TOPIC OF THE WEEK:  

Weeks 28-30: "Ride the Waves!!!" 
    We will discover how waves travel. Energy carried by a wave can make for a thrilling ride in the ocean, but other waves carry energy, too. Sound waves and light waves carry energy that enable you to hear and see the world around you. We will discuss the various properties of waves as well as how waves behave.



Weeks 20-27: To Go Or Not To Go Where No One Has Gone Before... 
    We are currently working collaboratively to develop a plan for future space exploration. Teams are assembling their presentation this week. Next, we will hear from each team with regards to which planets, if any, we should explore in the future. Then, we will debate as a class the issue: "Money should/should not be spent for future space exploration." This should be very interesting since our current administration is grappling over this very issue as we speak!!!



Weeks 18-20: Sun, Earth, Moon System

    Does the Moon really change shape thoughout the month? Do the Sun and Moon actually "rise" and "set"? You will find the answers to these questions and more. Also, we will learn why we have seasons.



Weeks 16-17: Views of Earth

    Maps help us navigate our world. We can also locate ourselves quite easily these days using modern technology that fits inside our phones. Maps allow us to understand our world, and they can even be used to help influence how we use the land. The next two weeks we will study maps and map development. Some of the maps we use today are based on technology that has been around for centuries.

Week 14-15:  Earth's Potential Energy Crisis

Much of the energy consumed in the world comes from oil and gas. Both of these sources are in limited supply. With the world's population and well as the demand for energy on the rise, we are going to have a problem on our hands very soon. We will explore other energy alternatives as well as ways to reduce our demand so that a crisis can be avoided. Standards addressed: 8-1.2, 8-1.3, 8-3.5.

 Weeks 11-13: Mineral Resources and the Rock Cycle
    
     Minerals are basic substances of nature that humans use for a variety of purposes. These substances are necessary for life to exist. We will look at how to determine the difference between many common minerals found in nature. Also, learning about the classification of rocks reinforces our understanding that Earth is a constantly changing planet. We will begin Astronomy after the Christmas Break.






Weeks 8-10  Volcanoes!!!

    Nothing demonstrates the extreme forces at work inside Earth better than a massive volcanic eruption. These constructive forces are responsible for some of the most catastrophic events in geologic history. The scene in Washington on May 18th, 1980 is a reminder of how much devastation can be caused when the planet acts up. 



Weeks 5-7: Earthquakes!!!

Chapter 6, pp.160-189
What causes the ground to shake? What force could be strong enough to ripple the surface of the earth like a wave? These questions and more will be answered in the next couple of weeks as we begin to explore earthquakes. We will be conducting several lab experiments to understand how these forces make and shape the landscape of Earth.





Weeks Three and Four: Plate Tectonics

Chapter 5: Students will be introduced to the idea that the earth's continents may have once been joined together in a large landmass Alfred Wegener called Pangaea. We will look at some of the leading theories and review the evidence scientists have provided for the forces behind plate movement. Some of the evidence may even provide clues to help us predict some of the most catastrophic events on the planet.




Week Two: The Scientific Method

How is Science a part of your everyday life? When you think of a scientist, do you imagine a person in a lab coat surrounded by test tubes, charts, and graphs? It might surprise you, but anyone who tries to learn something about the natural world is a scientist.





Week One: Looking Forward to A Bright Future...

We are starting off the year with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. We plan to keep it up throughout the year. The expectations are high, and we plan to not on achieve, but to succeed!