See! See how important punctuation is!!!

Remind101 - Texting App information

I have sent home an information sheet for all parents and students who have cell phones and would like to receive updates via TEXTS to their phone.
Here it is again in case it didn't get to the kitchen table:

GRADE 7/8A LANGUAGE: enter the number: 289-812-3837, then text this message: @mrsbibby
GRADE 7 SCIENCE:  enter the number: 289-812-3837, then text this message: @mrsbibbys
GRADE 8 SCIENCE: enter the number: 289-812-3837, then text this message: @mrsbibbysm

Why have this app if I have a blog? This will be used more for reminders, such as, "Wear outdoor gear today for science." and, "remember, posters due tomorrow", etc. It is not mandatory. I will continue to use my blog for day to day stuff. The only problem is, the blog is sent to you (if you have plugged in your email address) once a day. The TEXT APP is almost immediate. I hope that explains why I have both.

8A and 8B Scientific Poster

Now due during our next class together. I will give you both or one of our periods to work on it.
See today's previous post about River Trip Data.

grade 8 Science: River Trip Posters

The most important thing about your poster is that you analyze the data we collected. It won't matter how pretty it looks, or what cool graphics you printed off if you haven't LOOKED at the data and tried to make sense of it.
Here is the link again, to the data:
River Data

Need your success criteria and Summary page? Here is that:
River Trip Poster

Have Questions? Come and see me.

7A Science Homework

Grade 7's: Due on MONDAY:

The Ecological Pyramid question:

QUESTION 1: SEE ABOVE
QUESTION 2: TRY TO MAKE A PYRAMID DIAGRAM TO SCALE AND NAME YOUR SCALE!

7D Science Homework

Due Friday:
The Ecological Pyramid question:

QUESTION 1: SEE ABOVE
QUESTION 2: TRY TO MAKE A PYRAMID DIAGRAM TO SCALE AND NAME YOUR SCALE!

7/8A Language Homework: due tomorrow

Learning Skills: Self Evaluation
Please read the following characteristics for these learning skills:
Responsibility: What it looks like?

• managing own belongings
• commitment to complete tasks
• on-task
• respectful behaviour
• following code of behaviour
• actively listening at community circle
• active participation
• focused attention

Organization: What does it look like?

• time management
• using class time effectively
• using agenda appropriately
• prepared for class - homework done and all materials ready
• timely submissions of forms/assignments

Independent Work: What does it look like?

• following instructions
• use available resources without prompting
• not relying on the teacher - thinking for yourself!

rate your self either N - needs improvement, S-satisfactory, or G-good for the the above Learning Skills. Write it down on the Cloud or paper and give me a detailed EXAMPLE of when you have demonstrated this skill.

7B and 7C Science Homework:

Due for Friday:
Two diagrams: one of an insect and one of a plant, done with our scientific diagram guidelines.
The Ecological Pyramid question:

QUESTION 1: SEE ABOVE
QUESTION 2: TRY TO MAKE A PYRAMID DIAGRAM TO SCALE AND NAME YOUR SCALE!

8D Science! Change for Friday!

8D - please note that you will get Science on Friday. It will be during 2nd block instead of last block, because of the dance. Please come to my room after 1st. Nutrition Break, ready to do your Scientific Poster experiment (water, water everywhere) or research project (Our River Trip). When  in doubt as to what you need to do, look at the grade 8 page on my website: www. bibbysmith.weebly.com

Make your own Microscope

Smartphone microscope

Weekly Update, but first some humour...

Weekly Update: Monday, October 28 to Nov. 1, 2013.

Monday, October 28th   Day 3

Classes 7B and 7C - Our Culminating Ecosystem Project will be assigned today. You will be given a period today to work on it and two more to work in class. Stay tuned!!!

Tuesday, October 29th Day 4

Classes 7D - Our Culminating Ecosystem Project will be assigned today. You will be given a period today to work on it and two more to work in class. Stay tuned!!!

Wednesday, October 30th   Day 5

Class 7A - Our Culminating Ecosystem Project will be assigned today. You will be given a period today to work on it and two more to work in class. Stay tuned!!!

Classes 8A and 8B - A working period for your Scientific Posters  

Thursday, October 31st  Day 1

Classes 8C - A working period for your Scientific Posters  

Friday, November 1st  Day 2

8D - NOT AGAIN! THE FALL INTERMEDIATE DANCE - I will let you know if we can reschedule this week.

My new favourite word

Iteration

Crunchy Concrete - Will come in handy when we learn about our form and function unit

7/8A - you simply R.O.C.K.

You know I love? Getting good reports from other teachers. It makes me proud and I take far more credit than I deserve for you behaviour, since you've known me for about a nano-second, but I can't help it. I feel proud.
Ms. Bilton came to see me at the end of the day today. She told me that one of my students was having some trouble and was doing his best to deal with it quietly by himself. Ms. Bilton said that about 5 students, independently, came to check on this student to see if he was okay. One lovely person went on to say, "We care about you; we are family."
You are wonderful people and I am honoured to work with you. And I say work with you, because so many of you do work HARD every single day. Congratulations on being good people. Parents, who could ever ask for more?

Monday, October 21/13 Classes 7A and 7B Science:

Classes 7A and 7B Science:
You have homework. Here is the note from today:
Organization of Life

The questions are on the note. While question 1 is optional, you are expected to KNOW the information!

Weekly Update: October 21 - 25th

Monday, October 21 Day 3
7B/7C Science - dress for the weather!

Tuesday, October 22 Day 4
7D Science - dress for the weather!

Wednesday, October 23 Day 5 (I am at a conference - you will have a supply teacher)
7/A Science - dress for the weather!

8B Science - Poster working period - bring any supplies you may want to use for your experiment, research, poster, etc.

Thursday, October 24 (I am at a conference - you will have a supply teacher)
8A Language Students - you will use this morning to work on your Poster -  bring any supplies you may want to use for your experiment, research, poster, etc.

8C Science - Poster working period - bring any supplies you may want to use for your experiment, research, poster, etc.

Friday, October 25 HALF DAY ONLY  (I am at a conference - you will have a supply teacher)

7/8A LANGUAGE - library day! Please bring back your library books and bring your barcode.

Grade 8s: Scientific Poster

Grade 8 Science Students: 

You have an IN-CLASS ONLY Scientific Poster assignment. You will have two full double block periods to work on this poster - with one other person or by yourself. I have posted information about this assignment on my website, at:

www.bibbysmith.weebly.com

Here you will find the rubric, what I expect and, just added, our river trip data.

If you have any questions, as always, please come to make up science class.

Have a great weekend.

Useful Scientific Poster Websites

http://colinpurrington.com/tips/academic/posterdesign

example for science experiment

Weekly Update for Tuesday, October 15th to Friday, October 18th

Tuesday, October 15th DAY 4
7D Science: Explore the roles further of Producers and Consumers. DRESS FOR THE WEATHER.

Wednesday, October 16th DAY 5
7/8A Science: Grade 7 - see above. 
Grade 8 - using the river study information, create a Scientific Poster about the Grand River Water Shed Area.

8B Science  - using the river study information, create a Scientific Poster about the Grand River Water Shed Area.

Thursday, October 17th DAY 1
8C Science -   using the river study information, create a Scientific Poster about the Grand River Water Shed Area.

Friday, October 18th DAY 2
8D Science -  using the river study information, create a Scientific Poster about the Grand River Water Shed Area.

River Study Results!

RIVER STUDY RESULTS!!

We had a fantastic day for our river study. Classes 8A and 8D did their study in the morning and collected a TON of BMI's - thank you for all of your hard work. Classes 8B and 8C were there in the afternoon, and helped sort the BMI's and began to classify them into their separate species. Before we left the site, we took a rough tally of the BMI's found and entered the numbers into the "Water Quality Calculator". We came up with a 2! I wasn't sure we were right with our numbers and waited for Holly, our amazing Ecosparks Partner, to get back to me with the real BMI numbers. She did and I imputed those numbers in the Water Quality Calculator. LOOK HERE TO SEE HOW WE DID!!!!

http://www.ecospark.ca/changingcurrents/calculator

I'm thrilled for a few reasons:
1. Our river is CLEAN. This is great news. No, there wasn't a stonefly, but still, a 2 rocks.
2. Our rough numbers that we collected resulted in the same number as Holly's number.
3. The group that thought they had a Melaloptera DID! Well done.

We will follow up this river study by displaying our results, learning about the Scientific Poster.

8A and 8B Science Homework

What is BMI stand for? Name a BMI for each level of pollutants: 1 to 7.

Need help? Check this website out...Identifying BMI's

Weekly Update!!! October 7 to 11th

Sorry it's late!
Monday:
8B Science: Get ready for our Stream Study on Thursday! Check out (if you want)
Changing Currents

Tuesday:
Grade 8's off to Career Pathways - 11:30 to 3:30
Intermediate Cross Country Run - all day

Wednesday:
8D Science: Get ready for our Stream Study on Thursday! Check out (if you want)
http://www.ecospark.ca/changingcurrents

Thursday:
River Study!
8A and 8D - 9 - 12 noon
8B and 8C - 12 noon to 3

Also: International  Student Exchange Presentation

Friday:

PA Day!!!! Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Scientific Method! Do you remember these steps?

Just checking!!!

The Scientific Method Steps

All Grade 8 Students! Please click on the link below and explore the website. This will help prepare you for our field trip, next

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

Changing Currents - Student Area

You will be responsible for sharing 5 interesting facts with a partner next science class!

8C Science

Due for next Science Class:
Please have one person create a document on the Cloud and share it with all of  your group members. Decide which member is responsible for what section of the experiment. Write up the first 5 steps of the Scientific Method for the experiment, "Water, Water Everywhere." This includes:

• Question
• Background Information
• Hypothesis (read the entire page to figure this one out!) - remember, this is a prediction of what your science experiment will show you/teach you at the end!
• Materials
• Proceedure

I will email you a copy of the experiment tomorrow (internet at school down - ugh) to your Cloud accounts.