Academics

January 2010

Welcome back!  This is my favorite time of the year to teach.  The students are actually ready to learn and little distractions!

8th grade science--Students will be completing their unit on crystals.  Crystals were grown a few days before school ended for the Christmas vacation.  They will view the crystals under microscopes, draw and explain why they form the way they do. Next, students will learn the different ways elements bond.  They will create different models of bonding.  Students will be tested at the end of January on Chapter 16 Chemical Bonds.

7th grade Science--Science Fair papers are due on January 11.  Each student needs two copies.  Please check the Science  Fair Manual page 8-10.  Backboards will be worked on in school the week of January 4.  Then, they will go home to be completed.  Students will work on their presentation the week of January 11.  Please ask your child to review present their project to you.  The format for their presentation is on page 11 and 12 in the Science Fair Manual.

The Science Fair will be held after school on Wednesday, January 20 from 3-5 p.m.  Please pick up your child at the gym door. The project will remain for Catholic Schools Week.  Projects will be set up in the gym.  The school is invited to view the projects at 2 p.m. Awards will be given out Wednesday morning.  The eight top projects will be presented at the Regional Science Fair at the University of St. Francis in March.

English Grade 7 will focus on the writing process determining the purpose and audience and using nouns and verbs in the correct tenses.

Literature Grade 7- Students will begin reading a novel after Science Fair is finished.

6th Science--Students are completing Chapter 18 Vertebrates.  They will be tested the second week back.  We will be reviewing and checking notes for test preparation.  The test will include characteristics of each group, likes and differences.  Students will also make conclusions about the Monarch in Space experiment determining how the control butterflies responded to the classroom.  Students will also compare the controls to those on the International Space Station.

5th Science-- Students are completing  the unit, Monarchs in Space.  In conjunction, with the Monarch in Space Unit students have been studying the history of NASA.   We will conclude with the latest mission, the Ares Rocket.    A rocket will be built in class and launched.  Notes will be coming home shortly to order the supplies.

As always, please call with any questions or concerns!  Happy New Year.

Mrs. Regina Block