My Science Lessons Blog

7th Grade Life Scence Notebook

mysciencelessons — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:41:36 +0000

This year I am teaching 7th grade life science and am putting together a notebook page that includes the handouts, ppts, and docs I use in my class.

Please feel free to check it out and use what you may need.

So far, we have covered Domains and Kingdoms, classification, the cell, mitosis, genetics, and meiosis:

http://middleschoolscience.com/notebook-7-2011-2012.htm

Hidden Pictures

mysciencelessons — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:10:20 +0000

I keep a collection of hidden pictures from Highlights in my classroom for the students to work on if they finish their work early. I place them in hanging folders in the back of the classroom and usually organize them by seasons since I have many years worth.

Using a colored pencil, they color in the items as they find them. It is a great way for them to practice their observation skills and challenge themselves, esp when they find something that is really hard to spot!

You can get the current month’s download for free at:

http://www.highlights.com/hotlink-main?ccid=EMC-1000-1002762

You can also have them emailed to you by signing up at:

https://www.highlights.com/newsletter-sign-up
go to “Hidden Pictures Hotlinks”

You can also visit their website and print out as many as you like:

http://www.highlightskids.com/GamesandGiggles/HiddenPics/HiddenPicsPrintable/HP3029_atTheSkateboardPark.asp

Or, you can play Hidden Pictures Online:

http://www.highlightskids.com/GamesandGiggles/HiddenPics/HIddenPixFlashObjects/h8hpiArchive.asp

Khan Academy

mysciencelessons — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:32:14 +0000

If you are looking for video tutorials for your students to use to reinforce concepts, or even explore new concepts, Khan Academy has TONS of videos for science (and math) and they are FREE.

For example, here is a detailed video about Mitosis, Meiosis, and Sexual Reproduction:

The homepage is: http://www.khanacademy.org/

3 Domains or 6 kingdoms?

mysciencelessons — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:40:02 +0000

3 domains or 6 kingdoms – which do you emphasize in your life science class? What activities or lesson plans do you use for this topic? Would love to hear from you and bounce ideas. Thanks!

Schoology

mysciencelessons — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:39:26 +0000

I am looking into this pretty cool social networking application for educators – Schoology.com . It allows you to share documents, media, links, post grades, take attendance, perform online assesments, run thread discussions, etc… And it is FREE, which is always a plus!

I am looking into its viability for my 7th grade science class. We are a laptop school and 7′s have Macs that go back and forth from school to home.

Has anyone used this website, or similar one for their classes?

Video link

7th Grade Life Science

mysciencelessons — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:02:07 +0000

In September, I will be teaching one 7th grade life science class in addition to my 5th grade classes. I am really excited about diving back into life science , it has been many years since I last taught this class. So I will spend the summer looking for/making new resources, materials, lessons, activities, links, ppts, and handouts to use with my class.

I will be one of 3 teachers: Mr. M will teach three 6th grade classes and one 7th, Mr. D will teach three 8th grade classes and one 7th, while I teach three 5th grade classes and one 7th. We will team teach so all 3 of us cover the same topics/lessons each cycle.

7th grade life science meets 4 days out of a 6 day cycle, with each class approximately 50 minutes long. The topics we will cover are:

What is life/6 kingdoms (briefly)
The Cell
Genetics
Reproduction
Immunology/Diseases
Circulation
Respiration/Excretion
Digestion
Skeletal/Muscular/Integumentary Systems
Nervous System

Science Notebook Posted

mysciencelessons — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:34:25 +0000

This school year flew by and now I am done for the summer. Phew! I am sorry that I have neglected this blog, please refer to my website for all up to date information for what goes on in my classroom.

My 5th grade notebook is updated and posted, as well as my planbook:

http://www.middleschoolscience.com/notebook-2010-2011.htm

While the interactive notebook worked really well these past two years, for September I am going back to using a 1/2 inch binder and numbering the handouts as I hand them out to keep the consistency of a notebook.

The main reason I am switching back is purely the amount of paper and glue that is needed to upkeep these notebooks. It is also harder to recycle the notebooks once they are done with them.

Over the summer, I plan on reorganizing my handouts and photocopying mini-units for the kids to place directly into their binders to maximize using the front and back of every handout.

After 3 years, I have the 5th grade program fleshed out and exactly how I want it, so there may only be a few minor changes next year.

Radon

mysciencelessons — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:12:42 +0000

January is National Radon Action Month. Somerset and Morris County are two of many counties in NJ that have high levels of naturally occurring Radon.

Radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Radon can cause lung cancer. Without a test, there is no way to know if you have Radon in your home.

Please take 5 minutes to find out the answers to the following questions:

Has your home ever been tested for Radon? If so, when was the last test
Does your home have a radon vent? If so, where is it?
How long has your family lived in your home? Many home sales have Radon tests done now, but mostly in the last 20 years or so.

For more information about Radon or how to test for Radon, please see the following website from the EPA: http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html

Atomic Bomb

mysciencelessons — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:40:29 +0000

Whenever we talk about the atom, the topic of the atomic bomb comes up. This year, I spent a few days talking about it and showed some video clips as well. We read Einstein’s letter to FDR, as well as his response. Reading the letters was a great activity, we talked about letter writing, formal vs friendly, typing, zip codes, WW2, the Manhattan Project, the Cold War, and the kids were really interested. I ended with two video clips: one was “Duck and Cover” and the other was a graphic representation of all the bombs that have been detonated starting with the Trinity Test.

Other resources:

Atomic Bomb Testing – NY Times Photos

Trinity Test - video clip History Channel

“Fat Man Little Boy” video clip

Manhattan Project

Einstein’s letter to Roosevelt

Einstein and the atomic bomb video clip

50 years – Trinity Test

Chromatography

mysciencelessons — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:56:34 +0000

Simple lab using markers, water, jelly jar, and coffee filter paper. (You can use rubbing alcohol instead of water, results are similar). Shows how you can physically separate a mixture, as well as demonstrate capillary action.