Getting Started in 7C Science - 2015

We'll start the year by practicing the things scientists do. It is material covered in Nebraska state standard called The Nature of Science (8.1.2).

After starting with the Nature of Science, this class will study energy and motion (Physical Science), then we take a look at the cell, human organ systems, genetics, and Evolution (Life Science), and finish the year with weather and climate (Earth and Space Science).

A typical class is a mix of lecture, discussion and hands-on activities. Most weeks there will be homework assignments one to three nights with a quiz covering the homework. Labs and lab reports are important parts of 7C Science. Take a look at the following post for how lab reports are done.

Grades are based on quizzes, unit tests, lab reports, and CRT scores.
The links on the right side of this page connect to Quizlet vocabulary reviews. It is an excellent way to review for quizzes and tests.

L to J

7C Science will be using the L to J system to measure student progress through the year. With L to J, students track their own progress by graphing the results of weekly quizzes throughout the year. The quizzes review what has been taught and what will be taught. The results of these quizzes are not included in the student's class grade.
Students get to see how they improve each week - and - they are not allowed to forget what has already learned.
For more information;
http://ltojconsulting.com/

Important Date! - Wednesday, September 11

All the 7th grade will be part of the Outdoor Education Day on Wednesday, September 11. The Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium will be here to teach fishing basics and supply the equipment and bait for everyone who wants to fish at Johnson lake. There will be activities for anyone who does not want to fish. We will request help from parent volunteers.
More details later.

Here's what goes in a lab report.

Title: A snapshot of what the experiment is about.
Observations/Questions: A short description of what you know about the problem you are investigating. Complete sentences.
Hypothesis: A prediction of how the test you are doing will turn out. It is not a question. No personal pronouns. Complete sentences.
Materials: A list of the items you need to do the experiment. Do not include common items that are used everyday. Bullet points.
Procedure: Describe how to do the experiment so someone else could read it and do the exact same thing. Identify the control group, experimental group, independent variable, and dependent variable. State what you did to control all other factors. Bullet points.
Results: Observations or measurements of what happened with the dependent variable. Depending on the experiment this may be a picture(s), table of numbers, graph, or written description of what happened.
Conclusion: This is where you tell what happened. Did the experimental group respond differently because of the independent variable? Mention how the results support the conclusion. State if the hypothesis was right or wrong. If necessary, mention if other factors may have changed the results. No personal pronouns. Complete sentences.

Other things that matter:
Effort (neatness), spelling and grammar count!
Most labs may be done as a Google Doc, Google Presentation or written report. They do not have to be typed.

Vocabulary Quiz - Friday, August 21.

Vocabulary terms;

1. variable
2. prediction
3. matter
4. volume
5. weight
6. gas
7. gravity
8. data
9. function
10. structure
11. position
12. transmit'
13. convert
14. conserve
15. potential

Vocabulary Quiz

There will be a Science vocabulary quiz on Friday, August 28.
The terms to be tested are:

• data
• hypothesis
• controlled experiment
• control group
• experimental group
• independent variable
• dependent variable
• conclusion
• scientific method
• factor

Remember to check the Quizlet vocabualry quiz by using the link on the right side of this page.

Osmosis Lab Report

The Osmosis Lab Report is due Thursday, December 18. It is a 50 point project and may be word processed or hand written. The Osmosis Lab Report template in the 7C Science folder on the Shared file has the section headings and table to use.
You may also find the outline for the lab Report in Google Drive. If you do the report as a Google Doc be sure to share it with Mr. Saeger
The information you need to write the report is in the lab notes you recorded daily. Use complete sentences unless the instructions say to make a list or that bullet points are OK.
Remember! You are writing this report for someone who doesn't know anything about the lab.

Here's what goes in the report:

Title (1 point)
- The title describes what the lab tested.

Introduction/Notes (3 points)
- Explain how cells get the water they need to live (osmosis).
- This is where you report why we did this lab. It's in your notes!

Testable Question: (3points)
- One sentence that asks the question we will try to answer in the lab. (It should be part of your Day 2 lab notes)

Hypothesis (2 points)
- No personal pronouns
- Do not try to explain why you think the hypothesis answers the testable question.

Independent Variable (2 points)
- This is what we did to the cell to see what happens. Did you put the egg in water or syrup?
- Bullet point OK

Dependent Variable (2 points)
-What happened to the cell because of the independent variable? Did it get bigger or smaller?
- Bullet point OK

Variables to Control (2 points)
- This is where you list the things we needed to control because they might effect the dependent variable
- Bullet points OK

Procedure (10 points)
- List all materials needed to do the lab materials here
- Organize this section by Day. For example, list the materials used and what was done for Day 1, then Day 2 etc.
- Bullet points OK

Data Table (5 points)
- Put a title on the table
- Label all numbers with the correct unit of measurement

Observations (5 points)
- Describe how the egg appeared
- Organize this section by the Day. (Day 1, Day 2, etc)

Conclusion (5 points)
- Use the results to report how much the egg grew or shrank.
- Restate the hypothesis.
- State if your hypothesis was right or wrong

Effort (10 points)
- Is it neat and easy to read?
- Did you explain what happened and why we did the lab?
- Are the sections organized in a way that is easy to understand? For example, the results and observations sections go between the procedure and conclusion; not at the very beginning or end.
- Could someone read the report and do the same thing you did?
- Spelling, grammar, and punctuation count!

Daily Notes (3 points)
- Attach the daily lab notes to the back of the report