Evolution & Resistance Project
Last week, we began our evolution and resistance project. Students selected a form of resistance to research and understand how it developed and the impacts it has on society. We had two class periods to work on the project already and students should be about 70% complete with their research. The science classes will have Tuesday and Friday this week as work days to finish up the project and create their final presentation. Final projects will be due on Friday, Oct. 25th by the end of class. We look forward to sharing our findings.
Evolution Unit Wrapping Up
We are quickly approaching the end of our evolution science unit. Students worked on their study guides during class on Monday, Oct. 21st with the hopes of making sure they understand any gaps in their knowledge base. During the course of the week, we have asked the classes to review the study guide in preparation for the two assessments next week. On Monday, Oct. 28th, students will be completing a model assessment where they will construct a model of an evolutionary topic. The model will contain drawings, labels, captions, and a description. The second assessment will be on Tuesday, Oct. 29th. Students will be completing a multiple choice content assessment. The best preparation for both assessment is to ensure that all work is complete and that students have completed the readings.
For All Rubrics & Late Work
Please take a moment to check For All Rubrics for any missing work. Students will have through Wednesday, Oct. 30th to submit any missing work for the evolution unit.
Coming Up: Science Fair
Now that we are wrapping up our evolution unit in science, we will be starting our science fair unit once we return from fall break. Students will be participating in a variety of activities aimed at helping them understand the complexity required of the project to reach a certain proficiency, an evaluation of required materials needed to complete the project, and developing their testable question with required variables. As part of that confirmation process, students have to recognize they will be responsible for obtaining the materials to complete the experiment here at Saratoga. While we can provide some measuring equipment and support, students will need to ensure that they have the materials ready by the middle of next week to begin the experimental process. During the experimental design process, we met with each student to ensure that their project has the potential for success. However, we do not always know from the home front if what the student designs will be possible for families to support or gather materials. Therefore, if your student shares information with you regarding their project that causes concern such as cost or complexity, please do not hesitate to ask them to alter or change their experiment. If you do see the need for changes, please help your student make them as soon as possible for each day will be more work for them to catch up.
The science team will once again be using For All Rubrics to check off the various phases of the project. As soon as a student shows us successful completion of that phase, we will mark it off. Students will need to complete each phase to move to the next. Therefore, it will be essential that students complete each part of the project in a timely manner so they do not fall behind and create an “avalanche” of work they cannot get out from under. Please remember that any late work requires the student to show their facilitator to get it checked off.
Below is a projected timeline for completing the science fair:
Nov. 4 - 8: Science demonstrations, evaluating for complexity, early research strategies
Nov. 11 - 14: Complete the background information on the testable question, develop the experimental procedures, build the data table, and identify variables in the experiment.
Nov. 18 - 22: Students finish up all steps from previous week and begin experimenting.
Nov. 25 - 26: Students construct a detailed model illustrating the scientific process(es) they are investigating.
Dec. 2 - 6: Students finish up experiments and start to build their website with experimental information.
Dec. 9 - 13: Students complete website design and start practicing their presentation.
Dec. 14 - 20: Students present their results to a judge & upload respective artifacts to their portfolio.
Last week, we began our evolution and resistance project. Students selected a form of resistance to research and understand how it developed and the impacts it has on society. We had two class periods to work on the project already and students should be about 70% complete with their research. The science classes will have Tuesday and Friday this week as work days to finish up the project and create their final presentation. Final projects will be due on Friday, Oct. 25th by the end of class. We look forward to sharing our findings.
Evolution Unit Wrapping Up
We are quickly approaching the end of our evolution science unit. Students worked on their study guides during class on Monday, Oct. 21st with the hopes of making sure they understand any gaps in their knowledge base. During the course of the week, we have asked the classes to review the study guide in preparation for the two assessments next week. On Monday, Oct. 28th, students will be completing a model assessment where they will construct a model of an evolutionary topic. The model will contain drawings, labels, captions, and a description. The second assessment will be on Tuesday, Oct. 29th. Students will be completing a multiple choice content assessment. The best preparation for both assessment is to ensure that all work is complete and that students have completed the readings.
For All Rubrics & Late Work
Please take a moment to check For All Rubrics for any missing work. Students will have through Wednesday, Oct. 30th to submit any missing work for the evolution unit.
Coming Up: Science Fair
Now that we are wrapping up our evolution unit in science, we will be starting our science fair unit once we return from fall break. Students will be participating in a variety of activities aimed at helping them understand the complexity required of the project to reach a certain proficiency, an evaluation of required materials needed to complete the project, and developing their testable question with required variables. As part of that confirmation process, students have to recognize they will be responsible for obtaining the materials to complete the experiment here at Saratoga. While we can provide some measuring equipment and support, students will need to ensure that they have the materials ready by the middle of next week to begin the experimental process. During the experimental design process, we met with each student to ensure that their project has the potential for success. However, we do not always know from the home front if what the student designs will be possible for families to support or gather materials. Therefore, if your student shares information with you regarding their project that causes concern such as cost or complexity, please do not hesitate to ask them to alter or change their experiment. If you do see the need for changes, please help your student make them as soon as possible for each day will be more work for them to catch up.
The science team will once again be using For All Rubrics to check off the various phases of the project. As soon as a student shows us successful completion of that phase, we will mark it off. Students will need to complete each phase to move to the next. Therefore, it will be essential that students complete each part of the project in a timely manner so they do not fall behind and create an “avalanche” of work they cannot get out from under. Please remember that any late work requires the student to show their facilitator to get it checked off.
Below is a projected timeline for completing the science fair:
Nov. 4 - 8: Science demonstrations, evaluating for complexity, early research strategies
Nov. 11 - 14: Complete the background information on the testable question, develop the experimental procedures, build the data table, and identify variables in the experiment.
Nov. 18 - 22: Students finish up all steps from previous week and begin experimenting.
Nov. 25 - 26: Students construct a detailed model illustrating the scientific process(es) they are investigating.
Dec. 2 - 6: Students finish up experiments and start to build their website with experimental information.
Dec. 9 - 13: Students complete website design and start practicing their presentation.
Dec. 14 - 20: Students present their results to a judge & upload respective artifacts to their portfolio.
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