6th Grade Science Old Archives (08-09)

 

Week of June 1, June 8 and 9

Monday

In class: Begin planning for ecology performance art. Draw names for groups.

Tuesday

In class: Work on ecology performance art. Finish glazing pottery bird houses.

Wednesday

In class: Work on ecology plays. 

Homework:  Bring in any props for the performance art.

Thursday

In class: Work on ecology plays and do a dress rehearsal. Performance will be Monday.

Friday

In class: No class because of math exam.

Monday, June 8

In class:  Performance art.  Reflect on the year.

Tuesday, June 9

Clean out lockers.

 

Week of May 25

Monday

In class: Learn about sampling techniques. Gardening.

Tuesday

In class: Flower census in the tall grass field.

Wednesday

In class: Take data in the soccer field. 

Thursday

In class: Gardening. Make the graph of the field data.

Friday

In class: No class because of play.

 

Plans for week of 5-18

Monday

In class: Ecology project introduction. The food web of field and forest.

Tuesday

In class: Ecology field exploration: looking at the food web.

Homework: Study for quiz.

Wednesday

In class: Limiting factors, carrying capacity: Oh, Deer!

Homework: Study for quiz.

 

Thursday

In class: Review for quiz.

Homework: Study for quiz.

Friday

In class: Ecology vocabulary and concept quiz.

 

Plans for the week of 5-11

Monday

In class: Cut some lettuce and spinach for a Tuesday salad. Take care of the turtle. Rescheduled from last week: characteristic properties.

Tuesday

In class: Work in the gardens with parents planting blueberries and doing other spring jobs.  Give your parents a tour of your garden. Serve your parents a salad!

Wednesday

In class: Solve mysteries using characteristic properties.

Thursday

In class: Ecology of the field and woods on Woodlawn campus: biotic and abiotic factors.

Friday

In class: Ecology of the field and woods on Woodlawn campus: the food web.

 

Plans for the week of 5-4

Monday

In class: Discuss the Raptor Center field trip.  Prepare for the vegetable seedling sale. Make signs and prepare the sale table.  Prepare a planting and care sheet to give buyers.  Our 6th grade vegetable seedling sale will be after school on Monday, May 4, or in case of rain, on Tuesday, May 5.  Students are staying after to sell seedlings from 3:15 to about 3:40 unless they have a conflict.  Students asked parents last week if they could stay to help.  Volleyball girls or students with on campus commitments can stay for 15 minutes and then go to practice.  Thanks so much!  All proceeds will go to the Raptor Center so the class can adopt a bird.

Tuesday

In class: We will have a Service Learning time to care for the wildlife garden.  As part of our service learning we maintain wildlife habitat in our school wildlife garden.  We will plant annual flowers in the wildlife garden and blueberry bushes in the asparagus plot.  Thank you to Beth Brownbridge for donating the blueberry bushes.  Parents are welcome to come in and help.  Check with your child about when they have science class Tuesday afternoon. Banneker is at 1:15 and Curie at 2:15.

Wednesday

In class: Wildlife garden observation day.  We will admire our work and contemplate how we are helping wildife. Introduce the science mystery project.

Thursday

In class: Learn about characteristic properties of substances.  Learn how to identify unknown substances using characteristic properties.

Friday

In class: Identify mystery substances using characteristic properties.

 

Plans for the week of 4-27

Monday

In class: Review animal behavior. Could you train your pet using one of the types of learning?  Go over the guidelines and begin to develop a training plan.

Tuesday

In class: Discuss the training plans. Finish your training plan for your pet.

Homework: Complete your training plan if you did not do so in class. 

Wednesday

Watch behavior videos and Sawyer’s video. Discuss animal behavior.  Turn in books.

Thursday

In class: Discuss the trip to the Raptor Center and go online to learn about it.  Discuss the plant sale and make signs for it.

Homework: Ask permission to stay after school Monday May 4, just during car pool line to sell basil, dill and tomato plants.

Friday

In class: Service learning field trip to the Raptor Center followed by a trip to the Spanish grocery store. 11:45-2:45.  We have enough drivers.

Plans for the week of 4-20

Monday

In class: Plant seedlings.  Care for gardens.  Go over the test and record grade.

Tuesday

In class: Patterns of animal behavior:  communication and competition.

Wednesday

In class: Record another science grade. Earth Day: find out about your carbon footprint.

Homework: Get grade record sheet signed this week.  Due Friday.  

Thursday

In class: Complete your carbon footprint. 

Friday

In class: Grade record sheet must be signed.  Patterns of animal behavior:  group behavior and cyclical behaviors. Learning experiment.

 

Plans for the week of 4-13

Monday

In class: Open-book Quest rescheduled.

Homework: Read pp. 148-154.

Tuesday

In class: Animal behavior: behavior as a form of adaptation.  Check on your seedlings.

Homework: Answer the questions on p. 154 in complete sentences in your science journal.

Wednesday

In class: Types of animal learning: instinct, conditioning, trial and error, and insight learning. Write skits.

 

Thursday

In class: Garden day - Work on wildlife garden.  Mulch the wildlife garden path.  Check on the progress of your seedlings.  Remove weeds.

Friday

In class: Perform animal behavior skits and reflection.

 

Plans for the week of 3-30

Monday

In class: Go over Friday’s quiz and discuss the bird behaviors we observed in the movie Friday.

Homework: Read pp. 132-135 and complete questions 1 a,b,c.

Tuesday

In class: Mammals and work in garden.

Wednesday

In class: Mammals and work in garden.

Homework: Read pp. 136-140 and complete questions 2 a,b,c for Thursday. 

Thursday

In class: Mammal diversity.

Friday

In class: Mammal  open-book quest.

 

Plans for the week of 3-23

Monday

In class: Work on the wildlife garden and student gardens.

Homework: Read pp. 122-124.  Answer questions 2a, 2b, and 2c in complete sentences in your science journal.

Tuesday

In class: Heart and circulatory system comparisons between birds, fish and amphibians online activity.  See p. 120 of the textbook for the code if you are absent.  Review the egg lab and the handout.  Quiz Thursday on birds, including the egg lab and on the circulatory system comparisons.

Wednesday

In class: Review for quiz.  Work in the gardens.

Homework: Study for quiz.

Thursday

In class: Quiz on birds and the amniotic egg.  Begin mammals.

Friday

In class: Birds in Action and Amazing Parrots: “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.”

 

 

Plans for the week of 3-16

Monday

In class: Learn about how the film Winged Migration was made. Discuss and make a list of natural and human hazards the birds encounter in their migration.

Tuesday

In class: Learn more about your assigned bird.

Wednesday

In class: Learn about amazing bird feathers.

Homework: Read pp. 118-121 in the Animals textbook. 

Thursday

In class:  Learn about vital functions of birds.

Friday

No class because of field trip to the Symphony and the Mint Museum.  Bring your lunch.

 

Plans for the week of 3-9

Monday

In class: Work in the greenhouse planting tomato contest seeds. Draw bird names for our migration project.  Search online for a picture of your bird for our project and to use in art.

Homework: Read pp. 162-3 in the textbook about behavior cycles.  Print a bird picture of your bird for art.

Tuesday

In class: Go over the classification project grade.  Record it on your grade record sheet.  Learn about some characteristics of birds.  Take notes about cyclical behaviors and the cyclical behavior of migration. What animals migrate and why do so many birds species migrate?

Wednesday

In class: Work in the wildlife garden adding compost to the garden and then watering. Go over the handout and discuss bird migration and what we will be seeing in our movie tomorrow.

 

Thursday

In class: Introduction to the movie and watch 1st half of Winged Migration film.  How does the music help us feel what the birds are experiencing as they migrate?

Friday

In class: Discussion of hazards the migrating birds encounter and watch 2nd half of Winged Migration.

 

Plans for the week of 3-2

Monday

No school because of snow.

Tuesday

In class: Work on classification project. Discuss the finished classification project and how it should look.  Discuss how scientists classify animals and why.

Homework: Classification project is due Wednesday before school.  It will be displayed at portfolio viewing.

Wednesday

In class: Guest speaker Dr. Malcolm Campbell on bacteria and evolution. 

Thursday

In class: Discuss the guest speaker. Discuss the kingdoms of living things and the domains of living things and where bacteria fit in.

Friday

In class: Work on the wildlife garden.

 

Plans for the week of 2-23

Monday

In class: Review for test and work on classification project. 

Tuesday

In class: Review game and work on classification project.

Homework: Study for test.

Wednesday

In class: Test on Chapter 3.

Thursday

In class: Work in the wildlife.

Friday

In class: Go over test. Work on wildlife garden.

 

Plans for the week of 2-17

 

Monday

No school because of Presidents' Day.

 

Tuesday

In class: Discuss the similarities and differences between reptile and bird eggs.  The amniotic egg:  membranes and a shell form a protective environment for development.  Work on the wildlife garden.

 

Wednesday

In class: Egg lab.

 

Thursday

In class: Discuss egg lab.  Work on classification project.

Homework: Complete egg lab questions if not done in class.  Read pp. 102-106.

 

Friday

In class: Work in the wildlife garden. 

Homework: Complete the questions on p. 106 in complete sentences.

 

Plans for the week of 2-9

Monday

In class: Peanut observation activity.  Prepare gardens for planting peas by digging furrow and making tags.

Tuesday

In class: Discuss and reflect upon our trip.  Plant peas.  Record planting in your garden journal.  Continue weeding of wildlife garden. 

Wednesday

In class: Learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Discuss salamanders.

Homework: Complete reflection.

Thursday

In class: Continue work on classification project.

Friday

No school: Holiday.

 

Plans for the week of 2-2

Monday

In class: Prepare for class trip.  Continue with classification project.

Tuesday

In class: Prepare for class trip.  Continue with classification project.

Homework: Remember to be at school at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow

Wednesday

In class: Depart for Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont at 7:10 a.m.  Be at school to load cars at 7:00.  Don’t forget your pillow!

Thursday

In class: No class because of class trip.

Friday

In class: Returning from class trip at 4:30 p.m.

Plans for the week of 1-26

Monday

In class: Work in the wildlife garden and complete Bill Nye film.

Homework: Read pp.  108-111.

Tuesday

In class: Finish making fish prints and discuss the reading on fossils.

Wednesday

In class: Continue with the classification project.

Thursday

In class: Continue the classification project.

Friday

In class: No science because of Renaissance Minds presentation.

Plans for the week of 1-20

 

Monday

No School: Martin Luther King Day

Tuesday

In class: Make fish prints and continue working in teams weeding the wildlife garden.

Wednesday

In class:  The amphibian double life.

After school: Any parents with questions or wishing to see the video of Tremont may come at 3:30 to Mrs. Denham’s room.  This is not a formal meeting, just an informational session. 

Thursday

In class: Begin the chordate classification project. Go over last letter for overnight trip to Tremont.  

Homework:  Show your parent the final letter about Tremont and read it with them.  Have your parent sign your agenda to show you have read the letter.  Due Friday.  Chaperones will also receive a pamphlet with instructions and drivers will receive an e-mail with googlemaps directions just for your information.

Friday

In class: Continue with the chordate classification project and begin amphibians.

 

Plans for week of 1-12

Monday

In class: Fishes: the most ancient vertebrates.  Outline of work to be done in the wildlife garden. Begin removing last year’s stalks and leaves.  Weed paths.

Homework: Read p. 88-90

Tuesday

In class: Fish: Jawless and Cartilaginous Fishes. Work in the wildlife garden.

Homework: Read pp. 91-92

Wednesday

In class: Bony fishes. Tremont video.

Thursday

In class: Making fish prints.

Friday

In class: Renaissance scientific instruments.

Plans for week of 1-5

Monday

In class: Go over the classification activity.

Homework: Read pp. 80-83 in your Animals textbook.

Tuesday

In class: What is a chordate and what is a vertebrate?

Wednesday

In class: Reptiles and how they control their internal temperature. Pack the gifts to the Humane Society in boxes to take to the Humane Society.

Thursday

In class: Discuss our field trip to the animal shelter.

Friday

In class: The role of habitat for ectothermic animals.

 

Plans for 12-15

Monday

In class: Review mollusks.

Tuesday

In class: Review arthropods and echinoderms.

Homework: Study for test.

Wednesday

In class: Test on Chapter 2.

Thursday

In class: Classification activity.

Friday

In class: Go over test. Complete classification activity.

 

Plans for 12-8

Monday

In class: More about arthropods.

Homework: Review the information about arthropods in the book. 

 

 

Tuesday

In class: Go over mollusk mysteries. Discuss the characteristics of mollusks and arthropods.

 

Homework: Complete questions on p. 73.

 

Wednesday

In class: Echinoderms and their water vascular system.

 

Thursday

In class: Discuss metamorphosis and its survival advantages for animals.

 

 

Friday

In class: Sand dollars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers - National Geographic short films.

 

Plans for 12-1

Monday

In class: Complete mollusk mysteries.

 

Tuesday

In class: Arthropods types. Crustacean metamorphosis.

 

Wednesday

In class: Arachnids.

Homework: Complete reading through p. 59.

 

Thursday

In class: Package and price doggie treats to sell at Christmas in Davidson. Make signs to advertise the treats to customers.

 

Friday

In class: No class because of field trip.

Homework: Volunteers needed at Christmas in Davidson to sell doggie treats.  We will meet at the hot dog stand at 6:00 and again at 7:00.

 

 

Plans for 11-24

Monday

In class: Mollusk observations.

 

Tuesday

In class: Arthropod introduction: jointed limbs and exoskeletons.

 

Plans for 11-17

Monday

In class: Work on your garden and the wildlife garden.

 

Tuesday

In class: Go over test.

 

Wednesday

In class: Mollusk exploration.

 

Thursday

In class: Begin mollusks. Prepare for portfolio.

 

Friday

In class: Catch-up day. Learn more about classification:  Carolus Lineaus.

 

Plans for 11-10

Monday

In class: Review for test on Chapter 1.

Homework: Study a little each evening this week for the test on Thursday. 

Tuesday

In class: Begin to prepare your garden for winter by adding mulch to hold in moisture and retard weed growth. Trim back some in the wildlife garden. 

Wednesday

In class: Study day for Chapter 1.

Thursday

In class: Test on Chapter 1. 

Friday

In class: Field Trip to Davidson College Animal Lab and art tour - 9:20-11:15.

 

Plans for 11-3

Monday

In class: Review sponges and cnidarians.

 

Tuesday

In class: Worms.

 

Wednesday

In class: Worms.

 

Thursday

In class: Begin classification project.

 

Friday

In class:  Classification project.

 

Plans for 10-27

Monday

In class: Finish work with sponges. Learn about the phylum Porifera.

 

Tuesday

In class: Compare your animal to a sponge.

 

Wednesday

In class: Begin project on classification.

Homework: Read pp. 19-23 about cnidarians in the Animals textbook.

 

Thursday

In class: Cnidarians: stinging-cell animals.

 

Friday

In class: Cnidarians continued.

 

Plans for 10-20

 

Monday

In class: Go over poster presentation form and practice animal poster presentations. Begin Animal Diversity Conference with several presentations of animals.

 

Tuesday

In class: Continue Animal Diversity Conference with several presentations of animals. Discuss similarities and differences between the animals.

 

Wednesday

In class: Read about animals in the Animals textbook. Water gardens and check on plant growth. Weed.

Homework: Complete reading and questions. Read pp. 6-11.  Answer questions on p. 11.

 

Thursday

In class: Compare your animal to a sponge.

 

Friday

In class: Conclude animal diversity conference with a discussion of biodiversity.

 

Plans for 10-14

Monday

No school: Columbus Day

 

Tuesday

In class: Continue work on the animal poster and project.  Due Friday. Water gardens.

 

Wednesday

In class: Continue animal project work.

 

Thursday

In class: Continue animal project work.

Homework:  Complete project if you have not already done so. Please turn in to Mrs. Denham before school Friday.

 

Friday

No science because of field trip.

 

Plans for 10-6

 

Monday

In class: Continue animal research.

Homework: Bring a small poster for Wednesday. Due Thursday.  It can be reused from another project.

 

Tuesday

In class: Continue animal research.

Homework: Bring a small poster for Wednesday. Due Thursday.  It can be reused from another project.

 

Wednesday

In class: Finish animal research.  Take your books home and return them to the library.

Homework: Bring a small poster for Wednesday.  It can be reused from another project.

 

Thursday

In class: Blank poster due.  Begin poster on the vital functions of your study animal.  Take animals home or release.

 

Friday: No school.

 

 

Plans for 9-29

Monday

In class: Animal observations.  Care for the animals.  Make a care card in case you are sick.  Discuss classification and learn about the phylum of your animal.

 

Tuesday

In class: Check gardens to see if we have sprouting plants after all the rain.  Find your animal’s life cycle.

 

Wednesday

In class: Learn about endothermic and ectothermic.  Continue research and animal care.

Thursday

In class: Animal observations.  Care for the animals.

 

Friday

No science class.

 

 

Plans for 9-22

Monday

In class: Bring in animals and habitats.  Also bring books from the library.  Animal collection walk. Plant gardens.  I have seeds.  If you would like to purchase plants for your garden you may do that this week.

Homework: Don’t forget your animal if you haven’t brought it yet. Don’t forget to bring food for your animal. Library books due tomorrow.  Remember, if you can’t find a whole book on your animal you may have to copy pages from an encyclopedia or check out a more general animal book. 

Tuesday

In class: All animals for animal study due!  First animal observations. Care chart. Library books due.

 

Wednesday

In class: Animal observations continued. Introduce the animal care and study project guidelines. 

 

Thursday

In class: Animal observations continued.  Look at the animal books you brought from the library.

 

Friday

In class: Research on your animal.

 

 

Plans for 9-15

 

Monday

In class: More grasshopper work. Sketch grasshoppers. Introduce the animal care project.

Homework: Think about what invertebrate from the list you might want to care for in the classroom for three weeks.

 

Tuesday

In class: How does our field of grasshoppers add to our understanding of ecology?  Discuss animal care project.

Homework: Take your letter home to be signed.  Signed letter due Friday.

Do not bring an animal until Monday.

 

Wednesday

In class: Learn about the animal's habitat and diet.

 

Thursday

In class: Make a habitat.

Homework: Bring your signed letter Friday.

 

Friday

In class: Finish making habitats.  Signed permission letters due in class.

 

Plans for 9-8

 

Monday

In class: Discuss the biodiversity in the wildlife garden. What did we learn about ecology from our observation exercise?  Garden plot lottery for those who need a new plot.

 

Tuesday

In class: Learn which garden plot you got. Remove some old plants.

Homework: Read about insect ecology, pp. 62-67.

 

Wednesday

In class: Learn about grasshoppers from the field survey area. Catch and sketch one.

 

Thursday

In class: Discussion:  The role of insects in the food web.

 

Friday

In class: Garden work.  Harvest last veggies. Pull old veggie plants. Weed your plot. Add composted manure.

 

 

 

Plans for 8-2

 

Monday

In class: Labor Day Holiday - no school

 

Tuesday

In class: Introduction and observation exercise. Ecology vocabulary.

 

Wednesday

In class: Ecology of the Class Study Area.

 

Thursday

In class: Ecology discussion.  What is ecology?

 

Friday

In class: Tour of gardens and class study area.