Developing the Science Notebook

 

As the summer season rolls on, I thought I would share some of my plans for the science notebook that is to be used in the 2011-2012 school year. I am developing an interactive notebook for the students to use throughout the school year. It is to be a combination of journal, note-taking, experimentation, and archive for students to create.

In the past, students have mostly collected photocopies of assignments and placed them into a three-ring binder. After completing assignments or taking notes from class, they did very little reflection on the content. This may be due to the fact that students seemed to be bombarded with photocopies. The organization and storage of these papers has been an issue because the binding holes tend to rip, papers get shoved into the binder's pockets, or lost all together.

With the new science notebook, students will use more self-designed graphic organizers and structure their ideas in the notebook. The notebook will have more rigid requirements and students will pay closer attention to what needs to be placed into the notebook. The entries into the notebook will be crafted to help students to solve a scientific problem. Students will be using the notebook to organize pertinent information as they complete tasks. The science notebook will contain the information to help students explain the significance of scientific phenomena that is observed in the laboratory or in the real world.

To prepare the science notebook, I am working on the logistics. Such as how to introduce and model for the students how to add entries, extend entries, and reflect on what is learned. I also need to develop the grading methods and procedures for the notebook. I look forward to seeing how the new science notebook will extend learning in the upcoming school year.

Thanks for a great year!

I would like to extend a very heartfelt thanks for a great first year! We ended the school year with a little competition. Students participated in my version of "Minute to Win It." It was a lot of fun (both the game and the school year)!


Students, be sure you work hard and play nice in high school. You will do great things. But first, have a SAFE, FUN summer!

End of the School Year

As the school years begins to wind down, the last assessment will take place on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 for all students. Students should review their notes from the unit "waves" which included sound and electromagnetic waves. Students can also use their science notebooks on the test. Students should remove all papers from the notebook except items from unit H.

Thanks for a good year! Good luck in high school!

Learning about Waves

 

In class we have been looking at types of waves and wave properties. Students have spent some time examining waves in a rope. Specifically, the students are learning about the relationship of wavelengths and frequencies of waves. This will be related to other types of waves we will be exploring later next week. Both light waves and sound waves are directly affected by their frequencies and wavelengths.

"Why do we have to learn this?" was a question that was posed by a student. Of course learning about waves seems tedious, but it does have implications on everyday life. Amplitude, frequency have a direct relationship on pitch, tone, and volume in music. Also, learning about waves helps us to differentiate among different types of light. Ultraviolet light and gamma rays are often mentioned in the news, but we often don't have an appreciation how they are different. 

Period A-F	Period H
Due today: H1 Reading Activity Chapter 10	Today: H4 Quiz
Next assignments: Extra Credit: VocabTV due Friday H3 Homework: Properties of Waves due Friday H4  Quiz: Properties of Waves on Tuesday	Next assignments: H6 Reading due Thursday

Layered Curriculum: Level A

Students should be working on level A assignments for the layered curriculum. In order to complete the online quizzes, students must log-in using their Edline account from the beginning of the school year. Parent accounts will say "read only." All students will take the unit test at the end of the layered curriculum.