Mr. Jones’ Science News
7th and 8th Grade Science Updates
A strong start…
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the new school year! We are thrilled to share some exciting updates from our first week in 7th and 8th grade science classes. The students have already hit the ground running, showing enthusiasm and curiosity that promises a fantastic year ahead.
About this newsletter and Mr. Jones
Please come see me during our Back to School on Thursday!
You can see my presentation for this night early by clicking here. Slides are likely to change.
This newsletter is about giving you a little insight into our classroom and your students science teacher. Has your student ever answered the question of ‘what did you do at school?’ with “nothing”? Well, maybe this newsletter may help! To that goal I will share a few things about myself and my class.
I am a Sierra Vista graduate myself and am now in my 7th year of teaching here at SV. My wife is a teacher also in another district, teaching English and English Language Development. My education consists of degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Paramedic Science. These hint at my previous careers before entering teaching. In addition, I have a Masters in Education looking at best practices.
My wife and I have been married for around 12 years and have an incredible 8 year old son Gabriel.
Gabriel is incredibly curious, which makes things fun trying to explain how the world works! Your student is sure to hear a lot about him, I can’t help myself.
My passions outside of school are quite varied. I have a love of rock climbing and mountain biking that gets me out into some wonderful places and becomes a large part of who I am. I encourage students at every opportunity to get outside and experience the world around them in a similar way…
Other passions include classic cars and Jeeps, woodworking, and fishing.
7th Grade Science: A Strong Start
In 7th grade science, we’ve focused on establishing routines and understanding the importance of safety in the science classroom. Your students have been diligently learning our safety rules and have creatively expressed this knowledge by designing safety posters. These posters will not only decorate our classroom but will serve as valuable reminders throughout the year to ensure a safe and productive learning environment.
Looking ahead, our first unit will delve into Thermal Energy and States of Matter. We’ll be starting with an exciting phenomenon where students will explore the science behind the pressure caused by changes in states of matter. This hands-on investigation will help them understand key concepts about thermal energy, and we’re looking forward to seeing them apply their knowledge in fun and creative ways! This should lead to a strong understanding of the nature of matter that allows us to move into chemistry.
7th grade is absolutely full of wierd phenomena that your student will have to explain, and many culminating projects after units that are sure to lead to some conversations around the dinner table!
8th Grade Science: The JonesX Theme Takes Off
In 8th grade science, we’ve launched into the year with our exciting JonesX theme! This year, your students will be working as recruits for our fictional space agency, JonesX, where they will tackle real-world scientific challenges in a space exploration and future of humanity context.
This week, students have been introduced to the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices that will guide our first unit. Through various hands-on activities and discussions, they are beginning to understand how scientists and engineers approach problems and develop solutions. This foundational knowledge will be crucial as they embark on their first major project: Rescuing Stranded Astronauts. This project mirrors some of the real challenges currently faced by astronauts on the space station, and it will allow students to apply their skills in a collaborative, problem-solving environment.
image courtesy of NASA
Looking Forward and what you can do…
We’re excited about the energy and enthusiasm our students have shown in just the first week of school. As we move forward, we’ll continue to build on this momentum with engaging lessons and activities designed to foster a love of science and exploration.
What I can you do as a parent to help your child in science? Keep up to date with my newsletter here is one way so you know what we are currently up to in science. You can also encourage your child to keep asking questions. For 7th grade, ask them questions surrounding phenomena related to our first unit… that morning fog on the way into school? Ask them what you think is happening and why it happens in Irvine so much. For 8th grade, ask your student about the latest drama unfolding on the space station with astronauts stuck until February and how they would feel in that situation. Our culminating project will center on this situation this year.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need more information about what we’re doing in class. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to a year full of discovery and learning!
Kind regards,
Mr. Jones
Science Teacher
RobertJones@iusd.org
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