Urbas - Science Week of Dec. 16 - Jan 3

Students have been full of season cheer and have been looking forward to the break. It is at this time I want to wish you all a wonderful holiday season! Have a great break!

For students interested in extra credit, if you have your parents take you to either the museum of Science & Industry or the Field, free days would be best, and bring back a proof of attendance, you will receive credit.

Urbas - Science Week of Dec. 9 - 15

Students did several labs this week including investigations of Pulleys and Cranes, Belt Pulley Systems, and Levers.

Ask your student to identify the type of pulley in the pictured crane and they should be able to name and identify the Mechanical Advantage of it.

Next week, gears and "fishing".

Urbas - Science Week of Dec. 1 - 8

Students this week have been working on structures and levers built to examine properties of machines. Next week they will be constructing two types of pulleys systems, line and belt pulleys. They will be investigating mechanical advantage, speed, direction of motion, and torque.

Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 22 - 31

Students this week started on their LEGO investigations of machines. They are going to be working with levers and pulleys and machine systems next week.

There will also be a test on "Work & Machines" and the study guide can be found on my BLOG.

Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the weekend.

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 18 - 25

Students next week will start their investigations of machines using LEGO kits. They will be constructing machines to perform various tasks and they will evaluate motion, forces, torque, Mechanical Advantage, and speed. Keep watching!

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 11 - 17

Students have started their investigations of Newton's Three Laws of Motion this week and next week will finish them. They will also be starting a unit of discovery of machines using LEGO kits. Students will be building many different machines and investigating the forces that surround and control them.

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 4 - 10

Students this week started their investigations of pulleys. Next week they will do one lab with pulleys and then work on Newton's three Laws of Motion.

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 28 - Nov. 3

Students next week will be working on pulleys and levers. They will construct a paper lever in order to find the mass of a coin and will start their investigations of pulleys. I am not pulley-ing your leg.

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 21 - 27

Students this week have started their investigations of speed and motion and levers. Next week they will continue their work on finding how fast they can travel in addition to how to balance a lever and the differences between mass and weight.

Sounds like infinity.

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 14 - 21

Students this week have started their investigations of machines. They will be working with concepts of motion, speed, kinetic and potential energy and many other areas in the upcoming weeks.

The 6th grade will also be taking a field trip on Tuesday, Oct. 18th to the Rialto Theater in Joliet to view a series of short plays. It will be an exciting week.

Stay tuned!

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 7 - 13

Students this week finished safety and scientific method. Next week they will be taking a test on Friday covering metrics, scientific method, safety, and lab glassware. There is a study guide on my BLOG covering the material.

Students will also begin their study of force, motion, and machines next week.

Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 30 - Oct 6

Students this past week have been working with the Scientific Method and next week will be working with lab glassware and safety in the lab.

On Saturday Oct. 1st, there is an extra credit option available for students. They need to go with their parents to the Downers Grove Sanitary District Open House and take a tour of the facilities. The tour is free and the facility is open from 9am to 12 am Saturday morning. To receive credit, a student must bring back the certificate of attendance to class. For more information, see my blog under Extra Credit.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 23 - 29

Students this week have finished their investigations of unknowns and were very successful in identifying the "mystery objects". Next week they will be developing that idea further with the designing of an experiment to test buoyancy and will start working with the Scientific Method more. Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 16 - 22

Students this week have been working on the concept of density and next week will be using the concept to measure and identify nine unknown specimens. They will be using volume and mass to solve the task. Stay tuned.

There will also be a quiz on Friday, September 23rd covering metrics and measurement. A study guide will available on Monday.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 9 - 15

Students this week worked on the concept of volume and did labs relating to it. Next week they will be learning how to use a Triple Beam Balance to find the mass of objects and will be working toward the concept of density by the end of the week. Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 2 -8

Students this week worked on their measuring skills using metric tools. They measured length and width and also made calculations based on the area of various shapes in the lab. Next week they will be combining that skill with and added dimension of height to create a three dimensional volume concept. Stay tuned!

Urbas - Science Week of August 26 - September 1

Welcome to 6^th Grade

Mr. Urbas

Science 6^th Grade

I would like to welcome all of the new students to Lakeview Junior High whether you come from Prairieview or another school. Your next years will be filled with new challenges, opportunities, and possibilities.

I teach science in the sixth grade and have been doing so at Lakeview for the past 17 years. In addition to teaching, I also coach Cross Country, a sport I encourage you as a sixth grader to participate in during the fall. I also coordinate a Science Club in the spring which is open to all students in which we perform various experiments that are not a part of the science curriculum at Lakeview.

The science curriculum in sixth grade is one based on the studies of Earth and Physical Science. The class has an emphasis on hands on activities and the lab is a major part of the curriculum. Students are expected to participate and act in a safe manner whenever working in the lab setting. Units of study include metrics, safety, machines, geology, plate tectonics, color and light, astronomy, and topography.

The curriculum is matched to state standards and is designed for the student to be successful during the process. Required work consists of daily work, pre-labs, lab assessments and quizzes and tests. To be successful a student needs to complete the work in a timely manner. Specific rules and procedures will be given out to each individual student in the fall at the start of the year to be reviewed by the student and parents both.

I can be reached by accessing my e mail at:

murbas@ccsd66.org

or

(630) 783-5035

Please feel free to contact me and I hope to see you at the Parent Open house sponsored at Lakeview.

Urbas - Science Week of June 3 - 7

The school year is winding down and the sixth grade students are busy finishing their Lip Sync's and cleaning out lockers and materials.

I want to take this time to congratulate the recent 8th grade graduates and wish them luck next year wherever they are going to school.

Enjoy summer!

Urbas - Science Week of April 27 - May 2

Students have been using compasses like the one on the left to make and take map and field bearings. They are starting to work with directions and creating maps and following other student maps. Next week they will be doing orienteering and working in depth with Topographic maps.

Urbas - Science Week of May 20 - 26

Students are now working with maps and
compasses in class and will be measuring and making their own maps of the Lakeview Campus. They will be orienteering around the area and trying to find their way using a magnetic compass, by way of directional bearings. Keep your eyes open for "lost souls".

Urbas - Science Week of May 13 - 19

Students spent this week inside of the "Starlab" Planetarium, learning about stars, constellations, galaxies, and the universe. Next week they will be finishing up Astronomy and starting on their studies of Topography and Mapping. They will be working with compasses and orienteering at Lakeview. Don't get lost!

Next Friday, May 20th will also be a test on Astronomy.

Urbas - Science Week of May 6 - 12

Students are continuing their study of the universe and this upcoming week will be using the Starlab Planetarium dome in class. They will be inside an inflatable dome and will see constellations, study ancient mythology, celestial coordinates, and galaxies. It promises to be enlightening.

Urbas - Science Week of April 29 - May 5

Students this week were extremely busy with the MAP testing and all their regular classes. In addition we had the music department go with the bands to Gatlinburg, TN for a music festival. To say things are not hectic around here is an understatement!

In Science, students continue their examinations of the stars and next week they will be using Astrolabes and finding the distance to various "stars" in the classroom using a technique called Parallax. Students will also be building their own "Starfinders" for use at home.

Stay turned and don't forget to look up!

Urbas - Science Week of April 21 - 27

Students have begun their investigations into the field of astronomy. In the next few weeks we will be studying stars, constellations, galaxies, and the universe. Students will be doing many activities relating to the sun and all aspects of the universe.

Keep your eyes open for more information.

Urbas - Science Week of April 15 - 21

Students this week have been working on labs relating to falling objects, pendulums, and projectile motion sponsored by the American Physical Society. The labs are designed to follow a theme and solve a problem using experiment results as a key. Below are pictures of some students engaged in timing the period of a pendulum and measuring its swing. These labs will wrap up on Monday and we will be sending in our results to see if students can win a prize for their participation. Stay tuned!

The time is right!

Measure the length of the pendulum arm.

Urbas - Science Week of April 8 - 14

Students are continuing their investigations of light this week and next week they will be participating in a series of experiments that are offered by the American Physical Society in which they will be trying to solve a problem based on experiments they conduct in groups. Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of March 25 - April 4

A summary:

Students have just finished a quiz on material covered in our Light unit.

Spring break is here and many students are going to various places around the country.

Now if Spring would just arrive here!

When school returns next month, students will continue to investigate Light and Color, and will be working with colors and pigments. Stay tuned.



New information is that Science Club has started for the Spring and if you are interested, stop by and see Mr. Urbas for an application.

















Students pictured are working on determining their "Blind Spots" in their vision.

Urbas - Science Week of March 18 - 24

This week students have continued their search for the speed of light and reflections. They calculated the distance light travels in a year and determined how far the star Alpha Centauri is from the Earth.

In the pictures below, students are working to prove that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. They are using a light and a protractor to measure the angles.

"I think you have an angle for this."

Urbas - Science Week of March 11 - 17

Students this week have been investigating light and its effects. The visual you see on the right is an illusion showing how our eyes can trick the mind.

Students below are experimenting with the path a beam of light follows. They observed that light always travels in a straight line unless that beam is reflected, refracted, or obstructed.

We will be continuing with color and light investigations this upcoming week.

Aligning the beam of light.

Trying to reflect the beam.

Urbas - Science Week of March 4 - 10

Students are beginning their investigations of Light and Color this week. We have just finished our yearly ISAT tests, the kids are happy, and now we are in the third trimester of the school year. In the next few weeks we will be working with lenses, prisms, mirrors and color mixing using pigments and plastics. Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of Feb 25 - March 3

Students this week have been working on mining and minerals. They worked as "miners" in order to try and determine whether an area was rich enough in mineral deposits to be profitable. The picture on the left shows a team probing a sample area and mapping the percentage of deposits in relation to land area.

Next week we are starting ISAT testing and students will be working on experiments based on Color and Light.

There is also an extra credit option available for Saturday Feb. 26. Information can be found on my BLOG home page under Extra Credit. All students need to do is go to the program and bring back proof of participation.

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 18 - 25

Students this week tested the strength of their Tower constructions against Mr. Urbas's Epicenter Earthquake Machine. The students worked for approximately a week on their constructions, sharing ideas and strategies with their teamates. When the final day came, they were ready.

Although several of the Towers were able to withstand a Richter Scale rating of 7, not one was able to withstand the total 9 the machine can generate. This is the first time the machine actually won the battle against all contestants. At the end, most students wanted another shot at beating the Epicenter Machine. Some pictures are below.

Typical Tower with plates on three levels to simulate the load of a building.

This Tower was leaning a little bit before the start of the earthquake.

The remains of what once was a three story Tower at a Richter Scale reading of 7.

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 11 - 17

This week in class, students put their finishing touches on their Tower constructions. Below are picture three of the groups that have made great progress in the process. On Monday, the Towers will be subjected to earthquake stresses up to a level of nine on the Richter Scale. Next week there should be some great pictures of the experiment. Stay tuned!

"All three levels are where they should be".

"Colorful and simple".

"I don't think everything is on the level"!

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 4 - 10

Students have been busy this week building their Towers in class. That is until Wednesday, Groundhog's day, when we received a small amount of snow. Due to this minor problem, the Towers will not be due until Wednesday of next week. Below are some pictures of happy groups.

Three platforms done!

One level down, two to go!

Happiness is an almost complete Tower!

Urbas - Science Week of Jan 28 - Feb 3

Students this week in Science have been working as Seismologists in order to determine the epicenter of an earthquake in the U.S. Pictured below are two groups who are using using triangulation to find the spot an earthquake occurred from seismic wave data.

This week they are working in groups to try to assemble a structure to withstand Mr. Urbas's famous Earthquake machine. Pictures of that project will be in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned.

Student predictions of where did that earthquake start?

It has got to be in this area!

Urbas - Science Week of Jan 21 - 27

Students continue to investigate the Earth and the concepts associated with it.

Next week they will start on how to determine exactly where an earthquake occurs just like an actual seismologist does. The process is done using triangulation based on information received at a recording station. Keep tuned in.

Urbas - Science Week of Jan. 14 - 20.

Students this week have been trying to reconstruct the original continent of Pangaea, "one land". By using clues based on scientific observation, students should be able to reassemble the continent.
This upcoming week, they will be learning about faults, what causes them and the results of movement. Whose fault is it anyway?

Urbas - Science Week of Jan. 7 - 13

Students are back from the Christmas break and have started investigating the Earth in relation to it's layers and Plate Tectonics this week. Included are pictures from the suggestion of Mrs. Maass in Social Studies that show "Arnold" in a "Pangaea, the SUPERCONTINENT" pose. SS and Sci have been collaborating on the study of Pangaea recently and the kids really enjoyed the connection. The students are also doing their best "Arnold" pose.

Arnold looks ready to hold up the continent.

Parents, the new set of notes from the unit on Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes has been posted on my blog.