We are quickly approaching the end of the school year and I want to give you all a chance to end it on a good note. Yesterday I gave each of you a grade report showing all the assignments and how you scored. As you know I don’t accept late work however, this week you have an opportunity to erase some of those NHI’s (not handed in).

• You may turn in any missing Science News item no later than this Friday, and receive up to 80% credit. Each item must be completed as required, clearly indicate the date for the assignment you are making-up, grade it as usual and place it in the in-box.
• Any Daily Performance or Daily Quizzes items marked NHI are your bellwork sheets. Find them and turned them in by this Friday and receive full credit. Bellwork sheets must be completed, including the dates, properly graded, points totalled and signed.
• I am still accepting write-ups for the Polymer Lab (Diaper Lab). This was a short write-up; background, observations and conclusions. Labs must be in by this Friday.
• Any other concerns please see me before or after school, not during class.

For the rest of this week and next we’ll be finishing up our unit on Chemistry. We’ll complete the lab you started today on chemical reactions. Data collection should be Thursday and conclusions and analysis on Friday after your test. Labs will be turned in on Monday.

Friday you have a chemistry test. It will cover: atomic structure (the 3 main subatomic particles, names, mass, charge and location); elements, compounds and mixtures; the periodic table (periods, groups, atomic number, isotopes, number of each subatomic particle, number of electrons per energy level, valance electrons, Lewis dot diagrams); bonding (ionic and covalent); balancing equations; chemical versus physical changes; evidence of a chemical reaction and factors that affect chemical reactions. You will have the FCAT Reference sheet to use during the test.

Next week we’ll do another lab, have science news on Wednesday and discuss acids and bases. It is a full schedule and will keep you busy the entire time.

Reminder this Friday is the last day you are allowed to bring a backpack. Monday 6th period will be our team awards and Friday of next week will be 8th grade field day. Wear your Buccaneer’s color (red with black) and compete against the other 8th grade teams. Go Bucs!!