Marvin A. Dutcher Middle School | Syllabus | Contact: eruiz@turlock.k12.ca.us | Garden Club Interest Form
Dear Parents,
I look forward to working with you and your child to ensure that they receive the best education possible. I am prepared to invest my time and effort to further educate your child to the best of my ability. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, concerns, or interest in participating. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Mr. Ruiz
Join our Science 7th Grade Google Classroom | Join our Quizlet Class | NitroType | Brilliant.org
Introduction to Amplify Science (3:11) | How to Navigate Amplify Science (15:39) | Introduction to Amplify Science @Home Videos (1:08) | How to use Aeries (slideshow)
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT (10:11)
Bathroom Sign-Out and Sign-In Form | Diamondback Daily Dispatch | Bell Schedule / Campus Map
Help keep your local river clean by volunteering: Operation 9-2-99
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FIRST QUARTER (12 AUG 2025 - 10 OCT 2025)
>>> Plate Motion Unit Review | Sentence Starters | Dictionary <<<
24 SEP 2025 - Wednesday
Amplify Assignments PM 2.4 | PM 2.3: Boundary Characteristics Chart | PM 2.4.2 Modeling Tool | (#21) PM 2.4.3-4
23 SEP 2025 - Tuesday - WIN
If you fell behind yesterday, catch up. Don't forget to take notes about the "Listening to Earth" article here: PM 2.3: Boundary Characteristics Chart.
Check your grade in Aeries and make-up or redo missing or low-score assignments.
22 SEP 2025 - Monday
Amplify Assignments PM 2.3 | PD: Boundary Characteristics Chart | (#20) PM 2.3.1-2
Complete your scientific argument (#12) GM 3.4 Essay. Make sure you turned it in on Class Companion. Then, you may mark it as complete in Google Classroom.
19 SEP 2025 - Friday
Amplify Assignments PM 2.2 | (#19) PM 2.2.1-2
(Example of Sound from a Hydrophone) | Tsunami (2) | Understanding the Richter Scale (5:56)
Complete your scientific argument (#12) GM 3.4 Essay. Make sure you turned it in on Class Companion. Then, you may mark it as complete in Google Classroom.
18 SEP 2025 - Thursday - LAB
17 SEP 2025 - Wednesday - WIN
Check AERIES and Make-up work (missing assignments, low scores, or both).
16 SEP 2025 - Tuesday
15 SEP 2025 - Monday
Amplify Assignments PM 1.3 | (#16) PM 1.3.1-2 | PM 1.3 Activity 3 Maps & Projections | (Optional) PM 1.3.3-4
12 SEP 2025 - Friday
Amplify Assignments PM 1.2 | Pear Deck PM 1.2.4 Map | (#15) PM 1.2.1-2
(#14) GM 3.5 Test- Make-ups and retakes. Tests are "open-book," meaning you can use any links from my website. Retakes are mandatory if you scored 11 or less. Retakes are optional if you scored 12 or higher.
>>> Geology on Mars Unit Review <<<
11 SEP 2025 - Thursday - WIN
(#14) GM 3.5 Test- Make-ups and retakes. Tests are "open-book," meaning you can use any links from my website. Retakes are mandatory if you scored 11 or less. Retakes are optional if you scored 12 or higher.
Due today: Plate Motion Pre-Unit Assessment. This is mandatory. However, it does not affect your grade.
Complete your scientific argument (#12) GM 3.4 Essay. Make sure you turned it in on Class Companion. Then, you may mark it as complete in Google Classroom.
If you finish early, try: iReady | Dynamic Systems (Engineering Practice) | Dynamic Systems 2 | Explore Mars: A Mars Rover Game
10 SEP 2025 - Wednesday
(#14) GM 3.5 Test. Mr. Ruiz will unlock the test after giving directions. Tests are "open-book," meaning you can use any links from my website.
Plate Motion Pre-Unit Assessment: This is mandatory. However, it does not affect your grade. (You will have more time tomorrow, too.)
Complete your scientific argument (#12) GM 3.4 Essay
Explore Mars: A Mars Rover Game | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
09 SEP 2025 - Tuesday
Amplify Assignments GM 3.4 | Join Class Companion | SENTENCE STARTERS | (#12) GM 3.4 Essay | (#13) GM 3.4.1-4
(Optional Video 14:30) Mars Facts and History
08 SEP 2025 - Monday - WIN
Amplify Assignments GM 3.3 | (Review) GM 3.2.3 Evidence Gradient | (#11) GM 3.3.1-2
Watch this starting at about the 4:00 minute mark: https://app.screencastify.com/watch/xwEPq76AhhcNetvhvGyU
05 SEP 2025 - Friday - LAB
Amplify Assignments GM 3.2 | GM 3.2.2 More New Information | GM 3.2.3 Evidence Gradient | (#10) GM 3.2.1-5
04 SEP 2025 - Thursday
Amplify Assignments GM 3.1 | GM 3.1.2-3 Evidence Gradient | GM 3.1.3 New NASA Information | (#9) GM 3.1.1-3
Extra information if you were absent today (old video, but still relevant)
If you finish early, explore this just for fun!
03 SEP 2025 - Wednesday
Amplify Assignments GM 2.3 | Testing an Idea Student Sheets | Stream 1 (low slope) | Stream 2 (high slope) | Video of both slopes (0:27)
Flowing Lava Model (5:14) | Real Lava Flowing (4:10)
02 SEP 2025 - Tuesday
Internet Outage: We played a game involving recording detailed observations of 20 different rock samples, and then we tried to guess which rock was being described.
01 SEP 2025 - Monday
NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
29 AUG 2025 - Friday
Amplify Assignments GM 2.1 | Observation Sheets | Amplify GM 2.2.4
(#6) GM 2.1.1-5 | (#7) GM 2.1.4 Screenshot Annotation (How to Screenshot)
Optional: https://orb.farm/ | Venus Death of a Planet 4k
28 AUG 2025 - Thursday - LAB
27 AUG 2025 - Wednesday - WIN
Booklet for all classes except 4th period.
4th Period catch-up-time: Amplify Assignments GM 1.3 | GM 1.3.3 Set 1 | GM 1.3.3 Set 2 | Channel on Mars
26 AUG 2025 - Tuesday
25 AUG 2025 - Monday
Amplify Assignments GM 1.2 | Geologic Processes (water and lava flow pictures) | MAP-2 | Mar's Trek | Google Maps | | Channel on Mar
(#3) GM 1.2.1-5
22 AUG 2025 - Friday - WIN
Complete this Career Survey | Check your grade in AERIES. If you are unable to log in, please ask Mr. Ruiz for assistance.
(If you fell behind, get caught up.) Amplify Assignments GM 1.1 | The Night Sky | Our Solar System | The Four Rocky Planets | The Earth System | Spheres | Meet a Planetary Geologist (2:56)
(#2) GM 1.1.1-5
21 AUG 2025 - Thursday - (Continued from yesterday)
Amplify Assignments GM 1.1 | The Night Sky | Our Solar System | The Four Rocky Planets | The Earth System | Spheres | Meet a Planetary Geologist (2:56)
(#2) GM 1.1.1-5
20 AUG 2025 - Wednesday - (This lesson will take two days.)
Amplify Assignments GM 1.1 | The Night Sky | Our Solar System | The Four Rocky Planets | The Earth System | Spheres | Meet a Planetary Geologist (2:56)
(#2) GM 1.1.1-5
19 AUG 2025 - Tuesday
Join our Google Class: https://classroom.google.com/c/NzkxODE1NTQwNzIx?cjc=3ys44ilz
Introduction to Amplify Science (3:11) | Navigating Amplify Science (15:39) | 27 Insanely Cool Experiments (13:44) Students can watch this while I help them get logged in.
(#1) First Day Form
18 AUG 2025 - Monday - LAB
15 AUG 2025 - Friday
If you finish early, work on your colored pattern, your inquiry cube, or both.
14 AUG 2025 - Thursday
Complete the blank face of your inquiry cube today, and use evidence and reasoning to explain why you made the predictions that you made.
When you are done, on the back of the graph paper, create a colored pattern.
Use 1/4 inch graph paper. Make a larger square from 23 by 23 to 33 by 33, 1/4 inch squares.
Use at least three colors in your pattern.
Write your name, date, and period on your graph paper.
13 AUG 2025 - Wednesday
Complete the missing face of the cube: Virtual Cube | Printable Paper Cube
Students will be asked to look for patterns of information. Using the information found on the virtual cube, students will need to interpret patterns and use the evidence provided to defend their ideas about completing the missing face of the cube.
12 AUG 2025 - Tuesday
Welcome back to school!
Review the Syllabus
Join our Google Class: https://classroom.google.com/c/NzkxODE1NTQwNzIx?cjc=3ys44ilz