Topographic Maps

KWBAT analyze topographic maps to determine land features.

Finished your practice? Check your work on the checkpoint above!

Take today's exit ticket here!

Natural Disasters News Report

You will be writing a news broadcast as if you were reporting on a natural disaster. Your broadcast must include:

a.     What the disaster was

b.     Where the disaster occurred

c.     What the damage was (i.e. how many people died or were injured, destruction to buildings, etc.)

d.     Why it occurred (What forces in nature caused the disaster)

e.     How this disaster can be measured

f.      How this disaster can be predicted

g.     What safety measures can be taken to protect yourself

Please read the example below for an idea of what is expected:

Good morning, Houston!

I am live on the scene following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. This is certainly one of the most destructive hurricanes in the last 10 years. The storm developed in the Gulf of Mexico. The Category 1 Hurricane crossed southern Florida causing some flooding before returning back into the warm Gulf water. Once in the Gulf, the storm strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane and hit land in southeast Louisiana with wind gusts up to 173 mph.

The Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale measures hurricanes by categories, with Category 1 being the weakest storms and Category 5 the strongest storms.

The city of New Orleans was particularly hit due to the storm surge that cause severe flooding. More than 80% of the city was underwater for weeks. Close to 90% of Mississippi beachfront towns were destroyed.

The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for southeastern Louisiana before the storm hit. Once the National Hurricane Center received word that the storm was growing in strength, voluntary and mandatory evacuations were issued for large areas of southeast Louisiana. Those who were escaping the storm fleed to nearby Houston, Georgia and surrounding states.

This storm was devastating. At least 1,833 people died in the hurricane and subsequent floods. The total property damage totaled $108 billion. The reconstruction of some towns hit by Hurricane Katrina are still in progress today.  As we endure this tragedy, be prepared for future storms by having an evacuation plan in place.

In order to research, check out these links.

Great descriptions of Natural Disasters from National Geographic: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/

Deadliest Natural Disasters of the Last Decade: http://www.weather.com/news/deadliest-natural-disasters-20131112

Five of the Worst Natural Disasters in 2013: http://www.worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/2013-top-natural-disasters

Unit 3 Test Tracking

KWBAT complete common assessment and track mastery on the Unit 3 test.

1. READ THIS FIRST: Today, you will check your answers on the Unit 3 test by entering the answer you marked on your test into Exittix.com. You put a check or an "X" over the question based on whether you answered correctly or incorrectly. See below for an example.

2. Click on the links below to answer the questions based on the question on your test. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE TEST QUESTION NUMBER.

7.5A Photosynthesis -  http://www.exittix.com/UnQ9cf6b6dd2493f75

7.5B Cycling of Matter - http://www.exittix.com/UnQ4462074c2c265dc

7.5C Energy Flow - http://www.exittix.com/UnQ83f83cfc8940158

7.7B Energy Transfer - http://www.exittix.com/UnQd68efe61f2ffe7b

3. Transfer your mastery percentages for each of the 4 objectives into your SCIENCE mastery tracker. This score should be written in the TEST column.

4. Silently walk to the back of the classroom to get your science binder and transfer Unit 3 materials (classwork, lifework, quizzes) into your science binder.

5. Complete the pre-work/lifework on catastrophic events. You can find the lifework by clicking the LIFEWORK tab at the top of the blog.

Station 3

Step 1: You will register for STEMscopes today. After clicking here, complete the information as shown below.

First Name: Your first name
Last name: Your last name
SIS ID: Your SBISD username
Grade Level: 7th grade
Email: (Leave blank)
Username: Your SBISD username
Password: Your lunch number

Step 2: Complete the assigned challenges on STEMScopes.

Step 3: Race against the clock with the vocabulary on Quizlet here.

KWBAT explain the cycling of matter in the Carbon Cycle.

Step 1: Watch a video of the Carbon Cycle on StudyJams here. Don't be afraid to watch the video twice to make sure you understand! Next, complete the quiz here.

Step 2: Complete the practice on your paper.

Step 3: Check your answers at the Checkpoint at the top of the page. If you correctly answered 8 or more questions, proceed to Step 4. If you correctly answered 7 or less questions, raise your hand to ask Ms. Robinson for help :)

Step 4: Complete the Carbon Cycle writing and diagram.

Check out the new LIFEWORK tab above to find your lifework for tonight, October 8th!

Unit 3: Nitrogen Cycle

KWBAT explain the cycling of matter in the Nitrogen Cycle.

Step 1: Watch the StudyJams video on the Nitrogen Cycle here. When you are finished watching the video, complete the "Test Yourself" quiz.

Step 2: Read the key points of today's lesson below.

• Nitrogen is important to living things because plants and animals use it to make protein, which allows plants and animals to live and grow.
• Plants and animals cannot use nitrogen in gas form.
• Bacteria in soil "fix" nitrogen gas by turning it in to usable nitrogen compounds.
• Plants absorb the usable compounds in the soil.
• Humans and animals eat plants to get nitrogen.
• When plants and animals die, bacteria and decomposers release nitrogen from their body back into the atmosphere.

Step 3: Answer the practice questions on your paper.

Step 4: Check your work at the "Checkpoint" tab above.

Step 5: Create your own nitrogen cycle diagram. Your diagram MUST include:

• A picture of one producer
• A picture of one consumer
• Bacteria
• Steps explaining how nitrogen is cycled in the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen Cycle Lifework

Watch the video here on the Nitrogen Cycle then complete your lifework notes. Don't forget! Your lifework tonight has TWO sides.

Decomposers and Composting

Decomposers and Composting

Finished with practice? Log in to Exittix.com to complete your exit ticket for today. Then proceed to the last page in your packet.

Watch the video below on America's Landfills:
America's Landfills

Then, watch this video on the benefits of composting:
Benefits of Composting video

Looking for places to conduct your research on composting? Try these!
Facts about Waste
Environmental Protection Agency

Decomposer Lifework

For tonight's lifework, please watch the video below and complete the notes on decomposers

Decomposers LW video

Energy Pyramid Lifework

In order to prepare for Monday's lesson on energy pyramids, watch the video here AND take notes on your paper as you watch.

Note: The lifework paper you received on Thursday looks like the one below.

Food Webs - Day 2

KWBAT describe the transfer of energy in food webs.

Goal: By the end of the class, 100% of students will complete 100% of tasks at an exemplar level. Look around the room for examples of EXEMPLAR work :)

Step 1: Watch a video from Discovery Channel here on real life food webs.

Step 2: Use the food webs below to answer the questions on your paper. Pay close attention to the food web the questions are referring to!

Food web #1:

Food web #2:

Food web #3:

Food web #4:

Food web #5:

Food web #6:

Step 3: Check your work by clicking the "Checkpoint" button at the top of the page.

Step 4: Finish your "Create your own food web" you started on Tuesday. Need a copy? Extra copies are located on the back table.

Hint: The paper looks like the one below.

Step 5: Finish or start your Endangered Species research from yesterday. You will need to go this website to research one endangered species of your choice.

Hint: The paper looks like the one below.