Saint Joseph 's science program is based on scientific inquiry; visualizing science concepts; and reading science content that is engaging, clear, and current.  

LAB REPORTS:

Lab Reports must include the following and be written or typed neatly. Fourth and Fifth graders can download the lab report from the website (will be available soon).

• Name
• Lab Group (partner names)
• Title
• Purpose or Objective (Why are we doing the lab?)
• Hypothesis (Predict or guess what will happen)
• Materials (List them)
• Procedure (Write out the steps to the experiment)
• Results or Observations (What happened? What did you see?) Include any charts, pictures, tables, graphs, etc.)
• Conclusions (Did the experiment work?  Did you prove your hypothesis? Why or why not?
• Grades 5-6 approx. 3-5 sentences
• Grades 7-8 approx 4-6 sentences
• If there are any questions, answer them.

WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY?  It is the process by which scientists ask questions, develop and carry out investigations, make predictions, gather evidence, and propose explanations. Inquiry is often associated with “hands-on” learning or activity based instruction. Research shows that this type of instruction has been effective in fostering scientific literacy and the understanding of scientific processes. Furthermore, inquiry-based instruction has been reported to improve students’ analytical skills.  

As students practice inquiry, they develop process skills and behaviors used by scientists and thus begin thinking like a scientist. Process skills can be developed through simple activities, but students need to be continually exposed to these activities. Process skills that children develop while doing inquiry are:

• Observation
• Experimentation
• Data collection
• Measuring
• Sorting, Classifying, and Comparing
• Analysis
• Communication

SCIENCE NOTEBOOKS
All students have science notebooks. All homework, unless specified otherwise, should be done in the science notebook. All notes should be recorded in the same notebook. This notebook will serve as a great study tool when studying for tests and quizzes. Students are also encouraged to bring in current science event articles to share with the class. There will be occasional worksheets to be done for homework or class work. Therefore, a science folder would be a good idea also. 

FOURTH GRADE
The fourth grade will be exploring several areas of science this year, stemming from Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science.  We will be integrating our FOSS kits in with our science text books. There are many exciting things that the children will be experiencing and learning, such as different ecosystems, the way our bodies work, animal behaviors and survival, hydroponics, electricity & magnets (to name only a few). At the end of the year, we will virtually dissect an earthworm and most likely we’ll do a real dissection if we have enough parent participation. In the beginning of the year, we will be focusing on measurement and being sure that everyone is able to correctly understand the metric system so that their experiments, as well as lab reports are accurate and understandable.

Fourth graders will receive a lab notebook from us and will use their other notebook when taking notes during non-lab classes. We have already secured a date for a class trip to the Sterling Mine on March 31^st. This will coincide perfectly with our studies of rocks and minerals!

FIFTH GRADE
The fifth grade has an exciting year ahead of them. This is the year they will create their own ecosystem and take the annual trip Sandy Hook to learn about Clean Ocean Action. Their lessons and labs will consist of Life Science, Earth Science and Physical Science. Stemming from these branches of science, they will learn about plants, animals, sound & light, the human body, earth and its resources and ecosystems around the world. The first weeks of school focus on the review of measurement and understanding the metric system.

JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS –

All students in 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades will participate in Physics Quest in early winter. Physics Quest is a middle school competition that consists of four physical science experiments centered on a mystery. The experiments are designed to be done by small groups. Each of the experiments gives students a clue that they need to solve the mystery. For more information, go to PhysicsCentral.com.

All 7^th and 8^th grade students will also participate in eCybermission. eCybermission, sponsored by the United States Army, is a web-based science, math and technology competition. Teams of students compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their community. Students will be graded on these projects.

SIXTH GRADE
The sixth grade will be studying Planet Earth! The four major branches of earth science are oceanography, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. Stemming from these major areas of earth science are seismology, volcanology, cartography, geology, and ecology (to name a few). There are many ways earth science impacts our everyday lives. Students will learn what scientists have discovered and what they are still searching to find. It all begins with a question.  Students will also do a Country Report when we are studying maps. This is a fun couple of days that ends with a little party when all the students will bring in food from their country.

SEVENTH GRADE
The seventh grade will be studying Life Science. Life science is the study of living things – from the tiniest bacterium to the largest tree. Beginning with cells, students will learn about heredity & classification; DNA; simple organisms, fungi, & plants; animals; ecology; and the human body. Students will dissect fetal pigs toward the end of the year, which is a great way to learn about our own internal anatomy.

EIGHTH GRADE
The eighth grade will be studying Physical Science, the study of matter and energy, and how they relate to each other. Physical science is usually divided into chemistry and physics. However, students will learn that chemistry and physics can be broken down into more specific areas of study, such as organic chemistry and geophysics. In addition to matter, studies will include motion and forces; work, machines & energy; the atom; electricity; and waves, sound & light.

OTHER INFORMATION
We have a new Science Magazine we will be reading this year among the grades, the subscriptions were donated by one of our school families. Thank You! We would also love to get a subscription to the New York Science Times, another great current science resource.  

The Science Fair will take place April 29^th – May 1^st. More information will follow, but now students can start planning if they have a long-term project they want to submit.  

Solar Sprints will begin in January and is open to Junior High students as an enrichment program. More information will follow.

CONTACT
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns. Thank you. My email is mrussell@sjccs.org.