Join us for a special visit to the College of Saint Mary to learn what it’s really like to work in nursing!

During this Level 2 mini-seminar on April 28, students will tour the nursing program, see hands-on training spaces, and learn about the many career paths nurses can take. This experience is designed to help girls explore healthcare careers, ask questions, and imagine themselves in a future helping others.

When:   Wednesday, April 28th, 9am-Noon

Where: College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE

Only 7th grade students interested need to complete this Google Form  by April 3.  If more than than the allotted number of students are interested, we will use a lottery method to determine who will attend. Anyone who completes the Google Form will be notified via email by April 14  whether they will be participating in this mini-seminar. 

Are you interested in DNA, chromosomes, various genetic trait inheritance patterns, learning how genetic mutations occur, or even learning about the genetics of color blindness? Then, you should consider signing up for the genetics mini-seminar with Mrs. Dietsch and Mrs. Taylor!

During this Level 1 mini-seminar on March 26th periods 1-4, students will actively explore genetic traits and inheritance patterns, practice using Punnett squares as well as learn how genetic mutations occur.

Only 7th grade students interested need to complete this Google Form  by March 6.  If more than than the allotted number of students are interested, we will use a lottery method to determine who will attend. Anyone who completes the Google Form will be notified via email by March 10  whether they will be participating in this mini-seminar. 

Throughout this Level 2 seminar on March 10 periods 1-6, students will use skills of observation, problem solving, technology, medical science, mathematics, and communication to study the field of forensic science.

Students will attempt to solve a staged crime by conducting experiments on the forensic evidence:  

• Hair Analysis

• Bone Analysis

• Fingerprint Analysis

• Blood Typing

• Impression Analysis

• Blood Spatter Analysis

• DNA Fingerprinting

Only 7th grade students interested need to complete this Google Form  by February 19th. There are a limited number of spots available. If more than than the allotted number of students are interested, we will use a lottery method to determine who will attend. Anyone who completes the Google Form will be notified via email by February 20th whether they will be participating in this mini-seminar.

On February 24th, 7th grade students used tips from a community entrepreneur and Millard Entrepreneurial Academy students to make a product out of a random object that solved a problem in their community. Additionally, they learned about financing, marketing and advertising for the product or service and pitched it to a panel of judges at the end of the day for a grand prize.  The panel of judges included staff from the US Patent Office.

Click here to see images from the Inventure seminar.

On January 28th, students dissected a pig’s heart with the Nebraska 4-H Extension Office.

Click here to see images of the dissection.

On  January 9th, students investigated fermentation and how fuels are made from plant sources by using different types of feedstocks such as sugars, starches, and cellulose-based biomass. Students learned about the process of fermentation, determined why some feedstocks are better than others through hands-on activities, and saw how it relates to bioprocessing industries in Nebraska in this biotechnology workshop. 

Click here to see images from the biofuel seminar.

On November 20, students learned more about the health field and participated in an activities led by Methodist staff.

Click here to see students working with Methodist staff:

• 7th Methodist

On October 27th, 7th grade students explored the differences between physical and behavioral adaptations and discovered how plants and animals evolved to thrive in their unique ecosystems. Through hands-on games and demonstrations, they gained a deeper understanding of survival in nature as well as the skills and tools used in the field of veterinary science.  

Click here to see students at Fontenelle:

• 7th Fontenelle

On October 22nd, 7th grade students worked in teams to build a robot and navigate it through a simple driving course. STEM students from Millard West provided mentorship during the build. At the end of the day, students modified their robot to be the fastest in a drag race which will be raced on Engineering Day 2 to be determined at a later date.

Click here to see students in action:

• 7th Engineering Day 1

On May 20th, students learned about various styles of architecture. On a bus tour, students identified the styles seen in many of Omaha's iconic buildings. After the tour, students were taken on a guided tour of the Durham Museum where they learned about the construction of earth lodges, tipis, and Omaha's Trans-Mississippi Exposition.

Click here to see students in action:

• 7th architecture

On April 2nd, students who participated in Day 1 of engineering modified their robot to code its movements. Students started by constructing the necessary sensors and block coding basic movements. Then, teams modified their existing robots to support the sensor and circuit additions.

Thank you to our librarian, Mrs. Dietsch, for providing a model students could observe as they built their Codee bot!

Click the folder below to see more images of this seminar:

• 7th Engineering Day 2

On March 26th, students attempted to solve a staged crime by conducting experiments on the forensic evidence.  Pairs completed the following labs:

• Hair Analysis- Students compared the description of suspects'/victim's hair to hairs collected at the scene. Students also observed deer hair and their own under a microscope. 

• Fingerprint Analysis- Students compared the prints taken at the police station to those found on the cars at the scene. Many students who attended the MCC Forensics seminar in 6th grade activated their knowledge of loops, whorls, and arches!

• Blood Typing- Students took samples from suspects and the victim to blood type. They compared the type to types found at the scene.

• Impression Analysis- Students observed shoe and tire prints at the scene to compare to suspects' shoe and car tire imprints.

• DNA Fingerprinting- Students used their math skills to DNA type each suspect and victim.

Thank you to our librarian, Mrs. Dietsch, a former science teacher, for all her expertise! Click on the folder below to see more images of this seminar:

• 7th Forensics

Led by Douglas-Sarpy County 4-H on January 23, students examined a cow's heart to understand the similarities to a human heart. Students analyzed why certain characteristics were present considering the flow of blood through the heart. Click on the folder below to see more images of this seminar:

• 7th Cow's Heart Dissection Folder

Students built and maneuvered robots around a simple driving course. As a challenge, students decided to drag race to determine who modified their robot to go the fastest.

Click here to see images from our 7th grade engineering seminar:

• 7th Engineering

At Metro Community College's north campus, students engaged in various activities around natural disasters. Topics included the causes and effects of earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and more. 

Click here to see images from our 7th grade Natural Disasters seminar at Metropolitan Community College:

• 7th Natural Disasters

Congrats to our Aqua Locks group for having the Grand Prize pitch at the Inventure seminar on September 13 (see photo at left). Their design was inspired by a real-life issue from choir class.To see their winning pitch, click here.

Click here to see pictures and videos from this seminar:

• 7th Inventure

Click here for the architecture seminar.

• 7th architecture

Click here to see the pig's heart dissection.

• 7th Pig's Heart Dissection

Click here to see images from the collage animals art seminar..

• 7th Art Seminar

Click here to see images from our engineering seminar.

• Robotics (November 29 and January 26)

Click here to see images from our seminar:

• Zoo

Click here to see images from the pig's heart extension in science class.

• Pig's Heart Dissection

Click here to see images from our biomechanics seminar at UNO on April 27th.

• Biomechanics images 

In January, students read the novel The Outsiders. During this unit, students discussed questions they generated while reading. As students analyzed characters, they looked at the connotation of words to describe the characters. Students then used connotation to select a word that best reflected a character using evidence and their explanation to make the connections clear to their audience.

Click here to see images of this extension:

• The Outsiders

See students participate in the following engineering-based activities by clicking the links to photos/videos below:

• Lego Robots

• Prosthetics with UNL's Engineering Ambassadors

• Dry Ice lab

On November 7 and 9-11 during 5th period GSP, 7th graders have the opportunity to program Lego Robots. If you have band/choir/orchestra, you must attend those classes on your assigned days. Your GSP days are the only periods you can come for the Lego Robots.

Please complete the Google Form by Friday, October 28. We can only accept a total of 20 students, and you will be in teams of 4 to participate.

Mrs. Taylor will email by October 31st your participation in this opportunity.

If you are a 7th grader who does not have GSP during 5th period, we have some dates for you! On November 14-18 during 6th period GSP, you can program Lego Robots any day you don't have music class. Please complete the same Google Form above by November 2nd.

Mrs. Taylor will email by November 3rd your participation in this opportunity.

In October, students explored various biomes using Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. The details noticed in this exploration inspired a creative piece within one of these settings.

Click here to see the images from this extension:

• Creative Writing