Nieman - Week of 1 Dec

MS Bible - 6, 7 & 8 Christian Ed

6th - We'll conclude Matthew this week

7th - Working through Hebrews and beginning James

8th - Planning our Jan Service Projects


7th Life Science

Our focus will be the Science Fair for the bulk of Dec and Jan.

Remember that all the Science Fair "checkpoint", or progress grades count for 25% of your grade this quarter.

I've inserted some of the documents below for you; these are the handouts students got and will continue to get in science class.

Progress Grades:

Date	11/18/08	11/21/08	12/4/08	1/8/09	1/15/09	1/20/09	1/22/09	2/5/09	2/5/09
What's Due	Signed Due Date	Q & H	Finalized Proposal	Research Paper	Experiment Details	Data Table	Data Analysis	Final Project	Science Fair!
Points Possible		10	20	50	20	50	50	100
Points I earned
Reason Codes From Below
Parent Initial here
CODES
1	I forgot to do the assignment
2	I did the assignment, but left it at home or someplace else
3	I did not understand the assignment and did not get help with understanding it
4	I did not have time to do the assignment
5	I did not do my assingment for another reason that isn't listed here
6	I did my assignment and am right on track

These are the first 3 pages of the Science Fair

Packet- the most crucial info...

Science Projects are DUE Thursday 5 February

General Assignment Descriptions

The entire project is worth 25% of your 3^rd quarter grade.

The project must utilize the scientific method including quantitative analysis. Students must use measurements in forming their conclusions.

Project details, analysis, and conclusions must be compiled on a tri-fold board for presentation.

Students must complete a project notebook and manipulative to accompany the display.

• Students are encouraged to conduct an experiment in the area of earth science (6), life science (7), or physical science (8) though other areas are acceptable.
• The project must use the Scientific Method: State the Question, Research, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analyze results, communicate results.
• There must be a change that is measurable. This is called the responding (or dependent) variable. Students must measure their results quantitatively.
• Students must perform several trials (10 or more trials - helps ensure accuracy and also helps prove results are reproducible) and calculate the average and uncertainty.
• Students must use data evidence to formulate conclusions.
• Plagiarism and Fabrication will not be tolerated. The result of a plagiarized or fabricated project will be a zero for the entire project.

Supplies needed for this project:

► 1 - 1” 3-ring binder (recycle an old one lying around the house)

► 1 – 70 page spiral bound notebook (Likewise…use the unused portion of an old one)

► 1 – Tri-Fold Display board (Not due until the end of the project – probably should be new)

► Any and all materials needed for the experiment. Please note that the experiment does not need to be complicated, extravagant, or – understandably – expensive. Creativity, imagination, and accurate analysis and record keeping are more important. You may, however, wish to invest a bit of money in “building” the manipulative portion of the experiment (see notes on page 3 about this).

If you have any questions, please contact me at: dave.nieman@citytree.org

You alone are the Lord;

You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host,

the earth and all things on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all…

Nehemiah 9:6

City Tree Middle School Science Fair Due Dates

These dates apply to all 6^th-8^th Middle School Students, in Earth, Life and Physical Sciences.

*Attached are two copies of this calendar, please keep one for your files, sign and return the second copy to Mr. Nieman by Friday 21 Nov.

Due Date	Points	Project Components
Fri. 21 Nov.	10	Testable Question and Hypothesis - Students must turn in an APPROVED testable question and formulated a hypothesis.
Thurs. 4 Dec.	20	Science Project Proposal – Students must complete the project proposal form. The proposal form requires students to come up with a testable question and their plan to carry-out testing of their hypothesis.
Thurs. 8 Jan.	50	Background Research – This is a five paragraph research paper (must include a bibliography) and is part of your final project paper. Please follow the format.
Thurs. 15 Jan.	20	Experiment Details and Materials and Procedures – This is an important section that is part of your final science project paper. Be sure your procedures are very detailed and include the materials you used.
Tues. 20 Jan.	50	Data Tables & Graphical Representation of Data – You will turn in the data you collected from 10 or more trials (in the form of a table) and at least one graph showing the best values.
Thurs. 22 Jan.	50	Data Analysis and Abstract – These are two more sections I want to grade and provide feedback before your final project is due. Only print these sections. Staple together and make sure your name is on the front. There are more required sections that I have not seen yet. You can see me after school if you would like me to look at them and provide feedback. Otherwise, these sections will only be due in the final notebook.
Thurs. 5 Feb.	100	Final Project Display, Notebook & Manipulative – On Thurs 5 Feb February, bring your display board, completed notebook & manipulative to your homeroom BEFORE school begins. If it rains: use a clean garbage bag to help keep it dry. All projects MUST be submitted by Thurs 5 February. Early submissions are accepted. NO LATE PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Thurs. 5 Feb.	None	City Tree Science Fair - 3:30 PM – 5:15 PM
TBD	None	Screening TBD. Projects that have been selected from City Tree will be judged for the possibility of moving on to the Greater San Diego County Science and Engineering Fair at Balboa Park.

2008 Science Fair Project

Manipulative Requirement Details

This year (2008), all 7^th and 8^th grade science fair projects must have a manipulative component to their project display.

Manipulative means: a device, object, or mechanism that actually does something – it performs a function, models a concept, or replicates an action.

Some Examples:

Performs a function: When you pull a lever, a weight is released that tests the durability of a substance.

Models a concept: Water is poured into a tube and different substances will filter out impurities.

Replicates an action: An earthquake is simulated by shaking a model and measuring the range, or distance of sway, on the top, the middle, and the bottom of the model.

· Simplicity & Elegance count! Don’t go too overboard with what you buy, build, or create!

· Keep your Project Manipulative SAFE and SIMPLE!

· Your Project Manipulative does not need to model or illustrate the entire focus of your project; it can only show a portion of it.

Refer to Teacher-ease for progress grades and due dates.

If you have questions, are confused, or you nearly burn the house down attempting your experiment, please first call the fire department, then email me...I WANT TO HELP!


8th USH

We've finished up our look at the Declaration of Independence & the Am Revolution.

This week we'll focus on the Articles of Confederation and the founding of America
(CHAPTER 3).

ASSIGNMENTS:

Tues 2 Dec - Ch 3 Reading Guide (HW)

Wed 3 Dec - Ch3 Vocab and Overview (HW)

Thurs 4 and Fri 5 Dec - Reading Analysis (Assignment given in class)