Mr. Kovacevic

Room 14

Social Studies - We have discussed the witchtrials this week. To go along with our studies, we will view the video "Three Soverigns for Sarah". The video is an excellent portrayal of life in Salem during the witch hysteria of 1692. Next week we will be choosing an individual and writing a diary as if we were that person living during the hysteria. We will constuct our diary and then write at least a week's worth of events that took place in that individual's life. We will begin our studies on colonialism once we finish the Puritan era.

Science - We have begun our water studies of Fall Hill Brook. We already gathered data for the Fall and have documented it. We are about to begin our data collecting for the Winter. Along with our brook visits, we have begun our lab work. We are doing lab experiments dealing with water in the classroom. We will have between 8-9 labs once we finish. The purpose behind the labs is to prepare them for Mahar. Having done science labs in grade school will help the students once they get to the high school.

We collected 8 days of winter data. This winter was definitely one to remember. It will be interesting to see what the data will show. Along with the testing we have done labs. Presently we have done 3 labs. Our latest was Parts Per Million. Our next lab is going to concentrate on the pH of household items.

Math

We rapped up ratios and algebra. We are now concentrating on fractions. Once we get a handle on fractions, it will lead us into decimals and percent. Fraction work does take time. We are progressing at a reasonable time. Once we get the foundation laid, the fraction work will incorporate with decimals and percentage.

English

We have begun summary writing. We have been practicing note taking that leads us into writing a summary. Newspaper articles and eventually a novel will be where we are going with summary writing.

Spelling - We will have over 200 most commonly misused misspelled words for the year. Every week, we will be adding 5-10 words to our list. The words will be the students' responsibility in any work done. Fines will be given to any student who misspells a spelling word in any work. Earned coupons (simply study 20 minutes a week and bring in a parent's signature to verify the effort) can be cashed in to avoid the fine (writing the word 25 times). Collect 5 coupons to cash in for a homework free night.

What's to come?

I am really hoping that we will do ponding this year. I have not been able to do it in the past two years. The amount of time that the MCAS takes up primarily is the major reason that I have been unable to do it.

Some of the special studies that we will be working on for the coming year.

Water Studies - Fall Hill Brook

For 3 seasons - Fall, Winter, and Spring - we will be testing a stream that runs from a beaver pond behind Dexter Park School into the Millers River. The tests that we will be performing will include the pH of the stream, hardness of the water, the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, the temperature of the stream and air, chlorides, velocity of the stream, and the discharge. Through research, we will determine what the answers are to the following questions - 1) Does Fall Hill Brook change both physically and chemically over three seasons ? - 2) Does Site 2 (a culvert - runoff from Dexter Park and Fisher Hill) affect the stream? - 3) Is Fall Hill Brook healthy?

Ponding - In the spring we will be studying the beaver pond behind Dexter Park to find out what water creatures lurk within the pond. Are there different time periods that certain creatures can be found? If so, what characteristics do they have in order to survive?

Witch Trials of 1692! -

What caused the hysteria that lasted for about 1 year that would eventually cause 18 people to be hanged and 1 to be crushed to death?

Notetaking - done all year long - in the end focusing in on Greek Mythology.

Of course there will be a lot more that will be done - geometry, algebra, rocks and minerals, electricity, etc..