Observation Assignments: Regardless of students' science level, they should be able to complete these assignments.

Journal Tab #1 Students are asked to locate a natural place with lots to look at (bushes, trees, water, etc.) and observe it for 15 minutes. They are told to write their observations in their journals. Peer Assessment.	Journal TAB #2 Students repeat the observation exercise for no less than 25 minutes. This time they have to pick a place in their neighborhood they can get to easily because they will be studying this location for the next eight weeks. This location will become their study site. Students are asked to tell their parents about the assignment so they become a part of the project. Students then do a self assessment of their second observation and score themselves. Self Assessment.	Journal TAB #7 and #10 Self Assessment of the first study site observation.
See the Building Assignments or choose from the menu below.

Next Steps:

A Year of 8th Grade Science Contents Introduction Bill's Teaching Biography Bill's Most Influential Books Bill's Teaching Philosophy An Interview with Bill McWeeny The Classroom Environment Setting Up the Year: Throughlines Setting Up the Year: Notebooks The Culturing Unit     - Implementing the Culturing Unit     - TFU and The Culturing Unit     - Assignments and Examples of Student Work         - Observing         - Building         - Reading         - Connecting The Genetics/Family Tree Unit The Cell Unit The Body Systems Unit Pictures of Practice Contents Introduction The Colonial Biography Unit (7th Grade History) A Year of Seventh Grade English A Year of Eighth Grade Science The Jazz Unit Snapshot Using the CCDT to Develop Generative Topics Teaching for Understanding Quick Menu - select a destination - INFORMATION   What's Understanding?     - An Interactive Look at Understanding   What's Teaching for Understanding?     - A Performance Criterion   What's the TfU Framework     - Throughlines     - Generative Topics     - Understanding Goals     - Performances of Understanding     - Ongoing Assessment PICTURES OF PRACTICE   The Colonial Biography Unit (7th Grade History)   A Year of Seventh Grade English   A Year of Eighth Grade Science   The Jazz Unit Snapshot   Using the CCDT to Develop Generative Topics COMMUNICATION CURRICULUM DESIGN TOOLS   Planners   Tip Sheets   On-line Tools

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