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Ms. Haupt, Science C

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Science - March/April

Parents and guardians,
Students are continuing to learn about weather and climate.  Students just finished their weather broadcast skit.  We will finilize this work week with a socratic seminar on global warming.
Spring break begins next week.  I hope students have a relaxing time away from school. 
CMAS is right around the corner.  CMAS is a wonderful opportunity for students to show their growth over the year.  Encourage your student to do their best.  It is also important that students have a good nights sleep and eat breakfast each testing morning.  The school will provide cheese sticks to help provide protein for our students and mints to help keep their mind stimulated. 
 
We will return with forensics as our final unit of the year.

Science - February - Weather and Climate

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you're enjoing this warmer weather! In the upcoming weeks, your child will be diving deep into some exciting and essential science concepts that will not only help them understand the world around them but also prepare them for future scientific inquiry. Here's a recap of the standards we will be focusing on in class:

MS-ESS2-5: Weather Patterns and Air Masses

In this unit, we will explore how air masses and their complex interactions lead to changes in weather. Your child will learn how air masses move from regions of high pressure to low pressure, and how these movements affect weather patterns such as temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. We’ll also examine how sudden weather changes occur when different air masses collide. Through weather maps, diagrams, and possibly even laboratory experiments, students will develop an understanding of how weather can be predicted within a range of probabilities. Key concepts include:

  • Air masses and their movement
  • How weather changes due to air mass interactions
  • Predicting weather based on data

MS-ESS2-6: Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation

In this section, students will develop a model to explain how the unequal heating of Earth’s surface, combined with the rotation of the planet, creates patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation. They’ll investigate how factors like latitude, altitude, and geographic features impact local and regional climates. Your child will learn about the Coriolis effect and how it influences prevailing winds and ocean currents. This unit will include diagrams and maps to help visualize these global systems. Key concepts include:

  • Unequal heating and its impact on climate
  • The Coriolis effect and atmospheric circulation
  • Ocean currents and their role in climate

MS-ESS3-5: Factors Affecting Global Temperatures

In this unit, we’ll ask students to explore the evidence behind the rise in global temperatures over the past century. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and analyze data that shows the role human activities (like burning fossil fuels, industrial processes, and agriculture) and natural processes (such as solar radiation and volcanic activity) have in influencing Earth's temperature. Using data such as tables, graphs, and temperature maps, your child will investigate how these factors have contributed to global warming. Key concepts include:

  • The rise in global temperatures and its causes
  • Human vs. natural factors in climate change
  • Analyzing temperature data

What’s Coming Up?

Over the next few weeks, students will engage in hands-on experiments, participate in group discussions, and use technology to explore weather patterns, climate models, and climate change data. We encourage you to engage in conversations with your child about the concepts they’re learning and ask them to share their observations and findings.

If you have any questions about the standards or what’s happening in class, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are excited for the learning ahead and look forward to an enriching experience for your child!

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Haupt

Science week of a January 13

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing break.

As we begin Quarter 3, students are concluding their planetary presentations this week. Following this, they will investigate fascinating planetary phenomena happening this month. This research will inspire them as they develop their own comic strip stories, combining creativity with scientific inquiry.

Be sure to check out the Advocacy post for more detailed information about upcoming events and activities in January and February. We have an exciting few months ahead, and we appreciate your continued support.

Thank you for being a part of your child's learning journey!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Haupt

Science Week of December 2-6

Dear Parents,

We are excited to share that our new science unit, "Soar System," is officially underway! Over the next several weeks, students will be exploring the wonders of our solar system, delving into the fascinating patterns that govern the movements and interactions of celestial bodies.

Throughout this unit, students will engage in a variety of hands-on activities that encourage them to observe, analyze, and understand the patterns within our solar system. We will explore topics such as the orbits of planets, the phases of the moon, and the relationships between the Earth, Sun, and other planets. Students will also discover how scientists study these patterns using both telescopes and data from space missions.

Our weekly lessons will focus on encouraging students to develop a deeper understanding of the science behind the solar system through interactive and inquiry-based learning. Some activities will include:

  • Modeling the movement of planets around the Sun and observing orbital patterns.
  • Tracking moon phases and understanding how they relate to the Earth’s rotation.
  • Investigating the role of gravity in the solar system and how it affects planetary motion.

These hands-on lessons are designed to engage students in real-world science, fostering their curiosity and critical thinking skills. As part of the unit, we will also discuss how patterns in the solar system influence phenomena such as eclipses and seasons.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering your child’s love for science. We look forward to an exciting journey through the solar system this month!

Additional information to be aware of:

8th Grade students will be on a field trip Thursday.

Late work is due Dec. 11 and final grades will be posted Dec. 13.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Haupt

Science Week of Nov 4 - Nov 8

8th grade students are continuing to explore force and motion.  Students will design an investigation using paper airplanes and identify forces acting on flight.  Students will take it a step further and incorporate variables to their investigation.
 
Field Trip Tuesday.

Science Week of Oct 28- Nov 1

Students are studying Newton's Laws of Motion.  We will be preparing for an upcoming lab and students may be looking around the house for things to contribute to their plan.  I welcome parents/guardians to inquire with students about what they are learning in science.  Ask them about the different laws.  The more they communicate and think about science concepts, the more they will retain the knowledge.  Continue to check IC for grades updates.
Mrs. Haupt

Science Week of October 14-18

Hello Westgate Families,
This week students will complete their waves PPT project that was started prior to leaving for break and then students will begin the Forces and Motion Unit.
 
I hope all students had a wonderful fall break.
 
Refer to the Advocacy October post for information regarding our upcoming field trip.
Mrs. Haupt

Science Week of Sept 23-27

This week in science, students are continuing to explore wave energy - specifically seismic waves caused by earthquakes.  Students will explore structural significance of the Forbidden City in China and how the structures have withstood earthquakes over the years through shake table simmulations conducted by scientists.  Students will explore how seismic waves are formed, analyze and compare data. 
 
Students have a 1/2 day on Thursday and no school on Friday to accommodate parent/teacher conferences.
 
Students will be introduced to the Advocacy Color Games this week.  Color Games is a healthy competition between the advocacy classes and an opportunity to show their RISE and self awareness skills.

WEEKLY SCIENCE UPDATE
This week 8th grade students are continuing to study the energy of waves.  They willl begin a project to connect s waves to seismic activity.  Students will explore earthquakes and engage in a hands on simulation in which they test to see if their structure can withstand a simulated earthquake.
 
Be on the lookout; you will receive an email Monday at 4:00PM with conference details.  All missing work is due Wednesday.
 
Mrs. Haupt

September 3-6

We are continuing to work through the Energy standards this week, wrapping up with understanding the relationships among energy transfered, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy measured by the temperature of the sample.  Students will engage in lab activities to help them form explanations of phenomena they observe. 
Final assessment for the Energy Unit will be conducted in the following week.
 

August 19-23

Students are continuing to explore ptential, kinetic and thermal energy transfer and how different variables will effect temperature.  
 
Students will complete an assessment this week to measure their proficiency in understanding kinetic and potential energy.

Week of Aug 12-16

This week in science we are reviewing the Science and Engineering Process and exploring Potential and Kinetic Energy.  Students conducted a lab last week and they are practicing data analysis and looking for patterns in data so connections can be made.  Students are also completing an interactive potential and kinetic energy stations lab (PPT).