Investigations in Science 7 February 3, 2017

What we did this week:

We started off the week finishing up the digestive system. We reviewed for the
assessment with a crossword puzzle, and reviewed the functions of the digestive system
by looking to see how they relate to other systems of the body. Then on Tuesday, we took
an assessment which is retakable. Retakes will be offered next Friday, February 10 th.

Wednesday, we breathed a sigh of relief to be done with the digestive system and
began the respiratory system. We started by looking at the respiratory system and how
our respiratory system is the reason our cells go through cellular respiration which creates
energy for our body. We use the oxygen we breathe in, and use the food we eat, to create
energy for ourselves.

Thursday, we took a look at how much air we breathe in and out with a balloon
breath lab. Every person got their own balloon! They first took a normal breath and
exhaled into the balloon. They measured the diameter of the balloon and compared it to
the lung capacity chart. After repeating for 3 trials they then took a deep breath and
measured the diameter. We went over how gases are inhaled from the mouth or nose and
travel to the lungs from the trachea.

Today, we will begin looking at the circulatory system. We will talk about how the
heart, blood, and blood vessels function to take oxygen and nutrients to our body, and get
rid of the carbon dioxide our body produces as waste. We will go over the four chambers
of the heart and their function. The atrium is the upper chamber of the heart that
receives blood. The right atrium receives blood lacking in oxygen while the left side
receives oxygen rich blood. The ventricles are the lower chamber of the heart that pumps
blood out. The right side pumps blood to the lungs to get oxygen and the left side pumps
the oxygen rich blood to the body cells.
As our systems of the body unit comes to a close, we are taking a lot of time to
discuss how all of the systems of the body work together to keep us functioning properly.
Students are expected to make connections to past material, and have been fairly
successful in remembering the content. It is always good for them to take some time to
review what they have learned at the end of the day, even if they dont have homework.

Announcements:
 Now that we have started quarter 3, please check in with your child to make sure
that they have basic supplies with them such as pencils, pens, blank paper, that their
binder is in good shape, etc. We are not quite finished our unit, but when we do students
will be instructed to clean out their science section.

Coming Up:

Topics:

Circulatory System
Endocrine System
Excretory System

Dates:

February 7 CIRCULATORY AND RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT

February 8-10 MAP-M Testing in math classes
February 10 RETAKES DIGESTION ASSESSMENT @ Lunch
February 16 Students vs. Staff Basketball Game at 3:00
February 15-17 MAP-R Testing in English classes
February 21-March 2 No After School Activities due to Outdoor Education
March 3 Half Day