This week's slideshow highlights: 8th graders taking a classroom movement break to a song they learned in 1st grade; 8th grade explored physics by further investigating Newton's Laws of Motion; all students spent time on Thursday & Friday of this week continuing to explore Experimental Design to get ready for STEM Fair (7th & 8th grades it is a review as they are already working on their chosen inquiry projects--and for 5th & 6th grades it is an introduction as they will conduct small cooperative group experiments with more guidance from Mr. K). The explorations involved using microscopy to collect and record observations of various aquatic organisms (Daphnia, Planaria, Paramecium, Amoeba, and Euglena). Students were really excited to see them interacting, responding to environmental stimuli such as light, and in some cases, giving birth and consuming other species. The next step is to take the students' own questions so that they can design experiments of their own, such as the amazing regenerative properties of Planaria, while they apply the "Elements of Scientific Experimental Design", which goes to the higher order thinking NGSS Science & Engineering Practices. Thank you for checking in with us this week:)