April 14 - 18

This Week's Calendar
Mon-Fri, April 14-18: Spring Book Fair in the Library
Tuesday, April 15: Trip to GCHS Planetarium
Wednesday, April 16: Grandparents' Lunch @ 12:25-1:05
Wednesday, April 16: Social Health program preview; Greenfield Intermediate
                                    School @ 6:30 PM

Guest Teacher This Week
I will be out of the building this week on Wednesday and Thursday for personal and family medical appointments. A substitute will be in the room in my place on those two days. A reminder to students that all normal rules and procedures remain in effect during my absence.
  
Activities and Assignments for April 14-18

·        Monday: Science – FOSS Reader: Phases of the Moon [No homework]

·        Tuesday: Science – Planetarium trip / Investigation 2.1 Introduce Night Sky Logs due on Monday, April 21)  [Homework: Night Sky Logs to be completed on school nights 4/15, 4/16, 4/17, and 4/18. Logs are to be turned in on Monday, April 21]

·        Wednesday: Science – Constellations; Introduce constellations / Draw constellations
[Homework: Night Sky Log]

·        Thursday: Social Studies – Wagon train writing activity; USA Weekly
[Homework: Night Sky Log]

·        Friday: Science – Moon phases project with Oreo Cookies [Homework: Night Sky Log]

Recommended Video Clips
See the Constellations Song
The Universe: The Constellations
Stars and Constellations
Life Cycle of Stars; Part 1
Big Bang Gravitational Waves Discovered in 2014

April 7-11

Social Studies - Westward Expansion
Students will begin a hands-on examination of westward expansion by participating in a simulation of a wagon train trip to the West. While activities will primarily be conducted in class, some homework may be assigned to reinforce concepts. Check the assignment notebook for specifics. During the "trip", teams will be able to accumulate bonus travel points for behavior and work habits. (As well as travel delays as a consequence of unacceptable behavior and work habits) This simulation is scheduled for April 7 through May 2.

High School Planetarium
We'll be visiting the GCHS Planetarium on Tuesday, April 15. Buses will leave MIS promptly at 8:00 and will be back by 10:00 to resume regular classes. While at the planetarium, Mrs. Janeen Gill will extend and enrich student learning about the solar system, the sun, the moon and its phases, and the stars and constellations. Look for a permission slip to come home this week.

Social Health Program
The annual social health program will be presented to MIS fifth and sixth grade students on Wednesday, April 23. Parents will be able to preview the program Wednesday, April 16 at Greenfield Intermediate School at 6:30 PM. You may also visit the Indiana Social Health website at www.socialhealth.org

Activities and Assignments for April 7-11 
Mon  (Gold): Science – Investigation 1.2 Shadow Tracking (Tracing shadows with chalk outside as long as the weather cooperates.) Draw diagrams in Journal and Question Worksheet for FOSS reader pages 4-8  [No homework] 

Tues  (Blue): Science – Adding vocabulary and content to the Science Journal.  [No homework] 

Wed  (Gold): Social Studies – Westward movement activity  /  Science – Question Worksheet for FOSS reader pages 9-12.  [No homework] 

Thurs  (Blue): Science – Investigation 2.1 The Night Sky Observations (Moon observations; Introduce Night Sky Logs due on Wednesday April 16)  [Homework: Night Sky Logs to be completed on school nights 4/10, 4/11, 4/14, and 4/15. Logs are to be turned in on Wednesday, April 16]

Fri  (Gold): Read “Night Sky” on pages 14-18 of FOSS reader and complete Question Worksheet.  [No weekend homework]

 

March 31 - April 4

Spring Break
Finally! Spring Break! I hope everyone's having a great time. When we return on March 31, we'll be starting the last quarter of this school year. In science, look for our study of the sun and moon to get started up. Maybe the weather will even warm up enough to finally be able to get outside for a study of the chemical reaction between Mentos and Diet Coke.

ISTEP
The online part of our ISTEP testing is currently scheduled for the last week of April. More details to follow.

Activities and Assignments for March 31-April 4
Monday, March 31   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. USA Weekly #23 with question sheet
3. Homework: Finish worksheet if not done in class

Tuesday, April 1   (Gold)
1. Journal: Make a list of objects you can see in the sky during the day
2. Science: Investigation 1.1 - "Follow the Sun"  (establish cardinal directions)
3. No homework

Wednesday, April 2   (Blue)
1. Journal: Use cardinal directions to tell how to get to the lunchroom
2. Science: Investigation 1.1 continued - "Where's the Sun?"
3. No Homework

Thursday, April 3   (Gold)
1. Journal: Draw and label a diagram of the sun moving from sunrise to sunset
2. FOSS Reader: "Sunrise & Sunset" / Journal: Vocabulary
3. No homework

Friday, April 4   (Blue)
1. Journal: "What is a shadow?" -  Explain and diagram
2. Science: Investigation 1.2 - "Tracing Shadows"
3. No Homework

Videos to Watch at Home
Tour of the Moon (4:39)
Solar Flare (4:16)
Bill Nye - The Sun (22:56)
Nova: Secrets of the Sun (52:43)

March 17-20

Four Day Week
Yes, we know this should have been the first week of Spring Break. But! There's no one to blame except Old Man Winter. We've got four days to make up that we missed earlier this year due to one of our worst winters in a long time. So, read on to see what we have planned for science and social studies this week.

St. Patrick's Day
Monday, of course, is St. Patrick's Day. Take a few minutes here with this link to enjoy some beautiful Irish scenery set to some equally beautiful Irish music.
          > A Quick Trip to the Emerald Isle <

Activities and Assignments for March 17-20
Monday, March 17   (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Ireland Puzzle
2. Social Studies: USA Weekly #22 with a Fact Finder sheet
3. No homework (Unless you need to finish the Fact Finder)

Tuesday, March 18   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Solutes and Solvents: Investigate the fastest way to dissolve chocolate
3. No homework

Wednesday, March 19   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Swirling Milk Colors (Science experiment)
     - add a "secret substance" that turns a tray full of milk and food coloring into
        a swirling symphony of colors!
3. No homework

Thursday, March 20   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Science: Make an Edible Mixture
    - Make a bar graph of the ingredients
    - Snack on the mix
3. Spring Break Homework - Relax, rejuvenate, and get ready for the push
    to the end of the year.

Biz Town Images
Everyone had a great day at Biz Town Monday! Here are some images from this fantastic experience. Check back tomorrow for more uploads.

Town Meeting

Our Town Marshal

Experimenting in the Lab

Radio Disney Prepares for Broadcast

At the PNC Bank

Interested in Making an Investment?

Welcome to the Wellness Center

Meter Reader at Work

The Lids Staff

Indianapolis Power and Light

Writing Up Stories for the Newspaper

May We Help You?

Our Savings Officer

A Teller's Day is Never Done!

I Love My Job!

Getting the Staff's Paychecks Ready

Our Mayor Speaks to Biz Town

Steak N' Shake Staff Meeting

March 10-14

Biz Town Last Minute Reminders
(1.) Please send your child with a sack lunch (unless they're taking one of the cafeteria provided lunches). Lunches should be in a disposable bag with the student's name and Biz Town business clearly written on the outside of the bag. You may send a drink if you wish, but drinks may also be purchased at the Steak and Shake store in Biz Town.
(2.) Make sure your child arrives at school on time Monday. The buses will be leaving as soon as bus riders have unloaded in the morning. We'll arrive back at school in time for regular afternoon dismissal.
(3.) Students should wear business casual clothes appropriate for their Biz Town business position. This means no jeans if at all possible. Comfortable shoes are a must because students will be on their feet most of the day. (No flip-flops!)
(4.) We have also told students no cameras or cell phones at Biz Town.

If you're one of the volunteer facilitators for the day, thanks again for your assistance. Volunteers will be expected by the Biz Town staff and should arrive at the facility for early orientation. Students will arrive at approximately 8:45, so volunteers should be there no later than 8:00.

ISTEP
We're getting into the first round of ISTEP testing this week. This is the written part and will take three sessions. To avoid both Biz Town trips our tests will be first thing in the morning on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Plenty of rest and a good breakfast will certainly help with the energy needed to perform at optimum levels.

Activities and Assignments for March 10-14
Monday, March 10
Biz Town Trip

Tuesday, March 11   (Blue)   ISTEP in AM
1. Biz Town debriefing
2. Mixtures and Solutions Investigation 2
3. No homework

Wednesday, March 12   (Gold)
1. FOSS science stories with worksheet
2. No homework

Thursday, March 13   (Blue)    ISTEP in AM
1. USA Weekly with Fact Finder worksheet
2. No homework

Friday, March 14   (Gold)    ISTEP in AM
1. Saturated solutions and crystal growing
2. No weekend homework

Videos for Home Viewing
Bill Nye - Chemical Reactions
Meet the Elements Song

March 3-7

This Week's Assignments and Activities
Monday, March 3   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Science: Finish up fat content investigation
3. Journal: Write up report on investigation
4. No homework

Tuesday, March 4   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. Science: Mixtures and Solutions / Investigation #1
3. Biz Town: Shop meetings
4. No homework

Wednesday, March 5   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Science: Mixtures and Solutions / FOSS reader
    with Fact Finder Challenge
3. Homework: Finish Fact Finder as needed

Thursday, March 6   (Gold)
1. Bell Work
2. USA Weekly #20 with worksheet
3. Homework: USA Crossword for extra credit

Friday, March 7   (Blue)
1. Bell Work
2. Science: Mixtures and Solutions / Investigation #2
3. No weekend homework