Dear 6th grade Science Student (and Family)

September 8, 2010

Dear 6^th Grade Science Student:

My name is Allison Cooke. I am really excited to begin teaching at Archimedes Academy, and I’m really excited that you will be joining us to learn together.

I started teaching in 1994—way before you were born!—and have taught social studies and math (and a little English). Then I began teaching nothing but science about 4 years ago. I love it! Science is all about noticing the world around you and trying to figure out how it works. I’ve been teaching at a school over near Yankee Stadium for 6 years, and then I found Archimedes Academy! I’m looking forward to working here.

We’re going to be studying some of my favorite subjects this year:

•      Simple Machines: How do things move around?

•      Weather: Why isn’t it always warm and sunny?

•      Biodiversity: How many different living things are on our Earth?

•      Interdependence: How can we possibly all live on Earth together peacefully?

During each unit, you will be asking your own questions and investigating them to learn about how science works. You will design investigations and perform them. It’s lots of fun. I use lots of toys and models, and I hope we go on trips, too.

You’re going to need some tools to help you learn this year:

Just for science:

•      2 black-and-white style composition books

•      a binder (about ½ inch, or a space in a large binder)

•      a two-pocket folder for carrying homework papers to home and back

For school in general:

•      a homework book

•      blue/black pens

•      pencils, erasers, sharpeners

•      calculator

•      ruler, glue, colored pencils, markers

I can’t wait to get to know you better. Together, we’ll explore these areas of the world and learn as much as we can about how to think about it all.

If you or your family needs me, here’s how to find me:

Allison Cooke

acooke@archimedesacademy.org

blog: http://aa6science.blogspot.com