Week of 9/27/10 - 10/01/10

HOMEWORK
Monday (9/27): Review isotope notes
Tuesday (9/28): Atomic Dimensions & Drawings WS
Wednesday (9/29): Bring colored pencils today
Thursday (9/30): Periodic Table Poster
Friday (10/01): Periodic Table Poster (due 10/11)

PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS PROJECT
Before the furlough week, students will be assigned a Periodic Table of Elements project.  The project requires students to create a poster of the periodic table and complete a worksheet about it.  Students will have class time this week on Thursday and Friday to begin their poster, but they will likely need to finish it over break. The poster and worksheet are due in class on Monday, October 11.

UNIT TEST
A unit test on atoms and the periodic table is scheduled for Thursday, October 14 - the week after furlough.  Students are expected to begin studying over the break by reviewing their notes and classwork.  We will finish the unit when students return to class. Students will be given a study guide to complete in class the day before the test.

Week of 9/20/10 - 9/24/10

ATOMS & THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS

This week we are starting a new unit on atoms and the periodic table of elements.  We will begin our week studying the structure of the atom and the arrangement of electrons. Students will also participate in a spectroscopy lab.  We will practice describing and determining atomic number and atomic mass.

HOMEWORK

Monday (9/20): Atom Quiz on Tuesday; bring colored pencils today and tomorrow

Tuesday (9/21): Atom Quiz today; bring colored pencils today and tomorrow

Wednesday (9/22): Bring colored pencils today

Thursday (9/23): Finish Lesson 11 Atom Packet

Friday (9/24): Finish Lesson 12 Atom Packet 

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to all students for their hard work preparing for the first unit test!  I was so impressed by the all of the high scores on the test.  Students are encouraged to come in at lunch or after school on Monday and Tuesday to review their test and retake any sections they would like to earn more points on.  Below is a list of test data for each class and students (science super stars) who reached their class' big goal.

Astronomers

• Big Goal: 80%
• Class Average: 88%
• Super Stars: Daniel, Samantha, Andrea, Holly, Logan, David, Tyler, Kelly, Marissa, Anahi, Isela, Alicia, Brennan, Gabe, Nick, Ciara, Chris, Lynette, Bibiana, Anthony

Chemists

• Big Goal: 83%
• Class Average: 84%
• Super Stars: Servando, James, Hannah, Chris, Angie, Kelly, Jarra, Karla, Jazmin, Kyle, Hailey, Alex, Zoe, Dylan, Jesus, Jennifer, Nathan, Akilah, Niko, Luis, Vince, Nicole, Derek, Ryan, Reina, Fe

Engineers

• Big Goal: 85%
• Class Average: 80%
• Super Stars: Marco, Cole, Esmeralda, Jenni, Kelsea, Danielle, Oscar, Kevin M, Cormac, McKenna, Kevin T, Allison, Andrew, Edgar, Rafael, PJ

Inventors

• Big Goal: 85%
• Class Average: 85%
• Super Stars: Paola, Manuel, Ricky, Omri, Alex, Emily H, Erika, Anastasia, Walter, Nora, Emily MV, Danielle, Tiffany, Hannah, Elise, Isabel, Matt, Eduardo, Gema, Brandon, Gizelle, Luis, Rej'Ane

Physicists

• Big Goal: 86%
• Class Average: 83%
• Super Stars: Gabe, Chris, Samantha, Tyler, Anthony, Emma, Chad, Vitali, Lauren, Delila, Brenda, Matt, Heriberto, Alize, Christina

Week of 9/13/10 - 9/17/10

UNIT TEST

We are finishing our unit on Scientific Investigation this week, and students will take the unit test on Wednesday, September 15.  The best way for students to prepare for their first test is to study all class notes, practice vocabulary words, and review homework assignments.  Students will complete a foldable (study guide) in class on Monday.  It will be due on Wednesday and may be used during the test.  We will practice all measuring and metric skills during the Metric Olympics in class on Tuesday.  Please encourage your student to stop in during lunch or after school on Tuesday to review for the test.  I will be there to provide students with additional help and extra practice on test topics.

Skills and knowledge tested on Wednesday will include:

• Using the staircase and prefixes to make metric conversions
• Measuring with a ruler in cm and mm
• Reading a graduated cylinder
• Reading a triple beam balance
• Identifying observations (qualitative and quantitative) and inferences
• Writing hypotheses
• Identifying controls, constants, and variables in an experiment
• Understanding mass, volume, temperature, and metric units

HOMEWORK

Monday (9/13): Work on foldable; Study for unit test on Wednesday

Tuesday (9/14): Finish foldable; Study for unit test tomorrow!

Wednesday (9/15): Test today!  No homework.

Thursday (9/16): None

Friday (9/17): Bring colored pencils on Monday

*Friday is the last day of the first grading period!

Week of 9/7/10 - 9/10/10

It was great meeting parents and families at Back to School Night last Wednesday.  It certainly was a busy week, and I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend!

This week we will be reviewing our skills in graphing, using the metric system, and measuring. Students who have not turned in their signed Safety Contract by Wednesday will not be able to participate in the measuring activities later this week.  Parents - be sure to check the Parent Internet Viewer to make sure your student has turned in all required paperwork from the beginning of the year.  Students - if you need an extra copy of any of the handouts, please ask after class!

HOMEWORK
Tuesday (9/7): Graphing HW (front & back)
Wednesday (9/8): Metric Mania Conversion Challenge
Thursday (9/9): Volume Lab Report (Conclusions answered in complete sentences)
Friday (9/10): Begin studying! (See note below)

*A unit test is planned for next Wednesday, Sept. 15.  Students should begin reviewing their class work on observations, inferences, hypotheses, experimental design, variables, and all new material from this week!  More information will be given in class this week and early next week.