May 18th - 8th grade

If you have time, here is the video:

Video

May 15th- 7th grade

Students worked on plotting the locations of salamanders in California.

When they completed this, they answered the questions for Part A.

They will continue working on this tomorrow.

May 15-8th grade

Students worked on the parallax lab. Graph, table, and explanation paragraph are due tomorrow.

May 14 - 8th

Finish Other Objects in Space Notes

Complete Other Objects in Space WS due Tuesday

Discover what parallax is:

article
diagram
simulation (may not work on tablet)
interactive (may not work on tablet)

Read lab and be ready to do tomorrow

May 11-7th grade

After a brief discussion from yesterday, student began working on the concept of speciation. Students read and took notes on this concept.

Speciation reading

Speciation notebook page

Students then began working on part 1 and 2 of the speciation ws.

May 11 - 8th

We had a discussion about the Cosmic Calendar we used yesterday.

Students then worked on the notebook page for retrograde motion, we discussed it, and we did the questions about it.

Students then read about other objects in the solar system and started the notes page on it.

May 10 - 8th grade

Students put page 114 How the Solar System was formed into their notebook.

We then discussed the age of the Universe and compared it to a calendar year.

May 9 - 7th grade

We discussed definitions of the word variation and adaptation.

Students worked in groups to complete the bat/fish WS.

We put yesterday's note page and the WS into notebooks.

We finished by watching a video from the Amoeba Sisters on Natural Selection.

May 9 - 8th grade

Students put page from yesterday into their notebook (foldable). We then discussed what they had found about the types of models of the solar system.

We read together as a class about how the solar system formed.

Students then worked on the Models of the Solar System WS and that is due tomorrow.

May 8 - 8th grade

We went over assignments that were handed back.

Students continued working on their models of the solar system foldable.

Finished foldable is due tomorrow.

May 8 - 7th grade

Reading section for today

May 4th- 7th grade

Students worked with me to find evidence of Darwin's Natural Selection from examples.

Students then put this paper into page 102.

Students watched Cosmos for an example of natural selection.

May 4 - 8th

Students and I discussed the similarities and differences of planets and dwarf planets.

Students then took notes about characteristics of each of the dwarf planets in our solar system.

dwarf planet song

We then began working on the model of the solar system foldable

May 3 - 8th

We went over WS #3 from the solar System Activities.

Students then took a quiz over the planets.

Students worked on the Pluto WS.

May 2 - 8th grade

Book resource for your notes. This section starts with Mercury. By using the forward arrow at the top you may may learn about other planets also. You may also search google, but make sure you actually read what you find! Not just skim the first box that pops up.

May 2-7th grade

video description of natural selection

After pausing the presentation, go to this video. You may have to deal with some ads. Industrial revolution

When the presentation is finished, watch this video for a summary of what you saw. Peppered Moth

Go back to your questions from the front of the worksheet yesterday. Make any changes that you need to now that you have learned this material.

Complete the the Peppered Moth Fill in the Blank worksheet. The word bank is located at the bottom of the page.

May 1st- 7th grade

Link to simulation

Reading selection to help with the questions

April 30 - 7th and 8th

Mr. Thomas talked the dangers of prescription drugs and marijuana.

8th grade has a writing assignment due Wed.
7th grade has a graph due tomorrow.

April 27 - 7th

April 26 - 8th grade

Link for today

April 20 - 7th

We went over correct answers to the fossil activity. Students then put the fossil activity into their notebook and did the fossilization worksheet. If the worksheet wasn't finished it was homework.

April 20 - 8th

Students continued working on solar system activities. Activity work will end on Wednesday.

April 19th - 7th grade

Link to the on line activity:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/fossil/5to8/Intro.html

April 18th - 7th grade

April 18 -8th

Took ISA

April 10 - 7th grade

1) continue with your drawings on your notes page from yesterday. Here is the page.

2) In the bottom box on the page, add in the words as brief descriptions of what is happening in the drawing. When you get this "OK'd" by the teacher, put it into page 91 of your notebook.

3) Get a practice "Crack the Code" page. Use the codon chart below to finish the "Crack the Code" paper.



4) Finish making corrections to your homework sheet so that you are ready for tomorrow's quiz.

April 10th - 8th grade

Same as yesterday, but with a different class.

April 9 - 7th grade

Students will check their grades and record them on their grade sheet.

We will then work together as a class to do a notebook page to go over Protein synthesis again. This was a handout.

We will then work to use this information to complete the following page. Review/Brain

We will take a quiz on Wednesday to recover points.

April 9 - 8th grade

8th grade took parcc tests. one class then came back to the room and:
1) checked grades
2) got WS back and went over correct answers
3) finished notebook pages
4) we answered the notebook page 102

April 6th-8th grade

You may click on the video and set the volume to 0, and turn on the closed caption OR read the page. They both contain the same information.

Link

Go to page 683 in your textbook.

Make the following page in your notebook.

Moons surface page

April 5th - 7th grade

After you work on the WS with your group, double check your answers below:

Then, watch the following video with directions for you activity.

video directions
Pause and replay as needed to complete the activity.

If you have time, try this simulation.

April 5th - 8th grade

1) Look up the answer the question, "Why do we sometimes see the moon during the day?" Get a notecard from the front table. Write your name on it and the question. Then write your answer. Turn this in before you go to #2 (that's the number symbol, not a hashtag).

2) Get the papers off the front table. Use the red text book page 680 to complete the notebook pages. Put these in your notebook.

3) Get the moon worksheet. This is due Friday.

April 4 - 7th grade

Students took PARCC test. 6th hour then worked on the mutation telephone WS and the mutation activity.

April 4 - 8th grade

Class discussion about orientation of the moon, tidally locked moon, and the phases of the moon.

April 3 - 7th grade

Students checked grades

We read a section on mutations as a class, highlighting key ideas. This became page 88 in our notebook.

Class worked on the "telephone" activity to demonstrate protein synthesis and possible causes.

Protein synthesis WS is due the next time students have class.

April 3rd - 8th grade

1)Check your grades and write them on your grade sheet. I will be around to check them.

2) Put the set of pages into your notebook on pages 96 and 97. The diagram on page 96 is meant to show that the same side of the moon is always facing the Earth. Read this for more information.

3) Put the next set of pages into 98 and 99. Complete the pages. Here is a reference to help you.

March 27 - 7th

Handed back assignments

Worked on model

Quiz tomorrow on pages 80 -87

March 26

We went over the test from last week.

Students then put the following vocabulary definitions in their notebooks.

We then finished with a diagram and explanation of how and why we get solstices and equinoxes.

Students received the Earth WS for homework.

March 26th - 7th and 8th grade

Too Good For Drugs

March 22-8th

Upon completing your test, use this site  (use Puffin on your tablet) to complete the paper off of the front table.

March 21 - 7th

Students and I discussed the notes page from the video the previous day.

Students watched the protein synthesis video and worked with partners to answer questions.

March 21 - 8th

Students and I discussed the property of gravity and how it effects the movement of Earth around its' orbit. We also discussed the vocabulary terms rotation and revolution.

March 12- 7th grade

Video description

2nd video

March 20 - 8th grade

Students watched a portion of the video series "Cosmos". This section discussed our cosmic address.

Students then read a section on how gravity plays a role in the movement of the Earth. This section had 4 questions to be answered.

Students then looked up facts about the Earth.

Test Thursday!

March 19 - 7th grade

Students wrote down grades for the new quarter.

We then discussed what they are going to learn this week (how DNA makes proteins).

Students then worked on their Transcription/Translation coloring. This will be the first of 3 things we do to understand this concept.

March 19 - 8th

Students wrote down their first grades for 4th quarter.

Students then worked on corrections of their last quiz (CO2 and Temp).

They also put two pages (tree rings and sea level rise) into their notebook.

Test on climate change will be this Thursday.

March 16th - 7th

Watch the following video.

Read the following section.

Reading section #2.

March 16th - 8th

The students and I discussed their science placement for next year.

Students then took a reading quiz over two articles on climate change.

Students put together notebook pages on tree rings and sea level rise.

Due monday:
1)Tree ring paper
2) Sea level rise paper
3) corrections on graph quiz

March 15- 7th

Finished our discussion and listening to Jennifer Doudna on CRISP-CAS9. Full podcast

Students then worked on their models of DNA.

Reading

March 15 - 8th

Use the blog post from yesterday (March 14) to complete the tree ring diagram.

Read the following section

Use the following link to answer questions 1-7 on the worksheet on sea level rising.

Use this link for questions 8 - 10.

March 14- 7th

Students practiced matching up base pairs.

We then discussed who Jennifer Doudna is and why she may win a Nobel Prize some day.

Students then listened to Ms. Doudna speak on her discoveries while coloring the model we will use tomorrow to show the structure of DNA.

March 14 - 8th

Tree ring diagrams
https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/docs/Jackson_Tree_Ring.pdf
https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/docs/Columbia_Tree_Ring.pdf
https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/docs/Boston_Tree_Ring.pdf

https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/docs/Seattle_Tree_Ring.pdf

Data sets
https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/las/UI.vm

March 13- 7th grade

We went over notes on page 80 in the notebook.

We then watched a video on the structure of DNA.

We went over the questions on page 81.

Homework is for students to find out who Jennifer Doudna is and why some people say she will win the Nobel Peace Prize.

March 13 - 8th

Students put page 84 in their notebook (reading section on carbon dioxide and temp changes).

Students then worked on their graph. Graph is due tomorrow when they come in.

March 9 - 8th grade

Class read through a section on the relationship between Carbon Dioxide and temperature.

Students then began working on setting up their graph axis and rounding the data.

March 9 - 7th grade

Students will complete their Meiosis Assignment.

Reading section.

Do two notebook pages

Left

Right

March 8 - 7th grade

We had a class discussion about the video sheet.

Students then began working on the meiosis understanding assignment. We will finish it tomorrow.

March 8 - 8th grade

We had a class discussion on the Carbon cycle and put the RACE question from yesterday in our notebook.

Student then played the Carbon Cycle simulation.

March 7- 7th grade

We discussed the answers to the Meiosis homework questions.

Students then watched the Amoeba Sisters video. 6th and 8th hour students should come back with this sheet completed.

March 7 - 8th grade

We went over correct answers to the questions and "Annual Averages" chart.

Students got the carbon cycle reading and Carbon Dioxide Race Question for homework.

March 6 - 7th grade

Students continued working on their coloring and we discussed what was happening in the model.

homework for tonight is the meiosis questions and to finish the coloring page.

March 6 - 8th

Here is the link to the charts if you need them tonight at home. Scroll down to the correct year.

March 5 - 7th and 8th grade

The Too Good for Drugs presentation today was on effective communication. Students should know the difference between aggressive, assertive, or passive communications.

March 2 - 8th grade

We discussed the results of the data from yesterday and put information in our notebooks.

Students then began working on the graph of Carbon Dioxide levels since 1959. The X-axis should be located 2 lines up from the bottom. The y-axis should be on the farthest left line. The X-axis should be labeled as described on the directions. They Y-axis should go up by 5's from 300 to 400.

G. Williams- do 2008 and 2009 (ask friends for help)
H. Welty - do 2010 and 2011
A. Edgecomb- do 2009 to 2011
T. Scott- 2006 to 2007
D. Shanholtzer- 2008 to 2009
D. Williams- 2010 to 2011

March 1st - 7th grade

Discussion about how new cells are made.

Use the following reading section to complete the vocabulary WS. You need to read this section and understand it also.

Diagram for the coloring of the steps of meiosis

March 1 - 8th grade

Students completed the mapping greenhouse gas activity. This should be done by the time they return on Friday.

Link for the indicators questions

Link to the carbon footprint calculator

Feb 28th - 7th grade

Students worked on their chromosome toothpick activity. This activity was meant to demonstrate how chromosomes are divided to make the smaller chromosomes that get passed to offspring.

Feb 28 - 8th grade

Here is the link to the activity for today: Mapping greenhouse gases

All of the links have been updated, but some of them still have the old words on the paper. Hopefully, you will end up in the correct place.

Feb 27 - 7th grade

Students took their quiz on genetics. We then put the notebook page 74 into the notebook.

Feb 27 - 8th grade

We discussed information that they could see from their graph. We also worked together to answer the questions sheet from the graph. We put the graph in the notebook as well as adding in the vocab from the previous page.

Feb 26th both

Mr. Thomas was here for our Too Good For Drugs program. 8th grade discussed handling emotions and 7th discussed handling stress.

8th graders have a graph and reading questions due tomorrow.

7th graders have their make up quiz on genetics.

Feb 23 - 7th grade

Take out your quiz from last week, a colored pen, and use this link to make corrections. You should write as much on here as you possibly can, so that you can study for the re-quiz.

When you are done with that, use the following video to complete the notebook page demonstrating how chromosomes, DNA, and genes are related.

Here are some practice problems if you finish everything else:
practice
Some of these are above and beyond what we did in class, but could be a fun challenge.

And a blood typing game if you finish all else.

Feb 21 - 7th grade

Students made sure pages 71-73 in their notebooks were up to date.

We then discussed the answers to the questions from the polygenic inheritance activity.

Tomorrow we will go over issues on the last quiz in the hopes that students can do better on the re-take.

Feb 21 - 8th grade

Students worked on their Earthquake essay. Final drafts are due friday at the end of class.

Feb 20th - 7th grade

Students checked grades and wrote them down for all classes.

Students then had time to work on their bar graphs. When they were ready, I graded the graphs using the orange rubric provided.

Additional time was given to students to answer the questions on the back of the orange rubric.

Any graphing or questions that were not finished were assigned as homework due when students walk in on Wednesdasy.

Feb 20 - 8th

Students continued working on their graphic organizer for their essay or on the climate vs weather graph. Tomorrow will be time to type the essay. Students will have 3 days in the computer lab to complete their typing.

Feb 15tg-7th grade

We had a discussion about the correct answers to student work on their notebook page.

Students were then placed in new seats.

Students were put into groups and worked on the polygenic inheritance activity. Get class results by clicking here. There is a tab on the bottom of the page for each class.

Quiz tomorrow on pages 66-71.

Feb 15 - 8th grade

Students continued working on their essays.

Feb 14 - 7th grade

Students put 2 pages in their notebook (spongebob genetics and multiple alleles).

Students then worked on their Blood typing problems some more.

Homework for tomorrow is to read and fill in the notebook page on polygenic inheritance.

Feb 14 - 8th grade

Students continued working on their reading and highlighting.

Feb 13 - 7th grade

Students did some peer evaluation the Superhero Genetics posters.

We then came back to the room and went over the Incomplete dominance questions from friday and the codominance WS related to blood type. Students seemed to be doing well with the idea of incomplete dominance, but needed more work on the blood types. We will continue working on this tomorrow.

No homework tonight.

Feb 13th - 8th grade

Students shared their thoughts with me on different types of technology that could be useful to them.

We then began the California Earthquake writing project.

Students will be typing their papers next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Feb 12th - both

Students continued the Too Good For Drugs program. Today re-visited the ideas about goal setting and began talking about obstacles that could get in the way of someone achieving their goals.

Feb 8 - 7th grade

Students and I went over answers to last nights homework assignment. Almost all students had their homework completed!

We then completed the following notebook page and discussed how blood type is passed down.

We finished by trying to figure out whether my A blood type was heterozygous or homozygous. This included calling my mom to find out what my parents blood types were. Students were told to spend no more than 10 minutes analyzing the information that they had to try and figure out my blood type.

Feb 8th - 8th

Students worked on answering RACE questions

We then reviewed for tomorrow's test.

Feb 7 - 7th grade

Students and I discussed Incomplete Dominance and Codominance via nearpod. Both of these terms can be googled for more clarification.

Students then worked on a worksheet for homework.

Feb 7 - 8th grade

Students and I discussed correct answers to their work from yesterday.

Students will complete the following activity on page 74-75 of their notebook: Plate movements activity.

The following links will be helpful for adding in the characteristics of the Earth at the different times:

Link 1

Link 2

Feb 6 - 7th grade

Reading section for today

Feb 6 - 8th grade

Students worked on reading about plate tectonics and filling in the chart. Students also completed the plate tectonics worksheet. Students will have a test on pages 60-75 this friday.

This student is demonstrating how notebook pages can be used to complete questions on a homework assignment! Way to go!

Feb 5 - 7th and 8th

Students began this year's Too Good For Drugs program. Both groups looked at goal setting.

8th grade will have a test this friday.

7th grade also turned in their posters.

Feb 2 - 7th grade

Students finished working on their Superhero Genetics posters. Posters are due on Monday for anyone who did not finish during class.

Even the clothing choices are getting involved!

Feb 2 - 8th

We discussed the answers to the plate mapping questions (as well as a variety of random questions).

Test over this material will be next friday.

Feb 1 - 7th grade

Students worked on typing up their information for their Superhero Genetics poster.

The poster is due on Monday. Here is a rough outline of what the poster should look like.

Feb 1 - 8th grade

Students finished working on the questions for the mapping activity (20 minutes).

I handed back their layers of the Earth foldable questions. We went over correct answers.

We began discussing the answers from the front of the Mapping Activity questions.

Jan 31 - 7th grade

Students were told how to complete their Superhero Genetics Outline in order to type tomorrow in the computer lab.

Students then worked on their Quiz over genetics.

any time that was left was spent on the Superhero Genetics Project. The Outline is due tomorrow and the poster will be due on Monday.

Jan 31st - 8th

Students and I discussed the location of the Himalayan mountains on their map. I helped them place these mountains on their maps.

Students then worked on a short reading section about the lithosphere and asthenosphere. Students then completed a quiz on nearpod using the reading.

The rest of the class was used to complete the mapping activity and work on the questions. We will go over the questions on thursday.

Jan 30 - 7th grade

Students received their rubric (pink) for the Superhero Genetics project and we went over it.

We discussed examples for determining gender, what to do if all the predicted outcomes are the same, and what to do if a coin flip does not give a possible outcome.

Students began working on their project. Projects are due Monday Feb 5th.

Jan 30 - 8th grade

Students turned in the layers of the Earth foldable worksheet.

Students and I discussed some final labels to their foldable, including lithosphere and asthenosphere.

Students then began working on their plate mapping activity. They were to complete at least the volcano maps by class tomorrow.

Jan 29th - 7th grade

Students checked their grades and wrote them down.

Students also put in their planner pages that we will have a quiz on Wednesday over pages 58 - 65.

We then reviewed the concepts that were covered last week using a nearpod and students began their Superhero Genetics projects.

Jan 29th - 8th grade

Students checked their grades for all classes.

Students were put into groups to work on the worksheet that goes along with the foldable they made for layers of the Earth. The worksheet is due tomorrow.

We had a 10 minute discussion about trends that can be identified as we move from the crust toward the center of the Earth (density, pressure, temperature). We also added in fractions of the Earth that are made up by each layer.