On to new things again!  We're flying through units in the 8th grade!  We started a short convection unit that will set us up for bigger topics in the Winter Term when we come back from break.  This week we predicted and tested convection in water creating currents, taking notes, and engaging in lively discussion.  Take a look at these notes below:

Aren't they fantastic?!  They're learning to be very careful in their observations and note taking.  I think it's a tremendous skill to take with them to high school next year and beyond.

Our Skatepark Showcase is right around the corner!  Students began constructing their skateparks this week and will present them to the panel of judges next THURSDAY!  Students have to be prepared to answer a variety of questions about their park, friction loss, sources of energy, transformation of energy, etc.  I'm looking forward to hearing them use our vocabulary we've been studying in a real life scenario!  Ms. Shelley will be coming for our Expo, too!  

From full pipes to street spines with drops, these students are creating some amazing parks with the "money" they've earned while learning about the physics of motion. 

Fun and exciting experiments are underway in 6th grade science.  This week we began our study of states of matter.  We've been clarifying what a physical change is and what a chemical change is.  It's a hard concept to grasp at first, but the students are getting here.  Here's what a few of them had to say about this week:

"I learned in science is when you put sodium hydrogen carbonate and acidic acid together in a bag it makes a chemical reaction and grows, and foams up and compresses the air and makes 
the bag grow thigh and when you tcoch ice to the bag it gets foggy where you touched the ice the fog is carbon dioxide sticks to the cold from the ice and makes the fog." Walker

"If you place a penny on top of a heated bottle the penny flaps up and down. Pressure built up until it was strong enough to push up on the penny." Litzy

"I learned the states of Matter. You see Matter is everything. It can be a liquid, a gas or a solid. But Matter can change to. You see can change from a gas to a liquid or a liquid to a solid." Hunter

" I learned that mixed baking soda and vinegar in a bag you get a chemical-reaction, Creating lots of gas (CO2). And that gases have more energy that solids and liquids." Madison

"I learned that physical change is something that can be changes back. Example: Gas to liquid to solid and back. I also learned that chemical change is something that can't get changed back. Example: Cookie Dough to Cookies." Cassidy

"I learned the states of matter. haw a Gas to a solid to a liquid or backwards. I that hat was pretty cool." Anakin

"I learned why we call 'hot air balloons' hot air balloons. It is because the hot air pushes the balloon UP!! Just like the penny, with the boiling water and the hot air pushing the penny and making it flap around." Gillian

"I learned about Chemical Change. The change in the molecular structure. Example: When you have cookie dough and you make cookies you cannot change it back to cookie dough." Madelyn

Monday, December 3rd:

• Candy Cane Shoppe set up in the Library. Kids will be allowed to preview after set up.

Tuesday, December 4th:

• Candy Cane Shoppe Open
• 6:30 p.m. MRA Board Meeting
• Homework Club 3-4 pm

Wednesday, December 5th:

• Candy Cane Shoppe Open
• 12:15 Buddy Time

Thursday, December 6th:

• Candy Cane Shoppe Open

Friday, December 7th:

• Candy Cane Shoppe Open
• Homework Club 3-4 pm
• Dress Rehearsal in the afternoon for the program.
• MRA Winter Program, 7:00 p.m. in the gym. Chairs are arriving at 5 and we could use some help getting them set up.

Important Dates:

• December 11th: 2/3 Play, 2:00 p.m.
• January 2nd: Teacher Planning Day
• January 3rd: Back to School
• January 15th: 5:30 to 6:30 Parent Night – Math and Homework
• January 21st: MLK – No School
• January 25th: All School Dance