Newsletter January 12th-16th

Day/Subject / Science / Social Studies
Monday
GOLD DAY / Learning Objective: Apply a form of energy to design and construct a simple mechanical device., (IN Standard 6.4.1-4.3)
Investigation: Inv. 1, Part 2, Building Your Own Black Boxes
LAB: Build Your Own Black Box Design (Physical Model); Draw a Conceptual Model in your Journal
Homework: None / Learning Objective: Students will learn about the location, growth, and decline of the Maya, Aztec and Inca Empire.
Project Introduction: Pass out the Planning page for the Aztec, Inca, Maya project
a. Choose a civilization
b. Use Ch. 5 to find as many facts about the artifact you chose to create
c. Plan on doing some research at home
d. Bring materials to school for the next couple days for Project Work Day!
Homework: Research your artifact and civilization at home; bring materials to school (see project guidelines below!!)
Tuesday
BLUE DAY / Investigation: Investigation 1, Part 3, The Drought Stopper: A Self-Starting Siphon System hidden in a box!
LAB: Draw a model that explains how you can get 500 ml of water out after putting in only 100 ml.
Homework: Ask your parents if they have something in their home that is a “model” for a “Drought Stopper” /
Wednesday / Investigation: Reviewing Vocabulary from Investigation 1 with an Illustrated Dictionary
Science Story Connection: “Life on Earth 150 Million Years Ago?”; Nonfiction Fact Scrapbook of facts from the story
Homework: Complete the Scrapbook Fact Sheet / Project Work: Use computer lab and/or lap tops to research; Continue working on your planning sheet for the Aztec, Inca, Maya Project; Ch. 5 Assessment in class with textbook.
Homework: Continue to work on project---artifact and written report; be ready to “proof” the written report on Friday!
Thursday / Investigation: Finish Inv. 1, Black Boxes; Complete Math Problem of the Week & Creating a Black Box List
Video Connection: Black Boxes in Planes: What are they and what is their purpose?
Homework: None /
Friday / Investigation: Review Models; Begin Inv. 2, Part 1, “Hum Dingers”…what is a Hum Dinger? Inquiry Lab
Lab Sheet: Hum Dinger Response Sheet
Homework: None / Project Work:
a. Proofread your work:
b. Add / Replace common words with VIVID VERBS/ WORDS
c. Sentence fluency chart check
Homework: Continue to work on
project: Tentative due date: 1/22

History Project

Early Civilizations: Aztec, Inca, Maya

We are finishing the textbook chapter on the Aztec, Inca, Maya civilizations. Students will be assigned a project this week to culminate their learning on ONE of the early civilizations. Students must have their final project idea by Wednesday. A written report as well as a 3-D model is a requirement for this project. Project guidelines and a rubric will be given in class.

Aztec, Inca, & Maya Project

Individual Portion: Project of your choice You have the ultimate opportunity to showcase your creativity and imagination. Use clay, paint, crayons, markers, fabric, scissors, wood, stones, string…the possibilities are endless! Depending on which group you are in, there are numerous things you can create! Surf the web for information or check out a book at the library!

IDEAS: (Be sure to consider the civilization you are assigned to!)

- Food dish (enough for class of B1 = 28, B2 = 32, B3 = 25 students)

- Drawings/paintings

- Re-create an artifact/image (ex: Aztec Chinampa, Inca stonework, Mayan pottery)

- Dress like an Inca, Maya, or Aztec!

- Make a temple, home, or other building

- Mosaic masks

- Pottery

- Warrior shields/tools/helmet

- Headdress

- Codex

- Statues

- Jewelry

PLEASE NOTE: A written paragraph, using YOUR own words, must be included with your project. Any copied research information from the Internet can be included but not take the place of your paragraph description.

*You may NEATLY write your description on notebook paper or an index card. You may also choose to type your paragraph. Individual projects are due on __Thursday, 1/22/15__. We will have a cultural exhibition! You will present your project and give a brief description to the class. Other grade levels will be invited to attend our cultural exhibition!