Dane Nott's seventh-grade class.
Provided to the LVN
Fourth graders explored different types of energy. They did so by creating a system to display solar, light, motion and sound energies.
“Fourth graders used different parts to create an electrical system,” said teacher Mrs. Rebecca Farley. “They discovered the function of each part and had to troubleshoot the system when it would not work correctly. They put together electrical wires, a motor, fan, light bulb, solar panel, and buzzer.”
The experiment is part of the Amplify Science curriculum.
Middle school Mars science
Students are learning the scientific process through a Mars based project. The hands-on step-by-step project has students inferring if a geological channel on Mars was made from flowing water or flowing lava.
“Students have been actively engaged as geologists studying Earth's four systems and exploring Earth and space to see if other rocky planets may be habitable,” said Dane Nott, middle school science teacher. “While studying the various rocky planets, we were tasked with finding the possible cause of a large channel that has been discovered on Mars.”
Gathering evidence to support water or lava flow is part of the process. Evidence available to the students includes comparing similar channels on Earth and how they were created and studying rocks collected by the Mars Rover.
“During this unit we have studied the rocky planets and visited the Nasa website as well as collecting real information from rovers on Mars and the satellites orbiting Mars,” he said. “We have studied and evaluated multiple pieces of evidence along the way and polled our opinions multiple times as scientists.”
Students making observations and simulations is a key part to the process.
“We have observed two models, one with flowing water in the classroom and second with a flowing lava model (using hot wax) in a digital context,” Nott added. “Additional evidence will become available this week which may or may not lead to agreement amongst our student scientists to the hypothetical cause of this channel on Mars. We will be evaluating two types of rock to compare to rocks found on Mars next.
Nott has continued to poll the students and watched how they have changed from thinking the channel was water caused to lava caused and back again. The project will finish this week and students will need to create comprehensive arguments with the evidence given what caused the channel to form.
“I am excited by their claims so far as they continue to sort and evaluate this evidence to support their upcoming claim later this week,” he said.
Honor Society volunteers at Green Goddess Market
Eight Oasis Academy High School National Honor Society students volunteered at the Green Goddess Market on Sunday. Because of the volunteer efforts of the group, they were offered a booth for the day to help raise money for future service projects.
Along with helping at the event, the group sold student artwork, fall decor items, crocheted items, and pumpkin craft kits for kids. Students also helped with face-painting.
“We have the most enthusiastic group of National Honor Society students this year,” Mrs. Julie Stockard said. “They have projects and service planned for the whole year and they are excited to get involved in the community.”
Honor Society is advised by Stockard. To learn more about Honor Society or to contact them about volunteer opportunities, email Stockard at jstockard@oanv.org.
High School cross country race
Galena HOKA Postal Nationals: Sept. 19
JV race
26th - Hunter Adams - 13:07
32nd - Leo Arcoraci - 13:34
36th - Kamron Bracken - 13:44
40th - Kayden White - 14:11
45th - Jay Frederick - 14:31
52nd - Chase Ackerman - 16:07
27th - Kayla Greenberg - 18:38