« MS Curriculum Update - March 4, 2010 | Main | 2010-2011 Year »
March 14, 2010
MS Curriculum Update - March 11, 2010
Hillcrest MS Curriculum Update
March 11, 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 are working on Chapter 12, Beaches, that covers formation of beaches, waves, and sand transport.
Lab: Students completed a lab creating a beach with different kind of waves and observing the effects on the movement of sand and shape of the beach..
Text References: CPO Focus on Earth Science (CPO Science); Chapter 12: Beaches.
Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Materials and Procedures due March 19.
____________________________________
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: We are starting Chapter 13 on Forces. Students are learning about the difference between mass and weight.
Lab: Students completed a lab measuring weight and mass as well as friction force. Students graphed the data to see the relationship between mass and weight on Earth.
Text References: CPO Focus on Physical Science (CPO Science); Chapter 13: Forces
Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Materials and Procedures due March 19.
____________________________________
Information Technology
Classroom Commentary
Over the last 2 weeks the 6th and 7th graders have continued working on their web pages. In addition to learning the basic structure of a web page and some of the basic codes for controlling text and images, they have learning how to create graphics in Photoshop, which they can then add into their web pages (for example a banner along the top). After looking at examples of local restaurant web pages, each student/group is creating a web page for their own imaginary restaurant.
In addition to the web page, we have started a new project in which students become "experts" in a particular technology, product or technology-related issue. For example, students have chosen topics from the iPad to Biometrics. After doing online research (and listening for their topic on the news), students will create an online blog and write on their topic.
Other Notes
You can learn more about either topic by going to the "MS-Lectures" and "MS-Projects" links on the Hillcrest Computer Class web page.
________________________________________
Spanish (6th)
Classroom Commentary
Acerca de nuestras clases de Español
• Students have been learning about time and how to use it correctly in different phrases and situations.
• In terms of grammar, they are learning about prepositions. They have been writing funny stories using prepositions and they have been acting their own stories in classes.
• Students are also learning about the possession "DE" in Spanish writing sentences using vocabulary that they already know. They watched the first video of this chapter and wrote down general ideas about that video in Spanish.
• Next week, they will learn about the verb "to be" and how to apply it correctly in different contexts. Using the "to be" verb, they will be able to describe people using the adjectives that they already know.
Upcoming tests and due dates: On Monday the 15th, they have a test, which will include time, definite articles, adjectives, the verb "to be" and the possession "DE" in Spanish. Also, as a class, we have made a commitment about homework: it will be posted online on Tuesday, and it will be due on Thursday.
Other Notes
If you have any questions 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
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Posted by sholli at March 14, 2010 10:33 PM