JLS 6^th Grade News February 8, 2007

Experimental Design and Consumer Research

Our reports are finished and the final reports are turned in and graded. Once again the student research team results mirrored the Consumer Reports, February, 1998 Paper towel test results. Our blind experiments resulted in Kleenex Viva Job Squad, Kleenex Viva and Bounty paper towels finishing in first, second and third for appearance, wet strength, price, softness and absorbency.

The final grades will go home tomorrow. There will be separate grades for the group reports, final test and peer evaluation. Each student rated their team partners on a scale from one to ten with ten being superior. The ratings were accompanied by written comments about their partners. In most cases the student comments mirrored my observations. The scale went from 3.0 (I NEVER want to work with him/her again) to a perfect 10. I will post these scores with the grades Friday.

Back to the Book

During the next few weeks we wil be working with the science textbook. We will be covering Chapter 17, Climate and Climate Change. After studying this chapter students should will be able to:

• identify factors that influence temperature and precipitation

• explain what causes seasons

• identify factors used to define climates

• name five main climate regions

• state the principle that scientists follow in studying ancient climates

• describe how Earth’s surface changes during the ice age

• list the theories that have been proposed to explain natural climate change

• explain how human activities might be affecting the temperarture of earth’s atmosphere

• describe how human activities have affected the ozone layer

Science Fair

The science fair was a great success. I took many photos which I hope to post on a new website. Many teachers just received new computers. I am in the process of transferring documents and photos to the new computer. I have new website but it has not been linked to the school website as of yet. When it is linked I can post photos, class updates and newsletters.

There are few bugs yet to be worked out. I lost my printer connection and all my most recent photos but I have been told these things will be sorted out in the near future.

Math

The final assessment for Bits and Pieces I went home this week. The great majority of students received “A”s and “B”s. Our next unit will be Bits and Pieces II. The unit builds on our initial investigations of percents. We will start off with how percents are used in typical situations of discounts, taxes, and tips.