Rocket Science

We have been spending a lot of class time talking about motion and exploring the velocity and acceleration of objects. Today, for an extreme velocity and acceleration, the class watched and examined the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery for STS-133. This was the last voyage of the craft which was retired this past summer. Watch the video again!

Sea Ice Project

Today the students completed a study of the impact of melting ice on water levels. I choose this particular topic because of the number of variables involved usually causes each group to come up with different conclusions.  Also, this is a real-world problem that scientists are observing.

In today's Washington Post, it was reported that sea-ice was at its lowest volume in record (1971-2010). Click here to read more! You may ask "why is this important?" Well, the Arctic Ocean is part of the global conveyor of water. Warmer water from the equatorial oceans moves north. While cold water moves south from the north, the currents help to influence cloud formation. This conveyor moves thermal energy throughout the planet creating the various seasonal patterns and climates. 

Beyond weather, the arctic is an important zone for wildlife. Obviously, polar bears, seals and sealions depend on the Arctic ice for survival. But you can add several whales, walruses, and Native Alaskans to the list of those that depend on the Arctic ice. A very telling graphic also appeared on the website and is linked below:

Greener Classroom

Science 8 Classroom

 What does a green classroom look like? One of my goals this school year is to consider the amount of environmental waste that my students and I produce during the course of the school year. The science laboratory alone has a large volume of waste just by the very nature of the activities that the students are engaged. But there is a lot that I think I can do to make big changes here at school. Here are few things that I've started to be a little bit greener.

One of the online activities for students to complete replacing
on that was once completed with paper and pencil.

Science Notebook - Students are required to use a science notebook. My thoughts on the science notebook are two-fold. First, the students will be more engaged in the content because they are both creating and using the materials for the class. But the added effect, is that we will use less paper by not producing photocopyies. I have found that too much of the paper that we photocopy for the classroom can become a disorganized mess. But, the science notebook may be a great way to introduce order to class materials as well as lessen the impact on the environment by eliminating much of the regular photocopying.

Online Activities - Another way to reduce the amount of printing and paper that we use this year is through the class website. I am trying several means to collect student work electronically. This will no doubt eliminate the need for the copying or printing of assignments. Using the parent/student portal website, I am also able to post work in a manner that only the particular student can see his/her work.

Energy - As much as possible, I am making a conscience effort to turn off unused equipment, lights, and electronics. This will lessen the use of electricity.

As the year progresses, I am going to brainstorm more ways to make my classroom greener. If you have any ideas about reducing my impact on the environment, let me know with a comment!

Problem on the Way to Mars

From Hassard, J. (1999) Science as Inquiry. Good Year Books, Parrisany, NJ

How we solve complex problems through teamwork is an important part of science. Today my classes explored a problem where they were astronauts stranded on the moon's surface. Students had several "recovered" items that they could use for their survival. The student teams had to determine what objects were worth keeping and what was not useful for their survival. The decisions to be made required both observation of the items and inferences about how they would be useful on the moon's surface.

From Hassard, J. (1999) Science as Inquiry. Good Year Books, Parrisany, NJ

This exercise is useful in helping students to understand that not all science is conducted in a lab or through an experiment. Useful information can be gained by making observations, engaging in imaginative discussion, and solving complex, multistep problems.

Homework Tonight:
A3 Brief Constructed Response due Friday
A4 Quiz Online due Friday

Upcoming Dates:
Unit Test Wednesday

Being Part of an Experiment in Education

Today the students were introduced to the Concord Consortium's study that involves our laboratory in the SmartGraphs program pilot. I did my best to explain how this type of investigation relates to what we've been learning in class. The following is a recap:

The students are the experimental group because they are among a few to use the SmartGraph program pilot. They will be compared to other students in similar Pennsylvania schools (a control group) that are not working on SmartGraphs, but covering similar topics. The SmartGraphs software and hardware are the independent variables. To evaluate whether SmartGraphs is an effective learning tool, the students will take pre-tests and post-tests. The scores on the tests will be the dependent variable. What will the conclusion be? Well, that will depend on the results of the pilot.

Hopefully, the SmartGraphs program will be a success and students throughout the United States will benefit from the investigation taking place in our science laboratory. My experiences with the SmartGraphs program so far has exceeded my expectations and I look forward to the students working with this pilot program.


Parents who would like to learn more about SmartGraphs can read the letter from the researchers.

  Homework Tonight:
A1 Homework: Online Activity
A2 Homework: SpongeBob SquarePants Variables

Upcoming Dates: 

Scientists are Skeptics

Patterson "Big Foot" Video. Available on YouTube: http://youtu.be/IJjUt2sXo5o

Scientists are skeptics because they are doubtful and do not readily accept ideas or theories. To illustrate this point, the class examined the Patterson Big Foot video which is available on the internet. The students discussed what would make the big foot story credible. The described the evidence that they would need to affirm an understanding about the existence of big foot. The students were also introduced to the methods by which scientists classify new ideas into scientific theories and scientific laws.

 

Homework Tonight:
A1 Homework: Online Activity due 9/6/11 or complete in class on9/7/11
A2 Homework: SpongeBob SquarePants Variables due Tuesday or Wednesday during class

Upcoming Dates: 

Footprints and science problem solving

Footprints through inquiry and problem solving.

Today the students went further in their exploration of scientific problem solving by considering observation and developing inferences. The footprints were part of an activity that was published in the 1960's. However, the content is very relevant because it sparks questioning, observation and developing hypotheses.

Pictures from the internet used in class.

Want to learn more? Try searching the web for more pictures like those shown in class!

Homework Tonight:

None

Upcoming Dates: 


A1 Homework: Online Activity due 9/6/11 @ midnight
A2 Homework: SpongeBob SquarePants Variables due Tuesday (end of class)

Some classes have not yet received these assignments.

Science Process Skills

Picture from today's activity.

In class today, the students and I focused our attention on the way we learn information in science. We used a picture that I found on the internet. The students made a list of things that  they could tell me about the picture. From that list,. we were able to describe the differences between observations and inferences. It is obvious that the students in the picture are on a field trip. According to the website, the students are getting onto the bus after a field trip to the Colorado National Monument.

Today we also started to setup the science notebook. Students copied the first set of notes into the notebook. You can find the notes on the website under notes and learning section of the unit resources. No homework was assigned tonight, but assignments are available online for students and parents.

Homework Tonight:

None

Upcoming Dates: 
 

A1 Homework: Online Activity due 9/6/11 @ midnight
A2 Homework: SpongeBob SquarePants Variables due Tuesday (end of class)