7th Grade Science Teacher
Masks: Currently optional. Subject to change. Follow district guidelines.
After School: Tuesdays, 2:15 - 2:45 and by appointment.
Phone: 603-865-9658, X-9633 (not available by phone during distance learning).
Student Contact: Email, Google Classroom and Hangouts. (Chat, video and GC restricted to students.)
Parent Contact: Email Ms. Scherr
YouTube: 7th Grade Science
Our theme for the year is a National Parks Road Trip. Throughout the year, our work will be connected with our National Parks as we travel across the country, exploring and having adventures while we discover hidden gems, learn about their natural history, gaining a sense of wonder and appreciation for our national treasures. Ready? Get on the virtual bus and off we go! View some 20/21 NP student work!
Water, climate change and geography are threads that will be weaved through our curriculum all year as the team works to increase connections in core subjects. We will be using a multi-disciplinary, multicultural approach to learning, connecting topics in Social Studies, English Language Arts, Math and Science as often as possible.
Students will be walked through setting up their class folder, expectations for daily class, passing in assignments, how to use their Google Drive, taking and submitting photos and other procedures.
Students do mini labs where they rotate through stations, taking data and learning lab report procedures a section at a time, including writing detailed if-then statement hypotheses.
Students must choose an experiment and have it approved. It must be a testable experiment, not a demonstration.
Students are encouraged to design their own experiment, rather than copy an internet project.
Students must complete all preliminary assignments, respond to teacher comments and make revisions before they can move on to the next step or experimentation, which must be done in class.
This is detail-oriented work. Students receive guidance and proceed at their own pace as they complete steps.
Students are learning how to use their computer to take photos and video to document their experiment or changes in the local environment.
It's fun to be a techie! Students will greatly increase technology skills through:
Research using specific keyword searches to find data, maps images and reputable sites
Extracting information to prepare projects
Write papers and design innovative and creative materials
Use slideshows, graphics, photos and video to enhance presentations and demonstrate understanding of concepts.
Demonstrate stronger computer literacy, visual expression and communication of their work.
On Fridays, students listen to, answer questions and discuss podcasts such as "Something Wild" and "Ask Sam". The class listens to the podcast together, then students can re-listen to or read the podcast text as they answer questions. Students can have a personal set of inexpensive earbuds in their binder at school or may borrow headphones from the library to be kept in their locker.
Do you love to take photos and videos? I love hiking and nature photography and encourage students to create images to observe changes in their environment, document data for their science studies, or just for the enjoyment of it! I appreciate the beauty of the glorious region I have the honor to live in. Below are a few of my favorite photos from around New Hampshire and Vermont. I hope you'll share your own travels and talents with me!
~ Ms. Scherr
Ms. Scherr loves attending field workshops and was accepted to attend the "Wings Over Water" STEM workshop to study ospreys in Montana for the summer of 2020, postponed to 2022. In class, we will study and observe birds of prey, including osprey in the fall and spring. If possible, students will visit the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and Quechee Gorge.
A photographer in a Louisiana cedar swamp gets too close to an osprey nest and the osprey distracts him away. "Our resident ospreys not happy with me being around, so one takes off and drags his talons in the water pretending to be hurt - just like the killdeer that drops a wing and flutters on the ground."
- Jerry Wayne Newman (Louisiana)
Science students enjoy listening to calming music and wildlife cams or serene outdoor scenes during quiet work time. It helps them to relax and clear their mind while they work. Some of our favorites are listed on the Wildlife Cams page of our team website.
VINS Wildlife Encounters, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Wings Over Water, National Estuarine Research Reserves and other wildlife centers offer live events for students.
We participate in virtual lessons and livestream events throughout the year. They are often recorded by the organization offering the webinar and can be accessed on YouTube.
DATE: November (subject to changes depending upon current COVID recommendations.)
FEE: No charge for students.
Your 7th grade team teachers look forward to a fun day with all of you at Hypertherm!
REMINDERS:
Closed-toe shoes. No flip-flops, sandals or Crocs.
Pants, no shorts please
School appropriate clothing
Better than school appropriate behavior and language
Bring only your lunch with you (school lunches were ordered for those who requested them)
NO PHONES WILL BE PERMITTED. Do not bring them with you. Leave them HOME or IN YOUR LOCKER please.
MASKS WILL BE WORN AT ALL TIMES during our visit, inside and out and on the bus. The only exception will be at lunch time outside.
We know that you will be attentive, respectful and ask a lot of questions. Thanks in advance for making us proud of our amazing students!
Read The Directions
Assignments on Google Classroom have detailed instructions. They look very long because every effort has been made to give step by step instructions on how to use technology required to do assignments.
When in doubt, take a breath and re-read directions.
How To Do It
At the bottom of the "Classwork" tab on Google Classroom, students will find a section with directions for how to do many common actions that are needed for assignments, such as creating folders, doing screenshots and taking photos and video with their computer. Any website access codes will also be available there.
Technology Skills
Students are increasing technology skills and independent problem solving through new applications! Demonstrating understanding using technology is an important part of our learning experience!
Submitting Work
Students must submit their work through Google Classroom to receive credit. They should not submit their work until it is complete.
Students should not mark assignments as "done" without attaching any work. Work will be sent back to them and the assignment will not be marked as completed.
You've got this! We will all help you!
Climate Change Journal: Local to Global
Climate change is a part of every day life on Earth. As we relate our curriculum to real life, we regularly discuss weather, climate, health and choices we can make to live our best lives on a healthy planet.