9/30

This week students started the week by receiving their Life Science textbooks.  (As a reminder, students may keep their textbooks at home, as we have an extra set of books here at school.)  Students were given their first reaing about "The Characteristics of Living Organisms".  Along with the reading, students learned how to organize their notes while reading,  in a T-note style.  With T-notes, sub headings, vocabulary terms, larger concepts and questions are on the left hand side of the paper, while on the right hand side, answers to the respective bullet points are placed.  T- notes are just one type of notes that we will use in class, and will take some getting used to, though I was very impressed with how the students caught on to the concept!!
After learning about the characteristics that living things share, we explored a very important scientific tool, the microscope.  Students learned about the pieces of the microscope and how to utilize this tool properly prior to stepping into a lab on Thursday.  The lab required students to demonstrate techniques we will be utilizing in the laboratory throughout the year.  Students finished up their lab today in class.
We will wrap up this short unit on Tuesday with a quiz.  Have a fantastic weekend!

9/23

  We picked up at the beginning of the week with our Metric System Notes and worked on conversions.  Students practiced quite a bit with these conversions.  Midweek, students were introduced to the "Metric Maze" which were mini labs, stationed around the laboratory for students to apply their measurement and conversion knowledge.  Students seemed to really enjoy themselves and truly demonstrated their knowledge of measurement well.
We finished up the Measurement and Metric Unit today with a Quest assessment (worth a bit more than a quiz though less than a test).  On Monday we will be starting our new unit of The Cell and Microscopes. 
Have a nice weekend!

9/16

Earlier this week, the students revisited the Scientific Method to make sure we were fully understanding the concepts and process.  This will be a concept that the students will be applying throughout the year, so we wanted to make sure we understood the various identifying features of a hypothesis along with controls and constants. Once we completed the Scientific Method, we were able to initiate with the Measurement and Metric Unit.  The students began with a few notes along with practicing with the tools that we will be utilizing for measurement.  I am so impressed with how well the students are practicing their measurements! 
Next week we will follow up with the Metric System and conversions!

9/9

We started the week by revisiting the Scientific Method.  Students practiced how to properly write testable hypotheses by utilizing both the independent and dependent variables in an experiment. Students were also challenged with various examples and identifying the constants and controls of experiments.  We wrapped up our unit on the Scientific Method on Thursday with a quiz.
On Friday, we became a little more familiar with the placement of "Learning Targets and Graded Material"( the first tab) in our binders.  Students are becoming more familiar with the organization piece of the class. 
Today "Preparation Points" were introduced to the students.  I am expecting that students come to class, prepared with their binder, assignment notebook, homework and writing utencils.  If a student forgets something in his/her locker, I will let him/her go and retreive it, though I will take "1" point off of their "Prepartion Points" grade.
Have a great weekend!

9/2

We started out this week with a Lab Safety demonstration.  I demonstrated what not to do in the lab, and the students listed all the safety techniques and procedures that I did not follow.  We discussed the safety features of the room and how to follow the lab expectations appropriately.  We will be revisiting Lab Safety throughout the year as it is essential within the laboratory.
We then started our first unit of the year, the Scientific Method.  The students reexplored the scientific method this week with the "Paper Chromatography Lab".  Prior to the lab, students identified how paper chromatography is utilized and what it means.  Our "Paper Chromatography Lab" initiated with a letter from the a detective and a problem which the students were excited to solve!  Throughout the lab, students were able to stay focused and complete their work.  Conclusions were written as a letter to the detective, which I am excited to use as a grading piece for the class; this was due today in class.
Overall, I was very impressed with how students were able to complete the lab and able to ask questions if needed.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

8/26

I have had a really great time getting to know my students in this short week!  On Thursday and Friday we went over some expectations in the syllabus that the 7th graders should be aware of.  My hope is that everyone will be on the same page while going into the first unit of study which will be the Scientific Method.   Once again, if there are any questions or concerns, please do not hesistate to email me  at khopkinson@ccsd66.org or call me at 630-783-5017.

8/22

Welcome incoming 7th graders! I hope you are as excited as I am to start this year.  Please bring with you an open mind and a positive attitude. 
For those of you who will be visiting on Wednesday, for the open house, I look forward to meeting you.  Everyone else, I will see you on Thursday where we will be begin our discovery of the Life Sciences this year!