The Potential to be Kinetic!

Today's highlight was definitely experimenting with potential and kinetic energy. The scholars observed while we took sodium bicarbonate and mixed it with ascorbic acid to produce kinetic energy from potential energy. The highest result was about 30 feet in the air.

Scholars also took the chapter two math test today and performed quite well. We will begin chapter three on Monday.
Tomorrow scholars have a spelling and vocabulary test. They will also continue working on paragraphs in class so that we can move into essay writing next week.

Scholars have a list of materials that they can begin collecting at home. Those materials need to come to school on October 7th so that the scholars can design and build musical instruments as a class. Please keep the list somewhere where family members can see it and add to a bag any items they find. This is always an enjoyable activity for scholars. They will be discussing pitch, volume, and resonance that day. Mrs. Cardinal will be subbing.

look up!

four tablets!

Quick!

 

On to the Last Week in September!

Time is flying by and scholars are busy getting ready for our first Forensics Tournament to be held October 9th. Be looking for an email from Mrs. Baker in reference to how you can help! Thank you for making these experiences so rich for your scholars!

We will be having a science test next week on Tuesday and our Hero Projects are due on Tuesday. We will be starting those project presentations first thing in the morning. If you would like to come and watch your scholar, please communicate with me and I will have him or her ready to go when you can be here. I am looking forward to hearing about our many heroes!

Wednesday (25th) is photo day! Students are to be in their regular dress code, but if hair cuts are in order, or a pretty hair bow, know that these are the photos that will be used for the yearbook.

Enjoy a restful weekend!

Put a Little Light on the Subject!

The last couple days have been crazy busy in the suite. There are some announcements that we need to highlight even though students are aware of them:

The science test scheduled for Thursday will move to next Tuesday. We have a bit more to finish with light and I want to review heat before the test.

The October Field Trip has been moved to October 10th, a Thursday. I will send more information as soon as I have details. We will need drivers. It will be a couple hours in the afternoon in Ogden. The suspense is building....

The October Forensics Tournament has been moved to October 9th, a Wednesday. We originally had it on the schedule for the 16th, right before UEA days, but that won't work for other schools, so we are moving it a week earlier. Please take note as all scholars need to be present at this first tournament. The tournament will start at 6:00 sharp, scholars are welcome to stay at school to prepare for the tournament after school. There will be concessions available. We hope to be finished by 9:00 p.m.

The first photos you will see tonight are from the first debate class where we ran a student congress. Students debated the a bill concerning banning plastic recyclable water bottles. Speeches were well defined and questioning was rapid. Scholars are getting the hang of argumentation and how to present their points.

The second set of photos are from science lab outside where we broke up white light into it's elements, ROYGBIV and students recorded what they saw. The next photos are from when we went inside and discovered the difference between color and light. We took red, blue, and green markers and colored one on top of the other on the board to create a brownish gray color. We then hypothesized what would happen if we took the same colors of LIGHT and mixed them. Most thought it would end up brown or gray.
We performed the experiment for the students to discover white light, which led the discussion on photons, what they are, and how they produce energy that we call light. Scholars will take a test on heat and light next week.

Cody Baker sponsoring  a bill

Grace Collings - Neg Speech

Faith Christiansen - Aff speech

Splitting light

Enjoying the spectrum

playing with white light

On the Move.....

Our math test originally scheduled for today will be moved to Tuesday of next week since I will be out of the classroom this morning and Mrs. Cardinal will be subbing for me. The students can use a bit more time mastering this unit, so it works for all of us!

Thank you for sending in all the necessary paperwork that we needed for the files. I believe we have all if it now. :)

The Forensics tournament date has to be moved due to UEA days. I will be firming up the date with Ms. Downs today, but I am thinking we are going to move it to October 9th. Saying that, we are going to be in need of judges for that afternoon/evening to judge the event. I will train judges, and I know some parents are already skilled in Forensics. Please email me if you would be available that day (Wednesday the 9th) from 4:00 to about 9:00 that evening. Thank you for your help planning this event.
We will need some crock pot meals brought in, or sandwiches, snack trays, for our judges as I will train them from 4:00 to 5:00 and then we will get the tournament underway. If there is a parent in the class that would like to head this event up for me, please contact me via email and we will get started. I will need volunteers to man the cafeteria (holding room), sell concessions to the students, man the hallways for students who are lost, etc.

We are in the midst of testing our NWEA exams for the start of the year. Once all testing is complete Mr. Keddington and I will be sending out invitations for the Math Counts Team. Please be watching the blog for more information.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

We had our first assembly this morning and the scholars were entertained with the Jeopardy game that Mr. Petersen put together. We reviewed all the expectations of GFA, the pledge, and the voice levels in the school. It was a productive assembly and we are all ready for the weekend!

Scholars should be working on their hero projects, finishing up reading, choosing their project, and getting all the supplies that are needed.

MONDAY is an NWEA test at 10:00. Please be sure your scholar has plenty of sleep Sunday night and has a good breakfast on Monday. I appreciate your partnership to help your scholar be the best he or she can be!

O Beautiful for Spacious Skies

Mr. Petersen getting excited about Jeopardy

Our amazing aides!

Sixth grade Jeopardy team

Science Tastes Terrific!

The sun cooperated with us and we were able to bake our s'mores out in our solar ovens on Wednesday.  We will be discussing the process of heat transfer and energy as we continue the unit.

We are also working on our original oratory speeches and your scholars are writing their first minute this evening. We will continue working to prepare for our tournament in October.

Here is the schedule of assignments and dates for this month:

6 - Assembly on Respect/spell and vocab tests
9 - NWEA Language, 10:00
10 - History/Geography test/Deserts
11 - minutes 1-2 due of oratory/ NWEA math, 1:00
12 - Math test chapter 1
13 - Spell/vocab tests
16 - Latin test/ get all supplies for Hero Project
17 - Reading should be done for Hero Project
18 - minutes 3-4 of oratory due/NWEA Reading, 8:30
19 - Science test - heat
20 - Spell/vocab test
24 - Hero Project Due
25 - minutes 5-6 of oratory due
27 - Spell/vocab test/ Essay due

As always I reserve the right to change dates when needed. Please be sure to check the blog and your scholar's planner regularly for changed dates!
Thank you!

ready to go bake!

lining them up on the wall

finished products 3.5 hours later

yum!

goofs!

perfection!

the joys of teaching!

Angle of Incidence and Chocolate!

Tuesday was construction day in the suite as we put together our solar ovens to cook on Wednesday. Scholars understand the concept of solar cooking and using the radiation of the sun to direct the angle of incidence into their ovens. It will be tested today (if we have direct sunlight) with their baking projects.

Please remember to send in your signed paperwork as soon as possible. Today we will be putting together a list of families that have not returned specials sheets and disclosures. You may be getting an email to that effect this evening. Also, we have to register students this week for NJFL. If you are planning on sending in your $5 donation to help with costs, please do so this week so we can get the ball rolling.

If your scholar is staying after on Wednesdays for Forensics, please be sure to pick them up right at 5:00 pm. Most of us have other commitments right afterwards and we appreciate your timeliness :).

carefully constructing

ready to go!

just add ingredients and SUN!