GO WITH THE LAVA FLOW

Happy new marking period, everyone! With the fresh start, it’s a great time to check in on grades—if your student has a lower grade than expected, it’s likely due to a missing assignment. Getting those turned in as soon as possible is the best way to improve their score and stay on track. I’m always here to help if anyone needs clarification or assistance!

Where We Were

Last week, we wrapped up our Earthquake Mitigation Project, which was a big hit! Students particularly enjoyed the Stop Disasters Game, which challenged them to strategize ways to reduce the impact of earthquakes. We also connected this to the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, examining the real-world consequences of such natural disasters. Using both research and the game’s simulations, students developed mitigation strategies to reduce loss of life and property damage. It was great to see their creativity and critical thinking in action!

Below are photos from the project:

Where We Are

Now, we’re shifting gears to volcanoes! Students have been diving into how volcanoes and earthquakes are connected through our Plotting Natural Disasters Lab, mapping out their locations to see patterns in Earth's geologic activity. We also explored lava rocks and lava flows through an inquiry-based activity. This week, we’ll wrap up our volcano studies with a viscosity lab, where students will investigate how different types of lava impact eruptions. We’ll also watch a documentary on the catastrophic 2022 volcanic eruption in Tonga, learning about its immense impact on the Pacific island nation.

Where We Are Going

Next week, we’ll wrap up our Earth’s Processes Unit with a unit test on Friday, 2/7. Students will have three full class periods to review with a review packet and engaging games.

The test will be worth 40 points and includes:

• 16 multiple-choice questions (16 pts)

• 2 matching sections (2 @ 4 pts each)

• 1 diagram-based question (6 pts)

• 4 short-answer questions (2 @ 2 pts each and 2 @ 3 pts each)

After the test, we’ll begin our next unit: Earth’s Waters! This unit will build on what we’ve learned during the Earth’s Processes unit and connect it to our upcoming Weather & Climate unit. We’ll explore:

• Heat Transfer

• Phase Changes & States of Matter

• The Water Cycle

• Salinity & Density

• Environmental Issues

• Heating & Cooling Processes

This unit will not have a test—instead, the next major assessment will come in the Weather & Climate unit.

If you have any questions or want to connect further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org. You can also follow our journey on Instagram at @classwithcatwood, where I share updates and snapshots of our exciting classroom activities.

Thank you for your time and support, and here’s to an engaging and productive start to the New Year!

Best regards,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)