Monday through Friday – Final Chemistry Assessment
This week alone or with teams students are developing their final chemistry projects. In short, they are to summarize on a legal-sized piece of paper one of the three chemistry concepts we studied and then develop a model which will help 5th graders understand the concepts.
What to do if you missed class: Click on the Chemistry Final web link for instructions on how to do the assessment. If you have already decided your project, you can work alone on it at home or you can work with your team via social media and google. Projects are due Friday.
What we did in class today: Mr. Jamsa was out of town. We watched the last part of Temple Grandin on one day and we were introduced to how to balance chemical equations on the second day.
What to do if you missed class: You don’t have to make up Temple Grandin. For balancing chemical formulas, look at the video below. Mr. Jamsa has practice worksheets you can take home and practice with if you ask.
Wednesday, December 11th
What we did in class today: We continued our studies of chemical reactions with Legos and then modeled with students as the atoms two famous chemical reactions – photosynthesis and respiration.
What to do if you missed class today: Not much you can do to make up the learning. Ask your group for help when working on the final exam next week.
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Tuesday, December 10th
What we did in class today: We used Legos as a model to learn about chemical formulas and reactions.
What to do if you missed class today: The picture below will give you a glimpse of what we worked on in class. See Mr. Jamsa for more details or ask your group questions during your work time next week.
Monday, December 9
What we did in class today: Today was the last day to work on the Santa Mystery lab in class.
What to do if you missed class today: You can write your CER at home for the lab. The outline is below:
C – The evidence supports the claim that ____ is the correct Santa cookie recipe.
E – List evidence from your chart ONLY. No other information should be here.
R – tie your evidence together with logic to MAKE YOUR CASE. Everything important enough to be listed under E should be explained with R. Which canister, A, B, or C, has the correct mixture of flour, baking soda, and powdered sugar?
What we did in class: We are assessing science skills with the Santa Mystery Lab. There are three major grades this week for the following skills 1) What did I do? 2) What happened? 3) What did I learn?
What to do if you missed class: If you are not here when we assess one or more of the skills, come see Mr. Jamsa for a way you can take a test at home to show the skill for the day you missed.
Monday, December 2
What we did in class today: We compared and contrasted physical and chemical changes with a Venn Diagram.
What to do if you missed class today: Make a Venn Diagram with physical properties on the left and chemical properties on the right. Complete it with information from the film below.
What we did in class today: We learned how to count the number of atoms in a compound from a chemical formula.
What to do if you missed class today: Watch the movie clip below and take notes.
Class B – after lunch
We did the lesson for Class A on Wednesday below.
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Wednesday, November 20th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We learned about physical properties and chemical properties. We need this information to help us prepare for the chemistry unit like learning the alphabet before we learn to read.
What to do if you missed class today: Write down the following definitions and watch the following movie clip. It should help you get caught up.
Physical Property – describing what IS about matter; what you can observe with sight and touch. (shape, texture, color, etc)
Chemical property – describing what CAN BE about matter – how it CAN turn into something else – like Flammable, can rust, can rot, etc.
Class B – after lunch
Same lesson as written below for Class A on Tuesday.
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Tuesday, November 19th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We compared and contrasted elements, compounds, and mixtures.
What to do if you missed class today: Mr. Jamsa has a handout for you if you ask. This information will be the cornerstone of the upcoming chemistry unit.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We practiced using models.
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the information below. We will refer to it often over the next few weeks.
Models:
Represents something else.
Should be able to use to predict a future event.
Should be able to upgrade as new info is added.
You should know its limitations.
The Four Model Questions:
This model represents:
This model could help you predict:
This model could be upgraded by:
Limitations of model:
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Monday, November 18th
What we did in class today: Mr. Jamsa was ill, so the class watched part two of Temple Grandin.
What to do if you missed class today: You can work on your Temple Grandin graphic organizer when he is gone again and we watch part 3.
Today was our Adopt-a-Farmer Field Trip for the entire 8th grade.
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Thursday, November 14th
What we did in class today: We completed our energy / matter test.
What to do if you missed class today: You can schedule the test the next time Mr. Jamsa sees you in class.
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Wednesday, November 13
What we did in class today: We reviewed for Thursday’s multiple choice test.
What to do if you missed class today:Click on the homework link for information on how to prepare for tomorrow’s test.
Tuesday, November 12th
Class A – Before Lunch
What we did in class today: We compared and contrasted reduce, reuse, and recycle.
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the notes of a classmate. You will need the material for Thursday’s test.
Class B – After Lunch
What we did in class today: We did an activity called Toil for Oil. This activity explored the relationship between civilization and oil.
What to do if you missed class today: There is nothing specific during this activity that will be on the test, so there is nothing you have to make up.
What we did in class today: We did activities to show what it is like to be an “exceptional” student. It was a day to celebrate and appreciate diversity.
What to do if you missed class today: There is nothing to make up for today.
Thursday, November 7th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We looked at our relationship with oil in an activity called “Toil for Oil.”
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the notes of a classmate and speak with Mr. Jamsa after class.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We compared and contrasted the three R’s.
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the notes of a classmate.
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Wednesday, November 6th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We looked at the organization of the Periodic Table of the Elements by creating our own tables.
What to do if you missed class today: Look at some of the examples from your classmates of tables. Ask Mr. Jamsa if you have any questions.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We looked at the enduring nature of matter by following the life of Carrie the Carbon Atom.
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the notes of a classmate. Ask Mr. Jamsa if you have any questions.
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Tuesday, November 5
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We learned how to read information from the Periodic Table of the Elements.
What to do if you missed class today: Talk to a classmate or Mr. Jamsa and let them show you how to do it. You will be using this skill over the next six weeks.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We continued our study of matter by doing an activity with the rock cycle.
What to do if you missed class today: Watch the film below and take notes and show Mr. Jamsa.
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Monday, November 4
What we did in class today: A community building activity followed by a “blow your mind” science session about quantum physics.
What to do if you missed class today: There is nothing official to make up although it was a great day in science class :<)
What we did in class today: We introduced the Periodic Table of the elements and worked on decorating a copy of our Periodic Table of the Elements.
What to do if you missed class today: Mr. Jamsa will give you a copy of the table and the note page the next time you are in class. Use a classmates table and notes to get caught up.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We introduced the concept of atoms with some demonstrations.
What to do if you missed class today: Write notes on the following film in your notebook under the title “Atoms.”
Thursday, October 31st
What we did in class today: We did a community building activity and a review crossword. We also spoke about science fair.
What to do if you missed class today: There is nothing you had to make up for today.
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Wednesday, October 30th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We continued our study of the enduring nature of matter with the story of Carrie the Carbon atom.
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the notes of a class mate and then talk to Mr. Jamsa. This concept will be hit often this year.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We designed our own Periodic Table of the Elements.
What to do if you missed class today: Today’s activity is a great way to learn about the PTE. When we share examples of great Periodic Tables in the future, you should be focused and ask questions so you understand the big picture. There is little you can do outside of class for today’s lesson.
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Tuesday, October 29th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We continued our study of matter by doing a rock cycle activity.
What to do if you missed class today: Watch the movie below. Take notes. Answer the following two questions. Show Mr. Jamsa. 1) Matter is created in your cycle _______________. 2) Matter is destroyed in your cycle _______________.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We learned how to determine information from the Periodic Table of the Elements.
What to do if you missed class today: Talk to a classmate or Mr. Jamsa and ask them what you missed and copy the table. You will be tested on this information at a later date.
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Monday, October 28th
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We received an introduction to atoms.
What to do if you missed class today: Write notes on the following film in your notebook. Title the page: “Atoms.”
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: Today was the last day I donated class time to looking for a science fair project.
What to do if you missed class today: You can look for a project on your own. The due date for project ideas is Friday.
What we did in class today: We investigated whether earth was an open or closed system, and why that is an important question facing humans today.
What to do if you missed class: Come see me after school. I can walk you through the lesson in a few minutes. The overall concept learned is important and we will refer to it more this year.
Period B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We received an introduction to the Periodic Table of the Elements and worked on organizing the Periodic Tables that I gave out in class.
What to do if you missed class today: Get the handouts from Mr. Jamsa and copy the notes from a classmate. We will definitely be using the Periodic Tables over the next few months.
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Thursday, October 23rd
What we did in class today: Mr. Jamsa was not at school today. We started a film about a great scientist named Temple Grandin.
What to do if you missed class today: When you return to school, you can be updated on what you missed.
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Monday, October 21st – Wednesday, October 22nd
What we did in class today: We are still working on the Titanic Lab as described on Thursday/ Friday of last week.
mrjamsa.com was HACKED. I am slowly rebuilding the web site. I will make sure critical and timely information is posted. Past information is currently unavailable.
Thursday, October 17 – Friday, October 18
What we did in class today: We are working on the Titanic Lab. This lab will be the first opportunity to demonstrate the three science skills – What did I do? What happened? What did I learn? These three skills are a major part of the science grade this semester.
What to do if you missed class: We will make a plan with you when you return depending on how many days you miss.
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Titanic Lab
Wednesday, October 16
Class A – before lunch
What we did in class today: We used what we knew about density, mass, and volume to learn the background for the Titanic Lab.
What to do if you missed class today: Missing this background will hurt, but if you speak with your table mates tomorrow, they should be able to explain to you the science behind your boat building on Thursday.
Class B – after lunch
What we did in class today: We looked at the difference between closed and open systems.
What to do if you missed class today: Copy the notes of a classmate. We will refer to this information all year so it will be helpful to understand it.
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Tuesday, October 15
What we did in class today: We looked at some of the CER examples from last week to try and learn how to do them better.
What to do if you missed class today: Check out the homework link! There is going to be a quiz next week on some of the basic science concepts we have been studying thus far. The contents of the quiz will be explained on the homework link.
As far as Tuesday’s work, pay good attention to your classmates when you return. You will be writing a CER for the Titanic Lab which will be worth big points. You need to understand how to write a CER.
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Monday, October 14
What we did in class today: We learned a strategy for finding a science fair project and we spent some time looking.
What to do if you missed class: The strategy is outlined below:
Find a topic of interest with student passion page or by using websites found under SCIENCE FAIR link above. It is helpful to ask people who know you what ideas they have.
Do some research on the topic/ see if you like it
Brainstorm a list of independent and dependent variables about the project (as also described in the SCIENCE FAIR LINK) or choose a problem that can be solved related to the project.
Talk to Mr. Jamsa or e-mail Mr. Jamsa your current idea. He will probably give you some suggestions for narrowing it down or he will ask you to consider other directions.
Do more research
Fill out the T-form and SHARE with Mr. Jamsa. The T-form is found in the Google classroom, not on this web site.
Mr. Jamsa will accept the project or respond with ways you need to improve the project. We want it to be a) something you love b) do-able c) somewhat important. Mr. Jamsa has done this a long time and has a pretty good idea on what a good project looks like.
