Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Rocks rock!

Science
The Living Rock, 2:
DUE WEDNESDAY

Rocks = mineral matter of variable composition, assembled in masses in nature by forces such as heat or water
Literacy Skills
Reading Circles and Vocabulary Collecting: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
The Great Baskerville Hall Interpretation Contest is underway!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Back from the desert!


Science
Introduction to Geology:
The Living Rock
Geology = the study of the origin, history, and structure of the Earth


Literacy Skills
Independent Reading

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Read-In and Author Visit Activities.
Mr. Goodell in charge in Team 6-1 Science and Smith Literacy Skills.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Week of 11/30 - 12/4

I will be away at the National Science Teachers Association meetings in Phoenix (tough gig). There is a lesson plan for the visiting teacher; I will be available by email all week if there are questions or concerns! Students will be working on their STORMS assessment in Science and on their usual activities in Literacy Skills, including the READ-IN related material.

Grades Finalized Today


Today and tomorrow are special
Literacy Skills days for the
READ-IN, Author Visit, and Family Literacy night.
Enjoy!!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

How to make a pumpkin pie.
Photo courtesy of my much younger baby sister,
Lezlie Shortsleeve.

Literacy Skills: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Science
Oceans: El Nino

Monday, November 23, 2009


Literacy Skills:
The Sledding Hill
* REWARD!
All students present on 11-20 had Reading Logs!

Science: Ocean Currents and Global Climate
FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS!

Friday, November 20, 2009


Literacy Skills:
The Sledding Hill Read-Aloud & Response #1 DUE MONDAY
ROTHMC Vocabulary #3 DUE
Reading Log Check


Scien
ce
WAD QUIZ #6
Weekend Bonus #5 DUE MONDAY

Class Choice
One of the following:
  • Work Day
  • Storm Stories: Rogue Wave PERIOD 2, PERIOD 5, PERIOD 6
  • National Geographic: Tsunami PERIOD 3

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Science
OCEANS / Reflection & Class Discussion

Upwelling = the rising of deep, cold ocean currents along coastal areas when wind blows surface currents aside

WAD QUIZ #6 TOMORROW!!!!
Literacy Skills
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Reading Circles

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

SCIENCE
Grade reports go home today: TRIMESTER ENDS 11-24
Surface currents = ocean currents above 500 m that are driven by prevailing winds; transfer heat from areas of high T to areas of lower T
Oceans

Literacy Skills: The Hound of the Baskervilles Contest

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE END IS NEAR....

...of the trimester, that is.
I will be sending home grade reports for each class and student so as to not have surprises. Missing work can still be completed for partial credit.
Please contact me with questions.
TODAY: LITERACY SKILLS

Literacy Skills: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Reading Circles
Vocabulary #3 DUE THURSDAY
Science
Deep ocean currents = currents that flow far beneath the ocean surface; colder, denser, saltier
Hurricanes
Chapter 6 Inquiry Exercises DUE

Monday, November 16, 2009

Science
Current = a gas or liquid that moves in a definite direction
Inquiry 6.1 & 6.2 DUE
Weather Maps
-IN CLASS

Literacy Skills
The Sledding Hill
Read-aloud

Friday, November 13, 2009

SCIENCE
Precipitation = water that falls to the ground in solid or liquid form
Cloud in a Bottle
Inquiry 6.1 and 6.2 DUE MONDAY
LITERACY SKILLS: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Vocabulary #2 DUE
Reading Circles
Reading Response #2 DUE MONDAY

Thursday, November 12, 2009


SCIENCE

Clouds = visible masses of water droplets or ice crystals that have condensed around very small atmospheric particles
Observing Evaporation and Condensation
AIR PRESSURE!!

Literacy Skills, in support of Science: National Weather Service Presentation

Happy Birthday(s)!

Jonathan Frederick Davis Smith - 21 (my "baby" boy)
Eric Oliver Shortsleeve - 18 (my "little" 6'8" nephew)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009


Literacy Skills: The Hound of the Baskervilles activity

Science: WAD (plus) QUIZ
Observing Evaporation and Condensation
Inquiry*


*Parents/guardians: As the year progresses, more and more inquiry-based activity will rely upon students and groups meeting general goals for an experiment rather than being given "recipes" to follow; this is entirely consistent with the objectives of the ILS. Please see the Rubric for Inquiry 6.1 if you wish to know about and assist your child with these skills!


Honor VETERANS

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Literacy Skills
Reading Circles: ROTHMC
ROTHMC Vocabulary #2 DUE FRIDAY

SCIENCE
Clouds and Cloud Formation
WAD QUIZ TOMORROW!
Science Vocabulary Flash Cards---->

Monday, November 9, 2009

Science
"Ancient" barometer

Barometric pressure = another name for atmospheric pressure; bar = unit of measurement; barometer = tool to measure atmospheric pressure

Storm Stories
Review Chapter 5

Literacy Skills
Independent Reading
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (ROTHMC) Reading Response DUE

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Science
Atmospheric, or air, pressure = the force air exerts on the earth;
depends on air mass & density, altitude, and T
Convection Currents in the Air
Storm Stories
Weekend Bonus #4: Convection
Literacy Skills: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Vocabulary #1 DUE
Reading Response #1 DUE MONDAY 11-9

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Science
Squall line = several cells (convection currents) or thunderstorms in a line
When Air Masses Meet: Inquiry
REMEMBER: Weather Maps DUE TOMORROW!!
Literacy Skills: The Hound of the Baskervilles
ACTIVITY