6th Grade ScienceMs. McCaslinMeet the TeacherSeptember 3rd, 2014

Teacher Background• Danielle McCaslin: dmccaslin@wcpss.net• Bachelor’s of Education - Indiana University of

Pennsylvania• Twelve years teaching in Wake County Schools• Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

(Go Steelers!)

Units of Study• Safety and Lab Procedures• What’s the Matter

• Structure, classifications, and physical properties of matter

• Catch a Wave • Wavelike property of energy in earthquakes, light and sound waves

• 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

• Space Invaders• Study of the earth/moon/sun system and celestial bodies in the Universe

• Growing and Flowing • Understanding the flow of energy through ecosystems and the structures, processes and

behaviors of plants

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.

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.

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.

CommunicationsOur Team Website

http://mpmsjaguars.weebly.com/Email

dmccaslin@wcpss.netPhone

(919)466-1500