February 3-7, 2014

Wrapping Up the Human Body Module
We completed the human body module in which we studied the skeletal and muscular systems this week with a quiz on Tuesday and a group project on Thursday. For the group project, students applied what they learned about the skeletal system to create a life size skeleton module. One student volunteered to be the model for a body tracing, and the group then filled in the outline with a skeleton drawing.

Group displaying their skeleton model

Activities and Assignments for February 3-7
Monday, February 3  (Gold Day)
1. Bell Work: Bullying reflection
2. Beginning our Biz Town lessons with learning about communities and citizen's
    rights and responsibilities
3. Also starting our study of food, nutrition, and digestion
4. No homework

Tuesday, February 4  (Blue Day)
1. Bell Work: Citizenship review
2. Biz Town: How does an economy work? Goods, services, and resources
3. No homework

Wednesday, February 5  (Gold Day)
1. Bell Work: Food puzzle
2. FOSS Reader activity on digestion
3. Short video clips on the digestive system with journal reflections
4. No homework

Thursday, February 6  (Blue Day)
1. Bell Work: TBA
2. D.A.R.E. class visit from High School role models
3. No homework

Friday, February 7  (Gold Day)
1. Bell Work: TBA
2. Social Studies Acuity Test  (in computer lab)
3. Digestive system demonstration
4. No homework

January 27-31

More Weather Coming
It looks like the polar air just won't go away. The plans outlined in the blog today are, of course, subject to change and revision based on what decisions are made throughout the week.

Activities and Assignments for January 27-31
Monday, January 27  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Science journal entry on how muscles and bones work together.
2. Work in the FOSS reader (pages 21-29) - Read and discuss
3. Homework: Review for quiz tomorrow - use study guide from last Friday

Tuesday, January 28  (Gold)
1. Bell Work: Food word search
2. Quiz on skeletal and muscular systems
3. Intro to module on food and nutrition
    (Bill Nye on Nutrition)
4. No homework
   *** A short trial run of the ISTEP online system is also planned for today

Wednesday, January 29  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Reflections on how to deal with bullying
2. D.A.R.E. with Officer McCarley  -  or, in case of weather delay
2b. Nutrition Investigation 1.1
3. No homework

Thursday, January 30  (Gold)
1. Bell Work: American Revolution crossword puzzle
2. USA Weekly #16
3. Homework: Finish up USA Weekly question sheet if necessary

Friday, January 31  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: TBA
2. Nutrition - Investigation 1.1 (either started or continued from Wednesday)
3. No weekend homework

Makeup Days
This Monday, January 20 will be a day of regular school attendance and will count as the first of our three required makeup days. The second will fall on what would have been a day off for Presidents' Day in February and the third is scheduled for what would have been the first day of Spring Break.

Activities and Assignments for January 20-24
Monday, January 20   (Gold)
1. Bell Work: Journal entry
2. Making a working leg model to study the relationship
    between bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
3. Homework: DARE report (Due Wednesday, Jan 22)
    The one page report (see DARE book page 23) may be
    handwritten or typed. It needs to be at least one page single
    spaced. It can be turned in to Mr. Ellars, or can be e-mailed to:
    ellars.lab@gmail.com

Tuesday, January 21   (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Heart diagram (Need blue & red colored pencils)
2. FOSS Reader: The Frozen Man
3. Homework: DARE report (Due Wednesday, Jan 22)
    The one page report (see DARE book page 23) may be
    handwritten or typed. It needs to be at least one page single
    spaced. It can be turned in to Mr. Ellars, or can be e-mailed to:
    ellars.lab@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 22   (Gold)
1. Bell Work: TBA
2. The DARE report is due today.
3. Your Most Important Muscles (heart); and review of skeletal
    and muscular systems
4. No homework

Thursday, January 23   (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Science puzzle
2. DARE with Officer McCarley
3. No homework

Friday, January 24   (Gold)
1. Bell Work:Science & Math
2.Quiz over skeletal and muscular systems
3. USA Weekly #15
4. No homework

This Week's Learning Goals
1. Discover how bones, muscles, and connective tissue work together to
    effect movement.
2. Finish a report reviewing learning in the DARE program.
3. Draw conclusions on human anatomy from readings on discovery of frozen
    prehistoric remains.
4. Learn structure and function of cardiac muscles.
5. Continue study of American Revolution.
6. Demonstrate understanding of skeletal and muscular systems. (Friday quiz)

January 13-17

Revised Activities and Assignments for January 13-17
The goals are equivalent to last week's plans, just some revisions and rearrangements.

Monday, January 13   (Gold)
1. Bell Work (Worksheet: Skeletal System)
2. Investigation 2.3 - Naming joints
    (ball & socket, hinge, gliding, fixed)
3. Find and locate joints on skeleton poster
    and skeleton model
4. No homework
          (Goal: Identify different types of joints and locate examples)

Tuesday, January 14   (Blue)
1. Bell Work  (Geography puzzle)
2. USA Weekly #14 - The Road to Revolution
3. USA Weekly Crossword Puzzle
4. No homework
          (Goal: Identify causes of the American Revolution)

Wednesday, January 15   (Gold)
1. Bell Work  (Journal entry)
2. Investigation 2.4 - Comparing bones
3. Investigate "bones in a bag"
4. Student response sheet
5. Homework: Finish student sheet as needed
          (Goal:Compare functions of different types of bones)

Thursday, January 16   (Blue)
1. D.A.R.E.
2. D.A.R.E. report is due Wed., January 22
3. Homework: DARE report
          (Goal: Begin work on DARE report)

Friday, January 17   (Gold)
1. Bell Work  (Worksheet: Muscles)
2. Investigation 3.1 - Making a leg model
    - review jump rope
    - discuss moving bones
    - explain role of muscles, tendons, and bones
    - make leg model
3. Homework: DARE report
          (Goal: Understand relationship of bones, ligaments, and
                     tendons in skeletal movement)

January 6 - 10

This Week's Activities and Assignments
Monday, January 6   (Blue)
1. Bell Work (Worksheet: Skeletal System)
2. Investigation 2.3 - Naming joints
    (ball & socket, hinge, gliding, fixed)
3. Find and locate joints on skeleton poster
    and skeleton model
4. No homework

Tuesday, January 7   (Gold)
1. Bell Work  (Journal entry)
2. Investigation 2.4 - Comparing bones
3. Investigate "bones in a bag"
4. Student response sheet
5. Homework: Finish student sheet as needed

Wednesday, January 8   (Blue)
1. D.A.R.E.
2. D.A.R.E. report is due Wed., January 15
3. Homework: DARE report

Thursday, January 9   (Gold)
1. Bell Work  (Worksheet: Muscles)
2. Investigation 3.1 - Making a leg model
    - review jump rope
    - discuss moving bones
    - explain role of muscles, tendons, and bones
    - make leg model
3. Homework: DARE report

Friday, January 10   (Blue)
1. Bell Work   (Geography puzzle)
2. USA Weekly #14 - The Road to Revolution
3. USA Weekly Crossword Puzzle
4. Homework: DARE report

This Week's Learning Goals
Monday - Categorize joints of the skeletal system by similarity of operation
Tuesday - Examine a collection of bones and discuss function as related to structure
Wednesday - Identify the 5 W's of reporting bullying
Thursday - Build an operating model of the leg to demonstrate how muscles,
                     tendons, bones, and ligaments work together to move legs and feet
Friday - Examine causes leading up to the American Revolution

D.A.R.E. Report
The DARE report will be assigned on Wednesday of this week. Students will have one week to complete the assignment with the reports due on Wednesday, January 15.  No reports will be accepted after that date, except due to excused absence from school. Of course, reports may be turned in before the due date. Students may also turn in reports by e-mail by sending the completed report to:
ellars.lab@gmail.com

December 16-20

Activities and Assignments for December 16-20
Monday, December 16   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Investigation 2.1  (Looking at thumb joints)
3. Homework: Bone Test Study Guide

Tuesday, December 17   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Investigation 2.2  (Joint tasks)
3. Homework: Bone Test Study Guide

Wednesday, December 18   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Investigation 2.2b  (Naming joints)
3. Homework: Bone Test Study Guide

Thursday, December 19   (Blue)
1. D.A.R.E.
2. Homework: Bone Test Study Guide

Friday, December 20   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Bone Test
3. Challenge: Cut a hole in an index card big enough to step through.
4. Holiday celebration

Holiday Celebration
On Friday, December 20 we'll be having a short celebration of the winter holidays. Your Gold Team teachers have requested that in lieu of a gift exchange, that students simply drop a little in a Salvation Army bucket instead.

Winter Break
This Friday (Dec. 20) is the last day of school before our Winter Break. We'll be back in school on Monday, January 6. Have a safe and restful two weeks.

Video Recommendations
Baby owl spitting up pellet
National Geographic Documentary on Owls  (53:54)

December 9-13

Acuity
The first social studies Acuity Test was last Friday. Lots of concentration and hard work was evident. Effort was off the chart!

Activities and Assignments for December 9-13
Monday, December 9   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Mr. Bones skeleton model
3. No homework

Tuesday, December 10   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Owl pellet investigation  (Investigate and categorize)
3. No homework

Wednesday, December 11   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. D.A.R.E.
3. No homework

Thursday, December 12   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Owl pellets continued   (Reconstruct mouse skeleton)
3. No homework

Friday, December 13   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. USA Weekly #12   (with question worksheet)
3. No homework

Recommended Video Clips for Home Viewing
1. Bill Nye on Muscles and Bones
2. Human Body Skeletal System
3. Major Axial Bones
4. Major Appendicular Bones