All posts by lspady

National Junior Honor Society Student Accounts

NJHS

Calling all NJHS Members…

Create your own student account with a parent or guardian and upon doing so, you will receive the most up-to-date information about NJHS programs and activities.

Step 1:  Go to https://www.njhs.us/studentaccount/ and select NOTE: If you are under the age of 13, the COPPA Parental Consent Form needs to be filled out first.  https://www.nhs.us/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NASSP_COPPA_Parental_Consent_Form_EN.pdf

Fill out the required information to create an account.  You should be able to find Westside Middle School without an Affiliation Number.  Once you’ve finished creating an account and it has been verified, you’ll be able to access the resources on the site.

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #8: Character Quotes

Current Challenge

For this week’s Weekly Challenge, follow these simple steps…

Step 1:  Download Adobe Spark Post for Graphics from Manager.  Here’s a quick video tutorial on how to login.  You can also go to https://spark.adobe.com/sp/ on a computer.

Step 2:  Create a new project that includes a quote from a character in a book you’ve read or from a book you’re currently reading.  Be sure to add the title of the book and the author.

Step 3:  Download your project and submit it here: https://forms.gle/WWvUAwLg3iRZkMCQ6

Don’t forget to check back next week to see the highlighted projects!

 

#4: Bacteria That Eats Oil

Science Mini Spark

Oil-eating bacteria, also called oleophilic bacteria or oil-degrading microbes, are tiny living things that eat oil for food. These bacteria can break down different kinds of oil, like oils from plants and animals, as well as oil from gasoline and other products. When these bacteria digest oil, they get energy to grow and release carbon dioxide and water as waste.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page:#4: Bacteria That Eats Oil

2. Watch this video about an oil spill, and how we try to clean it up using bacteria. Take 5 notes from the video on your recording page.

 

3. Make a section on your recording page for each of these headings.

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion

4. Read this article, How can we find oil-eating bacteria to clean up the sea? to learn more about this topic. For each of the sections, write down what you learned on your recording sheet.

5. Answer three of these questions on your recording sheet

  • Why is it bad when crude oil gets into the environment?
  • Why do conventional methods of cleaning up oil spills present us with a problem?
  • What is a better alternative to conventional clean-up methods?
  • What does a higher intensity of the red color of Nile Red say about the oil-eating ability of the bacteria in the new test?

6. Create a chatter pic to show what you learned.

 Make the main character a bacteria. You can draw it or find a picture. Choose two of the questions from step 5 to anwer in your Chatter Pic

Chatter Pic STEP BY STEP!

Step 1 – Find Chatter pic in Mosyle.

Step 2 – Take a picture or get one from the gallery in your device. You can also make a drawing and take a picture of it!

Step 3 – Draw a line on the object to create a mouth.

Step 4 – Record your voice! Remember you only have 30 seconds.

Step 5 – Add stickers if necessary or desired.

Step 6 – Save your project into the camera roll.

8. Share your science mini spark recording page and your chatter pic with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

#38: STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Tubes

Full STEAM Ahead

Are you ready for a fun paper tube building challenge?  With just a few materials, you can create a cotton ball launcher.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #38: STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Tubes

2. Watch this video. On your recording page write about what will be easy about the STEAM mini spark and what will be more challenging.

 

3. Read this step by step instructions on how to build the launcher. On your recording page explain if you liked the video instructions or the written instructions.

4. Collect your Materials. Ask the EY coordinator at your building for help getting supplies if needed.

  • Short pencil or popsicle stick
  • Thin rubber bands (2)
  • Cardboard tube (2 empty toilet paper tubes or empty paper towel tube cut in half)
  • Packing tape or other strong tape
  • Scissors
  • Cotton balls
  • Single hole punch

 

5. Take pictures of your supplies and add it to your recording page.

6. Use the video or teaching page from steps 2 and 3 as a guide and start building. Make sure to take pictures of your progress.

6. Test it out! If you need to make modifications, do so at this time.

7. Read this information. In this activity, you used two types of energy to load and launch your cotton ball. As you drew back on the pencil with the cotton ball loaded, you added potential energy to the system. The farther you pulled back on the pencil, the more potential energy was being stored. When you released the pencil, the potential energy became kinetic energy, and the cotton ball should have gone flying through the air!

8. Make a pic collage with the pictures from your project. Include the energy terms, information from step 7,  and definitions.

9. Add your pic collage to your recording page

10. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Source: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/cotton-ball-launcher#instruction

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #7: Book Review and Tweet

Current Challenge

This week’s Weekly Challenge has you sharing a 60 second (or less) book commercial on Flip Grid for a book you’ve read or one that you’re currently reading.  Then, you can create a tweet from a character in your book using the Google Slides template linked below.

Step 1: Decide on a book you’ve read or have read in the past and create a 60 second (or less) commercial for it.  Record your commercial on Flip Grid using the link below.  All videos will be reviewed before they are made public.  If you DO NOT want your video posted on Flip Grid for others to see, please say, “No post” at the end of your video.

Flip Grid Link: https://flipgrid.com/2819c4ff

Step 2: Create a tweet from a character in your book using the template linked below.  Share the Google Slides template so that anyone within Westside Community Schools can view.  Copy the link and include it in your Flip Grid submission. Here is a guide for you to use to help with your tweet creation

Tweet  Creation Guide: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/116lJm_xlXf3jaP22ST1jM2LRxud7DX72h_PDoYhzn04/copy

Tweet from a Character’s Point of View (Google Slides template): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FUbgm2iulqA84mFhPbc4xsMJrNzCAKUv_ol-JububMQ/copy

Math Counts Team (7th and 8th Grade)

MS Learning Opportunities

MATHCOUNTS provides engaging math programs to US middle school students of all ability levels to build confidence and improve attitudes about math and problem solving.

Check out these sample questions:

The WMS Math Counts Team is forming now!  If you’re interested, take the 10-question qualifying test linked below.  NOTE: You are not obligated to join the Math Counts Team if you take the qualifying test, however, there will be a prize for the top 3 scores on the test!

Take the qualifying test by Oct. 15 to be considered for the team and to be entered for the prize drawing!

Qualifying Test Link: https://forms.gle/f8KN6SpVy73sVymk8

Answers to Sample Problems: 5/16 and 3 1/2 hours

 

The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest (Grades 5-8)

MS Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests
The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest is an annual competition presented by Scholastic, The Actuarial Foundation, and the New York Life Foundation that challenges grades 6–8 students to solve multistep, grade-appropriate math problems with real-world situations and engaging characters. NOTE: 5th graders are eligible to participate by reaching to a higher grade level!
DETAILS:
  • Contact your EY Coordinator to get a copy of your grade level challenge question.  NOTE: All students are invited to take an extra challenge and submit entries at either their current grade level or above. They may submit one entry per question they are grade-eligible to answer. For example, a 5th grader may submit up to three entries, one each at the 6, 7, and 8 levels.
  • Students must provide a mathematically correct answer to a challenge in order to receive an invitation to compete in Challenge 2 with an even more difficult problem.
  • Entries Due Nov. 23.  Your EY Coordinator will submit your entry.

2020 Code Crush – 8th Graders Only

MS Learning Opportunities

Many of you have heard about Code Crush at UNO and now is the time to apply!  Applications are due October 4.

Details:
  • 8th and 9th-grade students from the Midwest who are interested in the future of Information Technology are invited to apply.
  • A teacher nomination is needed so contact Dr. Spady, Dr. Bolamperti, or Mrs. Shabram if you’re interested in applying.
  • The 2020 fall Code Crush experience will be held Nov. 5-7 and will be online.  Check out the link below for details.

https://codecrush.unomaha.edu/ImmersionExperience