Welcome
to Madrona Middle School
Science
2011-2012
Dear Families and
Students,
Madrona Students will explore many interesting
topics in science this year. Students will:
- Be immersed in scientific
inquiry as they think, design, investigate, observe, relate, and
compare science concepts.
- Collect and analyze the data
collected.
- Apply what they have learned to
real-world scenarios.
- Be asked to demonstrate what
they know and are able to do in a lab setting, proving or
disproving their scientific questions.
Major topics include: Properties of Matter,
Catastrophic Events and Geology, Light and Energy Topics, and
Astronomy.
The Properties of
Matter unit introduces students to the idea that matter is
everywhere on earth. What is matter? What are its
properties, what does it do, and how does it respond?
Students will explore a wide variety of matter's characteristics
such as volume changes, the conservation of mass during dissolving
or phase changes, and the formation of chemical compounds as a
result of the compound interactions.
The Catastrophic Events unit
will introduce students to the big ideas of Earth's naturally
occuring catastrophic events. This unit includes a wide
variety of opportunities for students to simulate key elemental
reactions that occur during these earth events. Students
explore earthquakes, volcanoes, earth transformations over
time, and rock classification.
The Light
and Energy unit builds on the big idea of waves that was
introduced in Castastrophic Events. They will further
investigate how they are made, how they travel, and
capabilites of their forces. They will learn about motion, gravity,
energy, and related physics. We will look at energy
transformations and how our current society uses energy.
The Astronomy Unit introduces students to
some of the big ideas of Earth and Space. The moon's monthly
cycle, our solar system and its place within the
universe.
School
Success tips for Parents and
Students:
Parents:
·
Make sure that your student has a quiet focused place to study in
the house.
·
Establish a routine time and place to do 1-2 hours of homework each
night.
·
All students should be reading at least 30 minutes every night at
home.
·
Be Involved! Ask many questions, ask to see assignments,
check notebooks, and check grades on Skyward
often.
·
Agenda: Your student should be writing down all their
assignment every day in their agenda. Ask to see it so you
can know what they are doing (or not doing!).
·
Contact me if you have any concerns about your student’s
progress in science.
Students:
·
Come to science class on time.
·
Have the following materials every day in class: Pencils (or
pens), science folder, paper, assignments, and a good
attitude.
·
Stay focused on your work, be respectful of self and others, follow
all lab safety guidelines, and do your best.
·
Stay healthy, get exercise, lots of sleep, eat a good breakfast and
lunch!
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