Ms. Larkin

Junkyard Wars

To get students excited about 8th grade science, we spent the last week of school studying the basics of physics and Newton's Three Laws. Students put these laws into practice by competing in Junkyard Wars. Given a limited list of supplies, students created race cars, egg parachutes, and weight-bearing structures. On Thursday, May 24th, their contraptions were put to the test as they competed against other students for the title of Junkyard Warrior!

End of the Year

Here are a few pictures of our end of the year projects. The first set are of students picking through owl pellets...owl puke, not owl poop! Owls do not digest hair and bone so they compress these materials and spit them out at a later time. The skeletal remains allow us to study owl and rodent populations, such as which animals are prey in a given ecosystem, if a particular prey is in danger of becoming extinct, and the carrying capacity of a given habitat.

Homework

Complete Workbook 23-2 if you didn't finish it in class.

Jekyll Island Is Finally Here!

I am so excited about our trip to Jekyll Island because we are going to have a blast! Don't forget, be in Mabry's front parking lot by 5:30 AM on your day of departure. Do not park on the curb, as this is where the busses will pull up for loading. Remember Ms. Larkin's three most important items NOT TO FORGET: linens (bedding and towels), rain gear, and extra shoes!

Have you hugged and thanked your parents for allowing you to go on this amazing trip?

Test Thursday

As posted in class last week, students will be test this Thursday. The test will cover Chapter 22, as well as the first section of Chapter 23. There will be a study session on Thursday morning at 8:15.

Jekyll Meds

All Jekyll Island medications should have been turned in by now. This includes prescription or daily meds, as well as over-the-counter or "just in case" drugs such as Tylenol or Pepto-Bismol. If you did not pick up a medication form at our parent meeting, you may fill one out when you drop your student's meds off with the school nurse. The only medicines that may be carried with or stored by the student are those that are immediately necessary in an emergency situation, such as inhalers, EpiPens, and insulin, (parents must still submit a medication form for these items).

3rd and 4th period Only

If you did not finish your Chapter Assessment in class, you must finish it for homework over the weekend. Complete # 1-28, skip #16.

Roommate Requests

All roommate requests forms were due LAST Friday. Please be sure to have them in this week or you will be assigned to a room with an opening.

Ms. Larkin AND Mrs. Carroll's Students

If you did not do so in class, please be sure to complete all the questions from today's activity, How Many Bears Can Live In A Forest? Students should have also completed Day Two (#1-5) in their Ecosystem In A Bottle Activity.

Mrs. Carroll's Students

Please make sure you have completed questions 1-8 on your Ecosystem in a Bottle Lab, as well as your ecosystem poster/illustration. Your poster should be on unruled, computer paper and divided into quarters. Label each quarter as organism, population, community, and ecosystem and give an illustration that depicts the definition of the term. The poster should be colored.

Ms. Larkin's Students

Be sure to complete questions 1-8 on your Ecosystem in a Bottle Lab, the 22-1 Vocab & Review Packet, and Workbook 22-1.

Mrs. Carroll's Students

Many of you have already handed your assignments in to me, but please make sure you have completed and turned in the following assignments by Monday:

1. Monday: Section Review - Page 169
2. Monday: TellTale Molecule Lab Skills - Page 170 (should be in lab journal)
3. Monday: Chapter Assessment #17-22 and #25-28 - Pages 172 and 173
4. Tuesday & Wednesday: Geography Lab Activity (should be in lab journal)
5. Thursday: Chapter Five Study Guide
6. Friday: Section Review - Page 693

As I mentioned on the board today, I will collect, score, and record any missing assignments on Monday, as well as share your test grades with you. We will be moving ahead to Chapters 22-24 and begin our unit on Ecology. I will be teaching your class on Monday and am looking forward to exploring ecosystems, habitats, communities, populations, and organisms with you!

Finish Posters

If you didn't finish your assignment in class, be sure to finish your poster on organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystem. The poster should be labeled and colored.

Mrs. Carroll's Students Only

Mrs. Carroll's students will be tested on Chapter Five on Friday, February 9th. We will have a study session tomorrow morning at 8:15 for those students who are interested or have questions. Please check in at the Theater before coming to Ms. Larkin's room. Remember, all study guides that are complete and signed by a parent are worth five bonus points on your test.

Chapter Five Test

Chapter Five Test will be on Thursday, February 8th. There will be a study session at 8:15 on the day of the test. Students were able to pick up study guides last Friday. When completed and signed by the parent, the study guide is worth five bonus points.