MOST POPULAR VIDEOS

• 00:24 Ice Vs. Salt Lab Featured

  This week we learned about how the molecules in NaCl and H2O interact with each other in order to cause ice to melt. We conducted 2 different experiments to see how Salt and Ice interact and then discussed what happens on a molecular level building on our understanding of molecules attracting to one another.

  Uploaded Feb 05, 2022 by Ryan Cherry
• 4:53 June 6-10, 2022 6th Grade Energy Fair: Room 103

  This slideshow highlights our 6th grade class from Room 103 presenting their Energy Fair Projects at our First Ever Decatur Classical Energy Fair! Students worked in cooperative groups to showcase their research and models on various forms of energy and how we can use renewable energy sources to meet all of our energy needs and make our world more sustainable for the future! A special thank you to Decatur Parent, Ms. Megan Zack, Associate Partner and Director of Sustainability for Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, which specializes in innovative green building technologies, and also Ms. Liz Wimmer, Program Manager for Illinois Green Alliance, who took time out of their days to also present at our Decatur Energy Fair!

  Uploaded Jun 11, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 00:54 Southwest State project Featured

  Students researched information about the state of their choice from the Southwest Region and created some great presentations. Check out the video above to see some highlights!

  Uploaded Feb 05, 2022 by Ryan Cherry
• 1:25 Tessellations

  As part of their assessment for a unit on Rigid Transformations, 7th graders created Tessellations by hand and submitted pictures of their work.

  Uploaded Oct 27, 2020 by Andrew Brennan
• 1:57 Week 11: Monday November, 8th - Wednesday, November 10th

  This shortened week's slideshow includes: 7th grade class working cooperatively to set up an experiment to test carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen release by from samples of plants taken from our aquatic ecosystem set up in our lab; 6th graders checking out some of the new STEM books and magazines that were donated to our classroom (thank you parents and students who donated to our classroom!); 6th grades eager to share their ideas during a whole class discussion; our Decatur First Lego League after school teams gearing up for competition by constructing and programming their robots; and some close up pics of our class baby turtle! Thanks for checking in with us this!

  Uploaded Nov 20, 2021 by Gerard Kovach
• 2:24 Connecting to Learning No Matter Where We Are and Continuing to Build Community!
  Uploaded May 20, 2021 by Gerard Kovach
• 1:19 Earth Day Posters

  In celebration of Earth Day 2021, Decatur Middle School Students recently created informational and persuasive posters that are displayed in our hallway that promote ecological awareness and encourage positive change towards environmental stewardship.

  Uploaded May 20, 2021 by Gerard Kovach
• 00:29 Gearing Up to Explore Science!

  This short slideshow shows some images of how the world of Science exploration is all around us. The pics of the bees were taken by Mr. K at Chicago Botanic Gardens, an ant colony living in a tree brach out on the playground discovered by some students and photo was taken by Mr. M, and of course, our nonhuman specimens in our classroom pond ecosystem with baby fish caught from Lake Michigan, crayfish, and our lovable bearded dragon Curtiss, who likes to hang out with students, and from the picture I mean literally:)

  Uploaded Aug 27, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 2:46 Week 18: Jan. 18-21, 2022

  This week's slideshow highlights: students enjoying some independent reading of Science texts during our calm transition time at the beginning of class thanks to the generous donations of engaging STEM books and magazines from Decatur families; 6th graders cooperatively analyzing and interpreting graphs to identify correlation and causation of variables related to global warming; 7th graders engaging in a collaborative coin toss activity to simulate the randomness of organisms passing their alleles of their genes onto their offspring during sexual reproduction; 6th graders reviewing unit vocabulary terms with quizlet, a fun online learning software platform; and a spattering of pics of our students interacting with our class pet lizard, Curtiss, and investigating aquatic microorganisms from our classroom aquatic ecosystem.

  Uploaded Jan 22, 2022 by Gerard Kovach
• 00:56 Week 3 | Mask-Making Preparation & Brainstorming

  This week, 6th graders reflected on various resources to discuss why we wear masks and what would happen if we decided to show the world what was behind our masks. As a continuation of our Identity & Community unit, students began brainstorming and drafting ideas for a mask that they will be constructing in some of our upcoming classes.

  Uploaded Sep 17, 2021 by Marianne Sharping