Science Happenings
We are now two weeks into our first life science unit. The class has worked to understand factors leading into population changes in a species. Our labs, readings, and activities have focused on the four essential areas mitigating population change: food source, environmental factors, other organisms, and reproduction. We completed our week with a food indicator lab. Students tested a wide variety of foods to analyze their composition and to infer how they had an impact on organism growth.
The class has also now started working with the online IQWST curriculum to access many of their science materials. Students have an unique login that allows them to work directly in the program answering questions and reflecting on activities. The science team will also continue to utilize Google Classroom as a method for pushing out other modified experiences or formative assessments.
Next Steps
We still have severals weeks yet until we complete our first life science unit. Students will continue engaging in the IQWST life science curriculum until we transition into our next unit, which will be our inquiry unit. Here is a list of the units we plan on completing for the year:
Late Work Submission Procedures
Science students have now had several assignments that they have needed to submit for either check-in or formative evaluation. Students have multiple time slots to complete assignments, whether in class or during connect or flex. In order to assist students to understand WHEN things are due, we are using three terms connected with the F.A.R. feedback and reporting system.
Start: As the word indicates, this marks the beginning of an assignment. Students can start working on completing their work at this time.
Due Date: Many assignments are expected to be completed by the next day, as they serve as a springboard for the following days work. Students can find these expectations on our “Weekly Expectations” slides posted to Google Classroom each week, along with our daily agenda.
Deadline: This represents the last day students have to submit their work or complete a task before it will no longer be accepted or available. As we explained to the students, many activities need to be done in a timely manner to understand the next steps in our unit. It is also impossible to keep materials for labs out for long periods of time. Therefore, students will have one week from the “Due Date” of an assignment to complete a lab, before they have lost the opportunity. Should students pass a deadline, this means they have lost the chance to show proficiency in that portion of the continuum until we revisit it in the following units.
Feedback: The science team gives constant feedback to the students on an ongoing basis. The feedback comes in terms of whole class review of activities where students reflect on their work and the next steps they need to take to reach proficiency. Feedback also comes on an individual basis through formative assignments. Students who submit their work by the “Due” date can expect to receive feedback on their work. However, should students miss a “Due” date, they are still expected to submit the assignment, but might not get the same level of feedback as they otherwise would have should they have submitted this ontime. Therefore, it remains critical to student growth and feedback to be timely with work submissions.
Safety Agreement
Thanks to everyone who has submitted the safety agreement. Students need to submit this form before they can participate in any major science labs. Additional paper copies can be found in the science labs.
We are now two weeks into our first life science unit. The class has worked to understand factors leading into population changes in a species. Our labs, readings, and activities have focused on the four essential areas mitigating population change: food source, environmental factors, other organisms, and reproduction. We completed our week with a food indicator lab. Students tested a wide variety of foods to analyze their composition and to infer how they had an impact on organism growth.
The class has also now started working with the online IQWST curriculum to access many of their science materials. Students have an unique login that allows them to work directly in the program answering questions and reflecting on activities. The science team will also continue to utilize Google Classroom as a method for pushing out other modified experiences or formative assessments.
Next Steps
We still have severals weeks yet until we complete our first life science unit. Students will continue engaging in the IQWST life science curriculum until we transition into our next unit, which will be our inquiry unit. Here is a list of the units we plan on completing for the year:
- Life Science: “Where have all the creatures gone?”
- Inquiry Unit
- Chemistry: “How does food provide energy to do things?”
- Science Fair
- Earth Science: “What makes the weather change?”
Late Work Submission Procedures
Science students have now had several assignments that they have needed to submit for either check-in or formative evaluation. Students have multiple time slots to complete assignments, whether in class or during connect or flex. In order to assist students to understand WHEN things are due, we are using three terms connected with the F.A.R. feedback and reporting system.
Start: As the word indicates, this marks the beginning of an assignment. Students can start working on completing their work at this time.
Due Date: Many assignments are expected to be completed by the next day, as they serve as a springboard for the following days work. Students can find these expectations on our “Weekly Expectations” slides posted to Google Classroom each week, along with our daily agenda.
Deadline: This represents the last day students have to submit their work or complete a task before it will no longer be accepted or available. As we explained to the students, many activities need to be done in a timely manner to understand the next steps in our unit. It is also impossible to keep materials for labs out for long periods of time. Therefore, students will have one week from the “Due Date” of an assignment to complete a lab, before they have lost the opportunity. Should students pass a deadline, this means they have lost the chance to show proficiency in that portion of the continuum until we revisit it in the following units.
Feedback: The science team gives constant feedback to the students on an ongoing basis. The feedback comes in terms of whole class review of activities where students reflect on their work and the next steps they need to take to reach proficiency. Feedback also comes on an individual basis through formative assignments. Students who submit their work by the “Due” date can expect to receive feedback on their work. However, should students miss a “Due” date, they are still expected to submit the assignment, but might not get the same level of feedback as they otherwise would have should they have submitted this ontime. Therefore, it remains critical to student growth and feedback to be timely with work submissions.
Safety Agreement
Thanks to everyone who has submitted the safety agreement. Students need to submit this form before they can participate in any major science labs. Additional paper copies can be found in the science labs.
RSS Feed