JAN - MAR

1/8-1/12: 4th-reflections/refractions of light 5th-GIZMOS-solar system(will count toward science grade) 8th-intro to waves (stemscopes unit) 6th/3rd-Martin Luther King engineering-build a podium for MLK to give a speech

1/15-1/19: 5th-GIZMOS-solar system 8th-intro to waves-creating wavelengths using spring toys 6th/3rd-thermometer making

1/22-1/26: 

1/29-2/2: catholic schools week activities

2/5-2/9: 4th & 3rd-making chinese dragon puppets in honor of Chinese New Year   5th-recreating an eclipse 8th-modeling waves using tuning forks 6th-football fieldgoals

2/12-2/16:  4th-begin motion/force 8th-sound waves using different mediums(stemscopes) 3rd-marbles:force & energy 7th-microscopes:cell slides

2/19-2/23: 5th-fizzy moons 8th-light waves maze(stemscopes) 6th-rock cycle-weathering & erosion 3rd-fizzy paintings 7th-gizmos:cell structure(worksheets due 2/29)

2/26-3/1: 4th-Dr. Seuss themed building 5th-Planetarium field trip 8th-light waves(stemscopes):reflect/transmit/absorb 6th-rock cycle-metamorphic & igneous 3rd-skittles science

3/4-3/8: 4th-periscopes 5th-layers of the sun flipbook 8th-color waves(stemscopes) 6th-ocean currents 3rd-tangrams 7th-simulating pumping hearts

3/11-3/15: 4th-vibrations 5th-sprayed fizzy moons; gizmos cell lesson 8th-potential energy stemscopes lab(done outside with rubber bands & meter sticks)

3/18-3/22: 4th-senses-the smell test 5th-banana peel under a microscope; Gizmos plant cell 8th-potential energy-static(stemscopes)

3/25-3/29: 4th-senses-started meerkats lab 5th-cell jeopardy

4/8-4/12: 4th-outside for the eclipse   5th-water sources on Earth 8th-stemscopes-energy using PhET simulator 6th-erosion lab 3rd-how do fish breath; water filters

4/15-4/19: 4th, 5th, 6th-paper pots; 3rd-seed paper; 8th-magnetism(stemscopes) 7th-finish bicep/tricep models

4/22-4/26: 4th/5th/6th-finish paper pots 3rd-no screen picture coding

4/29-5/3: 4th-seeds

AUG - DEC

8/24-8/31: The first week in STEM with all classes was to review rules, introduce students to how room 311 has been transformed and what we hope it will be once completed.  All grades received a STEM contract that is to be signed by them and their parents.   As an intro students have completed:  8th-index card "magic" rings     6th-food math; shape building to hold the most blocks    3rd-weather venn diagrams; name tag pencil holders     7th-science systems charts (due on 9/1)  4th/5th (307)-flip books   

9/4-9/8: 5th-how hurricanes form, where they originate, results of hurricanes      8th-paper chain challenge (Congratulations to Gwen, Jocelyn, Luna and Isabella whose chain measured 11.25 floor tiles long)      6th-index card "magic" rings     3rd- tower challenge using popsicle sticks *or* cotton swabs, aluminum foil, masking tape and paper     7th-gizmos intro

9/11-9/15: 4th-tower challenge using popsicle sticks *or* cotton swabs, aluminum foil, masking tape and paper 5th-simulation of formation of air pressure needed for hurricane 8th-Gizmos intro-chemical equations 6th-Gizmos intro-tree growth 3rd-Gizmos-getting class logged in; used the tree growth gizmos for the kids to maneuver in the program 7th-Gizmos intro continued - STEM case - chemical and physical changes

9/18-9/22: 4th-cohesion-how many water drops fit onto a penny; is it the same for shiny vs. not 5th-freezing water solutions lab-started in science and finished in stem 8th-next week we will use gloves/goggles/aprons 6th-Gizmos tree growth; actual tree slice measuring

9/25-9/29: 4th-Gizmos intro 5th-Gizmos intro; freezing salt water gizmo 6th-bottle flip 3rd-color bleed coffee filters

10/2-10/6: 4th-code/decode a monster 5th-stemscopes 8th-chemistry:pH chemical changes 6th-trilobite fossils (stemscopes); 3d printer site 7th - 3d printer site

10/9-10/13: 5th-wetland filter system 8th-chemical & physical changes 6th & 3rd-creating a marble run for candy pumpkins

10/16-10/20: 4th-spider web challenge 5th-field trip     6th & 3rd-finished and tested pumpkin (marble) runs 8th-finding density of chemical compounds 7th-dissolving candy corn

10/23-10/27: 4th-pipe cleaner & straw skeletons & joints 5th & 6th-video on speed/motion; given data from field trip to graph   3rd-candy pumpkin catapults 7th-pumpkin catapults

10/30-11/3: 4th & 3rd-pumpkin jack; start of rotting pumpkin experiment     8th-pumpkin DNA extraction 6th & 7th-candy "grabbing hands"

11/6-11/10: 4th-leaf collection-photosynthesis & why leaves change colors   5th & 6th-leaf collection-beginning of leaf chromotography  8th-Gizmos:Boyles Law & Charles Law   3rd-a bit of chemistry making popcorn kernels dance

11/13-11/17: 4th-finished why leaves change colors with video 5th & 6th-finished leaf chromotography   7th & 8th-cake chemistry-mug cakes

11/20-11/22:

11/27-12/1: 4th:holiday thaumatropes(optical illusions) 5th:Gizmos-ecosystems 6th & 7th:Tinkercad-snowflake design       3rd:holiday thaumatropes(optical illusions)

12/4-12/8: 4th:homemade snow 7th & 8th grade-cinnamon dough decor

12/11-12/15:    3rd-6th:making crystals (borax solution)  7th/8th:paper circuits

12/18-12/21: no STEM due to Christmas concert practices