September 18th Newsletter

What we did this week:

We began the week observing plant and animal cells. Students created slides of an
Elodea leaf and onion skin, then they observed a prepared slide of human cheek cells.
From observing all three of the slides they were able to determine that plant cells are
rectangular while animal cells are round. We started having discussions about the
functions of different parts of the plant based on their observations. We will be going
more in depth with the parts of plant and animal cells next week.
On Wednesday, we began learning about diffusion and osmosis. Diffusion is the
movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
I used the example of standing in a crowded metro car and then moving to a metro car
that has more space so you arent as packed in. Osmosis is the diffusion of water
molecules through a selectively permeable membrane. Selectively permeable means that
some molecules can move through the membrane while others cannot (think of a tea bag in
water).
We then took a closer look at osmosis by completing a carrot lab: Honey, I shrunk
the carrots. The lab had two baby carrots, one beaker of fresh water, and one beaker of
salt water. Students weighed each carrot before putting the carrot in the water (they
tied a piece of string to the carrot before adding it to the water). The carrots sat in the
water overnight and then students weighed the carrots the next day. Today we discussed
what results students should have seen (the carrot in the salt water should have had a
decreased mass). Along with the carrot lab, this week we reviewed the cell theory study
guide and students took the cell theory quiz.
7th Grade Information:
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This week started the agenda book challenge. If 85% of the 7 th grade have their
agenda book filled out with all their classes, they will earn a spirit day. The
challenge will go for 3 weeks. Please check your childs agenda book when they get
home to help support our challenge .
Today students received their Medieval Times permission forms in their social
studies classes. You can ask your child for the blue packet. Please let me know if
you have any questions about it.
Coming Up:

Topics:
-Animal and Plant Cell Parts

-Organellympics
Dates:
Wednesday, September 23: No school
Friday, September 25: Picture Day