Monday

Students corrected their tests today, I will look over them and make sure they are accurate, then they will take the tests home and, for 1/2 credit, fix their mistakes. That should be Tuesday or Wednesday depending on how well they corrected the tests.

We learned about static electricity today by pulling two pieces of tape off of the desk and then holding them close to each other. The tape pieces were repelled by each other indicating that they had the same charge. Then we put one piece of tape on top of the other and pulled those apart. The pieces of tape moved together indicating that the pieces of tape had opposite charges.

If you were absent and have not taken your test it is your responsibility to come in and get it done as quickly as possible. The tests are available and I will remind students, but they must come in.

Project Northland is due on Thursday. It is required and worth 5 points, please get it in early.

Thursday

It is still pretty cold outside, but fortunately we got to come to school today. It was Project Northland and a group of 8th graders taught the students about the dangers of tobacco. They also brought in pig lungs. One was healthy, you could see it move when the air was blown into it. But the tobacco damaged lung did not move. The students had the opportunity to feel both lungs (they wore gloves) and feel for themselves what smoking does to your lungs. Then Mrs. Bloxham went over their Slick Tracy book with them. It is homework and will be due next Thursday. Finally I told them about my dad and the suffering he went through after 50 years of smoking.

We are trying to teach the students to make healthy choices, choices that you will never have to regret. We want them to get a good education, and that includes both mind and body.

Wednesday Brrr -28 was the low!

We aren't having school today because it was too cold. Did you try and start your car? Did it work? Mine wasn't happy about starting. Remember to do your reading and finish Project Northland so it can be turned in on Thursday. Stay warm!

Tuesday

Students took the test today. We will correct it tomorrow and then move on to electricity. Those who finished early could have finished the homework during class. They were to read E94-105 and know the answers to the questions in red at the top of each section and those at the end of the chapter. Students are not required to write the answers at this time. It will depend on how well they know the answers when we discuss it in class tomorrow.

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.