I love Wyoming, but on days like today I have to focus on the beauty of the frost and ignore what my thermometer is saying to keep those winter blues at bay. I know that middle school fashion often eschews appropriate winter attire, but we do have classes in modular buildings and you never know when the fire alarm might be activated. Being out in the cold without appropriate attire is straight up dangerous. Students might think they are fine running from the bus to the building in shorts, but what if the bus breaks down? What if the fire alarm goes off and we have to evacuate? Please make sure your students are dressed for the weather.
In the latest installment of So What?, we examine how some
of what students learn in their science classes applies to their lives outside
of school. At LMS, sixth grade students study
earth science, seventh graders take life science, and eighth grade students examine
physical science. All three branches are
very important and help students understand the world around them.
In earth science, students learn about rocks and minerals.
You may be asking yourself why are rocks and minerals important? Learning how
to properly identify rocks and minerals can make an ordinary trip up to
Vedauwoo much more exciting. Also, you
interact with rocks and minerals every day in
the products you use and the food you eat. The copper in the wire that carries
electricity to your television is a mineral. Minerals are also the building
blocks for many popular products such as makeup, cars, and smartphones. Students
rely on minerals, such as iron, to provide the energy needed to make it through
those late night Fortnite sessions.
In life science, 7th graders focus on ecology
which is the study of living and nonliving components in the environment and
our impact as humans on the management of our ecosystems. Students research, discuss, and experiment on
different ecosystems and how humans impact those systems. They create and suggest solutions to improve
the environment.
Earth is the only known biosphere in our galaxy. It is
important for the survival of all life.
Humans are interconnected to even the smallest microorganisms of life
and all life is connected through a web of interactions. Students learn how important it is to take
care of the natural world and how to be an advocate for our environment by picking
up trash, walking or biking more often, and not polluting.
Students in physical science learn about electromagnetic
waves. Electromagnetic waves are waves made by vibrating electric charges and
can travel through matter and space, even where matter is not present. It is
important to know about the different types of electromagnetic waves and their
behaviors because different kinds of devices use electromagnetic waves.
Radios, cell phones, microwaves, remotes, X-rays, and
radiation therapy for cancer all use various forms of electromagnetic waves. We
all know that most LMS students can’t imagine life without a smartphone. Also,
we wouldn’t even be able to see various objects and their colors without
electromagnetic waves. One way 8th grade students apply what they
learned about electromagnetic waves is by exploring remote sensing.
Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information by a
device that is not in contact with the object. Remote sensing is used to map
cities, measure crop and forest health, and monitor water quality. Since most
of us live in cities, like to eat, and enjoy clean water, remote sensing is
very important to our everyday lives. We can use simple handheld instruments
and even drones or satellites to gather this information. Remote sensing has
been around for a long time and is only getting more popular. Because it is such a versatile tool, some students
will undoubtably end up in a career that relies on remote sensing.
Upcoming Events:
- March 11-15 Spirit week
- March 13 Family night-escape room
- March 14 Dance
- March 18-22 No school-spring break
