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February 19, 2010
MS Curriculum Update - February 19, 2010
Earth Science (6th & 7th)
Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Earth Sciences, and are currently on Unit 4: The Shape of the Earth’s Surface, which includes the study of rock weathering, beaches, and natural hazards.
Classroom Commentary
Activities: We finished up Chapter 10, Volcanoes this week and will begin Chapter 11, Water and Weathering that covers sediment and the formation of sedimentary rocks.
Lab: Students observed the formation of salt crystals under different conditions to learn about how crystals form in rocks. Next week we will begin labs for Chapter 11.
Text References: CPO Focus on Earth Science (CPO Science); Chapter 11: Water and Weathering
Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Projects will be introduced next week, so please ask your student to share the assignment with you.
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Physical Science (8th)
Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Physical Sciences, and are currently on Unit Five: Motion and Force, which includes speed, forces, and motion.
Classroom Commentary
Activities: Students are working through speed and velocity problems in class and for homework. These problems require students to apply their algebra knowledge in science class.
Lab: We completed two labs for this chapter so far. The first lab students used our energy tracks, cars and timers to collect velocity data. Students graphed and analyzed the data. In the second lab, Walking Functions, students worked in groups to collect data about one student moving in a line at different velocities and then graphed and analyzed the data.
Text References: CPO Focus on Physical Science (CPO Science); Chapter 12: Distance, Time and Speed
Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Projects will be introduced next week, so please ask your student to share the assignment with you.
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Information Technology
Classroom Commentary/Projects
This week the 6th and 7th graders began work on their web design project. They are learning how to build web pages by “hand coding” the HTML code - this means learning how to use the actual codes that make up a web page rather than using a program like DreamWeaver which lets you just design the page and does the coding for you. In addition to acquiring the technical skills to build a web page this way they also learn logic, problem solving, and the importance of detail!
8th Yearbook
References
Check out the Hillcrest Computer Website to see what students are doing, look at the curriculum, or look at past years' work: click on Computer Class under Enrichment or click on the Computer Corner logo on the right side of the school page.
Upcoming due dates: NA
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Spanish (6th)
Curriculum Notes
We recently started chapter three of the “Ven Conmigo!” book. In this chapter students will learn about Mexico, school topics, new classes, and new friends.
Classroom Commentary
In terms of grammar, they are going to review and apply the nouns, definite articles (el, la, los, las), and adjectives agreement. They also will learn telling the time and simple phrases related to time, talking about things they like (and explaining why), talking about being late or in a hurry, and finally, describing people and things.
Students learned about time last week, and they had a quiz about it last Friday. This week they will watch a video about being late or in a hurry and reinforce the time topic.
In order to review past lessons students are working as teams doing games, creating puzzles and acting out phrases or writing funny stories in Spanish. In two weeks they will have a test about time and how to correctly apply it in phrases.
If you have any question please don’t hesitate to email me at taniafmena@hotmail.com
Text References: Ven Conmigo! Chapter 3; Online access to text activities: http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=400&pageId=4605
Upcoming Tests and Due Dates: Test on application of “time” in two weeks (date tbd)
Posted by sholli at February 19, 2010 04:33 PM