Weekly Newsletter

Investigations in Science 7
October 11, 2019

Announcements...
​ What We Did This Week…
There was a MCPS ‘Online Digital Tools Consent
Form’ that went home yesterday and has to be
signed by all parents/guardians. It is a packet with a
yellow cover page. The due date is Oct. 18 and is to
be given to their ‘Tech Grab’ teacher.
Medieval Times field trip packets went out last week.
Please ask your child for the packet if you haven’t
seen it yet. The due date is October 18th.
I wanted to let you know that on Open House,
scheduled for Monday, October 14​th​, I will not be in
the building. I will have a substitute teacher during
your child's science class. I wanted to make sure
that you were aware so that you were able to plan
your day accordingly. I realize that having a
substitute might impact whether you choose to come
to your child’s science class. I know this is a great
opportunity for you to come and visit the classrooms
and see what is going on.  petals, color and scent to attract different pollinators.
Click on the link below for additional resources:
Additional Science Opportunities
Ask Your Child…
​ used Chromebooks to complete an interactive to match
● How have you designed your hydroponics
system?
● What are some of the factors that affect the
growth of your plant?
My classroom has been turned into a hydroponics
laboratory! Every group had to work through the design
process including troubleshooting and redesigning. I am
very impressed with all the projects! Groups started
collecting data on their plant and will continue to monitor
for a few weeks (measuring the height, counting the
leaves, observing the color, and testing the pH of the
water). Students know that based on their observations
they can change their project at any time.
We also met and made decisions about what we want to
do with our basil plants. Groups got to plan what type of
nutrient solution (food), medium (what is holding up the
plant), and type of system they want.
We looked at the different parts of the plant and
pollination. We looked at the characteristics of plants and
how they attract pollinators. Flowers use shape, size of
Some examples we will name are that hummingbirds are
attracted to the color red and flies are attracted to bad
smelling flowers. We also looked at the factors that affect
plant growth that include both genetic and environmental.
Factors include water, sunlight, temperature, nutrients,
and genetic factors. We also started getting information
about how pollination occurs between plants. Students
flowers to their pollinators. They then read about what
pollination was and worked to determine the main
characteristics that affect successful pollination.
Today, we have an open note assessment on the
research that we conducted last week. I told the students
that they did not need to study for the assessment since it
would be open note and they were able to use their
 resources for the assessment.

Upcoming...
​

Topics:
● Photosynthesis
● Cellular Respiration

Dates:
● ​October 11 – Open Note Hydroponics
Research Assessment
● October 11 – Cell Quiz Retakes at lunch
● October 14 - Open House
● October 18 - Medieval Times Permission
Slip and Money due
● October 18 - Online Digital Tools Consent
Form due to Tech Grab Teacher
● October 23 - Community Circle in Science
Classes
● October 21 - 25 - Red Ribbon Week
● October 24 - Wear ​Red ​Day
● October 24 - Ireland Student/Parent Meeting
6:00
● October 25 - SGA Dance 7:00
● October 28 - School Picture Make Ups
● October 29 - Humanities Field Trip
● October 31 - No After School Activities
● November 8 - Early Release/End of Quarter 1
● November 11 - Early Release
● November 12 - Early Release
● November 15 - Medieval Times
● November 27 - Early Release
● November 28-29 - No School
● December 5 - International Night
● December 23 - January 1 - No School
● January 20 - No School
● January 24 - Early Release/ End of Quarter 2
● January 27 - Professional Day/Possible
Instructional Day
● February 17 - No School
● February 28 - Early Release
● March 23-25 - Bay Trip - I will be out of the
building
● March 27 - Early Release/End of Quarter 3
● April 6 - 13 - Spring Break
● April 23 - Take Your Child to Work Day
● April 28 - No School
● May 25 - No School
● June 15 - Early Release/Last Day of School