December 10 - 14, 2018

We are getting closer to winter break and we have a lot of loose ends to tie up as it relates to Ecosystems!

Monday

Students will be working with our resident Vanderbilt scientist Dr. Wilkins to learn about animal communication and speciation.

Homework: Students study online each night for their upcoming semester exam on Energy and Ecosystems by using either MobyMax, Quizlet or Legends of Learning.  Station packets are also a good study resource.

Tuesday

Students will continue working with our resident Vanderbilt scientist Dr. Wilkins to learn about animal communication and speciation.

Homework: Students study online each night for their upcoming semester exam on Energy and Ecosystems by using either MobyMax, Quizlet or Legends of Learning.  Station packets are also a good study resource.

Wednesday

Students will have the chance to review all that they have been learning via a class game of Quizlet Live and a round of Kahoot!  

Homework: Students study online each night for their upcoming semester exam on Energy and Ecosystems by using either MobyMax, Quizlet or Legends of Learning.  Station packets are also a good study resource.

Thursday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class.  We will also have small group meetings to help fix any misconceptions.

Homework: Students study online each night for their upcoming semester exam on Energy and Ecosystems by using either MobyMax, Quizlet or Legends of Learning.  Station packets are also a good study resource.

Friday

Students will complete their semester exam.  Next week will provide an opportunity to review and retake if necessary.

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

November 26 - 30, 2018

We have another exciting week this week!

Monday

Students will continue to work on their third set of station activities in class as they work to distinguish between primary and secondary succession, symbiosis, and short and long term impacts on the environment.

Homework: Students may complete a two-sided worksheet reviewing energy over the course of the week.  This will be due Friday.  Alternatively, they may complete 10 minutes online each night of either MobyMax, Legends of Learning, or LearningBlade.

Tuesday

 

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class.  We will also have small group meetings to help fix any misconceptions.

 

Homework: Students may complete a two-sided worksheet reviewing energy over the course of the week.  This will be due Friday.  Alternatively, they may complete 10 minutes online each night of either MobyMax, Legends of Learning, or LearningBlade.

Wednesday

Students will have the chance to review all that they have been learning via a class game of Quizlet Live and a round of Kahoot!  

Homework: Students may complete a two-sided worksheet reviewing energy over the course of the week.  This will be due Friday.  Alternatively, they may complete 10 minutes online each night of either MobyMax, Legends of Learning, or LearningBlade.

Thursday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class.  We will also have small group meetings to help fix any misconceptions.

Homework: Students may complete a two-sided worksheet reviewing energy over the course of the week.  This will be due Friday.  Alternatively, they may complete 10 minutes online each night of either MobyMax, Legends of Learning, or LearningBlade.

Friday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class.  Students should take a quiz today to assess their learning for the week.

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

 

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

November 19 - 23, 2018

It is a short week this week!  I hope you have plans for our time off on Wednesday - Friday!

Monday

Students will have the opportunity to complete their most current station rotations.  Those that finish will have the opportunity experience a flight simulator, a lego challenge and small groups for any topic they still struggle with.

Homework: none.

Tuesday

Students will complete an in-class review of biotic, abiotic, symbiotic relationships, and more that we have been covering this quarter.

Homework: none.

Wednesday

No School

Thursday

No School

Friday

No School

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

November 12 - 16, 2018

I hope you had a great long weekend! This week, we will continue to work on our understanding of biomes, communities, populations, and how their interactions impact our world.

Monday

Veterans Day. No School

Tuesday

Students will work on current Stations Packet in an effort to complete their second packet by Thursday at the end of class.  Students will be quizzing on Friday on their second packet.  

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Work, Energy and Transformations Crossword Puzzle (counts as 2 homework assignments)

Wednesday

VSVS will be with us for the final time this semester! We will be learning about electrical circuits. 

Homework: Write a 3...2...1... Summary of today's VSVS visit.  Remember a 3...2...1... Summary is 3 Things you've learned, 2 Things you've reviewed and 1 Thing you still want to know.

Thursday

Students will be wrapping up their second stations packet.  This is due by the end of class.  Students who have already finished will be challenged to a review Quizlet Live!  Study for the quiz!

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Work, Energy and Transformations Crossword Puzzle (counts as 2 homework assignments)

Friday

Students will complete a brief review activity in class and then complete the quiz relative to their second packet.  Students will have an in-class discussion about their learning so far as it relates to the Big Question of how energy travels through our ecosystem.

Homework: None!

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

November 5 - 9, 2018

	Head Middle Magnet

Happy Tuesday!  My apologies for the late email.  We have a hectic week this week!

Monday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between the major biomes, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.

Homework: There will be no homework this week.

Tuesday

Student led conferences!

Wednesday

VSVS will be with us again this week! 

Homework: There will be no homework this week.

Thursday

I will be out of town Thursday and Friday as I will be presenting at the International Conference on Urban Education about the importance of problem-based learning and a hands-on STEAM education.  As such we will have a substitute and will be completing worksheets that will complement their current learning.

Homework: There will be no homework this week.

 

Friday

Students will have a substitute and will be completing worksheets that will complement their current learning.

Homework: None!

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

October 29 - November 2, 2018

Welcome back to another exciting week!  We will continue studying populations, communities, biomes and their related organisms through their station activities!  Their assignment depends upon their pre-test data.  Students will be required to take a test by the end of class on Friday on their assigned topic.

Monday

Students will be in a special assembly.

Homework: Write a 3...2...1... Summary of today's special assembly.  Remember a 3...2...1... Summary is 3 things you've learned, 2 things you've reviewed and 1 thing you still want to know.

Tuesday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between biotic and abiotic, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Habitats and Ecosystems crossword puzzle (crossword counts as 2 homework assignments)

Wednesday

VSVS will be with us again this week! 

Homework: Write a 3...2...1... Summary of today's VSVS visit.  Remember a 3...2...1... Summary is 3 things you've learned, 2 things you've reviewed and 1 thing you still want to know.

Thursday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between biotic and abiotic, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Habitats and Ecosystems crossword puzzle (crossword counts as 2 homework assignments)

Friday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between biotic and abiotic, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.  All students must complete an assessment on the topic turned in on Monday by the end of class today.

Homework: None!

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

October 22 - 26, 2018

I hope you all had a fabulous Fall Break!  As we come back, we will begin looking at how energy transforms through our ecosystem!  We will be studying populations, communities, biomes and their related organisms.  Students will get plenty of opportunity for choice as we complete a broad variety of activities.

Monday

Students will complete a pre-test on Ecosystems (6.LS2.1-7).  Once done, students will be introduced to our second quarter project called " A Place for Starman to Land." Information needed to complete this project will be accumulated over the next 6 weeks by completing station activities.  Students will then learn about the available stations for the week and will begin working on them!

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Interactions of Living Things crossword puzzle (crossword counts as 2 homework assignments)

Tuesday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between biotic and abiotic, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Interactions of Living Things crossword puzzle (crossword counts as 2 homework assignments)

Wednesday

VSVS will begin their visits with us this week!  Students will get to revisit their learning on energy as they investigate electrical circuits!

Homework: Write a 3...2...1... Summary of today's VSVS visit.  Remember a 3...2...1... Summary is 3 Things you've learned, 2 Things you've reviewed and 1 Thing you still want to know.

Thursday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between biotic and abiotic, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.

Homework: Choice of 10 minutes on Moby Max, Learning Blade, or Legends of Learning, or complete the Interactions of Living Things crossword puzzle (crossword counts as 2 homework assignments)

Friday

Students will continue to work on their station activities in class as they work to distinguish between biotic and abiotic, communities and populations, and the factors that influence the success or failure of each.

Homework: None!

As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

October 8 - 12, 2018

The Egg Drop Project is rapidly approaching!  Students should be working to complete the egg drop project at home.  Just in case, here are the instructions for the 5 steps of the Engineering Design Process that students will follow for this project:

egg drop 2018

Here are the due dates:

 

• EDP STep 1: due 10/9 (TUESDAY!)

• EDP Step 2-3: due 10/9 (TUESDAY!)

• EDP Step 4: due 10/9 (TUESDAY!) THIS MAY NOT BE TURNED IN LATE

• EDP Step 5: due 10/11 (THURSDAY!)

Here is the link to the article that students must read and incorporate into Step 1:

World’s Fastest Delivery Drones Are Saving Lives. Here’s How

Monday

Students will explore STEAM careers based on Energy through the use of Learning Blade (available through Clever Portal).  While students work, I will be pulling small groups to wrap up our Energy Unit understanding.

Homework: Finalize Egg Drop project!

Tuesday

Students will bring in their Egg Drop Project and Steps 1-4 of the Engineering Design Process to class for inspection.  While inspection occurs, students will continue to work on Learning Blade.

Homework: Complete 10 minutes on Legends of Learning or Moby Max.

Wednesday

Egg Drop!  If you would like to join us for the egg drop event, please come during your child’s science class hour and meet us on the soccer field!

Homework: Step 5 of the Egg Drop Project Engineering Design Process.

Thursday

Students will complete their Learning Blade career exploration.

Homework: None!

 

Friday

Students will not report to school

Students will not have school next week as it is Fall Break!!!!!!!! I hope you have a fabulous week! As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

October 1 - 5, 2018

Last week we completed our unit on Thermal Energy and introduced the Egg Drop Project.  The egg drop project will be completed at home.  Here are the instructions for the 5 steps of the Engineering Design Process that students will follow for this project:

egg drop 2018

Here are the due dates:

• EDP STep 1: due 10/9

• EDP Step 2-3: due 10/9

• EDP Step 4: due 10/9  THIS MAY NOT BE TURNED IN LATE

• EDP Step 5: due 10/11

Here is the link to the article that students must read and incorporate into Step 1:

World’s Fastest Delivery Drones Are Saving Lives. Here’s How

Monday

Students will use their online textbook Pearson Realize to begin working on Chapter, Lesson 1 on Natural Resources.  While students are working, I will be hosting small groups to help remediate misconceptions with Thermal Energy.

Homework: Complete Chapter 6, Lesson 1 on Pearson Realize (available through Clever Portal).  In class activities can NOT be completed tomorrow until homework is completed. Egg Drop.  If students do not have access to the internet at home, please let me know asap so I can provide them a paper copy of their assignment.

Tuesday

Students who have completed their homework will receive a graphic design challenge to create a poster detailing natural resources.  This is due Thursday at the beginning of class.

Homework: Complete Graphic Design Challenge if not completed in class.  Begin Chapter 6, Lesson 2 on Pearson Realize.  It is only necessary to complete 10 minutes worth of work or the first 3 sections.  Egg Drop.

Wednesday

Vanderbilt's VSVS will be joining us each Wednesday for the next few weeks to provide hands-on activities to support our learning! 

Homework: Continue Chapter 6, Lesson 2 on Pearson Realize.  It is only necessary to complete 10 minutes worth of work. Egg Drop.

Thursday

Students will use their online textbook to begin working on Chapter 6, Lesson 2 on Energy Use and Conservation.  While students are working, I will be hosting small groups to help remediate misconceptions with Natural Resources. If students complete their lesson early they can begin working on their 2nd graphic design challenge.

Homework: Continue Chapter 6, Lesson 2 on Pearson Realize.  It is only necessary to complete 10 minutes worth of work. Egg Drop.

Friday

Students who have completed their textbook homework will receive a 2nd graphic design challenge to create a poster detailing Energy Use and Conservation.  This is due at the end of class.

Homework: Egg Drop! 

On Wednesday of next week, we will drop our Egg Drop Vessels!  You are welcome to join us during your child's class time. I hope you have a fabulous week! As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

September 24 - 28, 2018

I am so excited about this week as we will be spending a lot of time (and energy!) on reviewing our Energy concepts in preparation for the upcoming Unit Test.  To prepare, we will complete a performance assessment on thermal energy, practice using two excellent online tools: MobyMax.com and LegendsofLearning.com.  Both provide students an opportunity to use the concepts in engaging ways!  These are also great ways to demonstrate practice to be ready for any energy retakes, which are available in class upon presentation of evidence of studying.

Monday

Students will receive their Thermal Energy Performance Assessment document if they have not already).  During class they will work with a small group to brainstorm multiple ways to design a thermos that prevents heat loss. This will be completed in partners and is due by the end of class on Tuesday.

Homework: Bring materials needed to create your thermos.

Tuesday

Students will continue to work on their Thermal Energy Performance Assessment.  This is due by the end of the class period.

Homework: Write one personal glow and one group glow.  A glow is something that went extremely well.  Write one personal grow and one group grow. A grow is something that can be improved.

Wednesday

Students will be introduced to LegendsofLearning.com.  Students can access the site through the link and use their email address as their login and their 190 student number as their password.  It is game-based review!  While students work, I will be asking students to join me in a small group setting to clear up any misconceptions on the topic before our test.

Homework: Study for the  6.PS3.4 Thermal Energy Test which will be Friday

Thursday

When they are finished, they may work on LegendsofLearning.com or MobyMax.com. 

Homework: Study for the  6.PS3.4 Thermal Energy Test which will be Friday

Friday

Students will complete a 20-question Thermal Energy Test.  At the end of the class, we will introduce the school's annual Egg Drop!  This project will NOT be completed in class, rather it will be completed individually at home.  Projects must be turned in on 10/9 in order for them to be evaluated.  The egg drop will take place on 10/10.  Late projects will not be accepted after 10/9.

Homework: None!  

On Tuesday of next week, we will complete a Unit assessment that will cover all of our Energy standards. I hope you have a fabulous week! As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

September 17 - 21, 2018

This week will be full of goodness as we wrap up thermal energy and our other energy transformations and conservation.  

Monday

Students will review their test from Friday.  After, they will have an opportunity to work on their NTK 3.4.  This is due on Wednesday at the end of class and they will have time to work in class.  Students that have completed this will be doing a performance assessment in class using a rubric, which can be found here.  The assessment allows them to choose between designing a roller coaster or designing a Rube Goldberg machine.  The CREATION of the items does not count as a grade, so the focus should be on the plan and design.  This is also due by the end of class on Wednesday.

Homework: Select 2 questions from your NTK 3.4 to answer and study.

Tuesday

Students will continue to work on their NTK for PS3.4 as well as their performance assessment.  

Homework: Select 2 questions from your NTK 3.4 to answer and study.

Wednesday

Students will work on their NTK PS3.4 and their performance assessment. Both are due at the end of the class period.  

Homework: RELAX! You’ve earned it!

Thursday

Students will complete a lab about conduction.

Homework: Finish lab questions if not completed in class.

Friday

Students will complete a lab about convection.  We will review Heat Transfer and introduce our performance assessment for this topic, the thermos challenge! For this engineering design project, each student will need to bring in a variety of material from home. Our brainstorming for the list of stuff will happen in class. 

Homework: Bring in materials for the challenge!  

I hope you have a fabulous week! As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160

September 10 - 14, 2018

This week we will be turning from our general energy discussion and focusing on thermal energy and how it is transferred.  We will be completing a couple of labs as well!  Students will receive a new menu for the week!  As you may already know, we are experimenting with a new strategy in completing our menus.  Students are required to use the labs and resources from their menu to complete the Need To Know Sheet.  However, they do not have to turn in evidence of completing the Study Jam, BrainPOP etc.  They must simply submit their labs, NTK sheet, and their attached menu.  Additionally, homework will continued to be expected Mon-Thurs, but the work should be moving them toward completing their NTK sheet!  A great resource for this is the online textbook. To get there, login to Clever, pick Pearson Bridge, log in using the student's COMPLETE EMAIL address.  The password is the student id.  Finally, students will have a test on PS3.1, PS3.2 and PS3.3 on Thursday.  Here are links to the quizzes we took in class.  PS3.1 quiz, PS3.2 quiz and PS3.3 quiz Studying these will be a great benefit!

Monday

Students will have a substitute as I will be out at a training.  Students will receive their new NTK 3.4.  This is an extensive document and should not be completed in one day!  The substitute will allow them to work collaboratively to research the answers in their textbooks.  Students will KEEP this in the Works In Progress section of their binder.

Homework: Select 2 questions from your NTK 3.4 to answer and study.

Tuesday

Students will review the Need To Know (NTK) sheets for PS3.1b, linked just in case! Students will work in groups to verify their understanding before the quiz Wednesday!  Finally, students will continue to work on their NTK for PS3.4.  Links for menu items will be stored in Schoology (accessible for students through Clever).  If you haven't received your Schoology login code, feel free to email me!  Students will also have labs to complete!

Homework: Select 2 questions from your NTK 3.4 to answer and study.

Wednesday

We will be completing a quiz on PS3.1b. With any remaining time, students will work on their menu and NTK PS3.4.  

Homework: Select 2 questions from your NTK 3.4 to answer and study.

Thursday

Students will complete a test on PS3.1, PS3.2 and PS3.3.    

Homework: Select 2 questions from your NTK 3.4 to answer.

Friday

Students will continue to work on their menu and NTK PS3.4.  Work will be checked for completion, however, it is likely that we will continue into Monday and Tuesday of next week!

Homework: NO Homework!  

I hope you have a fabulous week! As always, assignments are subject to change and I will do my best to communicate those to you.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns!

Lisa Preston, MAT

6th Grade Science

www.lisareedpreston.com

lisa.reed-preston@mnps.org

Head Middle Magnet School of Math & Science

1830 Jo Johnston Ave.

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 329-8160