Meet the Science Teachers

Friday, September 27, 2019

Blake Curriculum Update

Grade 6 began the year challenging the idea of a stereotypical scientist,
encouraging students to find real scientists who “break the mold” as we
work to develop the idea that they are all scientists in our classrooms.

Students are beginning to focus on their own learning profiles as they identify the
strengths they each bring with them to the classroom.
With this scientific in place, students are beginning to learn how we measure and
categorize our world with explorations of matter, including measuring mass on
triple beam balances!

   

In seventh grade science, we began the year investigating magnetism and
electricity through station work which allowed students to investigate concepts
and move through the content at their own pace.  While exploring how magnets
interact with different materials, students also worked on collaboration
and investigation skills along with an emphasis on safety in the lab.
Students built an electromagnet and discussed the differences between permanent
and temporary magnets.  They also examined fields that exist around electrically
charged particles while studying the effect of distance and magnitude on both
electric and magnetic fields.
Our next unit of study is Potential and Kinetic Energy.


Grade 8 science students began the year creating lab safety science videos. 
This was followed by our first unit in the Earth and Space Science category.
Students reviewed phases of the moon eclipses and learned about tides and their
relationship to the moon, sun, and gravity.  Currently, students are exploring gravity
and its impact on the orbits of planets, moons and other objects using interactives
on the iPad. Our Intro to Engineering students have begun to design, construct and
assemble their Solar Cars.  We can't wait to see their final iteration!!!

  Gravity and Orbits                               Solar Car
     

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Summer Fun for Blake Science teachers!

How did our Blake Science Teachers spend their summer?

The 6th-grade team (Marjorie Heim, Kelly Ruminski, and Meghan Thress) met to work on the
curriculum map matching up the standards with 6th-grade science skills and activities.
Ms. Thress then spent the summer in Maine reading, boating and watching her kids sail.
Her own children started their senior and sophomore years in high school. 
Mrs. Ruminski welcomed her second baby in March and was home this summer with
both her children. They traveled to Colorado and Cape Cod and enjoyed adjusting to being a family
of four!
The 7th-grade team (Kristin Buley, Juli Dalzell and Judy Silva) met to work on a new curriculum map, which organized the standards and activities that achieve those standards.
They also identified benchmarks for each of the science and engineering practices to measure student growth. 
Mrs. Buley enjoyed family time with her son, Cooper (5), and her daughter, Ellie (2).
They traveled to York, ME, Cincinnati, OH, and Cape Cod. Everyone was thrilled to
enjoy the beach and explore new places.
Mrs. Dalzell had an exciting summer of travel with her family!  After a Caribbean cruise, she
traveled to Switzerland to visit cousins.  Swiss travel included trips to Gruyere and Geneva,
as well as Yvoire, France!  Mrs. Dalzell’s oldest son completed his first year working in NYC
(digital forensics and cybersecurity) and her daughter is an education major as a senior at
Roger Williams University. Her 17-year-old twin sons started their junior year at Tri-County
in the HVAC shop.  
Mrs. Silva split her time between Massachusetts and Maine this summer. While in
Massachusetts she spent time in her gardens maintaining her wildlife habitats.
In Maine, she enjoyed family time on the lake and continued her role as a shoreline steward
on Kezar Lake. Nature’s Classroom organization and Science curriculum work
filled her summer rainy days. 
The 8th-grade team (Mike Gibbs, Jason Heim, and Jillian Shaw) had a wonderful summer
filled with family! Mrs. Shaw spent most of her time with her family and friends at Dorothy Pond
since many family members came from out of state for the summer. Mrs. Shaw also spent
some time working on the Advisory R and D team. 
Mr. Gibbs spent the summer boating and beaching with his kids Jess and Rachael who began grades 11 and 8. Mr. Heim along with his wife Marjorie (6th-grade science teacher) worked at Pilgrim Day Camp for a few weeks this summer while their kids were campers there. They also had a few weeks to enjoy Burden Lake NY while seeing some family and friends.