AstroCamp 2015 Information

AstroCamp 

February 18-20, 2015

Update 1/13/2015

·    We need 4 parent chaperones! Email david.gantt@gmail.com or leave a message at school if you’re interested.

·    Sign, complete and return the yellow AstroCamp Medical Form and the green LAUSD Field Trip Slip to Mr. Gantt by January 23^rd.

·    Balances of $180 for AstroCamp are due January 23^rd.

Please write your check payable to Brentwood Science Magnet as your form of payment. Also, please put your payment in an envelop with your child’s full name and room number. Thank you to those who have already paid.

If you have any questions about AstroCamp, contact Mr. Gantt at school (310) 826-5631 or by email at david.gantt@gmail.com. 

Information on AstroCamp can also be found at http://www.astrocamp.org/

Update 12/17/2014

We are looking forward to a very exciting trip. Your balance is due by January 23, 2015. You may pay at your convenience any time before January 23^th. Please make checks payable to Brentwood Science Magnet. Also, please make sure your payment is in an envelope with your child's name and room number clearly printed on the front of the envelope.

We need chaperones! We need two female and two male chaperones. See Mr. Gantt for more information.

If you have any questions, you may contact the school

(310) 826-5631 or by email: mr.gantt@gmail.com.

Information on AstroCamp can also be found at http://www.astrocamp.org/

Below is a list of items to bring. 

Pack all the items into a single bag (not including sleeping bag).

IT WILL BE COLD so pack warm clothing. 

• warm daily change of clothing (no shorts)
• warm socks
• warm jacket
• warm sweatshirt
• warm gloves/mittens
• comfortable walking shoes
• 2 bath towels
• swim suit (for indoor water activity)
• toothbrush/toothpaste
• shampoo/soap
• sleeping bag or bedding (put in a large trash bag with name)
• pillow
• camera
• water bottle
• 1 lunch (all other meals will be provided)

These two forms will be going home the first week after Winter Break.

What should I do during Winter Break?

What should I do during Winter Break?

Places for Children to Grow...Museums! 


THE AUTRY MUSEUM OF WESTERN HERITGE 

4700 Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027 
(Located across from the L. A. Zoo.)
http://theautry.org
Call (323) 667-2000 for more information.

CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM 
3720 Stephen White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731.
http://www.cabrillo.marineaquarium.org
For information, visit their website or call (310) 548-7562.

CALIFORNIA AFRICAN 
AMERICAN MUSEUM 
600 State Drive (Exposition Park)
Los Angeles, CA 90037
http://www.caam.ca.gov
Offers families Weekends at the Museum; Young Docent offers paid internship for high school students; Summer Technology Arts Program for High School students. For information, call (213) 744-7432.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER 
700 Exposition Park Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90037 
(Located in Exposition Park)
www.californiasciencecenter.org
Offers summer classes for students ages 3-17; M-F from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Classes are one week in length on a variety of topics. Tuition fees apply. Limited scholarships are available. Register online or by mail. For questions, call (213) 744-2325.

CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM 
425 N. Los Angeles Street in Los Angeles
http://www.camla.org

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Call for information, (213) 485-8567.

GETTY MUSEUM 
1200 Getty Drive, 
Los Angeles, CA 90049
http://www.getty.edu

Hours of operation are Tues.-Fri. from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sat. from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Sun. from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The parking cost is $15.00. Admission is free. For information, call (310) 440-7300

HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT 
MUSEUM 
www.hollywoodmuseum.com

Closed during relocation. For information, call (323) 465-7900.

JAPANESE-AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM 
http://www.janm.org

369 E. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. For inforamtion, call 
(213) 625-0414.

KIDS SPACE
480 N. Arroyo Blvd. 
Pasadena, CA 91103
www.kidspacemuseum.org
Offers summer camps in July-August. For inforamtion, call (626) 449-9144.

KOREAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM
3727 W. 6th St., Suite 400 
Los Angeles, CA 90020.
http://www.KAMuseum.org

For information, visit their website or call (213) 388-4229.

LONG BEACH AQUARIUM 
100 Aquarium Way 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
(off Shoreline Drive)
www.aquariumofpacific.org
Family programs are available year round. Summer Day Camp sessions for students ages 3-13 are available the last week in June through the middle of August. A calendar of events and one-day classes is available online. Call (562) 590-3100.

LOS ANGELES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
www.childrensmuseumla.org 

For program information, visit the website.

LOS ANGELES JUNIOR ARTS PROGRAMS
--Barnsdall Art Center, 
William Grant Still Art Center, 
Canoga Park Youth Arts Center
www.culturela.org
Offer classes in the arts for students of all ages throughout the year. For information, call (213) 202-5498 or visit the website.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA 90036
http://www.lacma.org
Participation in LACMA activities is on a firt-come, first-served basis. For cost information or to receive a brochure, call the Education Deaprtment at (323) 857-6139. To print registration forms for all classes, visit the website.

• Art Classes are offered for children and adults throughout the year on a first-come, first-served basis. Call (323) 856-6139 for tuition and registration information.
• The Andell Family Sundays are offered to children ages 12 and younger every Sunday year-round from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and are included in the cost of museum admission.
• Sundays Live is a series of free concerts at 6:00 p.m. on selected Sundays.
• Summer Art Camp is held M-F starting in July. Classes are divided into separate age groups: 6-9 year olds. Call for information on tuitiion costs for morning, afternoon or all-day participation at (323) 857-6512.

MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN 
ART 
http://www.molaa.org
628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802. For inforamtion, call (562) 437-1689 or visit the website.

MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE
www.museumoftolerance.org
Simon Wiesenthal Plaza, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. For information, call (310) 553-8403 or visit the website.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 
OF L. A. COUNTY
900 Exposition Blvd.
(Exposition Park) 
Los Angeles, CA 90007
http://www.nhm.org
Admission is free the first Tuesday of each month. One-week summer sessions are scheduled on a variety of topics for children ages 5-13 and begin July-August, M-F. For information, call (213) 763-3348 or visit the website.

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA 
465 N. Beverly Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.paleycenter.org
For inforamtion call (310) 786-2091 or visit the website.

SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
http://www.skirball.org
Offers family events year-round. For information and additional programs, call (310) 440-4500 or visit the website.

WATTS TOWER ART CENTER 
1727 E. 107th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002
For information regarding programs, call (213) 847-4646 or visit the website.

WESTERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
Located at Louis Zamperini Field 
3315 Airport Dr., Red Baron, #3 Torrance, CA 90505
http://www.wmof.com

For information regarding programs, call (323) 326-9544.

WILLIAM GRANT STILL 
ART CENTER
2520 S. West View Street 
Los Angeles, CA 90016
For information regarding programs, call (323) 734-1164.

Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum of LA County

Natural History Museum of LA County

Plan a visit to Natural History Museum of LA County to learn about dinosaurs at the Dinosaur Hall.

Click here to learn more or plan a visit. 

Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

Click here for more info.

Skulls from wolves 

See paleontologist work on excavating fossils from a tar pit.

Plan your trip to the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

5801 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6300

2nd Grade-Week 1 Physical Properties of Rocks

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http://www.donorschoose.org/David.Gantt 

Every little bit helps!

1^st Lab Session Week

Concept: 3 Rocks-Physical properties of rocks

Investigation: Are all rocks the same?

Wonders READING: pg. 66-71 Rocks

Concept: Minerals and Rocks

What are rocks made of?
How are rocks and minerals different?

Vocabulary:
minerals
physical properties
color 
shape
size
color
texture
rough
smooth
luster
shiny
dull

BrainPopJr.com video of the week: Rocks & Minerals

Find this "Levitated Mass" in Los Angeles...
take a picture of YOU underneath the rock ...
email the picture to mr.gantt@gmail.com for 2 extra credit points.

CA Science Standards

3. Earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. As a basis for understanding this concept:

3a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations.

4f. Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small features of objects.

2nd Grade- Week 1 Earth Science Syllabus

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1^st Lab Session Week

Concept: 3 Rocks-Physical properties of rocks

Investigation: Are all rocks the same?

Wonders READING: pg. 66-71 Rocks

CA Science Standards

3. Earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. As a basis for understanding this concept:

3a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

4f. Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small features of objects.

2^nd Lab Session Week

Concept: Sorting rocks by physical properties

Investigation: What are river rocks?

Wonders READING: pg. 72-77 Changing Rocks

CA Science Standards

3a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

4c. Compare and sort common objects according to two or more physical attributes (e.g., color, shape, texture, size, weight).

4d. Write or draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations.

4f. Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small features of objects.

3^rd Lab Session Week

Concept: Screening river rocks

Investigation: How do rocks get smaller?

NO Wonders READING

CA Science Standards

3a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

3b. Students know smaller rocks come from the breakage and weathering of larger rocks.

4c. Compare and sort common objects according to two or more physical attributes (e.g., color, shape, texture, size, weight).

4d. Write or draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations.

4f. Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small features of objects.

4g. Follow oral instructions for a scientific investigation.

4^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Measuring rocks

Investigation: How do scientist measure rocks?

NO Wonders READING

CA Science Standards

3a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

4b. Measure length, weight, temperature, and liquid volume with appropriate tools and express those measurements in standard metric system units.

5^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Different uses of rocks

Investigation: How are rocks used?

Wonders READING: pg. 90-95 Natural Resources

CA Science Standards

3e. Students know rock, water, plants, and soil provide many resources, including food, fuel, and building materials, that humans use.

6^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Fossils 

Investigation: How can we learn from fossils?

Wonders READING: pg. 84-89 Fossils

CA Science Standards

3d. Students know that fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long ago and that scientists learn about the past history of Earth by studying fossils.

7^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Sand, soil, clay silt exploration

Investigation: What is soil made of?

Wonders READING: pg. 78-83 Soil

CA Science Standards

3c. Students know that soil is made partly from weathered rock and partly from organic materials and that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many kinds of plants.

4f. Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small features of objects.

Subject to change.

2nd Grade-Week 1 Parent Letter

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Every little bit helps!

Mr. Gantt’s Earth Science Lab Policies

2^nd Grade

Dear Parents and Students,

            Over the next few months, students will be studying about rocks, fossils and soil. Students will attend Earth Science Lab 1 day a week for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

            Student achievement grades are based on weekly class work, questioning during lab investigations and homework. Effort grades will be based on participation in class and turning in homework on time.

Information about what lessons 2^nd graders are doing in Earth Science Lab can be found at bit.ly/mrgantt.

            If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact me through the main office or by email at mr.gantt@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Mr. Gantt

1st Grade-Week 1 Sun, Earth & Moon

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Every little bit helps!

1^st Lab Week

Concept: Sun, Earth, and Moon

Objective: Students will learn that the Sun heats the Earth.

Vocabulary:

star

Sun

heat

light

planet

Earth

Moon

craters

Question of the Week:

•Who gives the Earth light and heat?

BrainPopJr.com video of the week: The Sun

Sun

Earth

Moon

The Earth orbiting the Sun and the Moon orbiting the Earth.

CA State Science Standards

3. Weather can be observed, measured, and described. As a basis for understanding this concept:

3c. Students know the sun warms the land, air, and water.

4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

4a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

4b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

1st Grade-Week 1 Earth Science Syllabus

Donate to my Donors Choose project...
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Every little bit helps!

Mr. Gantt’s Earth Science Lab

Weekly Lab Lessons and Homework

1^st Grade

Common Core Standards for 1^st grade quarter 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.1a Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).

1^st Lab Session Week

Concept: Sun, Earth, and Moon

Investigation: What are the Sun, Earth, and the Moon?

Homework: worksheet- Sun, Earth, and Moon

3. Weather can be observed, measured, and described. As a basis for understanding this concept:

3c. Students know the sun warms the land, air, and water.

4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

4a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

4b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

2^nd Lab Session Week

Concept: Exploring Air-Part 1

Investigation: What is Air? 

1. Materials come in different forms (states), including solids, liquids, and gases. As a basis for understanding this concept:

1a. Students know solids, liquids, and gases have different properties.

4a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

4b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

3^rd Lab Session Week

Concept: Exploring Air-Part 2

Investigation: How do balloon rockets move?

1. Materials come in different forms (states), including solids, liquids, and gases. As a basis for understanding this concept:

1a. Students know solids, liquids, and gases have different properties.

4a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

4b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

4^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Weather

Investigation: What is weather? What are the different types of weather?

3b. Students know that the weather changes from day to day but that trends in temperature or of rain (or snow) tend to be predictable during a season.

4a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

4b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

5^th Lab Session Week

Concept: Weather Instruments

Investigation: How is temperature and wind speed measured?

Homework: worksheet- End of Module Weather Assessment

3a. Students know how to use simple tools (e.g., thermometer, wind vane) to measure weather conditions and record changes from day to day and across the seasons.

3b. Students know that the weather changes from day to day but that trends in temperature or of rain (or snow) tend to be predictable during a season.

6^th Lab Session Week 

Concept: Seasons of the Year

Investigation: What are the four seasons? What are the characteristics of each season?

Homework: worksheet- Summer and Winter

3a. Students know that the weather changes from day to day but that trends in temperature or of rain (or snow) tend to be predictable during a season.

4a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

4b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

7^th Lab Session Week 

Concept: Wind and Air Explorations

Investigation: How do you measure wind direction?

3a. Students know how to use simple tools (e.g., thermometer, wind vane) to measure weather conditions and record changes from day to day and across the seasons.

Subject to change.