Understanding the scientific method

Here's the outline for the components of the scientific method. When I get back to school, I'll post the rubric, which we did send home. Look at the rubric carefully to understand what is expected in a project. Take care and have a pleaseant break from school. Mr. King

Also, here is a link to go to for some science fair ideas.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml

Understanding the Scientific Method
And Using Fair Tests
Mr. Steven King, Science Coordinator

Hypothesis: An educated explanation of a phenomena or event. This is more of an overarching concept, not as specific as your prediction.

Question: ________________________________________________________________________

Prediction: I think ________________________________ because _______________________________________________________________________.

Variables: Control Variables, Dependent Variable, Independent Variable
Control Variables: Those variables you are keeping constant.

Independent Variable: The variable you are changing. Changing this variable may affect your dependent variable.
Dependent Variable: Variable you are observing.

Observations: Scientist watches and records what takes place while the experiment is conducted.
Data: Usually some sort of measurable information. This is where students practice using rulers, scales, stopwatches, tape measurers, cameras and other important tools. This is where science and math come together.

Results: Tables, charts, graphs, photographs, and explanations. These could include drawings, discussions, oral presentations, and/or dictations … Many of these items can be created on computers as well.

Conclusion: Relates back to the prediction and is supported by data and results. My prediction was correct/incorrect because _________________________________.

Reflection: What would you change, what did you learn, did you enjoy the experiment….

December Announcement

Dear Parents and Students,
I want to let everyone know how proud I am of our progress in writing. Please come look at the display located outside of our room. They are a representation of hard work and perserverence on the part of the class. Parent conferences are next Monday, and a schedule will go home on Friday and will be emailed. Also, Deal Buddy Day is Tuesday. We are working on percents and fractions in math. In reading, we are looking for facts, making inferences, verb tenses, and spelling. Social studies is dealing with Europe and relationship between humans/environment, and in science we will begin to gear up for the science fair in February. Take care. Mr. King

December Homework

Here is the homework for December.
December 1
Wordly Wise 15 A-D
Math Computing Percents
2
Project Due Tomorrow on your European Country

3
WW15E
Math Test tomorrow
Complete math review sheet
4
Science
Waves/Wind
pp. 158-163 with questions

5
WW/Spelling Test
Read class novel
6
7
8
Parent Teacher Conference
Wordly Wise 16 A-D
9
Deal Buddy Day
Map of Europe Test on Friday
10
WW16E Book Report Due
Europe Map Review
11
Science Glaciers
pp. 165-169
12
WW/Spelling Test
Science Fair Proposal Due
13
14
15
Field Trip Natural History Museum
Write Five Paragraph Essay about the Trip
16
Wordly Wise 17A-D
17
WW17E
O Henry Story and Questions
18
O Henry Story and Questions
19
WW/Spelling Test
Europe Map Test
20
21

22
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 23
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 24

Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 25
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 26
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 27
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet
28
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 29
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 30
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 31
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 1
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet 2
Vacation
Science Fair Project
Review Packet

New Spelling List

Spelling List
Mr. King’s Class
November 10
donate, donation, conclude, conclusion, instruct, instruction, possess, possession, introduce, introduction, except, exception, discuss, discussion, collide, collision, oppose, opposition, fascinate, fascination, detect, detection, procrastinate, procrastination.

November 17
illegal, indent, imperfect, irregular, incurable, immediate, inquire, impatient, individual, insert, impolite, illegible, irresistible, infection, illustrate, innocent, improper, instrument, immovable, irrational, informal, indirect, improve, incomplete, impress.

November 24
revise, advantage, memorize, active, organize, criticize, shortage, advertise, attractive, college, primitive, exercise, encourage, summarize, wreckage, recognize, positive, percentage, sensitive, heritage, storage, utilize, mortgage, merchandise, aggressive, compromise.

December 1
confident, confidence, fragrant, fragrance, excellent, excellence, decent, decency, truant, truancy, brilliant, brilliance, obedient, obedience, evident, evidence, occupant, occupancy, reluctant, reluctance, distant, distance, frequent, frequency.

December 9
section, shallow, direction, musician, selfish, position, astonish, pressure, attention, admission, crucial, official, emotion, bashful, delicious, establish, ancient, situation, suspicion, permission, diminish, beneficial, efficient, potential, compassion

December 15
echoes, halves, solos, leaves, heroes, cliffs, scarves, potatoes, pianos, volcanoes, sheriffs, calves, tomatoes, cellos, wolves, ratios, stereos, yourselves, studios , bookshelves, abilities, duties, scissors, memories, strategies.

January 5
disobey, extend, dispute, interview, experience, distract, interview, experience, distract, Internet, exactly, experiment, interest, dispose, extreme, exclaim, dissolve, distress, interact, expensive, explanation, discount, interstate.

Homework Update for the Week

Dear Parents,
I will have the homework schedule out by the end of the week. Sorry for the delay. November caught up with me faster than expected. However, this week is as follows:
Monday: Wordly Wise 11-A-D finish by Wednesday Math - Adding Fractions
Tuesday: Spelling: Write each word in cursive five times. Math - Algebra
Wednesday: Mapping Skills Mexico and Central America Revisited Wordly WiseE
Thursday: Science: Draw a diagram of solar system. Identify gaseous planets and terrestrial planets. Include one fact about each celestial body of the solar system.
Friday: Class Novel begin reading first fifty pages over the weekend.
Mr. King

Buddy Day

Dear Parents and Students,
I spoke with Ms. Liggins, and the date for Buddy Day is November 18. Also, if you are going to the opera with me, please let me know. I need a few chaperones. Take care. Mr. King

Classroom Updates

I would like to thank everyone for sending in their homeless walk participation forms. It is appreciated. We will do a food drive for Shepherd's Table for Thanksgiving. All donations are appreciated. I am in the process of setting up a few field trips, one to the Natural History Museum, and the other to the National Cathedral; more information is forthcoming. Also, remember the opera is in November. We are finishing up the term with persuasive writing, greatest common factors, least common multiples, and prime/composite numbers. Next Friday is a half day, and report cards come out in about two weeks. Next month we will be concentrating on more space science, weathering and weather. Also, we will begin preparations for the science fair. Children need to have a testable experiment. I will send home information concerning this matter. If you can practice fractions (all computations) with your child, that would be appreciated. Also, area (length X width) and perimeter (side plus side plus side) can be reviewed as well. Thanks again for all your support. Mr. King

October Schedule

Sorry for the delay and problems. The format is a bit messed up, but it should allow for use. Thanks for your patience. Mr. King



1
2
3
WW & SPELLING TEST

4
Read One Hour
5
Read one hour
6
WW7A-D

7

8
WWE

9
10
WW & SPELLING TEST

11
Read One Hour
12
Read one hour
13
WW8A-D
Spelling flashcards
Columbus Day/ No School
14
MATH

15
WWE
Read current event/newspaper article/ summarize
16
MATH
17
WW & SPELLINGTEST

18
Read One Hour l
19
Read one hour
20
WW9A-D

21
Read current event/newspaper article/ summarize
22
WWE
Spelling Sentences

23
MATH

24
WW & SPELLING TEST

25
Read One Hour
26
Read one hour
27
WW10A-D
Spelling flashcards
Novel
29
MATH
Novel
29
WWE
Spelling Sentences
Novel
30
Read current event and summarize
Novel
Math
31
WW & SPELLING TEST
½ day, early dismissal
Read One Hour

Dear Parents,
I hope this note finds you well. We were scheduled to have a math test on Friday, but it will be presented tomorrow. It will cover adding/subtracting large numbers, multiplication/division of whole numbers, multiply decimals, statistics including spreadsheets, bar graphs, line plot graphs, frequency tables. I will do a quick review before giving the test. This week I will be starting aftercare on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays which means I will be in the classroom until 6pm. I need a volunteer to take charge of the fall fest activity for the sixth grade. I cannot attend, for I will be out of town that day. However, I will speak with the students for some ideas and try to come up with something that is easily organized and presented. Ideas are welcomed. For the upcoming week, we will have the South America Map, which the students should memorize the location and spelling of each country in South America. We will also be introducing the research project this week with the review of the rubric. Take care, and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Also, the boys should be finishing the questions for Hatchet and completing a book report. The girls are finishing their response books as a form of a book report. The boys and girls will trade books and begin reading Hatchet/Numbering respectively. Steven King

HOMEWORK SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER

Here is an outline of the homework for the month of September. Each student received this information in a calendar/table format. PHM means Prentice Hall Mathbook (blue book). Novel refers to the book we are reading in class. Book reports should be done on books other than those read in class. There are many available in class or at the library. Questions can be forwarded to otisking@hotmail.com. Please pardon my attempts at abbreviations.
Thanks. Mr. King
Sept. 1
WW2 A-D
Spelling Flashcards
Novel
Sept.2
Math
Data Analysis
PHM pp.14-15
#1-9, 14-31
Novel
Sept.3
WWE
Spelling Sentences
Novel
Sept.4
MATH
Worksheet Data Analysis
Read current event/newspaper article/ summarize
Sept.5
WW & SPELLING TEST
Novel
Book Report Due
Sept.6
Read One Hour
Sept.7
Read one hour
Sept.8
WW3A-D
Spelling flashcards
Novel
Sept.9
MATH
PHM p. 11 # 1-20
Novel
Sept.10
WWE
Spelling Sentences
Novel
Sept.11
MATH
Division Worksheet Read current event/newspaper article/ summarize
Sept.12
WW & SPELLING TEST
Math Test
Sept.13
Read One Hour
Sept.14
Read one hour
Sept.15
WW4A-D
Spelling flashcards
Map South America
Sept.16
MATH
PHM Order Operations p. 53 # 1-18, 23-31
Novel
Sept.17
WWE
Read current event/newspaper article/ summarize
Sept.18
MATH Order Operations Worksheet
S.A. Map
Sept.19
WW & SPELLING TEST
South America Test
Book Report Due
Sept.20
Read One Hour l
Sept.21
Read one hour
Sept.22
WW5A-D
Spelling flashcards
Research Project South America Due Oct. 3
Sept.23
MATH
Mult. 3digits. X3digits
Read current event/newspaper article/ summarize
Sept.24
WWE
Spelling Sentences
Novel
Sept.25
MATH
Mult/Divide worksheet
Novel
Sept.26
WW & SPELLING TEST
Novel
Sept.27
Read One Hour
Sept.28
Read one hour
Sept.29
WW6A-D
Spelling flashcards
Novel
Sept.30
MATH
Novel
Oct. 1
WWE
Spelling Sentences
Novel
Oct.2
Read current event and summarize
Novel
Math
Oct. 3
WW & SPELLING TEST
Math Test
Book Report Due
Oct. 4
Read One Hour

Spelling List

Here is the list of spelling words for the first term.
Spelling List, Mr. King’s Class

September 2: supreme, bracelet, mute, strive, faithful, devote, rhyme, succeed, coax, rely, conceal, forgave, lonesome, delete, confine, exceed, terrain, reproach, abuse, defeat, ratify, serene, refute, appraise, humane

Sept. 8: mound, gloomy, vault, annoy, dawdle, counter, haughty, rejoice, devour, thoughtful, flawless, maroon, droop, crouch, bamboo, hoist, oyster, exhausted, scoundrel, bountiful, aloof, adjoin, taut, turquoise

September 15: source, flirt, hurdle, parka, frontier, scorn, radar, earnest, afford, urban, discard, smirk, rehearse, mourn, surface, parcel, yearn, fierce, starch, formula, horizontal, circuit, reimburse, formidable, monarchy

September 22: waist, waste, patience, patients, rite, right, wright, write, muscle, mussel, principal, principle, summary, summery, sight, cite, site, stationary, stationery, coward, cowered, barren, baron, burrow, burro, borough

September 29: brief, shield, reign, review, fiery, receipt, relieve, conceited, neither, foreign, grief, veil, freight, siege, deceive, yield, beige, perceive, seize, leisure, reprieve, wield, feign, conceive, retrieve

October 6: fiber, similar, regular, barrier, superior, grammar, rumor, character, director, acre, consider, junior, senior, solar, scholar, razor, surrender, particular, familiar, laser, escalator, cursor, geyser, perpendicular, maneuver

October 14: triangle, mental, error, panel, litter, pollen, gallon, cancel, abandon, rival, soldier, recycle, salmon, counsel, rural, vehicle, citizen, monitor, physical, oxygen, punctual, endeavor, abdomen, kilometer, dandelion

October 20: happening, limited, forgetting, equaled, fitting, reasoning, labored, permitting, scrapped, tutoring, admitted, honored, skidding, honored, skidding, pardoned, modeling, preferred, scarred, favored, glistening, shuddered, omitted, merited, tapered, equipped, recurring

October 27: reserved, unlikely, forceful, adorable, amazement, gentleness, sparkling, priceless, excitement, mileage, graceful, sincerely, advanced, usable, amusement, entirely, wireless, excluding, scarcely, changeable, inspiring, idleness, achievement, precisely, disciplined

November 3: correct, correction, explore, exploration, admire, admiration, subtract, subtraction, examine, examination, separate, separation, alter, alteration, observe, observation, reflect, reflection, substitute, substitution, irritate, irritation, coordinate, coordination, cooperate, cooperation

This list will take the class through 1st term of the school year. Each week does have a pattern, and if there are any questions, please contact me at otisking@hotmail.com

Travels to Colombia

Do you want to go so a spectacular country? Go to Colombia. Cartagena is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited, and Bogota was a real adventure. Great culture, great food, great prices and great people. Let me know if you want to know more.