Sign up for our garden kickoff event!

...and get a FREE tshirt with participation!  The event is SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011.  9AM-1PM.

PLEASE SIGN UP ASAP TO ENSURE YOU HAVE A FREE TSHIRT RESERVED!

1. Go to http://www.handsonatlanta.org/

2. Scroll down.  On the right side under "Upcoming Events" click on Gwinnett Great Days of Service

3. Find "To see all opportunities for the special event click here" and click the button

4.  Scroll down and find "Richards Middle School" - there are two entries.  One for landscaping and one for carpentry.

5. Click "Richards Middle School"

6. Scroll down and click the green "Sign up" button.  You will need to create a FREE account and login to do this.

PLEASE sign up.  We need volunteers registered online in order to get any funding ($$$) for this project.  Parents, students, siblings, etc.... ALL are invited to come and help out in our community garden! :)

Wonder Wall.... AND updates!

Check out the resources page... there are several updates!

Need HW help?

Email me this weekend, or comment on the blog!  Your question might pertain to someone else!  Email: ashley_shaver@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

SM notes (to be used with foldable on pg 15)

What's the news?

We are starting to move into our study of rocks by beginning with minerals.  We will be finishing up scientific method stuff this week as well.  I am working on getting copies of what we are cutting and gluing online.  They are from a book I borrowed (and will be purchasing very soon), so I will have to scan in the documents.  If there are any emergencies, let me know!

Here are some pictures from class today - we were finishing up our scientific method posters.  Students started with a set of cards.  They worked together to determine the order of the steps and then created a poster with the steps, as well as reasoning why each step was where it was.  The class then voted on the best poster and that group received a prize!

DEALS!

Parents and Students-

I am out of my 10 cent composition books (I was able to get 22 before the start of the year... and I bought out the store!).  BUT there is good news!  I just saw an ad on TV for Walmart - they have composition books for 40 cents, and a 12 pack of Crayola colored pencils for 97 cents.  Get these deals while they last if you still have some shopping to do!

When we get to astronomy, you'll laugh!

Metric Mania!

We have been going crazy studying the Metric System this week. Students now have an in depth knowledge about using metric lab tools and how to convert units. We finished notes today. The powerpoint is below.

Also, don't forget to check out the resources page if you are missing anything from your notebook!

This week in science...

We have started studying lab safety and exploring lab equipment.  We are moving into metrics and the scientific method, and soon we'll be studying about rocks, minerals, and the rock cycle!

Here are a few pictures from our equipment exploration, where students practiced inquiry skills and discovered the names and uses of seven lab tools.

Pretest

Today and tomorrow we have a block schedule.  Students are completing the pretest.  Different classes are currently in different places, but hopefully all will have notebooks set up by the end of the week, as well as had an introductory experience with lab safety and lab equipment!

Syllabus

Click HERE if you would like to see the syllabus.  It will be going home later this week.

What is YOUR life in science?

Today I welcomed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th periods to science!  We talked a LOT about procedures (like SLANT, Do Nows, and using just a dabba dabba glue!) and got our first assignment.  Students are to create a time line about their own lives relating to science.  I have requested 10 events with 10 captions - all in complete sentences - but this is a BARE MINIMUM.

Keep in mind that champions go above and beyond the minimum, and to expect an A, extra effort is required.  Students were each given a piece of paper to use to complete this, but other forms are acceptable as well, as long as it is not smaller.  I made it very clear to the students that I am going to push them to be their VERY BEST this year and that I know they are all capable!

The assignment should be colorful and engaging.  I can't wait to see what the students produce.

Commenting on the blog

Make sure to create a FREE Google account to be able to comment on this blog.  Having a Google account has all sorts of great advantages.  Go to www.google.com and select "create an account" to get started!

First Day!

What a great day!  My homeroom is without a doubt the VERY BEST at RMS this year!  I have a fabulous batch of excited students.  While going over the student handbook wasn't exactly exciting, my students all made sure to TRACK and get through it!  Way to go!  So proud of you guys already!

We ended our day with a little classmate bingo game - and I found it online here.  I went under "people bingo" and chose the "student search" assignment - I modified it, but only slightly.  We had a great time!  I also played the song "She blinded me with science" while we mingled... which I downloaded from iTunes while getting ready for school!

Enjoy some pictures from day one!

PEPPERS!