Tuesday September 30, 2014

Today students worked in collaborative groups (both large and small) to complete their lab report. The seventh grade utilizes a common, graphic organizer/rubric for the lab report. I am available to help students complete the lab report at lunch, before school and after school.

Homework: Complete the first two pages of the lab report. (Prob Q --> Data)

Monday September 29, 2014

Today we continued our student driven investigation into the basketball challege. Students selected their own variable to investigate and then held all other variable constant.

Homework: All classes study esophagus, small intestine, large intestine

Wednesday September 24, 2014

Paper Basketball Challenge

Yesterday, and today students have begun writing their own lab investigating factors that effect a person's ability to make a paper ball basket. Some of the ideas were the size of the box, the size of the opening, the size of the ball, wind (simulated by the fan), if a backboard made it easier, etc. Lots of great ideas and I'll be sure to share some of our results as soon as they become available.

Homework: Study esophagus, small intestine, large intestine

Tuesday 9/23

Paper Basketball Challenge

Today we began writing our own lab investigating dealing with the Paper Basketball Challenge. Each group selected their own independent variable and then as a class we completed the pre-lab. Leaving off with the groups writing their own procedures to follow.

Monday September 22, 2014

Today's lesson, was an introduction to experimental design. We conducted an activity called the basketball challenge. Each student was given a sheet of paper in each group was given a box to shouldn't. The goal is to see how many shots you can make out of 30 possible shots. Once it to be concluded, we brainstormed ideas about what could've been some reasons some students did not score as well as other students.

homework: study of the following vocabulary words: esophagus, small intestine, large intestine him

September 17,18 and 19, 2014

Activity 6A: Finding the Nerve

Today the class begins an investigation using text to discover information about the human nervous system. Students should begin studying the content specific vocabulary dealing with each specific body system. I will post (and tell the students in class) which body system we will investigate in advance so they can study the terms before we present them in class.

Activity 6 a finding the nerve 2014 from ddegennaro

Nerve: responsible for sensing and sending information.

Nervous System: transmits signals between various parts of your body to react to the environment.

NEXT BODY SYSTEM: Digestive System

Monday September 15 and Tuesday September 16, 2014

Today we used prior knowledge to construct a life size human body diagram. Students were encouraged to put down a minimum of three organs, their name and/or function, and a question they have about that organ. Students were not graded nor was erroneous information corrected. In the upcomming lessons, students will learn about the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, muscular, and skeletal systems and as a concluding exercise students will correct their drawings. **For the upcoming week or so the classes will not be on the exact same activity schedule. This has/will occur because of our participation in the Ct Science Center's Outreach program. It is important that when viewing the blog you take this in to consideration.** 

Homework: 

Monday: Check out the blog
Tuesday: All classes except Fly Guys 12B page B14 #6 
                    Fly Guys: None

Activity 12 b what's happening inside from ddegennaro

Friday September 12, 2014

Today students completed a Pre-Test on the necessary math skills for this years curriculum.

Vote For Lupe

Thursday September 11, 2014

Today we continue Activity 2A: The Pellagra story. In this activity, we investigate difference between inference an observation. In addition, the activity will introduce some basic concepts and ideas that deal with experimental design.

Tomorrow will be our first class challenge. Each fully attempted pre-test will count. First class to 100 students wins an ice cream party. Thoroughout each quarter students will compete by class in a variety of challenges.

Activity 2 a the pellagra story from ddegennaro

Homework: How do people in different careers solve problems? (Choose a career that interests you and describe the kinds of problems you think they face then explain how they might go about solving that problem. Use RACE, for you citation extract information from any source available to you, ie. past experience, internet, television, etc)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Today, we introduced activity 2 a the Pellagra story. In this activity, we investigate difference between inference an observation. In addition, the activity will introduce some basic concepts and ideas that deal with experimental design.


Homework: Enjoy the half-day

Monday September 8 and 9, 2014

Today we reviewed notebook setup and distributed any materials necessary to organize the notebook. If you need to finish copying the Traditional Scientific Method it is in the days slide.

Activity 1 saving fred from ddegennaro

Homework 9/8: Anaconda, Name Loading and  and Fly Guys; No homework. Squad 24 write procedures to save Fred.

Homework 9/9: None

Friday September 5, 2014

Today students are taking the district level Pre-Test. Theoretically, all students will earn a 0% because we have not covered any of the material. This provides us with a baseline for data collection which has a plethora of potential uses.

Students used the Cloonan Cares rubric as a way to identify those characteristics which embody good teamwork. Here in class we are all a team working towards the same goals: Academic and Social success!!!!



Homework: None

Thursday September 4, 2014

Here is a link for the official website that describes the Marshmallow Challenge and includes additional information:

http://marshmallowchallenge.com/Welcome.html

CloonanScience DeGennaro's very own Marshmallow Challenge 

 Class Tallest

 Class Tallest

 Class Tallest

 Class Tallest

September 3

Today we created our very own safety posters to help learn about safe laboratory practices and to post around the room as reminders of safe practice. 

Homework: Complete Safety Agreement

First Day Welcome Back!!! 9/2/14

Hello and Welcome Back!!!
 My name is Mr. DeGennaro and I would like to welcome all of you.  I know this year will be a positive and productive year for each student. I will help make sure each student maximizes their potential to allow for success academically and personally.

The three goals I strive for in this classroom to ensure that you…

q  have a positive learning experience.

q  develop the necessary skills to succeed as a student and as an active citizen in the 21^st century.

q  have a learning experience that is safe, varied, enjoyable, and rigorous. 

Classroom Snapshot:

Inquiry Learning—Students will take an active part in their learning through the use of inquiry. Inquiry will require students to conduct active reading, annotate sources, and analyze essential questions, which will in turn allow them to form well-supported hypotheses.

Discussion—Through discourse in the classroom, students will have the opportunity to engage their peers and teacher in thoughtful dialogue on concepts/ideas. In turn, discussion will contribute to their development as listeners and learners in the classroom and beyond.

Hands-on Activities—Students will be engaged in numerous hands-on activities throughout the course of the semester.  In taking part in hands-on assignments students will have the opportunity to synthesize and apply concepts in a creative fashion that will aid in the retention of skills and material

Homework: None