The science room was bustling on Friday as the Microbe Investigators presented their experiments to the public! The 7th and 8th grades hosted two 1st grade classes, the 6th grade, and many parents. The Investigators taught our visitors about microbes and graciously answered questions. One investigative team even brought microbe-produced food to attract visitors to their poster (it worked!).
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Microbe Investigators did an excellent job!
The science room was bustling on Friday as the Microbe Investigators presented their experiments to the public! The 7th and 8th grades hosted two 1st grade classes, the 6th grade, and many parents. The Investigators taught our visitors about microbes and graciously answered questions. One investigative team even brought microbe-produced food to attract visitors to their poster (it worked!).
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
REMINDER!
I just want to remind everyone that on Thursday mornings, I lead a Science Extra Help session before school. Students are welcome from 8:00-8:30 (in the science room). More students tend to come just before a test or project due date, but middle schoolers can join me any Thursday as long as they tell me the day before that they'll be coming.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
6th Grade Recycling Ambassadors
For the past three weeks, the Recycling Ambassadors have been learning about where our waste goes. We visited the Windham Solid Waste Management Recycling Facility to follow the journey of items in our recycling bins. In fact, while we were on a tour of the facility, a truckload of recyclables from Guilford was dumped right in front of us! We got to see what happens in the busy facility and find out where our glass, plastic, paper, and cardboard ends up. And, in case you were wondering, the 6th grade class, Mrs. Davis, and 2 chaperones weigh 2,581 pounds! (We all got on the scale together.)
We've talked about reasons that people recycle as well as what can and cannot be recycled in Guilford. In teams of 3-4, students created, rehearsed, and presented lessons to grades K-5 in our school. Different teams made Powerpoint presentations, posters, skits, and interactive games to play with the younger students. It was very exciting to have teams come back to our science room feeling so excited and proud of how well their presentations went. In fact, teachers have been asking me if we can come back to work with them throughout the year. The Recycling Ambassadors have been working hard. As this unit draws to a close, we'll be moving on to do more hands-on scientific investigations.

We've talked about reasons that people recycle as well as what can and cannot be recycled in Guilford. In teams of 3-4, students created, rehearsed, and presented lessons to grades K-5 in our school. Different teams made Powerpoint presentations, posters, skits, and interactive games to play with the younger students. It was very exciting to have teams come back to our science room feeling so excited and proud of how well their presentations went. In fact, teachers have been asking me if we can come back to work with them throughout the year. The Recycling Ambassadors have been working hard. As this unit draws to a close, we'll be moving on to do more hands-on scientific investigations.
Microbe Investigations
The 7th and 8th grades have been studying microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, yeast, mold...). At this point in our unit, all students are undertaking investigations that they designed. The Microbe Investigators came up with their own experimental questions and made a plan to answer them. These are some of the questions currently being investigated:
- Where are there more microbes-- inside or outside?
- Does temperature affect the growth of microbes?
- Which has more microbes- blue cheese, garlic cheddar, or milk?
- Does the boys' or girls' bathroom have more bacteria?
- Does using hand sanitizer or washing with soap and water eliminate more microbes?
The 8th grade has experienced mini-lessons with three guest teachers: Mr. Wood, Mr. Patno, and Mr. Mizrahi. Other 8th graders have been asking for this opportunity, and in the future we'll be learning from Miss Crowder and Mr. McPhail...and possibly others!
Junior Iron Chef Competition
6th Grade's Farm to School Program had very exciting Wednesday last week!
The Challenge: Be the cooking team to make the most delicious apple crisp using local applesThe Prize: Our panel of judges will select the most scrumptious apple crisp. The winning recipe will be made by 6th grade for the entire middle school to enjoy next week!
The Event: Imagine this scene in the science room...
- Teams of 3 are eagerly waiting at their prep tables; bowls, peelers, cutting boards, secret ingredient lists in front of them. The team names alone are enough to make your mouth water--Apple Crispies, The Crispy Cookers, Smashing Apples, Sweet Sugar Savers, The BFGs, and Crisp Crunchers.
- Ms. Kramer and Mrs. Davis announce ground rules and the teams take off!
- Teams send one member for ingredients and begin the frantic preparations: Flour is flying, apple peels are proliferating, salt is sprinkling! The Iron Chefs are working together and delegating tasks. Some chefs are carefully mixing their crumb topping; others are washing measuring cups before adding the next ingredient.
- When the prep time comes to a close, all 6 crisps are lined up on a baking pan and baked to perfection.
- Later in the day, the entries are revealed to the judges. The judges enjoy a spoonful of each crisp, cleansing their palates between tastings, and noting their comments on the judging sheet.
- The votes are tallied...though all crisps are delicious delights, the winner is the crisp with the homemade caramel drizzled on top.
- All Junior Iron Chefs get to eat the fruits of their labor :)
Wondering what your child has been doing in science class?
...Find out by coming to our MICROBE EXHIBIT, a science fair gallery hosted by 7th and 8th grades.
MICROBE EXHIBIT
FRIDAY, NOV. 20
10:00-11:30 am
in the science room
FRIDAY, NOV. 20
10:00-11:30 am
in the science room
The Microbe Investigators will have poster displays and will be happy to answer your questions about the tiny critters that live on us and all around us. You are welcome to stop in for as long as your schedule allows. (Posters will be displayed for the morning. 7th grade will host from 10:00-10:45 and 8th grade will host from 10:50-11:30.) Please email me at Rachel_Davis@wsesu.org if you plan to attend.
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