4 Elements Officially Named!

Elements 113, 115, 117, and 118 are now formally named nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og)

Research Triangle Park, NC: On 28 November 2016, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approved the name and symbols for four elements: nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og), respectively for element 113, 115, 117, and 118.

Following a 5-month period of public review, the names earlier proposed by the discoverers have been approved by the IUPAC Bureau. The following names and symbols are officially assigned:
Nihonium and symbol Nh, for the element 113,
Moscovium and symbol Mc, for the element 115,
Tennessine and symbol Ts, for the element 117, and
Oganesson and symbol Og, for the element 118.

https://iupac.org/iupac-announces-the-names-of-the-elements-113-115-117-and-118/

Nature's Patchwork

Nature journalling and seasonal observations by the middle school students. The 6,7, and 8th grades have locations in the Parker Forest that they visit regularly to calmly and creatively reflect on the world around them. Using pictures, diagrams, and creative writing, they document the status of the forest. They also collect weather data and wildlife data to share with a citizen science program. The middle school will select their best works to post to a Pinterest Page, and they are focusing on the skills that help them continually produce their best work!

Below are examples from student journals.

Photos from group sites for reference.

Climate-change

Helen shared her knowledge on climate change and its causes and solutions with the class. She creates a list of hope!

SuperMoon

Wow! http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/11/03/the-supermoon-coming-and-more-king-tides-are-coming-with/rvuz5yElF3V0UQwMCLN6bI/story.html

45treefactory

Acting out the parts of a tree!

Regeneron

Lava 

Lamps 

pH

DNA strawberries 

Fall pond observations 2-3 Science

Capturing details of seasonal changes!

Nature's Patchwork- middle school nature journalists

The 6,7 & 8 grades are immersing themselves in nature and art in the Parker forest. Capturing details and making observations, they are producing their best work to add to a Pinterest page and citizen science data collection.

A Natural Middle School

Observing mitosis in action- spring!

Glacier movement in the K-1s

We use glacial goo to model how glaciers flow in Antarctica. They used iPad timers and maps of the continent to measure flow. Sharing their observations and ideas afterwards, they excitedly wanted to experiment more!

Testing for respiration!

6th and 7th graders testing for CO2 & O2  as experiment inspiration to prove photosynthesis and cellular respiration!