Science Teachers: 

Kim Lawrence (4th and 5th Grade) Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Tonya Focht (3rd Grade/4th GradeB Termini/Darin & Turpen/Demello) Friday

 Welcome to Sycamore Science!  We are thrilled to be your child's science teacher.  We look forward to a wonderful year filled with exciting hands on learning.   We can best be reached by e-mail if you ever have any questions or concerns.  Please feel free to also come and visit the Science Lab. 

Thanks,

Kim Lawrence (4th and 5th grade)  & Tonya Focht (3rd grade)

klawrence@srvusd.net

tfocht@srvusd.net

"We should not teach children the sciences, but give them a taste for them." -Jean Jacques Rosseau

Our expectations for students are the following:

Try your best

Be safe

Respect yourself, classmates, teacher, and materials

Follow Directions

Have Fun

Science lab is an exciting time for students and we encourage exploration and collaboration.  We do however expect students to follow directions and support one another at all times.  We communicate students' behavior to their classroom teacher on a weekly basis.   Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns in regards to classroom procedures.  

My name is Kim Lawrence and I am thrilled to be the 4th and 5th grade science teacher!   This is my 7th year here at Sycamore Valley and I just love being part of this amazing community.  I went to college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where I majored majored in Natural Resources management.  After college I taught at the Marin County Outdoor school and then made my way across the bay to Danville.  I love teaching science and watching the subject come alive in the eyes of the students.  I am committed to a hands on, inquiry based, program that encourages students to question and explore.  My goal is to make science fun and accessible and in doing so developing confident young scientists. You can find me in the science lab on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. When I am not teaching science, I am busy being mom to my two young sons (Cole 3 years & Bode 16 months).   We love to hike, travel, and have adventures with our family and friends.  I would love to get to know you so please feel free to stop by lab or send me an e-mail.  Here’s to a great school year together!

-Kim Lawrence

klawrence@srvusd.net

My name is Tonya Focht and I am so excited to be teaching Science to 3rd and some 4th graders at Sycamore this year.  This will be my 5th year teaching Science and my 2nd year at Sycamore.  I received my college education at San Jose State where I majored in Child development.  I enjoy seeing your children develop a real love for science.  I feel it is important for students to experience lots of hands on science.  I am in the Sycamore science lab all day on Fridays.  The other days of the week you will find me at Live Oak Elementary teaching science to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders.  When I am not teaching I am a mother of 3, all products of the San Ramon Valley school district.  My 2 older children (Christopher 21, Victoria 19) graduated from San Ramon Valley High School and my youngest (Thomas 16) is a sophomore at San Ramon.  I love to travel and especially enjoy the ocean.  I would like to get to know all of you, so please stop by on any given Friday to say hi.  I am looking forward to a great year at Sycamore Valley.

-Tonya Focht

tfocht@srvusd.net 

OCTOBER 2011

OCTOBER 2011

Fourth graders are continuing to learn how all-living things depend on one another in chapter 2.  We will be looking at a variety of ecosystems and how living things adapt to their environment. We will look closely at specific adaptations such a camouflage and teeth structure. Ask your child to tell you about the bird buffet! Students will be asked to reflect on characteristics of a variety of ecosystems.  This would be a great family topic to discuss where your favorites places are to travel. :) 

OCTOBER 2011

Fifth graders are wrapping up their chapter on plant structures and functions.  We have enjoyed dissecting flowers and learning all about the functions of these angiosperms.  I sincerely hope that flowers in your own gardens have not been dissected as a result…sometimes our curiosity gets the best of us!  J We have observed the difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms and how photosynthesis and respiration are vital in our world.  Ask your child to tell you about our game Photosynthesis Tag and how we built a tree during science lab!  Students will be tested on this chapter in the middle of the month by their classroom teachers. 

We will then move into our chapter on the human body systems.   We will launch with the digestive system, which tends to be a fan favorite!   As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the material covered, please feel free to contact me.  J

Hand Soap

Tissues

The Bay Area is home to many wonderful science museums and organizations.  Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.wildlife-muesum.org

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org

http://www.oaklandzoo.org

http://exploratorium.edu

www.calacademy.org

http://activities.macmillanmh.com/science/ca/index.html

TEXTBOOK ONLINE

http://www.kidsites.com/sites-edu/science.html

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/kids/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/shapeitup.html

http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system

http://www.wildearth.tv/static/wildearth/home.html

http://www.billnye.com/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/