Project Due Date

If I haven't posted this yet, then here it is. The final date for the first nine weeks project is going to be October 17. I am looking to start having presentations beginning next week, which will start on the 6th. If you are doing a presentation, please keep the time limit down to between 5 and ten minutes. I will be generating another sign up sheet on which you will fill in the date you wish to present and the estimated time limit of your presentation. If you are doing a research paper, then you need not worry about this sign up, just turn in your paper anytime before or on October 17.

P.S I am putting the last three Power Points up on Engrade this week.

Questions to Chapter 3 quiz

1. The most common gas in the atmosphere is (the one with the highest percentage, that is)
A. nitrogen.
B. oxygen.
C. carbon dioxide.
D. water vapor


2. Air pressure decreases at higher altitudes because
A. higher altitudes receive less energy from the sun.
B. the force of gravity is stronger at higher altitudes.
C. at higher altitudes, more gas particles escape into space.
D. fewer molecules exist at higher altitudes.


3. The process of warm air rising and cool air sinking is caused by
A. absorption.
B. radiation.
C. conduction.
D. convection.


4. Which of the following factors causes wind?
A. atmospheric gases
B. reradiation of the sun's energy
C. differences in air pressure
D. changes in altitude


5. Which of the following types of air pollution currently causes the most global concern?
A. oxides
B. smog
C. pollen
D. the ozone hole


6. The Clean Air Act is
A. a private organization that fights for better air quality.
B. A branch of the United Nations that monitors level of air pollution around the world.
C. a law in the United States that gives the government authority to regulate air pollutants that can be released in the air from cars and factories.
D. a peaceful demonstration in 1970 that protested manufacturing of diesel vehicles.

A few things I forgot to mention (or thought about and need to say before I forget...)

1) Again with the homework. As you know, it really is to your benefit to do all assignments, even if you exceed the required 10 needed for full credit. Therefore, as an added, ah, incentive/motivation, any homework completed beyond the required ten will continue to receive 10 out of 10 points so long as it is completed and turned in to me by the regular due date. If you have met the required ten assignments and choose not to do any extra HW, I'll leave the space for those assignments under your name blank, so that they won't hurt your grade but you won't receive credit either. Remember, if you do not have the required ten by the end of the nine weeks, all missing work will become zeros, which will hurt your grade...very badly...

2) More new things to see in my room this week:
- New centers and some modifications to the old ones. I am planning to have data sheets for at least some of these centers which you must complete for a classwork grade. The data sheets will be specific to the center they are used with and will be made available in my class and on Engrade in the time to come.

3) Due date change on the research project and Test #2
- I'm extending the due/presentation date for the research project. October 17, will be the last day to do a presentation or submit a report for full credit. I will have sign up sheets for each period this coming week. Expect the second test to be given either this coming Friday or the following Monday. It will mainly cover Chapters 3 and 4. Doing the Chapter reviews will greatly help you to be prepared.
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First Nine Week Project Topics

Y'all thought I forgot didn't ya? You know I wouldn't let you by without dishing out my Nine Weeks Project I talked about in Open House and at the beginning of the year. It will be graded on a rubric. It's your choice of how to present it be it report paper (5 page max limit, 2 minimum, font no bigger than 12 if 2-3 page or 14 if 4-5 page), in class presentation (Posters, Skits/Dramatizations, Power-Points--bring your own Thumb Drive for this one). It will be due by the next to last week of the first nine weeks which I think is the week of October 6th.

And now the topics:
- The history of science
- Hipparchus
- Galileo Galilei
- How the scientific method works
- What is cartography
- GPS/GIS (Global Positioning Systems/Global Information Systems)
- The atmosphere's role in life on Earth
- Pick any layer of the atmosphere and research on it
- Global Warming
- Coriolis Effect
- Types of Global Winds
- Air Pollution and Associated Health Problems
- Different climates/weather patterns throughout the world
- Types of severe storms
- History of hurricanes in Florida
- Tornadoes/Tornado Chasers

There you have it. If you have a topic of interest of your own and it is tied to something we have studied this nine weeks, feel free to bring it to me. Also, be thinking about your Science/Engineering Fair topics for next nine weeks, I'll be asking for those in the very very near future.

Night all!
- School Safety Plans for severe storms

More Coming Attractions

Here's what coming up next week:

- Atmosphere in a bottle lab, where we explore the effect that various heating methods and temperatures have on water levels. This will be an ongoing lab.

- Layers of the atmosphere poster- A fun classwork activity that will double as a study tool to help memorize the characteristics of each layer.

- Tomorrow(Thursday) we're back to 25-35 minute periods, a good time to go over the results of the tests. Again, basically everyone did a great job but we need to polish up on a few areas, especially short response.

- We will also be revisiting the lab template and rubric in a 5 minute workshop one day next week.

This Friday, I will be conducting a 30 minute lesson/review on what we have learned about the atmosphere from our readings. This will help to narrow down the main topics of interest. Since we haven't been able to do a serious note-taking on it, I am considering attaching the power-point as a file on Engrade for you to download. If my projector isn't up and running by next week (I have to return the one I borrowed this Friday) we may be getting our notes that way for a while but do not get spoiled...;).

Expect a short quiz on the atmosphere Monday or Tuesday of next week. Next Tuesday, we will begin studying the climate so be Proactive and read ahead. it never hurts.


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Homework

Alright, parents, students, and coworkers. It is now a quarter past 11 pm and i have spent the last 4.25 hours hunting down straggling homework. Kind of fun but not when really when you consider students' grades are on the line. In any case, my current homework schedule stands with a few new twists:

1) By the next progress report date (9/29/08) students will need to have earned credit for at least 7 homework assignments. Anyone below that number by that date will receive zeros for any missing homeworks. You may be worried but don't be. This new policy won't affect those of you who may have one or two empty spaces in homeworks....it does, however, put the heat on those of you who have sat around these first three to four weeks and have done nothing. Remember, homework with me is more than just a filler grade...it is a study tool. Be aware also that even if you do make the 7-homework requirement(and many if not all of you should), it is still to your benefit to do alll homework assignments. They are great preparation for tests and quizzes and I will be doing more to incorporate homework activities into graded class assignments.

2) Lab Reports- I have come across some lab reports that were turned in and not graded. They are graded now. If you still have an empty space for the penny lab, it means one of four things:
1) You simply did not turn it in and you need to get it done, pronto;
2) I have it and have not recorded it because it needs some correcting on your part and I need to return it to you;
3) You did something for it and gave it to me, wherupon I returned it to you to do correctly...several of you fall into this category and should be currently revising your report so that it follows the template and will receive a better grade;
4) You are one of the ones who turned in a brilliant lab report that had no name. I have several of those.
Please, please, please from a science teacher who definitely cares and more about your progress, make sure you get a lab report into me or that you correct yours in a timely manner.

That's it for tonight folks. See you tomorrow!

The Test

Well, here it is. My first blog since I signed on here and it is all about the test that we just took. Let's go...

1. The information gathered in an experiment is data.

2. The process of gathering knowledge about the natural world is science.

3. A series of steps followed to solve a problem is the Scientific Method.

4. The process of observing information through the sense is observation.

Several of you got Science and Observation confused. To clarify, Science involves making observations and other things to gain knowledge, like conducting research, seeing or reading what others have done, performing your own experiments. It is broader than simply making observations (watching, touching, smelling, tasting, hearing) about something; it also involves communicating that data and receiving feedback data in turn.

5. Diana Fossey wants to know more about gorillas in the Congo. (Curiosity)



6. Jacques Cousteau devised a way for humans to breathe underwater.
(Imagination/Creativity)
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7. Michael Fay took many notes when recording and classifying African animals so other scientists would be able to follow his progress.
(Intellectual Honesty)

Here again, we had some confusion. Let's clarify intellectual honesty and ethical responsibility...expect a revisit to this with a Venn Diagram later on.

Intellectual Honesty: involves honesty, making sure notes, data, and measurements are accurate so that someone else can follow them, establishing trust with other scientists so that they will believe your work

Ethical Responsibility: involves making sure you or no one else is harmed by the research or experiment you are conducting, informing participants or human subjects of the risks that are involved with an experiment, allowing said subjects/participants the option of refusing to participate for their own safety or benefit.

Yes, these two can be easily confused because they are so closely tied together (this is why I assigned the 7 habits connection for homework) but it is important to know that their is a difference. Good note taking might help someone else avoid unnecessary risks, but almost more importantly, they help establish and maintain credibility with one's own scientists.

8. Used to measure the distance between cities kilometers.

9. The typical soda bottle contains two of these liters.

10. 10 Degrees Celsius + 273 = 283 Degrees kelvin.

Very few people got any of these wrong.

11. You want to find out why some whales sometimes beach themselves on land. During your study, you notice that this always happens when large ships are nearby. What should be your next step?

A. Conduct an experiment to see if the ships are scaring the whales.

B. Form conclusions the ships are somehow scaring the whales.

C. Form a hypothesis that the ships are somehow frightening the whales.

The answer here is C. Confusing and tricky, yes it was, especially since the steps of the Scientific Method don't necessarily have to be followed in order. Still, you'd need a hypothesis before conducting an experiment so you'd know what to look for when trying to find why the whales beached themselves. It would be wrong to just conclude that ships in the area are to blame; first of all, you'd need proof and second, you have to eliminate all other factors (a change in water temperature, presence of undersea predators, illness in one or more of the whales, etc.). Thus you should form a hypothesis to test, in this case, that the ships are scaring the whales. then you experiment and then you draw your conclusion.


12. Ritchie is conducting an experiment to see if a person’s height affects their jumping ability in basketball. He wants to use the school basketball team as test subjects. How would he show ethical responsibility?

A. By not conducting this experiment and doing something else.

B. By conducting the experiment in an unsafe area but informing them of the risks and allowing them a chance to refuse to participate.

C. By conducting the experiment in a safe area, informing the team of any risks, and allowing them a chance to refuse to participate.

The answer, again, is C. Not conducting the experiment at all might be safe, but it leaves Ritchie with nothing to show for his study. Remember, we wouldn't even have science if no one dared to venture out and do the research. Conducting the experiment in an unsafe place, say on a court in n high crime area versus a nice, safe, indoor gym exposes Ritchie and the team to unnecessary risks. even if he informed the team of those risks, it is part of ethical responsibility to avoid as many dangers as possible if they are not needed for the sake of the experiment. A safe area (again the gym comes to mind) would allow Ritchie to conduct his experiment and as long as he still explains any unavoidable risks and allows the team the choice not to participate, he is ethically responsible.








Matching IV: Match the term to its correct meaning.

Seeing tools, eye wash, measuring tools, analyzing tools, emergency shower

13. You accidentally spill a box of itching powder onto yourself while reaching for lab supplies.

Emergency Shower

14. Meter stick, tape measure, ruler

Measuring Tools

15. Microscope, magnifying glass, binoculars

Seeing Tools


16. Your lab partner get sand particles in her face while helping to build a terrarium.

Eye Wash



17. Calculator, computer, your brain

Analyzing tools


Short Response: Answer the following question.

18. Accurate measurements and data keeping are important when answering a question, solving a problem, or conducting an experiment. Give two reasons why.

Here is the rubric for this short response question:

3/3

-You needed to state clearly that keeping accurate measurements involved intellectual honesty and would also help scientists who wanted to replicate, repeat, or modify the experiment by acting as a guide. Both of these had to be present in some form, although if you were able to tie it in with skepticism, peer review, or ethical responsibility, you would also be eligible for full three points.

2/3
-These generally included the responses that had one or none of the above but still made very valid points (keeping someone from getting hurt was the most common.)

1/3- the lowest I would give unless the wuestion was completely blank. This score is basically reverved for those answers with little or no substance. Simply saying that "you need accuate measurements to get your experiment right." wasn't the kind of response i was hoping for from some of you. I didn't get many of these but it was enough for me to want to start holding mini-lessons in class geared toward short responses. Also, we will be working more with extended responses. I didn't dish out any on this test but they are coming so I want everyone to be prepared.

Whew, that does it for debriefing the test on here. We will devote an in class discussion to this as well and I will be revisiting the material that was covered so you all will be ready for the formatives and the nine weeks exam. Until then, I shall see you in class. Mr. Hubbard's gonna stop typing now before he catches carpal tunnel. Night!



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