Monday - test tomorrow

On Friday our Project Northland instructor came in and talked to the students about ways to be smart and avoid drugs and alcohol abuse.

Today we did a worksheet and lab to study for the test. Students went to different stations and answered questions that corresponded to the test they will take tomorrow.

Wednesday - homework - test next Tuesday

Students did their notes this morning, the questions made them really stop and think. Then we finished the project from yesterday. The teams circulated and discussed and wrote what they had learned for the last month. Next they started their homework assignment E92-93. They were reminded to answer all of the questions, even 11-15, in complete sentences. Spelling must be accurate. Students will loose 1/4 point for each mis-spelled word. Finally we checked on our hot tub model to discover if putting black paper and a reflective piece on it would make the temperature rise more than just the reflective piece did yesterday.

We had a fire drill second hour today.

Tuesday

After correcting last night's homework and seeing the alternative energy projects, we proceeded to study for Tuesday's test. Different names, words and concepts were scattered throughout the room. Each team went around to write how much they already know about the words. Then we reviewed this as a class.

Make sure you get your Slick Tracy comic book finished, signed and returned in the box by Thursday.

Monday Homework

Students brought in a variety of devises to show models of alternative forms of energy. We had water powered generators and windmills. We had solar power used to heat a hot tub. After making and demonstrating their models the students worked on the their homework which is pg E91 1-5. Students are to have complete sentences and words are to be spelled correctly or they will lose points.

There will be a test on E1-91 on Tuesday, we will review on Monday.

Thursday bring project supplies on Monday

Today students attended Project Northland. They learned how to plan activities that are fun and have healthy refreshments.

Monday is the day our project is due. Students planned it out in class on Wednesday. Make sure you bring your supplies to make this work. Call the people on your team so they remember too.

Wednesday and project for Monday

After reviewing the difference between types of energy; kinetic and potential, heat energy transfers; conduction, convection, and radiation and sources of energy such as biomass, fossil fuels, nuclear, water, and solar, we learned how power gets to our homes.

Then we started our alternative energy project. The teams got together and decided what they would make a model of and who would bring the different parts. The project is to be a model of uses of alternative energies. Students sounded like they had some great ideas and were ready to go.

Students may start bringing supplies for their projects on Thursday so they will remember.

Tuesday

Students were asked to consider the different sources of energy that they use in their homes. We then discussed fossil fuels, biomass fuels, hydroelectric energy, nuclear energy, and solar energy including wind power.

We watched some short videos showing how these different sources of energy work.

Monday

We were half-way over the mountain when we finally were able to get KVSI and listened as Mr. Walters warned everyone to stay home as many of the back-roads were like sheets of ice and that buses were sliding off of the road. Our lessons this week will be about different sources of energy. Look around today and see if you can find what energy type is running your house.

Thursday and Project Northland

Today the students listened and participated in Project Northland, a project designed to encourage the students to stay away from unhealthy addictive substances.

The homework is to take home the Slick Tracy comic book and do the assignments with your family. This will receive a grade.

Wednesday

Students corrected their homework. Then we watched the cold fall from colored ice cubes and discussed pressure and changes in states of matter. We wrote down what the different changes were called and watched as liquid formed from boiling water.

Tomorrow we will be having our anti-drug and alcohol class.

Tuesday

Students have homework tonight and it is the same homework they had last week, E63 1-5. The goal is that students will understand the questions better and improve their grade by demonstrating that they have learned the material. The homework is due at the start of class in the morning.

Today we reviewed heat energy transfer and kinetic and potential energy by watching on Youtube; Eureka 24, 27 and 29 and then a clip of Hoodwinked which shows potential and kinetic energy. We also studied thermal expansion by placing a balloon in cold water. We observed that the balloon shrunk. Then the students came forward and placed the cold balloon in warm water. They could feel the balloon expand as it warmed up. Students were told that this is called thermal expansion.

Monday

After reviewing kinetic and potential energy on a youtube called Eureka 9 and Eureka 10, we went into the lab to learn about how heat energy can be transferred. We learned that electromagnetic radiation is the heat we feel from the sun. We learned the conductive energy transfers due to direct contact. Students felt a spoon placed in boiling water and noticed that the spoon became warmer. We also used a lava lamp to show convection. Students were asked about other types of convection in our homes and some realized that many furnaces uses convection to move heat around in our homes. Students also learned that the water cycle is based on convection. To study more about these three types of energy transfer read pages E 58-E59.

Thursday

Today students took the survey about drugs. We discussed different types of addictions. We also touched on pornography and bullying using cell phones and computers. We warned how important it is not to get involved in either of these issues.

Wednesday

Our new area of study has to do with work, energy and heat. Students are learning the difference between kinetic and potential energy. We discussed what a variable is and students were reminded to use their index and glossary so they can become learners. We learned about the properties of tin, a metal and a conductor of heat and foam, an insulator, which does not conduct heat. We discussed temperature, heat and radiation.

There is no homework tonight.

Tomorrow we will fill out the drug survey. This survey is to find out what students know about drug and alcohol abuse. We will talk briefly about avoiding things that can become addictions.

Tuesday

We learned about measuring volume today. Students were given different objects, a meter stick, a graduated cylinder and water. They were to find the volume of each object. Regularly shaped objects were measured length x height x width. The irregularly shaped objects were placed in a graduated cylinder that had water in it. Students recorded the height of the water before the irregularly shaped were placed in the graduated cylinder. Then they subtracted the first number of the water from the second number. The answers for volume were recorded in cubic centimeters.

There is homework tonight. Students are to read pages E50-E63 and, in complete sentences and correct spelling, answer the questions 1-5. This should prepare the students for our discussion in the next few days.

On Thursday we will begin with our unit on drugs. All students who have handed in the parent permission slip will take a survey to determine how much they know about the effects of drug abuse. They will take the same survey at the end of the unit to discover how much they have learned.

Monday

It is certainly a cold day to come back to classes. But it is nice to get things moving along. We are working on finishing our biomes and periodic tables today. Students are checking to make sure their work passes muster and then turning it in. We will be starting on E50.