Winter is Coming

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Time for updates...

6th grade Math has been reviewing and extending their understanding of Greatest Common Factors and Least Common Multiples, and is beginning to manipulate and compare fractions with Least Common Denominators. Our Wednesday after-school study session has only met once so far, but we practiced graphing and look forward to meeting at least twice this month. These students all worked hard to master data presentation graphs and plots in the past few weeks, which will be very useful when they complete their 8th grade Science Fair projects!

7th grade Science has been exploring heredity and the human genome this month. They recently modeled risk factors for heart disease (genetic and environmental) and found the impact of lifestyle choices to be considerable on the ultimate development of heart disease. Many were surprised that they developed heart disease despite clean living, but more were appropriately sickened by their poor "choices" in behaviors.

Seventh graders are currently thinking about ethical questions related to treatment of genetic disorders, gene therapy, and genetic engineering. Their thought-provoking discussion on where to draw the line was very impressive. These are complex ideas that they are just beginning to consider for the first time. Our chapter test on Modern Genetics is coming up Friday, December 6, so we will see what has percolated through. : )

8th grade is furiously (I hope!) finishing up their Science Fair projects and beginning the data presentation and conclusion portions of their papers. We will begin constructing the presentation boards this week during class and continue re-writing papers right up until the last minute, when they are perfect! Many students have obtained fun and informative results from their experiments. It will be a highly educational school Science Fair on January 15, 2014.

More immediately, 8th grade has been studying chemical reactions, balancing chemical equations, and learning about controlling reactions by different means. A popular "What's that White Powder?" lab gave them an opportunity to play with several household powders and liquids to test for reactivity and identity of different ingredients. They also made a mess of the class room, but science does get messy sometimes. :) They also proved that the specific zip-type bags we use in the classroom are not gas-impervious, allowing CO2 to escape when vinegar reacts with baking soda. It is either that, or Conservation of Matter is a hoax. We are going with the former.

Merry Christmas to All!