Day 142

Due to a senior high assembly, we were on a one-hour delay schedule, and therefore had slightly shortened classes today.  During that time, students had their chapter 8 notebooks checked today.  Students also watched a Mythbusters episode on electricity myths.

No homework was assigned, and their Chapter 11 test will be on Thursday, April 26th.

Day 141

Students took their Chapter 8 tests online using Moodle.

The notebook check will on Thursday, April 12th, and the next test (Energy) will be on Thursday, April 26th.

Day 140

(IWB- Circuit Lab worksheets)

I gave students 10-15 more minutes to complete yesterday's circuit lab, and we went over it once everyone finished.  I discussed the essential questions that would be assessed on tomorrow's test, and we played Jeopardy to review for it.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 8 test is tomorrow.

Day 139

After listening to the 29th week of science news articles, students worked on the Ohm's Law & Circuits lab from pages 8-19 to 8-22.  They will have about 10-15 minutes to finish the lab tomorrow.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 8 test will be this Wednesday.

Day 138

The entire 8th grade walked across town to go see "Hunger Games" at the Cinema Center.  By the time we got back and ate lunch, it was 1:00pm.  We had enough time to see each class for approximately 15 minutes, during which time in science class we worked on completing Worksheet 1-15 & 1-16.

News article #29 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 8 test will be on Wednesday, April 4th.

Day 137

(IWB- Section 8-6 notes)

We began class with a BrainPop.com video on Current Electricity and took the quiz afterwards.  We discussed section 8-6 notes on electric circuits and watched another BrainPop.com video on Electric Circuits.  We also took the quiz on that topic.  We ended class by completing worksheets 8-13 & 8-14.

No homework was assigned and the Chapter 8 test will be on Wednesday, April 4th.

Day 136

(IWB- Section 8-5 notes)

Students were introduced to the comparison of alternating vs direct current, and dry cell vs wet cell batteries.  We discussed section 8-5 notes and watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Batteries and took the quiz afterwards.  Students were assigned problems #6&7 from worksheet 8-2, and problem #6c from page 8-4.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 8 Test will be on Wednesday, April 4th.

Day 135

(IWB- Section 8-4 Notes (Energy))

Students had the opportunity to present their week #27 news articles to their peers for extra credit.  I returned and reviewed yesterday's quiz on Ohm's Law.  I introduced how electrical energy is calculated with power and time.  Students used that formula to complete pages 8-11 and #6&7 from worksheet 8-2.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 8 test will either be on Wednesday, April 4th or Thursday, April 12th.

Day 134

Students took their quiz on Ohm's Law today.  Any time leftover was used to watch Mythbusters.

News article #27 is due tomorrow.

Day 133

Mrs. Correll was in to speak to each of my classes today about scheduling their 9th grade classes.

News article #27 is due on Tuesday, and the Ohm's Law quiz will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 132

(IWB- Section 8-4 Power Notes)

We briefly discussed section 8-4 notes on power only and compared it to Ohm's Law.  Students were assigned pages 8-9, 8-10, 8-3, 8-4 (#6 a & b only) and 8-2 (# 1-5 only).  We went over the answers before the end of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Ohm's Law quiz will be on Monday.  News article #27 will be due on Tuesday, March 27th.

Day 131

(IWB Section 8-3 notes)

I introduced Ohm's Law and section 8-3 notes on current, voltage and resistance.  Students were assigned pages 8-5 through 8-8, and we went over all of the answers before the end of the period.

No homework was assigned and the Ohm's Law quiz will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 130

(IWB - 8-2 notes)

I introduced the topic of static electricity by discussing section 8-2 notes.  I linked to an online simulator of static electricity and used a flipchart to distinguish between conductors and insulators.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on static electricity and took the quiz that followed.  We ended class by using a Van de Graaff generator to demonstrate how static electricity can be created, discharged, and conducted.

No homework was assigned, and the quiz on Ohm's Law will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 129

(IWB- 8-1 notes)

Students summarized their 27th week of science news articles.  I handed out their new chapter 8 packet on electricity, and I used an IWB flipchart to discuss section 8-1 notes.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on electricty and took the quiz using the student responders.  We ended class by doing worksheet 8-1 in their groups.

No homework was assigned, and the quiz on Ohm's Law will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 128

Today was the last day of PSSA exams.  After a brief attendance period, students took their final PSSA reading exam.  We ended the shortened day by going to the auditorium for the culmination of Hugo.

News article #26 is due on Monday, and the Ohm's Law quiz will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 127

Students watched the beginning of the movie "Hugo" in the auditorium during Flex time today.  After going to their period 1 class, students took their final math PSSA exam.  For the last half hour before early dismissal, students met with their period 7 class.

News article #26 is due on Monday, and the Ohm's Law quiz will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 126

Students met with their period 3, 5 & 6 classes today, in addition to taking their fourth PSSA exam.

For period 7, their news article #26 is due tomorrow.  For every class, news article #27 is due next Monday.  Their next quiz, on Ohm's Law, will be on Monday, March 26th.

Day 125

Students had a modified schedule again today to accomodate the PSSA exams.  We only met our period 2 class today, and during that time we listened to the 26th week of news articles.  While the students watched Mythbusters "Viral Videos", I returned their Chapter 7 packets and online Simple Machines Lab packet.

For all the other classes, news article #26 is due either tomorrow or Thursday.

Day 124

Students took their first two PSSA exams today after flex and period 1.  As an inspirational reward, we watched "Dolphin Tale" in the auditorium after testing was completed.

News article #26 is due this week.

Day 123

I collected the online simple machines lab packet and the chapter 7 notebooks.  Mrs. Kirol was today's guest speaker today, and her topic was oral and dental care.

News article #26 is due next week.

Day 122

Students took their Chapter 7 test on Moodle today. 

The simple machines online lab packet is due tomorrow, as is the Chapter 7 notebook check.

Day 121

Today I checked their homework (page 15-20) and we went over that crossword puzzle.  We used a borrowed set of promethean responders to take a quick 10-Q&A set on a flipchart.  We played jeopardy to review for tomorrow's Chapter 7 test.  We ended class by previewing next week's PSSA schedule.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test is tomorrow.

Day 120

(IWB- Worksheet 15-10)

We discussed the difference between effort force, resistance force, effort distance and resistance distance.  Students worked on worksheet 15-10 & 15-19.  We went over both pages before the end of the period.

Worksheet 15-20 is due for homework tomorrow, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 119

We listened to summaries for the 25th week of news articles.  Afterwards, I used an IWB flipchart to discuss section 7-7 notes on ideal mechanical advantage.  We then proceeded immediately to worksheet 15-18 to complete that page related to ideal MA.  We followed that up with a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Wheel & Axle and the ensuing quiz.  Following brainpop, we completed worksheets 15-11, 16, 17 & 18.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 118

Today was the last day that we will spend in class working on the online Simple Machines lab.  About half the students completed the lab by the end of the period, though the completed packets are not due until the week of March 12-16th, during PSSA week.

News article #25 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 117

Students continued to progress through the online Simple Machines lab.  By the end of today's class, most students were still on Lesson 2, but have gotten to worksheet 15 or 16 on combining the inclined plane and pulley systems.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test is one week from today on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 116

Students continued working on the online Simple Machines lab.  Most students got to Lesson 2 today on inclined planes, and finished somewhere between pages 10-12.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 115

Students continued to work on the online simple machines lab from yesterday.  Most students were somewhere on or beyond page 6 by the end of the period.  Most students will be begining Lesson 2 on Page 7 sometime during tomorrow's class.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 114

Students turned in their Week #24 news articles.  We began an online lab on Simple Machines, and most students got to the end of worksheet 3 by the end of the period.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 113

(IWB- Lever Classes)

I collected the pulley lab packets.  We discussed section 7-5 notes on levers.  After using a flipchart to differentiate the 3 classes of levers and showing some samples from home, we took the http://www.brainpop.com/ video quiz on Levers.  Every class except for period 7 was able to complete worksheet 15-12.

News article #24 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 112

Students completed the Pulley lab today, which included creating a bar graph online using the data they had collected over the past three days.  We reviewed the lab with about 7 minutes left in class.

The lab packet will be collected tomorrow at the beginning of class, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 111

Students continued to progress through the pulley lab.  This being the third day of the lab, most students got to the bottom of page 10 by the end of the period.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 110

We listened to the summaries for our week #23 science news articles.  Afterward, students continued in their groups to work on the pulley lab.  Most students go to page 6 or 7 by the end of the period.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 109

(IWB Flipchart- Pulley lab)

I briefly explained how pulleys make work seem easier.  We brainstormed different locations of pulleys within our school and how they are used.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on pulleys and took the quiz afterward.  I then handed out the packets for the 4-day pulley lab.  Most students got through page 4 by the end of the period.

News article #23 is due on Tuesday and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 108

(IWB Flipchart - Inclined Planes)

We discussed how inclined planes make work seem easier.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on inclined planes and took the quiz.  I then guided students through problem #'s 5, 6 & 7 on worksheet 15-9.

No homework was assigned and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 107

Students worked in groups to complete the brick lab on pages 15-13 & 15-14.  We reviewed the lab in the last 10 minutes of class.

No homework was assigned and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 106

(IWB- Section 7- & 7-4 notes)

After listening to the summaries of our 22nd week of science news articles, we discussed Section 7-3 & 7-4 notes on mechanical advantage & efficiency.  After working our way through the flipchart, students opened to worksheet 15-8, and we completed all parts of problem #1 together.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 105

Students took the Work & Power quiz in class today and did quite well.  We went over worksheets 15-4, 5 & 6 before the end of class.

News article #21 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 8th.

Day 104

(IWB Flipchart Worksheets 15-3 to 15-6)

We reviewed yesterday's lab from Worksheet 15-7.  Students were assigned the remainder of pages 15-3 & 15-4.  With 10 minutes left in class, we put #1-6 on the board from page 15-3.

No homework was assigned, and the Work & Power quiz is tomorrow.

Day 103

Ms. Christ was in for me today while I attended IWB training.  She took students into the stairwell to complete the work & power lab on page 15-7.  After completion, students worked on worksheet 15-3.

No homework was assigned, and the Work & Power quiz will be on Friday.

Day 102

(IWB flipchart- Section 7-2 notes)

We discussed section 7-2 notes on Power.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on power and took the quiz afterwards.  Students worked on page 15-2 with their partner, and we put the answers on the board towards the end of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Work & Power quiz will be this Friday.

Day 101

After listening to the 21st week of science news articles, I handed out the new chapter 7 packets.  I used an IWB flipchart to discuss section 7-1 notes.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Work and took the quiz that followed using student responders.  Students worked with their partner to complete worksheet 7-1.  We reviewed the answers before the end of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Work & Power Quiz will be on Tuesday, February 14th.

Day 100

With shortened periods today due to our "Invictus" afternoon assembly, we watched a Mythbusters episode on skydiving myths while I checked their Chapter 6 notebooks.

News article #21 is due on Monday, and the Work & Power quiz will be on Monday, February 13th.

Day 99

Students took the Chapter 6 test online using Moodle today.

The notebook check will be tomorrow for 60 points.

Day 98

Students worked on pages 6-12 & 6-13 in class.  After reviewing those completed pages (and telling students to cross out page 6-9), we reviewed for tomorrow's test by playing Jeopardy.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 6 test will be tomorrow.

Day 97

(IWB Flipchart Section 6-4 notes)

We went over worksheet 6-11 which students did at the end of class yesterday.  I used a flipchart to discuss Section 6-4 notes on terminal velocity and projectiles.  I also related how gravity effects most aspects of your most popular sports.  We then completed worksheet 6-7 together.  For worksheet 6-8, we did problem #1 together, and they were assigned #'s 2-5 to work on for the rest of class.  I reviewed the solutions before the bell rang.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 6 test is on Thursday.

Day 96

IWB FLipchart (Newton Square)

Students turned in their Week #20 science news articles.  We reviewed Newton's 3 Laws of Motion and the Law of Universal Gravitation by creating 4-square concept posters.  Students were divided into four groups and each group had to define their assigned law, simplify it for a kindergartner, describe a real-life application and illustrate the law in a drawing.  Each group had 15 minutes to work on the poster before presenting.  We then did worksheet 6-10 together in class, and used the remaining five minutes to work on worksheet 6-11.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 6 test will be on Thursday, February 2nd.

Day 95

I used an IWB flipchart to discuss section 6-5 notes on Universal Gravitation.  We completed worksheet 6-5 by calculating our weight on other planets in Newtons.  We then watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Gravity and took the ensuing quiz.

News article #20 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 6 test will be on Thursday, February 2nd.

Day 94

I forgot to blog yesterday, so here's what we did.  We discussed Newton's 3 Laws of Motion (section 6-3 notes) in class using an IWB flipchart.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Newton's Laws of Motion.  We ended class by handing back and reviewing the online speed lab.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 6 test will be on Thursday, February 2nd.

Day 93

Students took the Force Quiz (F=ma) today.  There were eight problems worth five points each for a total of 40 points.  Afterward, students completed a survey for the National Science Teachers Association.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 6 test will be on Thursday, February 2nd.

Day 92

Today we reviewed the solutions to the word problems on worksheets 6-3 & 6-4.  I then assigned page 6-5 to be completed in class.  Today is the final preparation for tomorrow's quiz.

No homework was assigned, and the Force Quiz will be tomorrow.

Day 91

Today officially started the 3rd quarter.  I collected the online speed lab packets that students worked on last week.  Those were worth 35 points.  For extra credit this marking period, students need to summarize their news articles out loud in front of the class, as they did today for their Week #19 news articles.  After news articles were collected, students worked with their partners to complete worksheets 6-3 & 6-4.

No homework was assigned, and the Force Quiz will be on Wednesday, January 25th.

Day 90

I used an IWB flipchart to discuss section 6-2 notes on Friction and section 6-3 notes on Newton's 2nd law of motion.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Force and took the ensuing quiz.  We ended class by completing worksheet 6-2 and provided the solutions on the board.

News article #19 and the online lab are both due on Monday, and the Force Quiz will be on Wednesday, January 25th.

Day 89

We began Chapter 6 today on Forces.  I handed out the new packets, and we discussed section 6-1 notes on Balanced vs Unbalanced forces using an IWB flipchart.  We completed worksheet 6-1 together, and ended the period by watching a Bill Nye video on Balanced Forces.

No homework was assigned (though the online speed lab is due on Monday), and the next quiz (on Force) will be on Wednesday, January 25th.

Day 88

Students used all of today's classtime to complete the online Force & Motion lab, including worksheets 5-18 through 5-24.  The lab will be collected on Monday, January 23rd.

No homework was assigned, and the Force Quiz will be on Wednesday, January 25th.

Day 87

Mr. Girardi was in for me today, and he guided students through the beginning of Activity 2 on the online Force & Motion lab.

No homework was assigned, and the Force Quiz will be on Thursday, January 26th.

Day 86

Students gave their 18th news article summary today (their last grade of the 2nd quarter). Each pair of students then got a laptop and worked on the online Force & Motion lab, which included worksheets 5-18 to 5-24 in their chapter 5 packets. 

No homework was assigned, and the next quiz (on Force) will be on Friday, January 27th.

Day 85

We reviewed the Chapter 5 test on the big screen. Students had their Chapter 5 notebooks checked for 90 points while we watched a Mythbusters episode on a super-sized Newton's Cradle.

News article #18 is due on Monday, and the next quiz on Force will be on Friday, January 27th.

Day 78

We discussed Section 5-2 notes on slope of a distance-time and speed-time graph. I referenced the graphs at the end of their notes. I told them that 11 out of the 25 questions on the Chapter 5 test would be about these graphs. Students then worked on worksheet 5-3, #5, 6 & 7 only. We reviewed the answers before the end of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 84

Students took the Chapter 5 test today on Moodle.

The notebook check will be tomorrow for 90 points.

Day 83

We played Jeopardy to review for tomorrow's Chapter 5 test.  We reviewed the following worksheets:

5-6, 5-8, 5-14, 5-15, 5-17.

The Chapter 5 test will be tomorrow and the notebook check will be on Friday, January 13th.

Day 82

Mr. Girardi was in for me today and he assigned the following pages for students to work on during class:

5-6, 5-14, 5-15 & 5-17

No homework was assigned and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 81

After reviewing our 17th week of science news articles, we discussed Section 5-4 notes on Momentum.  I took the students out in the hallway to demonstrate how momentum works using wheeled carts.  I used students of similar mass traveling different speeds, and students of different mass moving at similar speeds to demonstrate how momentum worked.  Students then returned to the classroom to work on page 5-12, and we reviewed the answers using an IWB flipchart.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 80

Students completed their acceleration lab today by creating a speed/time graph on worksheet 5-11, and the two discussion questions on page 5-10.  Students were then asked to complete worksheet 5-7, which was filled with 10 acceleration problems.

News article #17 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 79

Students started the lab on page 5-9 & 5-10.  They were put into groups of 3 or 4 and used a marble and ramp and stopwatch to determine the time it took the marble to roll across a set of distances.  They then had to calculate speed from those numbers.  Tomorrow they will be creating a graph from their data.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 77

Welcome back, and welcome 2012!

We learned about acceleration by using an IWB flipchart to go over section 5-3 notes.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on acceleration and took the quiz that followed.  Students were assigned worksheet 5-4 to be done during class, and I reviewed the solutions before the bell rang.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 76

Students were dismissed at 11am today.  Before then, each grade participated in the Winter Olympics.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 75

We had 28 minute classes today due to the scheduled PM assembly to watch "A Christmas Carol".  During class, we played Holiday Carol Pictionary using the IWB.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 74

I previewed tomorrow's compressed assembly schedule to each of the classes.  We completed the rest of yesterday's lab, which basically we "crunched" the data that we gathered in order to make sense of it.  Students labeled these pages 5-25 & 5-26.  We ended class by doing problems #1-4 on worksheet 5-3.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 73

Today was our last news article of the year.....well, calendar year, anyway.  After the week #16 news articles, the kids collected data for a lab I had just found online last night.  I split them into four groups, and each group had to time how long it took each member to hop, walk, speed walk and walk backwards a distance of 10 meters.  The also recorded a split time at the 5-meter mark.  After all of the data was collected, we returned to the room to review the speed quiz from Friday.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 5 test will be on Thursday, January 12th.

Day 72

Students took the Speed Quiz today and got back their scores by the end of the period.  Afterwards, students watched a Mythbusters Holiday episode.

News article #16 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 5 test is on Wednesday, January 11th.

Day 71

Students used worksheet 5-16 to take a practice quiz for relating speed, distance and time.  After everyone was done with those five problems, I put the solutions on the IWB.  Students were then given their last practice problems on page 3-16 (#1-8).  We reviewed the answers with five minutes left in class.

No homework was assigned, and the Speed quiz will be tomorrow.

Day 70

I began class by explaining problems 9 & 10 from page 5-2 in great detail.  Students then had 10 minutes to complete those two problems, along with any others on that page that were not done yesterday.  We put the answers to those problems on the IWB and dry erase board.  I then assigned worksheet 5-5, which explored average speed through a graphing exercise.  I went over those five problems before the end of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Speed & Velocity quiz was moved up to Friday, December 16th.

Day 69

We finished worksheet 5-1 today, which included differentiating between speed and velocity.  I used an IWB flipchart to demonstrate the correct 4-step method to solving word problems.  We did problem #1 on page 5-2 together, and students were assigned #2-8 on page 5-2 during class.  We will go over these problems tomorrow.

No homework was assigned, and the speed and velocity quiz will be on Monday, December 19th.

Day 68

We went over the week #15 science news articles, and students received their new Chapter 5 packets on Motion.  Using and IWB flipchart, we discussed how motion is determined through frames of reference and learned the formulas for speed.  We watched a homemade video on frames of reference, and then watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on distance, rate and time.  After students took the brainpop quiz, we had just enough time to complete the top half of worksheet 5-1.

No homework was assigned, and the Speed & Velocity quiz will be on Monday, December 19th.

Day 67

We reviewed Wednesday's chapter 3 test, and students had their notebook check today for 100 points.  During that time, we watched a Mythbusters' Christmas special.

News article #15 is due on Monday, and the speed & velocity quiz is on Monday, December 19th.

Day 66

I had whiteboard training today, so Mr. Girardi was in for me.  Each class got to watch "iGenius", a Discovery Channel documentary on Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple, Inc.

The chapter 3 notebook check will be tomorrow, and the next quiz will be the speed and velocity quiz on Monday, December 19th.

Day 65

Students took their Chapter 3 test using moodle today.  They had about 25 minutes after completing the test to work on a science news article for next week or to work on their notebooks.

The notebook check will be this Friday, and the next quiz will be the Speed & Velocity quiz on Monday, December 19th.

Day 64

We finished the Chapter 3 packet today by completing worksheet 3-18 (using an IWB flipchart).  We then reviewed for tomorrow's test by playing Classroom Jeopardy.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test is tomorrow, and the notebook check will be on Friday.

Day 63

After listening to the summaries of our 14th week of science news articles, students had their final opportunity to take the periodic table quiz.  We reviewed subatomic particles, ions and isotopes by doing worksheets 3-16 and 17.  I used IWB flipcharts to review the answers.

The only homework is to study for Wednesday's chapter 3 test.

Day 62

We had a guest speaker today- Carol Kirol, the district's dental hygienist.

News article #14 is due on Monday,and the Chapter 3 test will be on Wednesday, December 7th.

Day 61

For periods 3, 6 & 7, we completed worksheet 3-15 to begin class.  Afterwards, along with the other two classes, we practiced the periodic table quiz.  I instructed students to disregard the four atomic forces (electromagnetic, strong, weak and gravity) at the end of their notes.  That being said, we covered the remaining material in section 3-4 notes, which included ions, electron clouds and energy levels.  I used this link to demonstrate electron arrangement within an atom.  I revealed how the number in the left-hand corner of the element's block on the periodic table identies its electron distribution among the energy levels.  I also discussed how ions were created, which led to today's http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Ions.  Students did not take the quiz following the video.  Instead, students did worksheet 3-20 while I used an IWB flipchart to demonstrate the same page.  We ended class by doing worksheet 3-19 before the bell rang.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 60

We began class by practicing the periodic table quiz.  Students must complete this quiz by the end of class on Monday, December 5th.  We then discussed atomic mass and atomic number for any element on the periodic table.  I used an IWB flipchart to demonstrate these ideas.  Students then worked on page 3-14, and we went over it using another flipchart.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on isotopes and took the quiz that followed.  Two of the classes were also able to complete worksheet 3-15, but three of the classes ran out of time.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 59

We began this week, as always, by listening to oral summaries for our Week #13 science news articles.  Students had an opportunity to practice the first 36 elements of the periodic table and take the quiz.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Atomic Models to introduce today's topic.  We discussed protons, neutrons and electrons from section 3-4 notes, and then watched the http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Atoms.  Students took the ensuing 10-question quiz using the responders.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test is one week from today, December 6th.

Day 58

Act 80 Day- 11am dismissal

We only met with periods 6 & 7 today. We listened to the oral summaries of the Week #12 news articles before practicing the periodic table quiz. I then used a flipchart on the IWB to review worksheet 3-10 (from Friday), and any time that remained was used to review worksheets 3-11 to 3-13 from last Tuesday.  We then took all students to the auditorium for a special screening of the movie "The Mighty", based on the book they read in Mr. Molino's class.

News article #13 is due on Tuesday, November 29th, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 57

Act 80 Day- 11am dismissal

We only met with periods 1, 2, 3 & 5 today.  6 & 7 will be tomorrow.  We listened to the oral summaries of the Week #12 news articles before practicing the periodic table quiz.  I then used a flipchart on the IWB to review worksheet 3-10 (from Friday), and any time that remained was used to review worksheets 3-11 to 3-13 from last Tuesday.

News article #13 is due on Tuesday, November 29th, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 56

After practicing the first 36 elements, we reviewed worksheet 3-9 (we already went over five of the problems yesterday).  Students were then assigned page 3-10, which was filled with eight more equations to balance.  We will go over those answers next week.

News article #12 is due on Monday for periods 2, 3 &5, and due on Tuesday for periods 6 & 7.  The chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 55

I reviewed next week's modified schedule with each class.  We rehearsed the periodic table elements and some brave souls even took the quiz.  I used an IWB flipchart on Chemical Equations to review how to balance those equations.  We completed problem #'s 1, 2 & 3 on page 3-9 together, and students were assigned the remaining five problems (#'s 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10) to do with the remaining class time.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 54

After handing back this week's news articles, we rehearsed the first 36 elements of the periodic table.  I then demonstrated the tough practice of stoichiometry, or balancing equations.  Students learned the difference between the reactants and the products in a chemical equation.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Chemical equations and took the ensuing quiz using student responders.  We ended class by doing problems #4 & 8 on page 3-9 together.

No homework was assigned, and the chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 53

Mr. Girardi was in for me for periods 2 & 3 as I took 20 students to a show at the Community Arts Center. Students were assigned pages 3-11 to 3-13 to complete by the end of class. We will go over these pages tomorrow.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test is Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 52

We started class with oral summaries of news article #11.  We reviewed last week's topics by doing worksheet 3-6 together.  I explained what a coefficient was and then students worked on page 3-8 until about five minutes left in class.  We went over the answers to page 3-8 in those last five minutes.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 51

We began class by reviewing worksheets 3-3 & 3-4 from yesterday.  I presented Section 3-3 notes to the class on chemical symbols and subscripts.  Students were assigned activities 3-7 & 3-5 in class, and we went over the answers before the bell rang.

News article #11 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 3 Test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 50

Today I handed out a copy of the periodic table of elements to each student.  We discussed section 3-2 notes on elements and compounds.  I showed students the weblinks available on Moodle that relate to this topic.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Compounds and Mixtures and took the 10-point quiz that followed using the responders.  Students were then assigned to complete activities 3-3 & 3-4 before the end of the period.  We did not have time to go over it, so we will do that at the beginning of class tomorrow.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 49

Students were given back their graded rubrics from their Farcebook posters that they worked on all of last week.  I then used some links on Moodle to  review Section 3-1 notes on solutions and suspensions.  Students worked on Activity 3-2 for about 10-15 minutes before we went over the answers at the end of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 48

I was out today.  In my absence, Mrs. Wonderlich showed students a "Stossel in the Classroom" video that focused on cheating.  The topics included students' justification for cheating, buying term papers and homework and using technology to cheat.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 47

Students turned in their Farcebook posters and rubrics. We listened to the oral summaries of the week #10 news articles. I handed out the new Chapter 3 packets and we discussed section 3-1 notes on homogeneous vs heterogeneous. I used an IWB flipchart to show how students can be classified using physical properties. We ended class by doing activity 3-1 together on the IWB.

No homework was assigned, and the chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 46

Today was the last day in class for students to work on their Farcebook page.  They could hand it in by the end of class today for 5 points extra credit, but it's not officially due until the beginning of class on Monday. 

The Farcebook project and news article #10 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 3 test will be Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 45

Students spent their fourth day today working on their Farcebook project.  I pushed the deadline to the beginning of Monday's class in order to give students the weekend to work on it.  However, the will get five points extra credit if they hand it in tomorrow.

News article #10 and the Farcebook project are due on Monday, and the Chapter 3 test will be Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 44

As I had professional development today for my interactive white board, Mrs. Keithan was in for me.  In my absence, she handed out the Farcebook placards to each student.  They continued to work online doing their research on their respective scientist/inventor.  The placards are to be kept in the cabinet in my room and not taken home or in their lockers.

The Farcebook page is due on Friday at the end of class, and the Chapter 3 test will be on Tuesday, December 6th.

Day 43

Students today got their rubrics for the Farcebook project.  I also showed students the links on Moodle for a blank Farcebook template, as well as a sample template for Alexander Hamilton.  The completed project is due by the end of class on Friday, November 4th, and is worth a total of 85 points.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 3 test will be in mid-December.