Mr. Jamsa's Class

Science Fair if off and Running!

Friday, October 21st

Objective:We will collaborate and review key concepts from the first six weeks of class on the review study guide.

What we did in class today: We collaborated on a review guide as well as did a check in on the October homework.

If you missed today: You can download the review guide by clicking below.  Practice the work on it and bring it to Mr. Jamsa.  Also, you need to show Mr. Jamsa your work on the October homework thus far.

review study guide

Thursday, October 20th

Objective:I will demonstrate and improve my knowledge of the scientific method on the fire and air mini-inquiry.

What we did in class today: We did a one-day inquiry to practice and improve our scientific method skills and to add more people to the junior varsity science team list.

If you missed today:You lost points for not participating in this inquiry.  You will have to set up a time with Mr. Jamsa after school some day to make up those points.  You could also consider doing a second October homework project to make up those lost points, although today’s practice was really important.

Wednesday, October 19th –

Objective: Given a science topic, I will be able to form 2 scientific questions with independent and dependent variables.  I will also be able to answer analysis questions about data given by the teacher.

What we did in class today: 1) We talked about science fair and how it is time to look for a topic. 2) We practiced writing scientific questions for a given topic.  3) We anlayzed the results of a smoking study.

If you missed today: Make sure you check out the What’s New portion of this web site to find out about science fair.  Find a partner in class and copy down what they wrote on page 43.  It will help you with the process of writing scientific questions.

PLEASE NOTE: FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE OCTOBER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT IS DUE THE DAY WE RETURN FROM BREAK – OCTOBER 19 – SEE HOMEWORK TAB FOR DETAILS!

Wednesday, October 12th

Objective: Mt team will collaborate and prepare our mixture for the compost inquiry and record our inital data in the SNB.

What we did in class today: We brought our composting materials, recorded data (mass, physical properties, etc), and prepared our composting 2-liter bottles for the next month.

If you missed today:You need to see me during AG and negotiate a way you can earn those lost points.  You can continue to work on the composting inquiry with your team after the break.

Tuesday, October 11th

Objective: I will demonstrate the differences between physical and chemical properties with my closing bumper sticker.

What we did today: We created a T-chart demonstrating the differences between physical and chemical properties.  We also did final preparation for the Composting inquiry tomorrow.

If you missed today:  See a classmate and copy their notes on pages 40-42 of your notebook.  BRING YOUR STUFF for tomorrow. 

Monday, October 10th

Objective: Collaborating with my team, we will listen about and write the new vocabulary and read and complete the elementary vocabulary card sort.

What we did in class today: 1) Updated our notebooks for the new unit – “Matter Cycles.” 2) Collaborated and planned for Wednesday’s Composting Inquiry.  Everyone determined who was bringing what. 3) We introduced the Periodic Table with two card sorts and three new vocabulary words.

If you missed today: 1) Borrow a classmate’s notebook and update your notebook, page 1, page 7, and page 40. 2) Check with your team what you are supposed to bring on Wednesday.

Friday, October 7th

Objective: With my team, we will collaborate and write our plan for the composting inquiry.

 

What we did today: 1) We formed our inital hypothesis and procedure for the composting inquiry. 2) We reviewed the homework assignments for October. 3) We took the October Sky test.

If you missed TODAY: Read the homework assignment possibilities for October and choose one of the four.  See Mr. Jamsa if you have any questions. 2) If you have seen October Sky, come see Mr. Jamsa during AG or after school for 3 minutes so he can verify with a quick verbal test and give you your points! 3) Check in with your team on the things you need to bring for the composting inquiry construction day this Wednesday.

Thurday, October 6

Objective: With my team, I will READ and SUMMARIZE the important points of composting in my SNB to help prepare a plan for the COMPOSTING INQUIRY.

What we did today: We did the research in our teams for the Composting Inquiry which will begin next week.

If you missed TODAY: Copy the notes you missed from a team mate including the updating of your Scientific Method Table of Contents on page 7.  You will probably be asked to bring materials for your team next week.

Wednesday, October 5th

Objective: With my team mates, I will write and execute a procedure for the water/cork inquiry and intelligently analyze the results.

What we did today: We finished the water/ cork inquiry, including the hypothesis, procedure, experiment, and analysis.

If you missed TODAY: You will have to see me for an entire AG period or after school to make up the points and the experience.

Tuesday, October 4th

Objective: With my table team, I will frame the water/ cork investigation and design an experiment to explain it.

What we did today: We designed a simple setup with water, a cork, and breadcrumbs.  We the create a scientific question to investigate, did some research, and wrote a hypothesis and procedure to test the phenomena.

If you missed today:  You will have to arrange a time with Mr. Jamsa during AG or after school to makeup the experience.

Monday, October 3rd

Objective: With my classmates, I will review and successfully perform metric conversion problems. 

What we did today: We practiced metric conversion problems and took another quiz at the end of class.

If you missed MONDAY: Check your score from the first metric conversion quiz last week.  If you did not receive a perfect score, you probably need to review with an “expert.”  There are many “experts” in each class.  When you are ready, you can retake the quiz.