Week of 4/15/13 - 4/19/13

CONGRATULATIONS!
Students in all classes did an excellent job on their forces unit test. Great job everybody! Here are the class averages:

• Astronomers: 87%
• Chemists: 81%
• Engineers: 85%
• Inventors: 84%
• Physicists: 80%

DENSITY & BUOYANCY

This week, students will measure and calculate the densities of 8 blocks. They will then use this data to predict and test if the blocks will sink or float in water. There will be a short quiz on Tuesday that includes the information we learned before break and this Monday. Students may use three note sheets to help them during the quiz. 

CST REVIEW
The science CST will be next week on Thursday, April 25th. We will spend a few days this week and next week reviewing in class and completing practice CST problems. Topics will include atoms, states of matter, the periodic table, chemical reactions, acids & bases, and living chemistry. Students are expected to review all class notes and practice problems every day in preparation for the test. We will continue the density unit the following week.

HOMEWORK
Monday (4/15): Finish lab report; Retake test at lunch; Density quiz tomorrow - study!
Tuesday (4/16): Structure of Matter practice problems; Review today's class notes
Wednesday (4/17): Periodic Table practice problems; Study today's notes & questions; Human Bingo due Monday
Thursday (4/18): Chemical Reactions practice problems; Study today's notes & questions; Human Bingo due Monday
Friday (4/19): Human Bingo due Monday; Study today's notes & questions

Week of 4/1/13 - 4/5/13

FORCES
We are finishing our forces unit this week by learning about Newton's 3rd Law of Motion. We will be reviewing in class on Tuesday for the unit test on Wednesday. Students are encouraged to stop in during lunch or after school for additional review.  

DENSITY & BUOYANCY
At the end of this week, we will begin a new unit on density and buoyancy. Students will learn how to solve for density using the density triangle. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (4/1): Workbook pg. 21-23; Study for test
Tuesday (4/2): Finish study guide for tomorrow's test
Wednesday (4/3): Unit Test today!  
Thursday (4/4): Density WS (front & back)
Friday (4/5): None!

Week of 3/25/13 - 3/29/13

FORCES
As we continue our forces unit, students will learn about friction on Monday. They will then demonstrate and measure the force required to overcome friction during a lab on Tuesday. On Wednesday, students will participate in the Bowling Ball Grand Prix challenge in order to discover the relationships between force, mass, and acceleration. They will also practice calculating for force, mass, and acceleration with Newton's 2nd law of motion. These skills will be applied during Friday's forces lab. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/25): Forces HW (front & back); Retake forces quiz at lunch
Tuesday (3/26): Finish Friction Lab; Workbook pg. 17-20 due Friday; Retake quiz
Wednesday (3/27): Workbook pg. 17-20 due Friday; Forces Test on Wednesday 4/3
Thursday (3/28): Workbook pg. 17-20 due tomorrow; Forces Test next Wednesday
Friday (3/29): "To the Finish Line" WS due Monday; Study for test

Week of 3/18/13 - 3/22/13

FORCES
Students will continue to learn about Newton's 1st Law of Motion and inertia this week. They will demonstrate 8 examples of inertia in a lab on Tuesday. There will be a quiz on Wednesday that includes combining forces, contrasting balanced and unbalanced forces, and explaining Newton's 1st Law. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/18): Workbook pg. 13-16 (due Wed.), Forces Quiz on Wed.
Tuesday (3/19): Workbook pg. 13-16, Finish "Inertia Stations" lab, Quiz tomorrow!
Wednesday (3/20): None
Thursday (3/21): Enrichment (front & back)
Friday (3/22): Retake quiz at lunch

EXTRA CREDIT
Thanks for checking our science class blog! Because you read the blog, you can now earn extra credit points on your Warm Up. Write "Science Rocks!" at the top of your Warm Up before you turn it in on Friday and earn a few extra points for the week!

Week of 3/11/13 - 3/15/13

FORCES
We will begin our forces unit this week. Students will learn about balanced and unbalanced forces, inertia, and Newton's 1st Law of Motion. They will learn to draw and combine vectors in order to show net force. Students will also participate in several class activities to demonstrate how multiple forces can combine to act on an object. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/11): Retake motion test at lunch; Finish Marble Slam
Tuesday (3/12): Retake test at lunch
Wednesday (3/13): Forces Vocabulary (due Monday)
Thursday (3/14): Forces Vocabulary
Friday (3/15): Forces Vocabulary; Finish inertia activity

EXTRA CREDIT
Thanks for checking our science class blog! Because you read the blog, you can now earn extra credit points on your Warm Up. Write "Science Rocks!" at the top of your Warm Up before you turn it in on Friday and earn a few extra points for the week!

Week of 3/4/13 - 3/8/13

MOTION UNIT TEST
Students will participate in a class lab on Monday that requires them to use a motion detector to graph their motion with a computer program. We will spend Tuesday completing an activity and playing a game to review the major concepts learned during this unit. The lessons are intended to help students prepare for the unit test that will be held this Wednesday, March 6. Make sure the study guide is finished and ready to be used during the test.

PROJECTS DUE
Marble roll projects are due this Friday, March 8! Be sure to drop them off before first period on Friday. Your name and class should be on the project and the blueprint. Students will present their project to the class on Friday.  We will also complete the grading sheet during that time. 

HOMEWORK
Monday (3/4): Workbook pg. 8-11 due today; Missy's Morning due tomorrow
Tuesday (3/5): Finish study guide and review for test!
Wednesday (3/6): Test today; Enrichment (extra credit)
Thursday (3/7): Finish projects for tomorrow; Retake test at lunch
Friday (3/8): Marble Roll projects due today; Retake test at lunch

Week of 2/25/13 - 3/1/13

GRAPHING MOTION
This week, students will learn how to make and interpret graphs of motion.  We will focus on position-time graphs and speed-time graphs. Students will have an opportunity to practice graphing as a class and independently.

HOMEWORK
Monday (2/25): Retake Motion Quiz at lunch today
Tuesday (2/26): A Speedy Journey (due tomorrow); Check grades by Friday!
Wednesday (2/27): Finish Workbook pg. 8-11 - due Monday 3/4
Thursday (2/28): Worksheets pg. 13 & 19 in packet (due tomorrow)
Friday (3/1): Workbook pg. 8-11 due Monday; Finish Missy's Morning - due Tuesday 3/5; Unit Test Wed. 3/6!

MARBLE ROLL PROJECT
Just a reminder - marble roll projects are due next Friday, March 8!  All students should have already signed up to work with their partner.  See the blog post from last week for more information.

MOTION QUIZ & TEST
Students are encouraged to come in during lunch this week to retake or review their motion quiz from before break.  The unit test on motion will be next Wednesday, March 6!