Dr. Burcham’s 6D Class Podcasts, Heidelberg Middle School

Dr. Burcham's class does podcasts fairly often. Listen to their fabulous times in rooms 214 and 215 at Heidelberg Middle School.

Transcript Wed, 24 Oct 2007 0.5Mb

This T.G., M.L., and M.B. We are reporting from Mr. Burcham’s 6D class in Heidelberg Middle School. This is October 24, 2007. We are wearing our slippers today because it’s Red Ribbon Week.

Today, during seminar we worked on our drug essays and did pie graphs. Then we went to our electives.

After electives we went to the hearing and visibility testing. That took up 45 minutes of our class time! After that Ms. Evins gave us chocolate.

Then we went over the rules for divisibility. Mr. Burcham also read My Side of the Mountain and we answered some questions about that. We also checked our math homework, and then we went to lunch.

After lunch we went to Ms. Hatch’s class. Ms. Hatch wasn’t there today, but our sub’s name was Mr. Z; he was cool. We did “Wake up Brain.”

We also did paragraphs about hamburgers. Yeah, really cool. Then we watched a video about the Egyptian Military. The people who wanted to worked on their website for Mr. Burcham’s “Clue #2”; and then the bell rang.

Tomorrow wear your boots! This was T.G., M.L., and M.B. and we are the podcasting DJ’s.

Transcript Wed, 2 Nov 2007 10 Mb

Summary so far!

          Hello, this is L.H., your pod casting D.J. We have had lots of fun this school year. Our electives are: P.E., Applied Tech, Drama, T.A.G., Band, Home Economics, Study Skills, Art, Keyboarding and German.
          We have had two dances so far this year. Today is the Halloween Dance! We have had 4 fire drills, 1 evacuation drill, and 1 lockdown. They all went over successfully.
          The after school activities include Cooking Club, Art Club, Tech Ed. Club, Homework Club, Chess Club, Math Club Ecybermission Club, and much more!
          Speaking of Ecybermission, Mrs. Stallings club is off to a great start! There have been great ideas and everyone in our class is participating as well. Lets wait and see who makes it to D.C!
          Today is Fall Festival with Team 6D! We’ll play games and have fun!
          This week has been Red Ribbon Week. Monday everyone wore crazy red socks to sock it to drugs, Tuesday we wore sweats to stay out of sweaty situations, Wednesday was for slippers so we stay out of slippery situations, Thursday was boots day to boot out drugs, and today was Red-Rally, how much red can you wear today? Today we had a great wrap up for the week with a Red Ribbon Walk during electives. Every morning announcement has included a fact and question about drugs. Did you know that alcohol is the most abused drug? Hopefully all these facts will keep kids away from drugs. There is even a door competition to see how anti-drug our doors can be.
          Don’t forget intramurals! There have been competitions against other classes and fun games outside with Ms. Foote!
          Constitution Day, earlier this year, was lots of fun! Volunteers dressed as famous people from the past and stayed around for all the lunches. Everyone signed the “constitution” during lunch and got a grand piece of cake. It was SO much fun!
          Heidelberg has been winning most of our games. The volleyball team had their first official game last Saturday. We were playing against Ramstein. Football has also won most of their games as well. It has been lots of fun doing sports at Heidelberg Middle School!
Next Wednesday is Halloween! Wear your costumes!
          We have had a very busy year! Have fun trick-or-treating!

On the very first week, everyone planted their radish and green bean plants. They are growing very well. The Plant Group waters them faithfully everyday. They have also transplanted them to bigger and better pots and planters.

We have also done the “Mad Scientist Experiment.” We tested all different types of substances, such as tooth paste, coke, water, milk, sprite, rubbing alcohol, and more. We used cabbage juice to test whether they were acids or bases. The substances turned different colors when they and the cabbage juice mixed. The colors classified the substances as an acid or base. We wore aprons, goggles, and gloves so we truly were scientists!

Mr. Burcham requires to use the scientific method to write up our science experiments. For the music experiment, here was our data in the scientific method:
1. Will sixth graders rate different feelings on music?
2. Sixth graders will rate different feelings on music.
3. Mr. Burcham will play five different songs for one minute each.   11The class will rate each song as happy, sad, exciting, or iiiiirelaxing. Then we will compare our answers.
4. Sixth graders rated the five songs very different. That’s what iiiiiimakes the world go ‘round!
5. Sixth graders appeared to rate songs differently.

Every once and a while, Mr. Burcham lets us try to solve a Jasper Woodbury or Science Sleuth. They are movies that we watch. Jasper Woodbury is a science and math related mystery that we have to solve. The last one we did, Journey to Cedar Creek, was very difficult. Mr. Burcham really had to help us! A Science Sleuth is where these people give us lots of information, and we have to solve the case. We have done two science sleuths and one Jasper Woodbury. They are great fun!

We were assigned a cell project. We learned all about animals cells, and then we had to design a 3-D cell. Many people brought in edible cells, such as cakes, cupcakes, jello, pies, and cookies, and ice cream cakes. We had a cell feast and everything was de-licious! Our cells included the nucleus, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, cell membrane, and more.

We have had four essays assigned this year so far. Two were math and two were science. The first science essay was called
“Why I want to be a scientist?” We had to describe why we wanted to be a scientist in five paragraphs. The second one is called “It’s more than recycle, reuse, and renew.” It is due on November 13, so get working on it!

Sometimes, we watch “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” He is a very amusing, well, science guy! We’ve watched one about cells, wetlands, Egypt, and the life cycle. We usually do a pop quiz right after it. We learn a lot from them!

Mr. Burcham hid a key in a plant pot. We were supposed to take the key and open the TV cabinet. We were supposed to take the remote and give it to Mr. Burcham. One person from each table went out of the room, and the others made a map for them to find it. It was really hard – nobody got it.

As you can see, we have been learning a lot in science so far! Mr. Burcham and Ms. Evins rock!!

                      Hello, this is CW your pod casting D.J. So far this year, this class has grown many plants. The first plants we grew were green bean and radish plants in plastic cups. Each student put his or her initials and #1, in case a plant died. We filled the cup with soil and stuck one green bean seed and two radish seeds into the cups. Many of the green bean plants have grown over a foot long. Recently, one student’s plant starting making miniature green beans about the length of half a crayon. The only problem was insects infested our plants, probably aphids.
                       When those plants started growing, students volunteered to be involved in more plant experiments. We grew plants in rectangular containers about a 1’ and 6’’ filled with soil (a foot and six inches). These plants included carrots and rosemary. One was placed on each table and four were placed on a circular table. The people who volunteered watered these plants when necessary. They smell great, but are taking their time when it comes to growing.
                       After the plants started to show above the soil, we started an experiment involving lemon seeds. We took plastic cups and soaked two paper towels. We layered the paper towels and put them in the cup. We put two lemon seeds in between the two paper towels. We did this twice so each student had two cups. We labeled them, #1 and #2 and put one in sunlight and one in a cabinet. Of course, the one in the sunlight grew. To our surprise, the one in the darkness also grew! Those that did grow were transplanted into Dixie cups with soil in them. We also watered the lemon plants regularly because the paper towels/soil got dry.
                        Next we did an experiment with celery. We got a large glass and filled it with blue food colored water. We then placed the celery into the water and waited. The celery turned blue after time passed! What an amazing development! Even so, the celery died, it looked strange at the end of the experiment. Our plants are still growing and are only going to get taller. Undoubtedly, we will grow more plants in the future.  

We did rules of Divisibility. They are:
2- number has to end in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
3- sum of number can be divided by 3
4- last 2 digits can be divided by 4
5- last digit is 5 or 0
6- if 2 and 3 can be divided by the number
7- no rule
8- if the last 3 digits can be divided by 8
9- sum of number can be divided by 9
10- ends in 0

Mean, Median, Mode, and Range:
Mean: add all of the numbers, and then divide the number of numbers in the problem.
Median: After putting the numbers in least to greatest/greatest to least, the middle number is the median. If there is an even amount of numbers, then add both numbers by the middle, and divide by 2.
Mode: The most frequent/common number.
Range: The least number to the greatest number (a), and the difference of the greatest number minus the least number (b).

We also learned how to work on a coordinate plane by using the X and Y-axis. We know where to mark coordinates (an example: 3, -5). We also learned algebra, like, “if X=30, X+15=45.” We also know 1-step equations, like X-22=143. 143+22 is 165, so X=165.

We have also learned how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide negative numbers. The strategies are:
SAA- Signs alike, add (addition)
SAP- Signs alike, positive (multiplication and division)
ATO- Add the opposite (subtraction)
We have gotten skill by doing worksheets.

We also know how to measure angles of all kinds- Acute, Obtuse, Right, Straight- you name it! We used protractors for precise measurements. Using the protractors, we also made Pie/Circle Graphs. We got to make our own pie graphs with funny data, which was fun.

We also learned numerical patterns. An example is “2, 4, 6, 8. What are the next 3 numbers?” Also, “What is the pattern?” As you can see, we have learned many things in Core 1 math already!

6D Podcast Episode Three

Transcript Thu, 13 Dec 2007 2 Mb

Social Studies This Year So Far!

In social studies we have been learning about Egypt – modern and ancient. We have learned about the importance the Nile, pyramids, mummies, gods and goddesses, pharaohs, and more. We have made social pyramids that go like this:
Pharaoh
Government Officials
Soldiers
Scribes
Artisans
Merchants
Farmers
Slaves & Servants

For an extra activity we made pharaoh masks and headdresses and did the “Walk Like An Egyptian” dance. Ms. Hatch put on the song, and we danced around the room doing the Egyptian pose.

We were assigned a group power point. The topics were mummies, pyramids, gods and goddesses, the Nile, hieroglyphics, and children of the Nile. It was fun!

We have been reading a class book, The Egypt Game. We finished it a couple weeks ago. It’s about April, Melanie, Elizabeth, Marshall, Toby, and Ken. It was very thrilling! We had tests and quizzes about the story plot.

We also did the Egypt Project. We had nine choices of things to do. Some were power points, sculptures, pyramids, dioramas, mummies, and other projects. Some people brought food, like M.B. who brought in a cake pyramid.

We have also watched many videos of Egypt. We have watched two Bill Nye the Science Guy videos, Archaeology and Egypt. We have also watched other videos such as the Egypt military and modern Egypt.

The Fall Festival was so much fun! We played games and had many challenges. We had to bob for apples to get a lolli-mummies.  We had lots of fun!

        We have transitioned into Asia areas in Social Studies and here is what we have done…

We have studied areas in Asia but have mostly focused on China. We watched a video and have gone over some interesting facts, but we are just getting started!

In Language arts we have been focusing on poems. There are diamante, if I were…, alliteration, free verse, colors, haiku, a recipe for…, and two voice. On December 18th we held a poems presentation. Every student recited one poem and some pairs recited a two voice poem. Thanks for coming! Afterwards we celebrated with the families favorite desert dishes. The poems were turned into a poem book and some were illustrated. They were very amazing, incredible poems that got everyone moving.

6D Podcast Episode Four

Transcript Fri, 14 Dec 2007 2 Mb

This is the podcast for December 10-14. We are T.G., M.B., and S.B., reporting from 6D’s Podcasting Inc.!

This week started angel tree. We are bringing money everyday for military children to have a better Christmas. Team 6D is in lead for a pizza party, and our advisory might be in lead for a doughnut party. Sixth grade has collected over $1200.00 for the angels!

We also started the Puzzle Experiment. Dr. Burcham bought six one-hundred piece puzzles. We were in six teams, and worked to put the puzzles together. We had a hypothesis about how hard and easy the puzzles were. We voted about the hardest to easiest. We will finish that today!

Our class also did the Music Experiment #2. We listened to six different songs and rated them 1-10. Then we listened to them and watched the music video too and rated them 1-10 for that. We compared the two ratings. Then we found a mean, median, mode, and range for each song, audio and video. We then had to make a bar graph including our audio rating, class audio mean, our video rating, and the class video mean. That went really well!

This week we started Science Mysteries #2. We had five really hard “show-off” questions to answer, such as:
Can an object exist as more than one state of matter at one time?
What is 20/20 vision?
What is an itch and why do we have them?
These are good thinking questions – and parents, if you’re listening, I’ll bet YOU can’t answer these questions!

In math we worked on prime factorization, expanded and standard form, order of operations, and adding and subtracting fractions.

E-cybermission is going great! Everyone is has great ideas! Thank you, Ms. Stallings!

Well, that was our week! This was T.G., M.B., and S.B., reporting from 6D’s Podcasting Inn!

6D Podcast Episode Five

Transcript Thu, 10 Jan 2008 3.6 Mb

Monday:
On Monday, Dr. Burcham’s son, Aaron, came into our classroom to help with the experiments we would be doing. We did the Laughter Experiment #1. Dr. Burcham will play four recordings of people laughing. We will see if those people laughing will make us laugh, too.

• Young male laughing

• Female laughing

• Two females laughing

• Two males laughing

We also did the Microscope Lab #2. We had seven items to observe under the microscope. We recorded what we thought it would look like, what it did look like, what surprise us, and what magnification worked best. It was very fun! We appreciated Mr. Burcham (Aaron) coming to help us.

In Ms. Hatch’s class, we worked on visuals for our China TV Show. We also ran through our China TV Show.

Tuesday:
The band concert was on Tuesday. Ten students in our team performed. The sixth grade watched during elective time. At 11:30, we went down to Ms. Stallings room to do the Star Lab. We crawled through a tunnel into this huge bubble. It was pitch black. Ms. Stallings turned on this light that spun around the bubble. First, the lights were stars that we see today at night. Then she showed us the stars connected, constellations. Last, she showed us the stars connected in ancient Egypt. It was very interesting! We thank Ms. Stallings for showing us this.

Wednesday:
On Wednesday, the candy grams were delivered. After electives, we ate our candy canes while Dr. Burcham talked about essays. Then he taught us how to multiply factions using cross division.
We worked on Extra Credit and our China TV Show in Ms. Hatch’s class. We also went to the Intermediate/Advanced Band Concert, too.

Thursday:
On Thursday during seminar, we went to the intramurals championships. We were playing against Mr. Morta’s advisory. It was a tie game, four to four. We had our math test, too. Then we worked on Science Mysteries #3, December version.
We wrote persuasive letters to Santa and played Christmas games in the computer lab.

Friday:
Today is the last day before Christmas Vacation. We took the Christmas Challenge, which was putting together six puzzles in 24 minutes as a class. We accomplished this goal. Then we played Spades until we went to Ms. Hatch’s class. We then took the Jingle Jog.

We hope you have great holidays and a good winter vacation. This was M.L. and T.G., reporting from 6D Podcasting Inc.

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