New Quarter, new ideas!

Howdy Everyone!
The new quarter got off to a great start last week with our exploration into the International Learner Profiles. Each teacher chose two and mine were knowledgeable and risk-taker (my personal favorite!). To help students practice taking risks we made masks... doesn't sound risky but think about being a middle schooler and having someone else cover most of your face in plastic wrap and dribble strips of gauze impregnated with plaster on you while you can't see what is going on around you. Of course everyone had fun... don't believe me? See for yourself!















If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249

Sneak Peek

Want to see into the future? Want to know what will happen in a few days? Would you like to appear omniscient? Well then, step right up and avail yourself of this PowerPoint we will be taking notes on later this week and find out what will be on the quiz!






If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249

Happy New Year!!!

So the holiday break is over and we are back in action. The students left off in 2008 hard at work discovering just how hard it is to isolate and stabilize the skeletal and muscular systems. I had a chance to get some of their adventures on film before the batteries went to that great recycler in the sky.
Random thought... ever wonder why there are no B Batteries? It goes "AAA" then "AA" no "A" no "B" and then straight to "C" and "D" it makes me wonder about the evolution of the modern battery and how we got to this non sequitor.



















I promise, this is not a rude gesture!

This coming week holds some fun times with the circulatory system in the form of a PowerPoint and some activities that may put you to sleep... well parts of you anyway. We will restrict the circulatory system (using elevation and pressure points) and see what it feels like when your arms don't get their constant supply of oxygen and nutrients.

If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249

2 Weeks in...

Well, two weeks into the quarter and things are going well.
First things first, I believe that this should the PowerPoint I mentioned earlier. It is an overview of the muscular system that gives the muscle groups we focus on.



The following week has some challenges for students. The science notebooks are in the process of being assessed and next Monday and Tuesday students take their first notebook quiz and start to learn how the skeletal and muscular system interact. Students will be given various scenarios regarding injuries to the bones or joints and will have to determine the best course of action.


If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249

2nd Quarter... Human body

Hey there everyone!
The second quarter is all about the human body, genetics, and how science can solve problems. So far we have started off with the muscular system. I used a PowerPoint which I made years ago when I was just learning how fun making a presentation can be. Mr. Manolis is working with me to teach me how to upload them to this blog. We continued with the 20 major bones in the skeletal system. The goal is to teach students how these two systems work together by teaching basic first aid techniques. I really want to take some pictures of what they come up with. No homework as of yet but I have some great reading strategies for stories that will set up students for the CSI heading our way at the end of the quarter.






If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249

Greetings,
For the last 2 weeks of the quarter students are challenged with our next project. Students will make a flip book of a cell going through all the stages of Mitosis (cell division). Packets were passed out this week and the project is due November 4th and 5th.
You may notice the side bar to the right. It has some videos that describe Mitosis pretty well. Students may also use the notes from their science notebooks as well as an activity that has Mitosis broken into 12 different pictures slightly changed just like a flip book.

If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249

And the results are... Outstanding!!!

Many of you think that I don't like to toot my own horn, well it is just not true. The Pangaea House students did an Amazing job on their Edible Cell projects. So amazing that I had to share, so here is a very small selection from the 90 plus finished products. These are some of the pictures that turned out clearest. Enjoy!

If you have any questions please feel email me at mark.russo@emid6067.net my teacher space can be found at http://www.emid6067.net/servlet/tspace?loc=crosswinds&who=68526249