Weekly Updates
Conversation Starters, Book Report, STEM projects
Conversation Starters: January 20-23
Conversation Starters
Week of 1-20-2015
Reading: (Monday-Friday)
1. Figurative Language Review: Simile, Metaphor, Alliteration, Personification
2. Novel Introduction: Building Background Knowledge, sequencing events, locating key ideas and supporting details
3. How do I properly compare and contrast information from several different sources?
Writing: (Monday-Friday)
1. Informational Writing: How to analyze information from several sources
2. How do I use evidence from documents to support my answer?
3. How do I organize information for an informational essay?
4. Introduction to opinion writing
Math: (Monday-Friday)
1. CHAPTER 6 MATH TEST: WEDNESDAY
2. How do I multiply fractions with whole numbers?
Content: (Monday-Friday)
1. STEM FAIR: Please see timeline for due dates
2. How do we use electricity?
3. 13 COLONIES TEST: TUESDAY
4. French and Indian War
5. What were the early conflicts with Britain and what effects did these conflicts have?
*REMINDERS*
*BOOK REPORT DUE FEBUARY 10, 2015 (THIS IS A REVISED DATE DUE TO UPCOMING FIELD TRIP)
*TENMARKS.COM DUE FEBRUARY 13, 2015
*STEM PROJECT AND BACKBOARD DUE MARCH 3, 2015
*STUDENT___________*PARENT SIGNATURE______________
See Below for STEM Project Timeline and Book Report Information
STEM Project Timeline
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE FOLLOWING THE PROVIDED TIMELINE FOR DUE DATES AND REQUIREMENTS
Science Fair Timeline
Student: _____________________________ Project Due Date: ____________________
Due Date
Item Due
January 20, 2015
Research Plan
What do you want to find out or what type of problem are you trying to solve? “Research Plan” needs to be completed and approved by both teacher and parent/guardian.
Begin January 20, 2015 and is ONGOING
Set up a project log to record your questions, diagrams or drawings, information from research, procedures, materials, observations and data. The project log can be completed using the documents provided by their teacher or can be completed in a notebook with all necessary components.
January 20, 2015
Gather research about your science project topic using a variety of sources such as: computer search, books, encyclopedias, magazines, as well as information from professionals like doctors, nurses, engineers, researchers, teachers, veterinarians, librarians, and other sources as needed. List the resources in your bibliography.
January 26, 2015
On your planning page, write the problem or “question” your experiment will test and your hypothesis as to how you predict the experiment/design process will turn out.
February 2, 2015
List the materials required to carry out your investigation. List all variables that are used.
February 2, 2015
Write a numbered step-by-step procedure to show how your experiment/design process was carried out. Include specific steps that you used to collect data on how your hypothesis is tested.
Begin: February 2, 2015
End:
February 22, 2015
Conduct your experiment or begin your design process, being sure to follow safely rules. Keep careful, written records every day as you are working. Use a data table to collect your observations (results). Graph your results.
February 27, 2015
Write a project summary/conclusion. Use questions provided to assist in extending your thinking and guide your writing.
February 27, 2015
Write your abstract that includes your problem, hypothesis, step-by-step explanation of your procedure, and results of your investigation.
March 3, 2015
Construct a display using charts, graphs, photos, illustrations, signs, models, and/ or demonstrations of your investigation. This step needs to be done on poster board if you want your project considered for the school science fair.
Book Report: Due February 10, 2015
Mr. and Mrs. Horak’s Individual Book Report Ideas
After you have chose a book, had it approved by Mr. or Mrs. Horak, and read the book in it’s entirety; you have these options to “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” and show that you are an expert about the book you read.
Choose 1 creative way of showing your knowledge:
1. Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and animals) of one of the main events of the book. Include a written description of the scene and a summary of the book. See Mr. and Mrs. Horak for the summary guideline.
2. Design a book jacket for the book. I STRONGLY suggest that you look at an actual book jacket before you attempt this.
3. Make a newspaper about the book, with all a newspaper’s parts-comics, ads, weather, letter to the editor, ets. Be sure that it includes details from the book!
4. Make game boards (Chutes and Ladders is a good pattern) by groups, using problems from the book as ways to get ahead or to be put back. Groups exchange boards, then play.
5. Tape an interview with one of the characters in the book you read. Pretend that a magazine or newspaper reporter is interviewing the character. You may do this project with a partner, but be sure to write a script before taping. You may choose to do a “live” version of this or record it on a media device.
6. After reading a book, design a book cube, based on that book as its theme. Will you decide on individual cube sides information? The choics are only limite to YOUR CREATIVITY! Be sure to include photographs/graphics and significant information.
Be sure whatever project you choose includes main characters, setting, plot development, conflicts, climax, and resolution/conclusion to the story. This can be a typed summary that goes along with your project idea.
RC TEST MUST BE COMPLETED AND PASSED FOR YOUR BOOK IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUL CREDIT FOR THE BOOK REPORT.