Science Fair

Welcome back from Spring Break!!! We hope you had a wonderful week with your children. We are glad to have them back :)




This is the week that Science Fair is due. Please have your display boards in to me (Ms. Whalen) by Wednesday morning. I will then choose the top 5 and give those to Mr. Kosten. He will then decide the top three.



All the Science Fair posters from the school will be on display Friday night in the gym. You and your young scientist are welcome to come from 6-7 PM to look through all the hard work done K-8th grade. Students are welcome to come a bit early if they need time to set-up their work- IE: perform an experiment for others to see.




Please let me know if you have any questions.
Ms. Whalen

Math camps for Summertime

The amazing Ms. Maurello, our math guru, has put together a list of ideas that are math based for summer camps.

Colorado Academy Summer Camps

Offer a variety of day/overnight camps. At the link, choose the appropriate grade level and you can peruse the different options.

http://coloradoacademysummer.mycustomevent.com/ShoppingCart.aspx?com=productlist&grade=3

Count Me In Math Camp for Girls

June-August Program for girls is a place to practice, create and compete in math in an engaging and supportive setting. Cost: varies. Age range: 6-12; 303-564-6512, e-mail: info@countmeinmath.com, website: countmeinmath.com

 Mind Craft Math

June 9-June 13 Students will work through Common Core Math problems through gaming (specifically Minecraft Math) and problem-based learning. Cost: $135. Age range: 7-11; 200 Quebec St. Bldg 600 #218, Denver, CO 80230; 303-364-9581, e-mail: bglanex@gmail.com, website: exllearning.com

Academy Adventures

June 16-July 25 Classes include computers, rockets, recreation, cooking, academics and performance arts. Cost: $399 for two weeks. Age range: 5-13; 4545 S. University Blvd., Englewood, CO 80210; 303-783-6217, e-mail: smayfield@smanet.org, website: smanet.org

Beyond Calculus: An Intro to Pure Mathematics for the Young

June 16- 20 Honors math students in middle or in high school will learn the basics of number theory, real analysis and linear algebra. Prerequisite: Algebra 1 and student also must pass an honors math exam. Cost: $275. Age range: 10-19; 1250 14th St., Denver, CO 80202; 720-239-2252, e-mail: mathpioneers@gmail.com, website: mathpioneersignite.org

Bits, Bytes & Bots

June 9-July 25 Build /program LEGO robots; program a computer game, make stop-motion movies; make computer animation. Cost: $285 per session. Age range: 6-14; 4085 Lark Sparrow St., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126; 303-841-4411, e-mail: denversouth@bitsbytesbots.com, website: denverco.bitsbytesbots.com

Brain Ingenuity

June 2-Aug. 1 Programs uses results-driven exercises that specialize in attention, organization, study skills, memory, math, ACT/SAT prep. and reading skills. Cost: varies. Age range: 8-18; , Highlands Ranch, CO 80124; 303-649-2225, e-mail: bdmcgrane@comcast.net, website: brainingenuity.com

 

Colorado Academy Programs

June 9-Aug. 1 Mix and match all programs for your camper. Traditional activities are offered along with academics. Extended care, bus service, swimming lessons, and lunch available. Cost: Camps start at $120. Age range: 5-16; 3800 S. Pierce St., Denver, CO 80235; 303-914-2531, e-mail: summer.programs@coloradoacademy.org, website: coloradoacademysummer.org

COMPUTER EXPLORERS TechStars STEM Summer Camps

June 2-Aug. 8 The complex world of technology is simplified by connecting science, technology, engineering, math and the arts. Classes include engineering, photography, video game programming, Minecraft, EV3 and more. Cost: varies. Age range: 5-14; 12650 W. 64TH Ave #E209, Arvada, CO 80004; 877-266-7859, e-mail: info@cedenver.com, website: cedenver.com

TCAP testing

If you are able to supply a healthy snack for TCAP, we would really appreciate it!!!
Some examples might me cutie oranges, cheese sticks, go-gurts, small water bottles.
Thank you!!!

Study guide for Social Studies Quiz –

March17^th Ms. Wetzel’s Homeroom

March 18^th Ms. Whalen’s Homeroom

 

During the Ice Age, Beringia was the land bridge that connected Asia with North American. These people that lived there were hunters and gatherers. One animal they hunted was the wooly mammoth.

 

The Inuits live in Canada near the Artic Ocean.

 

The Mound Builders lived in the Midwest and may have been killed by diseases from the Europeans.

 

The Anasazi lived in cliff dwellings, high above the ground, to protect themselves from their enemies. 

A note from Mr G. and us!

Top Ten Reasons Not to Miss the HA Auction

10. Cheap babysitting! Kids’ Adventures providing childcare at HA for only $5.00 per child (younger siblings are welcome), includes pizza for dinner and they can come in or bring pj’s

9. You can invite family, friends and neighbors to join the fun

8. Great food – cash bar

7. Something for every budget

6. Great deals

5. Opportunity to socialize with your kid’s friend’s parents and teachers

4. Attire is blue jeans to ball gowns we don’t care as long as you are dressed

3. Biggest fundraiser of the year

2. Money used to support performance groups & update technology

1. It’s REALLY FUN

Please, please, come to support our school!!!

Hope to see you there.

Get your tickets and learn more at the below link.  

http://www.highlineacademy.org/southeast-campus/auction/

Upcoming Science Assessment

Astronomy test study guide

The Astronomy unit test will be on Thursday, February 20^th for Ms. Whalen’s class and Friday, February 21^st for Ms. Wetzel’s class.

One theory that scientists believe is that the universe was created with a “Big Bang”. There are other theories about how the universe was created.

Our universe is so large, it is beyond imagination. It continues to get bigger all the time.

 Ptolemy believed that our solar system revolved around the Earth. This was believed until Copernicus (scaredy cat) published his book, right before he died, that stated we were heliocentric (sun centered).

We live in the Milky Way galaxy. Milky Way galaxy is a spiral galaxy. There is a massive black hole in the middle of our galaxy, but our solar system is on the far outside edge and therefore we are in no danger. Other types of galaxies are barred, elliptical, and irregular.

A star is a huge hot ball of glowing gasses. When a star dies it implodes creating a supernova. Black holes are created when a star with enough mass dies. The mass of the star packs into a dense ball but its weight is the same. This causes an extreme pull of gravity. Anything that comes close will be pulled in. Nothing can escape its pull and black holes never die.  

Our sun is the star that gives us light and heat. Life would not be possible without our sun.

It takes the Earth 365 days to revolve around the sun (one year). It takes the Earth 24 hours to rotate on its axis (one day).

Gravity is the force that holds our universe together. Gravity keeps our planets in their oval orbits around the sun. The amount of mass something has determines how much pull its gravity has: The heavier the planet/star/moon, the stronger the pull of gravity.

Our nine planets orbit around the sun (eight planets and one dwarf planet). My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. The inner planets are the rocky planets. Past the asteroid belt, we have the gas planets. Pluto is an icy ball, but classified as a rocky dwarf planet.

There are other things that orbit around our sun such as asteroids and comets. A comet is a ball of ice, dust and gas. As it gets closer to the sun it speeds up and begins to melt. As it melts, the solar winds of the sun create a “tail” on the comet. When we see a comet, the light is seen for days or a week at a time. A meteor is space dust. As this dust enters our atmosphere the friction creates a spark that we might call a “shooting star”. The spark only last a few seconds. There are two times of year when meteor showers happen: August and November. An asteroid is a large chunk of rocky material in space. There is a large collection of asteroids orbiting the sun between the Jupiter and Mars called the asteroid belt.

An eclipse occurs when something blocks the view of something else in space. A lunar eclipse is when the view of the moon is blocked by the shadow of the Earth: Sun, Earth, Moon. A Solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks our view (perspective) of the Sun: Sun, Moon, Earth.

Constellations are groups of stars that create a picture. Constellations are used as a map of the sky. Explorers used the North Star to help guide them. Constellations appear to move as we travel through our season because we are revolving around the sun. Because of this, some early societies used the constellations as a calendar. The northern and southern hemispheres of Earth can see different constellations.

Ms. Whalen's room Classroom project for the Auction

Hello all!


Heather Knight has graciously come up with a plan for our classroom creation to be sold at this year's auction. We are going to be using an Ikea lamp that is assembled together like a puzzle and having the students write their names and an inspirational quote that is from our REACH lessons. We will be doing this project this upcoming Friday!!!!


YIKES- that means we need your help ASAP. Please send in $2, if you can, to cover your child's portion of the class project.


Thank you so much!!!
Tara Whalen