Week of 9/24/12 - 9/28/12

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 (9/24): None

Tuesday (9/25): Retake Atom Quiz

Wednesday (9/26): Finish Lesson 11, pg. 13 & 14

Thursday (9/27): None

Friday (9/28): Finish Lesson 12

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to all classes for doing so well on the first unit test!  Here are the class averages for the Scientific Investigation test:

              Class               Big Goal            Average

• Astronomers             85%                 90% 
• Chemists                  85%                 84%
• Engineers                 80%                 87%
• Inventors                  85%                 83%
• Physicists                82%                 81%

Week of 9/17/12 - 9/21/12

UNIT TEST

Don't forget - the first unit test is this Tuesday, September 18!  Foldables are also due on Tuesday and may be used by students during the test.  Please see last week's post for detailed test information. 

HOMEWORK

Monday (9/17): Foldable & Study!

Tuesday (9/18): Unit Test today!

Wednesday (9/19): Check grade reports

Thursday (9/20): None

Friday (9/21): Quiz Monday!

Week of 9/10/12 - 9/14/12

HOMEWORK
Monday (9/10): Finish "Water on Coin" lab report
Tuesday (9/11): "Volume of Irregular Solids" lab report in complete sentences
Wednesday (9/12): Begin studying for unit test (See note below)
Thursday (9/13): Complete foldable for unit test
Friday (9/14): Study and finish foldable! 

UNIT TEST
A unit test is planned for next Tuesday, Sept. 18.  Students should begin reviewing their class work on observations, inferences, hypotheses, experimental design, variables, and all new material from this week! The best way for students to prepare for their first test is to study all class notes, practice vocabulary words, and review homework assignments and Warm Ups.  Students will complete a foldable (study guide) in class on Thursday.  It will be due next Tuesday and may be used during the test. We will practice all measuring and metric skills during several labs this week, including the Metric Olympics on Friday. Please encourage your student to stop in during lunch or after school to review for the test.  I will be available to provide students with additional help and extra practice on test topics.

Skills and knowledge tested next Tuesday, Sept. 18 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