavemen.  References must be cited in MLA format.

******FUTURE TECHNOLOGY—this is where the imagination of the team is necessary.  The team describes their idea of tomorrow in depth. You probably will not need to reference anything here because this is based upon your own ideas.

Breakthroughs—The team explores why this invention does not exist today and provides answers (really just guesses) as to what needs to be overcome to make this idea a reality.

Consequences—The team must come up with both positive and negative consequences the idea could bring. The team must realize that any new technology, whatever it may be, has positive and negative consequences as the technology is utilized in the real world.

The description must also meet the following requirements:

        Title at top of description

Typed, double spaced

Ten or fewer pages

Standard printer paper

In English

New Times Roman or Comic Sans 12 point font ONLY!

Bibliography—minimum of 5 different resources that you must provide ALL DOCUMENTATION for in the body of your paper.  ANY IDEAS, FACTS, PHRASES, PICTURES,ETC THAT ARE NOT YOUR OWN MUST BE REFERENCED BOTH IN YOUR PAPER AND WITH A BIBLIOGRAPHY/WORKS CITED PAGE!

Web Page Graphics—These are ideas put on paper that would simulate an actual web page.  You are not required to design your own website, but your idea must look like a web site on paper.  You MUST have 5 pages, no more, no less.  Any deviation from this could cause your entry to be pulled from consideration!