This week, we had our water presentations. On Monday, we practiced them and added our final touches. Tuesday, we presented them. I thought that our presentation went really well. From listening to other presentations, I learned some interesting information. After all this work on these projects, I feel like I learned quite a bit of new information, but my position on what I believe still hasn't changed. I still think that students should bring their own reusable bottles or use bubblers. I don't like the idea of schools having to sell water bottles. I really enjoyed doing this project.
We also finished off our crystals in Science that we started a while ago. Some of the crystals grew a lot. I was surprised by that. It was really cool to look at them under a microscope. They looked really different.
We learned about our semester exam project. For this project, we have to combine some of the things we learned about in the three different subjects into one project. This sounds a little hard, and I am having some trouble coming up with an idea, but I think everything will get easier once I start the research. We are going to be working on this more when we get back from break.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Water Project Reflection
I thought that this project went well. I was very proud of my group for presenting as well as we did. I think we prepared ourselves well and found good information. I thought Mrs. Casetta and Mr. Wieczorek had good questions that challenged us. I was very happy with how everything went.
When doing this project, I never agreed with selling water bottles at school. I thought that our topic was hard to defend because almost all the websites we could find were against water bottles, but we ended up finding some information. Although, I did learn a lot by doing this project. I learned that bubblers are not very sanitary and good for the school to use. I never realized how many schools had problems with their water. Also, I never knew there was such thing as a corn water bottle until I talked to someone who worked at the Waukesha County Recycling Center. I thought the corn water bottle idea was very interesting. I didn't find many new facts about water bottles that aren't the obvious. I also learned information when listening to the other groups. It was good to hear all the sides that people could take. I found these presentations interesting.
I believe that it should be up to students what they want to do. Just like Mr. Wieczoreck said during the presentations, soon we are getting older and should be making our own choices. I personally would rather bring my own reusable bottle. After doing this research, interviewing, and watching the movie Tapped, I think that water bottles should not be advertised in school. I don't think they are good for the environment, but I do think we have the right to make our own decision whether it be plastic bottles, reusable bottles, or even soda.
When doing this project, I never agreed with selling water bottles at school. I thought that our topic was hard to defend because almost all the websites we could find were against water bottles, but we ended up finding some information. Although, I did learn a lot by doing this project. I learned that bubblers are not very sanitary and good for the school to use. I never realized how many schools had problems with their water. Also, I never knew there was such thing as a corn water bottle until I talked to someone who worked at the Waukesha County Recycling Center. I thought the corn water bottle idea was very interesting. I didn't find many new facts about water bottles that aren't the obvious. I also learned information when listening to the other groups. It was good to hear all the sides that people could take. I found these presentations interesting.
I believe that it should be up to students what they want to do. Just like Mr. Wieczoreck said during the presentations, soon we are getting older and should be making our own choices. I personally would rather bring my own reusable bottle. After doing this research, interviewing, and watching the movie Tapped, I think that water bottles should not be advertised in school. I don't think they are good for the environment, but I do think we have the right to make our own decision whether it be plastic bottles, reusable bottles, or even soda.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Personal Blog: 12/12-12/16
This week, we spent a lot of time working on our Tox Town Projects. First, we finished researching the projects and putting it all into a presentation. We have been practicing the project because we are presenting Tuesday. Also, we got some of our information from interviews. On Wednesday, Mr. Einweck, a person who oversees water in Hartland, came in. He talked to us about water, and we got to ask him questions. Also, on Thursday, eight of us got to go to the sewage place. They gave us a tour on the process. I learned a lot of things from that field trip, but I don't think any of that information will be helpful to our project. While we were gone, the other people in the class got to interview Mr. Libscomb. He is the building and grounds director for the school. Some of information Mr. Libscomb gave us will be helpful in our project. We also combined art into this project. We made a poster with our main points on a program that I had never used before. I really like the program, and hope we get to use it again. I look forward to presenting this project after we have spent a long time working on it.
In Science, we have been learning about atoms and the periodic table. We had a test on this on Friday. I didn't think the test was very hard. We learned all of this in 7th and 8th grade, but it is good to review it all, but we are learning some new things too that I didn't know. Hopefully, I did good on the test.
In Science, we have been learning about atoms and the periodic table. We had a test on this on Friday. I didn't think the test was very hard. We learned all of this in 7th and 8th grade, but it is good to review it all, but we are learning some new things too that I didn't know. Hopefully, I did good on the test.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Personal Blog: 12/5-12/9
It was a busy week in ILA. Many activities were planned for us. We did a lot of work for Science and Social Studies. We also did some work for English and Art.
This week in art, we finished up our videos. I thought our video was pretty good, but I thought if we were given more time we could have included a lot more information. We also glazed our crystal boxes. I am happy with the way mine looks. I've never been very artistic, and I never thought it would turn out that good. Also, we started doing a poster to present with our Social Studies project. The program we are using is really cool. I never used it before, but I really like it and it is a lot of fun. I hope we get to use it again.
On Tuesday, we took a walk to the Bark River. At the Bark River, we did the water tests that we have been doing for Science. Also, we filled a milk jug with water. Everyone had to carry it back to school. Doing that was suppose to show us what it is like for people who live in different countries that have to do that every day. I would not like to do that every day. It was heavy to carry back, and it would be hard to do that for a longer walk or all the time. I am very thankful that we live in a place where we do not need to walk a far distance to get water.
We have been working on our Social Studies project. For my group, the Water Bottle Association, we have most of our information, but our presentation is not 8 minutes yet. We also need to do our outline. Next week, we are interviewing different people to find more information. I think that will be exciting to find out information directly from people who work in the community. I am looking forward to finishing this project.
This week in art, we finished up our videos. I thought our video was pretty good, but I thought if we were given more time we could have included a lot more information. We also glazed our crystal boxes. I am happy with the way mine looks. I've never been very artistic, and I never thought it would turn out that good. Also, we started doing a poster to present with our Social Studies project. The program we are using is really cool. I never used it before, but I really like it and it is a lot of fun. I hope we get to use it again.
On Tuesday, we took a walk to the Bark River. At the Bark River, we did the water tests that we have been doing for Science. Also, we filled a milk jug with water. Everyone had to carry it back to school. Doing that was suppose to show us what it is like for people who live in different countries that have to do that every day. I would not like to do that every day. It was heavy to carry back, and it would be hard to do that for a longer walk or all the time. I am very thankful that we live in a place where we do not need to walk a far distance to get water.
We have been working on our Social Studies project. For my group, the Water Bottle Association, we have most of our information, but our presentation is not 8 minutes yet. We also need to do our outline. Next week, we are interviewing different people to find more information. I think that will be exciting to find out information directly from people who work in the community. I am looking forward to finishing this project.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Personal Blog: 11/28-12/2
We did many things in ILA this week. In art, we worked on our videos about this class. I really liked this project. It was fun to look back and see what we did so far this year. The only thing I didn't like, was I thought we weren't given enough time. I felt a little rushed. Hopefully, next time we do a project, we will be given more time.
In Science, we have been testing different types of water. We tested some things like hardness, ph, and for different chemicals. Testing water ties in with what we are doing for Social Studies. In Social Studies, we are in groups of three for this project. We each got a different "association" about water in school, and we have to give a presentation about what we support. I like how in Science and Social Studies we are doing things separate, but they are related. Also, we started to learn about the Periodic Table, and atoms. Most of what we are doing with that right now is a review from last year, so it is not that hard.
In English, we finished up with Of Mice and Men. I really enjoyed reading this book. Before I read it, I never knew how many inequalities there were in the 30's. Also, I didn't realize how they were treated and discriminated against. I look forward to reading another book in English.
On Friday, we watched the movie for Of Mice and Men. We didn't finish the movie yet, but what we saw so far I thought was very similar to the book. There were only a few parts that were different. I thought the movie was good, but I liked the book better.
In Science, we have been testing different types of water. We tested some things like hardness, ph, and for different chemicals. Testing water ties in with what we are doing for Social Studies. In Social Studies, we are in groups of three for this project. We each got a different "association" about water in school, and we have to give a presentation about what we support. I like how in Science and Social Studies we are doing things separate, but they are related. Also, we started to learn about the Periodic Table, and atoms. Most of what we are doing with that right now is a review from last year, so it is not that hard.
In English, we finished up with Of Mice and Men. I really enjoyed reading this book. Before I read it, I never knew how many inequalities there were in the 30's. Also, I didn't realize how they were treated and discriminated against. I look forward to reading another book in English.
On Friday, we watched the movie for Of Mice and Men. We didn't finish the movie yet, but what we saw so far I thought was very similar to the book. There were only a few parts that were different. I thought the movie was good, but I liked the book better.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Personal Blog: 11/20-11/23
We started a new project in art. We are making a video about this class to show the 8th graders so they know what this class is for next year. I am working with Breanna and Lauren. We have some good ideas, and we have already started our video. I think that this project is really cool. I like making videos.
We continued to read Of Mice and Men this week. I finished the book. I found it very interesting, but I thought the ending was very sad. This book did not turn out the way I expected at all! It really helped me understand the book by highlighting and doing the pages on Google Docs. I also thought the quizzes I took so far were easy. Hopefully the other two I have to take are easy as well.
We worked on our "Think Globally, Act Locally" unit in Social Studies. I thought learning about some of the uses of rivers was interesting. I never knew that they were so important, and I never realized that they have a big role in our daily lives. After this short break, we will be starting a project for this. I am curious as to what it will be.
On Wednesday, we presented our Science skits. I thought, for the most part, our skit went well. Unfortunately, one of our group members was sick, so we had to find someone to fill our place. The bad part about some of these skits were that I couldn't hear people. They were to quiet. Now, we have to write a paragraph about all the different scientists. Hopefully it won't be too hard. It might be a little difficult to do since they were hard to hear, but I'll make do with the information I have.
We continued to read Of Mice and Men this week. I finished the book. I found it very interesting, but I thought the ending was very sad. This book did not turn out the way I expected at all! It really helped me understand the book by highlighting and doing the pages on Google Docs. I also thought the quizzes I took so far were easy. Hopefully the other two I have to take are easy as well.
We worked on our "Think Globally, Act Locally" unit in Social Studies. I thought learning about some of the uses of rivers was interesting. I never knew that they were so important, and I never realized that they have a big role in our daily lives. After this short break, we will be starting a project for this. I am curious as to what it will be.
On Wednesday, we presented our Science skits. I thought, for the most part, our skit went well. Unfortunately, one of our group members was sick, so we had to find someone to fill our place. The bad part about some of these skits were that I couldn't hear people. They were to quiet. Now, we have to write a paragraph about all the different scientists. Hopefully it won't be too hard. It might be a little difficult to do since they were hard to hear, but I'll make do with the information I have.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Personal Blog: 11/14-11/18
Monday, we had a Science quiz and an English quiz. I thought the English quiz was really easy. It was on short story terms. I had already learned all those terms in 7th grade, so I didn't have to study too much. The Science quiz wasn't easy, but it too hard. I retook the quiz on Friday. I think I did better that time.
Most of the week, we had work time on the doing the Social Studies project, reading Of Mice and Men, and working on the science skit. For Social Studies, we had a discussion on the budget. I had to reduce the budget by 20%. It took me a long time to do that, but it was a good challenge. We also had a quiz this week on geography terms. I thought the quiz was very easy.
I am really enjoying reading Of Mice and Men. I think it is very interesting. I never really knew a lot about that time period, so it is interesting to read about it. The quizzes that we are taking for this book have been very easy so far. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book and finding out what happens.
We have finished our rough draft for our Science skit. I think it is coming along well, but I am nervous for when we have to present it. Some of the research was hard, but once we finished the research, almost everything else was easy. Hopefully our skits go well.
In art, we finished the structure and design of our crystal 3D figures. I think they look very cool. It was very fun to make. I really like to make things out of clay. I think that it will be fun to glaze them after they are fired. Hopefully, it will look very cool when the whole figure is done.
I really liked this week that we got mostly work time. I got most of my work done. It was good to have the freedom to work on what we wanted most of the time. Before the Social Studies test, we could chose if we wanted to go to the study session. I liked that we got that choice. I hope that future weeks are like this.
Most of the week, we had work time on the doing the Social Studies project, reading Of Mice and Men, and working on the science skit. For Social Studies, we had a discussion on the budget. I had to reduce the budget by 20%. It took me a long time to do that, but it was a good challenge. We also had a quiz this week on geography terms. I thought the quiz was very easy.
I am really enjoying reading Of Mice and Men. I think it is very interesting. I never really knew a lot about that time period, so it is interesting to read about it. The quizzes that we are taking for this book have been very easy so far. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book and finding out what happens.
We have finished our rough draft for our Science skit. I think it is coming along well, but I am nervous for when we have to present it. Some of the research was hard, but once we finished the research, almost everything else was easy. Hopefully our skits go well.
In art, we finished the structure and design of our crystal 3D figures. I think they look very cool. It was very fun to make. I really like to make things out of clay. I think that it will be fun to glaze them after they are fired. Hopefully, it will look very cool when the whole figure is done.
I really liked this week that we got mostly work time. I got most of my work done. It was good to have the freedom to work on what we wanted most of the time. Before the Social Studies test, we could chose if we wanted to go to the study session. I liked that we got that choice. I hope that future weeks are like this.
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