Dear Parents,

I like to review material studied in a fun way. Game show format has always received rave reviews from the students.  We will playing Earth Science Jeopardy next Tuesday, Dec. 10 during class for Levels 1-3.   I will have questions from the material that we have covered.  Each correct response will receive a certain amount of science bucks depending on the difficulty of the question.

Today in class each student was reminded of material to be covered and given sample questions.

I am putting together a "Christmas Shop" for the classes where their Science Bucks may be exchanged for holiday gifts, books or candy.

If you have any items that you would like to donate to the Christmas Shop, please feel free to bring them in.  Some suggested items are:  unopened McDonald toys, a very gently used book, an old gift that was never opened (I have some of these), or a bag of candy.

For the new year, we will be spending six weeks learning the scientific method.  We will have a song to learn as we delve into each step.  This series will be differentiated for each level.  I hope this will be good preparation for your student's entry in the Science Fair.

Please email me if you have any questions about class - libbymonte@yahoo.com.

:) Libby 

  
Dear Parents,

We are discussing rocks - how they are formed, their uses, and how to identify them.  The three types of rocks - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic - have been discussed and sampled. Level One are labeling igneous rock as volcanic rock.  This is not completely accurate, but it lays a nice foundation for more advanced Earth Science in the years ahead.

Level One
Please ask your student to sing the "Three Types of Rock" song for you!  It is to the tune of "Are You Sleeping, Brother John."  

Volcanic - formed when molten rock cools
Sedimentary - layers of sediment (sand, silt, mud) settle onto the bottom of a body of water
Metamorphic - rock changed by heat and pressure

I may be holding your student's notebook.  Some asked that I hang onto it, so they would be sure to have it each week.  We are placing notes and pictures on the pages weekly.  If you would like to see it, please ask your cherub to bring it home.  


Level Two
We have made rock samples with candy.  Igneous is cooled molten rock.  Our demonstration was melting chocolate chips and then cooling them again.  What a tasty rock!
For sedimentary rock formed in layers, we compacted bread and other food stuff into sedimentary sandwiches.
Metamorphic is changed by heat and pressure.  We squeezed a Milky Way and then sat on it during class.  

We will be composing a booklet on these three formations.  It will be coming home next week.


I have asked these students to prepare a quick oral presentation for class next Tuesday on one rock.  Your student should have received a piece of paper with a type of rock.  He or she should research where that rock is found and how it is used.  Since this is a first presentation for many students, we are only looking for three things - eye contact, good volume and correct information.  Please let me know if you have any questions on this assignment.

Level Three
This is a good video on a upper middle school/high school level.   It covers the three rock types and the rock cycle.  The rock cycle will be our focus next week.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=three+types+of+rocks&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=D677C14D425625133CE5D677C14D425625133CE5

Please let me know if you have any questions.  
:) Libby
libbymonte@yahoo.com

Dear Parents,

Please bring in empty peanut butter jars with lids, any jar lids, and cereal or cracker boxes. Don't forget your Earth Science notebooks!
Thank you.

LEVEL ONE
Your student has learned about the earth's layers and volcanoes.  (If you student entered Level One after the first of the school year, I am trying to catch her or him up.  It is no big deal.)
Currently, we are learning about the three different types of rocks - volcanic, sedimentary and metamorphic (or changed) rocks.
I am printing out colorful bits for your student's Earth Science notebook.  A few have left their Earth Science notebook with me for safekeeping.  If you want to see it, please let me know.
During class we do cover a bit of a tiny bit of phonics.  My goal is to have these students enjoy science and know that it is fun to explore.

Recommendations for home follow-up:
Any picture books on rocks, volcanoes, and how the Earth was formed would be super.
DVD - Where Do Mountains Come From? (Billy Blue Hair)  This is a very cute DVD with tons of great information in an easy format.  I am sure your cherub would want to view it more than once.  This is in the Onondaga County library system.


LEVEL TWO
Your student has learned about the earth's layers, tectonic plates, volcanoes, and earthquakes.  We are now exploring the three ways that rocks are formed on our planet.  My goal is to give your child a very basic foundation for Earth Science while having fun in a small group.  Please let me know if you feel this goal is being met for your family.

Each week, we add something to our Earth Science notebooks.  Please ensure that your student brings her or his notebook each week.

Recommendations for home follow-up:
DVD - Bill Nye's Rocks and Soil, Bill Nye's Earthquakes, Bill Nye's Volcanoes
Many great books on earthquakes, volcanoes and types of rocks are in our library system.
If your student likes historical fiction, I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 and A City Tossed and Broken: the Diary of Minnie Bonner might be of interest.


LEVEL THREE
There should be a fault lines map in your student's notebook and information on Pangaea.  We are now studying the relationship of volcanoes and earthquakes along these tectonic boundaries.  We will be moving into a review of rock types and the rock cycle.  We will wind down in December with elements, rocks, minerals, and crystals.

When Academy resumes in January, a more in depth look at minerals will begin.

My goal for this class is to expose your student to higher level Earth Science topics in a fun class setting.  If you or your Level Three student have specific Earth Science topics that you wish to explore, please let me know.  I have a list of topics for our class.  If you wish to see this at any time, please let me know.

Recommendations for home follow-up:
The Bill Nye videos mentioned for Level Two would be a fun review.  There are some fun videos on YouTube "Geology Kitchen" on several good topics.

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback.

:) Libby

Dear Parents,

Your Level One students will be studying volcanoes this coming Tuesday, Oct. 1.  I am planning a demonstration - yes, the baking soda and vinegar example - after we discuss then
add a few diagrams and information to our notebooks.

Your Level Two students are not doing volcanoes YET.  They will learn about tectonic plates. We will have several hands on demonstrations.

We will have more items to add to our science notebooks so please bring them along.

Thanks, Libby

Here is a fun video for older students to see plate tectonic movement in a kitchen demonstration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjSaKKdZ3DI

Our class begins with a quick survey of different land forms and bodies of water.

Here are a few websites with great visuals for the definitions:
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/landforms.htm

Funny clip - The Flintstones Go To the Grand Canyon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf4pUZPaz5k


For Earth Science 1 students:
Power Point presentation of Landforms (copy the address into your browser)
http://www.lincoln.dubuque.k12.ia.us/School-Wide/internet_resources/expeditions/3rdgrade/landforms-1.pps

For Earth Science 2 students:
Major Landforms in the USA
http://mrnussbaum.com/united-states/united_states_landforms/

Geographic Names for Bodies of Water
https://sites.google.com/site/helpteachkidscom/a-subject-science/geography-bodies-of-water

We are moving on to the Earth's layers next class session.