Maple Syrup Field Trip afterthoughts...

After spending a day at U of M, learning about the maple syrup process, feel free to comment to this posting about what you learned today or what you thought was interesting.

Some suggested questions:

1) What are the 3 B's that can help you identify a maple tree and what do you look for?

2) When can maple syrup be collected in Michigan?

3) Why did Rick say that there wasn't much maple syrup today?

4) Why were some lighter rings in the "tree cookie" larger than the darker rings?

What else interested you?

Weekly News

This week in Math we will continue our work with percents. Students have done a good job so far with sales tax and tip (which we will review early in the week) and we will end the week in learning how to work with discounts.

In Science we will continue our work with plate tectonics and truly understanding how the plates play a role in creating volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountains. We will have a quiz at the end of the week on vocabulary from this unit and major concepts we've learned.

In Advisory students will create their new learning plan by finalizing their topic and deciding what they are going to study within that topic to cover the 4 academic subjects (ELA, science, math, social studies) and personal qualities. Due dates for each section will be provided and once students have their learning plan approved, they will be able to start working on their new topic. Students that got books out of the library should bring them to school EVERY day so they can work on things even when the computers are not available.

Field trip reminders:

• Monday, March 15 -- Maple Syrup field trip -- wear old/warm clothes (jeans, boots, warm jackets, gloves, hats, etc.). We will be outside for a portion of the day, in the wet grass so please be prepared. Also, don't forget your bagged lunch!
• Friday, March 19 -- Skating Party -- payment of $12 or $10 (if you don't need skates) is due by Wednesday! Free dress is given only to the students that are going skating!

Field Trips

Now that the exhibitions are over (and most students did fabulous on them -- BIG round of applause to you all!), we can look at going on some field trips.

Thursday, March 11 -- Wayne State University Food Court as a reward for doing so well and working so hard on their exhibitions. Students will still go to the school lunch and electives, and we will leave shortly after 1pm. Students are asked to bring money depending on what they'd like to eat at Wayne State.

Monday, March 15 -- University of Michigan Maple Syrup Field Trip -- We will be leaving around 9am and returning around 2:30pm. Students are asked to wear old, warm clothing as we will be outside and it may be muddy and cold. Students are also asked to bring a bag lunch since there will be no food for purchase. The cost is $7 and students must pay this and bring their permission slip by Monday, March 8th. Any parents that would like to chaperone are free of charge. Please just let me know if you would like to join us.

Friday, March 19 -- Skating Party -- a fundraiser for the 8th grade students attending the Japan trip in the Summer. Cost is $12 ($10 if you have your own skates). Students will leave at 12pm and return by 3:30pm. Money and permission slips are due by Wednesday, March 17.

** Please realize that students are not REQUIRED to attend any of these field trips. If there are behavior problems, individual students will stay back at the school with another teacher with work to do. Students that do not go on the Maple Syrup field trip will be given Science work to do in replace of the field trip since this is an academic field trip.

Any questions? Let me know...

Upcoming Field Trip

On March 15, 2010 (Monday), we will be going on a field trip to the University of Michigan - Dearborn. We will be working with "Maple Syrup Science" where the students will learn the process of making maple syrup and all the science that is involved. This is a partially outdoor field trip so students must wear old clothes -- jeans, sweatshirts, boots, etc. and they should also have necessary warm clothes such as gloves, hats, scarfs, warm coats, etc.

The cost of the field trip is $7 and it is due no later than Monday, March 8th.

We are looking for a couple parent volunteers, so if you would like to volunteer, please let me know by Friday, March 5th.

Finally, students will be required to bring their own bagged lunch since we will not be at school for the normal lunch time. If they normally get a school lunch and would like a bagged school lunch, I must be notified before Friday, March 5th as well.

Any questions?? Let me know...