EXPLORING EARTH'S HISTORY

Hey everyone,

Welcome to our latest science class update! We’ve been busy uncovering the fascinating story of Earth’s past, and I’m excited to share what we’ve accomplished and where we’re headed next. Read on to learn about our journey through Earth’s History, the exciting project we’re starting work on now, and what’s coming up in the weeks ahead (after winter break!).

Where We Were

Since Thanksgiving break, we’ve been diving into our Earth’s History unit. Students explored the structure of our planet and investigated different types of rocks, including how they form and change over time. This foundational knowledge has set the stage for understanding the broader story of Earth’s evolution and the processes that shape our world. Through engaging lessons, hands-on activities, and meaningful discussions, students have been building their understanding of the dynamic planet we call home.

Below are images from our Sedimentary Rock Activtiy, Weathering & Erosion Experiment, and Igneous Rock Demos (grayish wax representing extrusive igneous rocks and colorful speckly wax representing the intrusive igneous rocks):

Where We Are

We are wrapping up our Earth’s History unit with an exciting focus on the geologic time scale. Students are beginning their Geologic Time Travel project, where they will act as travel agents for a make-believe company called ChronoVacations. Their task is to research a specific time in geologic history, highlight key events, and relate these to the topics we’ve been learning about.

Students can create a poster, brochure, slide presentation, or radio commercial for their project. They’ll have three full class days to work on their projects, and on Thursday, the 19th, we’ll hold presentations. This weekend is an excellent opportunity for students to review their project packets and get a head start on research. Preparation will help them make the most of their class time, whether they work individually or with a partner.

Where We’re Going

After the Geologic Time Travel project, we’ll begin our next unit on Earth’s Processes. This unit will seamlessly connect with what we’ve learned in Earth History as we investigate plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other mass movements. These exciting topics will give students a deeper understanding of how Earth’s surface is shaped and reshaped over time.

If you have any questions or want to connect further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org. You can also follow our journey on Instagram at @classwithcatwood, where I share updates and snapshots of our exciting classroom activities.

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)

COMING BACK DOWN TO EARTH

Hello everyone,

As our Astronomy - Part 2 Unit comes to a close, we’re preparing to “come back down to Earth,” literally! We're transitioning from studying the skies to uncovering our planet's geologic history. We’ve had an exciting journey through the cosmos, and it’s almost time to shift our focus to Earth’s History. This is related to absolute and relative dating using information from rocks and understanding our Geologic Time Scale.

Where We WERE

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been all about the wonders of celestial movement. We dug into solar and lunar eclipses, learning why and how these events occur. Then, we shifted to tides, exploring how the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun create the daily rhythm of rising and falling ocean waters. These topics gave us a deeper understanding of the fascinating relationship between Earth, its closest celestial neighbors, and the observable effects right here on our planet.

Where We Are

We’re wrapping up our study of tides and preparing for our final Astronomy - Part 2 test this Friday, November 15th. This test will combine everything we’ve learned about Day, Night, and Seasons and the Moon’s phases, Eclipses, and Tides. It’s a great opportunity to show all we’ve discovered and understood about how these cosmic patterns shape our world. So, students should take time each night before the test to review their notes, work on the review packet, and use the review Blooket to ensure they're ready to soar through the test on Friday!

Below are images from our Analyzing Lunar Eclipse Images activity:

Where We’re Going

After the test, we’ll shift gears and begin our Earth’s History unit right before Thanksgiving break. We’ll dive into Earth’s structure and explore the processes that shape our planet’s surface. This will include an introduction to sedimentary rocks and how they tell the stories of Earth’s past environments. After the holiday break, we’ll continue exploring the rock cycle and move on to the other rock types: igneous and metamorphic rocks. We’ll end with an exciting look at the geologic time scale to understand the vast history of our planet.

Instead of a traditional unit test, we’ll conclude this unit with a cumulative project. This will allow students to be creative, dive deep into a period in Earth’s history, and present their learning and exploration in a different and slightly less stressful way!

If you have any questions or want to connect further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org. You can also follow our journey on Instagram at @classwithcatwood, where I share updates and snapshots of our exciting classroom activities.

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)

SUN-EARTH-MOON INTERACTIONS

Hello families,

I wanted to take a moment to share all of the exciting things we’ve been up to in science class recently! Your students have been working hard, and I’m thrilled with our progress. Here’s a brief update on our journey in the classroom.

Where We Were

We recently wrapped up our first unit test, and the students did a fantastic job demonstrating their learning. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been busy exploring the concepts of day, night, and changing seasons. Through various hands-on activities, your students have modeled Earth’s orbit and axis tilt, gaining a deeper understanding of how these factors influence the length of days and the seasonal changes we experience throughout the year.

Below are images from our Day, Night, and Seasons lab:

Where We Are

Currently, we’re diving into one of my favorite topics—the Moon! We’ve been investigating the phases of the moon that we can observe throughout the month and connecting this to how ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans and the early peoples of Scotland, used the moon’s cycles to track time and create their calendars. The students are learning the science behind the phases and appreciating how these natural cycles have influenced human history and culture.

Where We’re Going

In the coming weeks, we will continue to explore the dynamic interactions between the Earth, Sun, and Moon. We’ll finish up our moon phases exploration and then focus on eclipses—both solar and lunar—before transitioning into learning about tides. We’ll study how the Moon’s gravitational pull (and partly the Sun) impacts high and low tides and the more extreme spring and neap tides. Once we’ve wrapped up our study of tides, we’ll conclude our "Astronomy - Part 2" unit and prepare for our next unit test.

If you have any questions or want to connect further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org. You can also follow our journey on Instagram at @classwithcatwood, where I share updates and snapshots of our exciting classroom activities.

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)