Scientific Thoughts

                   

                 Last year, I taught fifth and sixth grade math and science. It was my first time preparing students for the Common Core Standardized Tests. Unfortunately, my school I was teaching at last year closed and I started at a new school this year in Queens. This year, I was asked to teach something a little different. I am only certified up to sixth grade and I was asked to teach fifth through eighth grade science. As much as I love science, I find it challenging to learn the seventh and eighth grade curriculum (especially the eighth). However, I seem to be doing well. 

                   In all of my classes (fifth through eighth), we began the school year talking about the steps scientists take during an experiment called the scientific method. Since the scientific method is used in every laboratory  assignment, it is the most important concept my students will use for the rest of their science careers. Currently my fifth and seventh graders are learning about classification of living organisms. In my sixth and eight grade classes, we are learning about matter; however, sixth grade matter is very different from eighth grade matter. I never realized how much I loved teaching science until this year, but hopefully next year I can teach at a school in closer proximity to my house!

Vocabulary

1. Certify (certified)- (verb) To say someone is qualified for a job.

2. Challenge (challenging)- (adjective) Difficult.

3. Curriculum- (noun) Courses taught by schools.

4. Experiment- (noun) A scientific test.

5. Scientific Method- (noun) A series of steps to take in doing a scientific test.

6. Laboratory- (noun) A place where experiments are done.

7. Assignment- (verb) A job given to someone.

8. Career (careers)- (noun) Years in school.

9. Realize (realized)- (verb) To understand something.

10. Proximity- (noun) To be near or close.

Vocabulary Exercise

Directions: Unscramble the vocabulary words 

1. hodtem tenicsific                 _________________

2. taorbalory                             _________________

3. fcyerti                                   _________________

4. mulucirurc                            _________________ 

5. ssgimntean                            _________________

6. acrere                                    _________________

7. zlieear                                   _________________

8. yprtoixmi                               _________________

9. egneclhla                               _________________

10. tnemierpex                          _________________

Grammar Point and Exercise

Let's practice changing the verb" to be" in the past tense.  

I was                      we were

you were                you were

he/she was              they were

it was  

For example: This is an easy exercise.          

                     This was an easy exercise. 

Directions: Change to the past tense; write the correct form of the verb in the blanks.

1. She is a good artist.                        

    ___________________________.

2. Christina and Lisa are good scientists.  

    ___________________________.

3. I am very tired.  

   ___________________________.

4. The experiments are fun.  

    __________________________.

5. There is a drop of water on this table.  

     __________________________.

6. Nick and Gina are in the same lab group.

    __________________________.

7. There is a paper on the lab table.

    __________________________.

8. The two stores are open.

    __________________________.

9. Ms. Gagliardo is our teacher.

    __________________________.

10. There are many students in our school lab. 

      _________________________.