1. Sixth Grade Science Ms. Cochrane’s Class

2. Teacher Background Laura Cochrane lcochrane@wcpss.net
Bachelor of Science – Meredith College
National Board Certification/Mentor Coordinator
Kenan Fellow
29 years teaching Wake County Public Schools
Teacher of the Year – 3 schools

3. Love to Travel
Favorite places so far: Africa, Galapagos Islands, Paris, Curacao, Aruba, Yellowstone National Park, and Belize.
This past summer I took a trip to Australia and New Zealand. My favorite part was getting to hold a Koala Bear and swimming on the Great Barrier Reef. Here’s a few pictures from
my trip …

5. Units of Study Safety and Lab Procedures The Land Beneath our Feet
Structure of earth and how interactions of constructive and destructive forces have
resulted in changes in the surface of the Earth
What’s the Matter
Structure, classifications, and physical properties of matter
Catch a Wave
Wavelike property of energy in earthquakes, light and sound waves
Growing and Flowing
Understanding the flow of energy through ecosystems and the structures, processes and behaviors of plants
Space Invaders
Study of the earth/moon/sun system and celestial bodies in the Universe

6. HOW WE LEARN HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON EXPLORATION
It is my goal to provide a learning environment rich with hands on activities. In science many of our activities require consumable supplies. Throughout the year I’ll send a notice requesting supplies for upcoming activities. Any help with this request would be greatly appreciated
SCIENCE IS INQUIRY-BASED!
I want to teach your child HOW to think, not WHAT to think! Asking questions, finding answers, making mistakes, testing ideas, asking more questions, finding more answers. It’s all a part of the learning process.

7. Interactive Science Notebooks (ISN)
What are they?
An Interactive Notebook is a tool that will help students succeed in this class. 
They can be used to 1) review for quizzes and tests, 2) keep track of assignments and class progress on a daily basis, 3) personalize your learning experience in science by having a means to reflect thoughtfully, creatively, and individually. 
This style of notebook uses both the right and left-brain hemispheres to help sort, categorize and be creative with the new science information you are learning.

8. Interactive Science Notebooks (ISN)
Why use them?
Improve organizational skills
Improve critical thinking skills
Express understanding creatively
Research shows that student understanding and literacy skills improve when students do hands-on minds-on science and use science notebooks to make sense of their investigations.

9. Homework & Make-Up Work
Write assignments in agenda
Study notes and vocabulary words for minutes each night
When absent, check “While You Were Out” station and get ISN notes from lab partner
It can be difficult to send science assignments home ahead of time due to the nature of most class activities.
Students will receive class notes and information about any labs/experiments/content information that they missed when they arrive back at school.

10. ** PowerSchool will be updated once a week **
Grading Categories
Classwork/Labs 1-15 points
Quizzes 1-10 points
Projects 1-20 points
Tests points
** PowerSchool will be updated once a week **

11. Check out the following links:
Tigers website
Mills Park Middle School website
Grading Policy

12. Communication
please note - checked daily at end of school day
Phone:
Website I