Merry Christmas to All

Dear Students and Parents,

I want to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to be your science teacher and for blessing my life daily! Thank you for all of the wonderful cards, baked goods, presents and other gifts you have given me this Christmas. I am so lucky to be a part of your lives! I appreciate all you do!

As we remember Jesus Christ and His birth, may each of you be blessed with good health and happiness as we move in to the New Year!

See you in 2010!

Ms. Tierney

ROY G. BIV are you ready?

Tomorrow is the science test on light energy. Students have done a super job learning about waves (and not the surfer kind). They have been reviewing for days; have taken a Mock Test and now they are ready.

Friday will be our Discovery Investigation Lab Day. Students will work with microscopes; explore static electricity and electrical fields; see the 'guts' of a light bulb; explore iridescent light; x-rays and more.

First Lutheran School Middle School Students Visit the Arboretum

Hovig and other students from First Lutheran School listen to docent, Mr. Bill Fink as he shares about the history of the LA Arboretum.

Peacocks and More

Students and Parents,

Thank you for making our first Middle School fieldtrip this year such a success! We arrived at the Arboretum on such a glorious day! The previous night there had been strong winds. Luckily, there wasn't too much damage as far as branches down.

We spent the morning with WONDERFUL docents that lead us all over the 134 acres! We saw authentic Tongva homes; early 19th century adobe-constructed ranchero; and of course the Victorian era Baldwin architecture marvels!

Target and VISA were filiming commercials on the grounds. Students were curious. We had our picnic lunches and in the afternoon, we got in to our homeroom teams and visited the carnivorous and orchid greenhouses; traveled to Australia and on to see the 'Catawampus' and waterfall! We even got to see plants and trees that were known to be around the time of the dinosaurs! Did you know that all the Tarzan movies were filmed at the Arboretum?

Delightful day and our students received the highest compliments from the Arboretum staff! Well done everyone!

Our Light Energy test is on November 12, 2009! We have been busy reflecting, refracting, making waves and learning how important the Sun's energy is to our planet!

If you see this BLOG and write the word 'photosynthesis' on the top of your test paper, you will get 5 extra credit points! Keep checking the BLOG for periodic updates!!

You guys ROCK!!!

God Bless You ALL and wishing you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Countdown to Arboretum Trip

Students have missed seeing updates on our BLOG this week. I apologize! We have been busy! We had a test last week and had to get those tests back to students this week. Thank you parents for signing your child's test. We keep them on file and will use them as study guides for a final later in the year. Students did a super job!

Students have been making Flash Cards for their science vocabulary words and this has proved to help them be more successful on tests! Way to go students for super studying skills!

Did you know that we performed a skit for 3rd and 5th grade on the parts of a Plant Cell? Our audiences enjoyed it. This week we met 'Albert Einstein' in a skit and learned more about light.

We are taking time out for a unit on Light and studying the Electromagnetic Spectrum, and learned how important light energy is in the plant world! We are reviewing plant & arboretum terms in preparation for our fieldtrip next week.

Did students tell you about our 'glow-in-the dark' soap? Bats? The cave we made in class? How about the black light lamp and what we learned about visible light?

Stay tuned for more fun in science!

Welcome Mark, Bryan and Simon

Today Eddie told me that he checks our Science Blog! That is great! Even if you can't join, you can follow along and see the great things we are doing at school.

Welcome to Mark, who told me he wants to be a doctor someday! We welcome 8th graders Brian and Simon who did work on Matter while they were overseas. Great work everyone!

Students took their Mock Test today and did very well. These tests help to familiarize us with the format of the test; help students practice reading test section directions; and ease our nerves so we won't be anxious when we take the test tomorrow.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN MONEY FOR THE FIELDTRIP! IT IS $12.00 AND DUE FRIDAY!

Video & Film Footage of Atoms and Cells

Students have enjoyed being in a science skit and performing for grades 3 & 5; watching recent film showing cells and atoms. This week we play Jeopardy and Baseball to review for our test on Wednesday.

8th grade students have used donut holes to model parts of atoms (and got to eat them:) ) and they have learned about physical properties of matter using various items that can be found at home.

Keep up the great work!

Atoms, Cells, Matter, Oh My

Students and Parents,

FLS Middle School students will have their next science test on Wednesday, October 14, 2009. Study Guides have been distributed and we are going to have a great review day on Monday, Mock Test on Tuesday and then..........

FLS students are doing their homework; coming prepared to class; and showing their best thinking evey day! Keep up the good work!

Cytoplasma and More

Closer look of our plant cell

Study of Animal and Plant Cells

Today in Science, Grades 7 & 6 created plant cell models by using a ziplock bag and commonly found items from our kitchen or toychest. Can you say 'mitochondria'?

Great Girls in Science

Our minds are on and ready to explore the world of science!

Recording Our Observations

We learned that scientists need to record their observations so they can share their findings and collaborate with each other.

Crystals Can Look Like Cubes or Have Curves

Adding water made Substance 1 dissolve; Substance 2 become murky and Substance 3 become 'gel' like.

Excitement Builds in Science

Three unknown substances, how will students use their science processes skills to figure out what they are?

What is Matter? How Small is Small?

Middle School students discovered that three white substances that are commonly used might first appear to look alike, but on closer examination they certainly have different properties!

Amazing Scholars Review for First Test

Last week, FLS Middle School students received their Review Guide for the first test in science. The test is this Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

Sixth Grader Jonathan and Seventh Grade student Heather exceeded expectations and did a superior job in preparing for the upcoming test. Congratulations and they will be receiving 10 extra points in Science.

Way to go Jonathan and Heather.

Extra Credit & Schedule for Week of September 21

Extra Credit Opportunity

Students!

Are you following our blog? If so, write the word BLOG on your science test this Wednesday and you will get 10 extra points to put in your bank account! These could come in handy this trimester!

What's Up in Science This Week?

Monday: Review for Science Test
Tuesday: Review Science Pre-Assessment & Take Mock Test for Sec. 1 Test
Wednesday: Test Day
Thursday: 6 & 7 Kick Off on Cell Unit
8 Kick Off to Atom Unit
Friday: TBA

Back to School Night Huge Success

Thank you parents and families for coming to Back to School Night last night! We had a great turn out and it was perfect that our school's hospitality provided cookies for you! They were enjoyed while you heard about the BIG DIG!

Our Middle School Archeologists have been busy mining precious chocolate chips! We have used so many of our science process skills. Now we are off to begin our units of study!

Today in Science we will play Science Jeopardy to prepare us for the terms and vocabulary we will be using in our units of study this year.

We have our first Middle School fieldtrip on Wednesday, October 28, to the LA Arboretum in Arcadia, CA. Please be on the look out in October for permission slips and we may be needing drivers and chaperones!

The BIG Dig

We are excavating chips from our chocolate chip cookies! Who would have thought that there are so many science connections associated with a cookie?

First, we had to eat our cookie! Sure hit the spot! Then we thought about all the 'science' that can come from a cookie! We collectively came up with a 'food chain' and thought how a cookie comes from the sun! From the wheat in the farmer's field (flour origin); to the plastic packaging (fossil fuel origin) we learned so much!

We got to be thinking about the 'chemistry' connections; the 'energy' connections and we were off and running!

Next, we are using the tools scientists use like finding the chip's mass; volume and more! Working with chocolate is tough! It can melt in your hand but ohhhhhh it is sooooo much fun!

Wouldn't it be great if we could eat our way through science this year??????

Let's try :)

Welcome Middle School Students to a Rock'n Year of Science

This blog has been created for your use. We will post what we are doing, learning, searching as we explore the world around us. There will be posts from students in grades 6,7 & 8. Pictures and other interesting items will be located here. Feel free to pass on to parents the blog address and they can follow our learning adventures.