Parent/Teacher Conferences Day-2

Tuesday in class I only had periods 5, 6 & 7 due to our Act 80 schedule. We discussed another round of news article summaries before watching a Discovery Channel video on the periodic table.  We ended our day by taking the kids to the auditorium to watch the movie, "The Mighty", based on the book, "Freak, The Mighty", which was read in Mr. Molino's room.


Assigned homework was to have a news article summary for the day we come back from Thanksgiving break.

Parent/Teacher Conferences Day-1

I am so late with this posting.  It is Tuesday night and this post is meant to describe what took place MONDAY in class.  Those parent/teacher conferences just wiped me out.
Monday in class I only had periods 2 & 3 due to our Act 80 schedule.  We discussed another round of news article summaries before watching a Discovery Channel video on the periodic table.
Assigned homework was to have a news article summary for the day we come back from Thanksgiving break.

Back to using technology

Sorry that this post is a day late. 
Yesterday (Friday) in class students used the laptops for the first time in nearly weeks in science.  Students were asked to go to the Moodle site and work through the matter quiz, practice balancing equations, rehearse their chemical symbols, and do simulation on Discovery Education.
News articles are due on Monday for periods 2 & 3, and Tuesday for periods 5, 6 & 7.

Done with Chemical Equations

Today, after four grueling days, we finally finished our lesson on stoichiometry, or balancing chemical equations.  I got the feeling that by the end of class, probably 95-100% of students had a high level of understanding for balancing equations.  We also completed Activity 3-6 together in class before I assigned and explained the homework.  Finally, I distributed the second half of the chapter 3 packet, pages 3-13 to 3-23.
Homework was pages 3-11 and 3-12.

More Chemical Equations

Today students finished worksheet 3-9 on balancing chemical equations.  By the end of the period, I would say that about 80-90% of students had a good understanding of how to balance equations.  Most students were able to get at least half of worksheet 3-10 done before the bell rang.  We will finish stoichiometry tomorrow and move onto atomic structure.
No homework was assigned.

Chemical Equations

Students handed in their 10th news article summary today.  Following news articles, we continued to work on Activity 3-9, balancing chemical equations.  I worked several problems out on the board for students to model.  Some students were able to finish this page before the bell rang, but most still had a couple problems left to do. 
No homework was assigned.

Technology & Academic Integrity

Today I stayed home to take care of my son, who was not feeling well.  In my absence, substitute teacher, Mrs. Keithan, a retired SW Algebra teacher, showed the ABC News video, "Cheating in America's Schools".  The video explored how technology is used both to cheat and to detter cheating.  It talked about how students are using texting and camera options on cell phones to cheat on tests, and how teachers are using websites, such as http://www.turnitin.com/ to  check research papers for plagiarism.  The video ended by discussing the business of a college student who considers himself a "term-paper-writer" for hire.  For a substantial fee, he will gladly write your major paper on any topic of your choice.  He feels that he is providing a valuable service where he sees a need, all the while making a profit while doing so.
News articles were postponed today and therefore are due tomorrow.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Stoichiometry.  Hard to say, and even harder to spell, and harder, still, to do.  Students learned how coefficients are used to balance chemical equations today.  We practiced counting atoms using coefficients on page 3-8.  After watching a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on balancing equations, students worked with their partner to begin worksheet 3-9.  We did the first problem together on the board, and most students had time to finish maybe 2-3 more before the bell rang.  We will be continuing this topic next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Homework assigned is news article summary # 10.

Chemical symbols and formulas

I prepared students for what lies ahead.  Students today were introduced to the periodic table and learned what all those one and two-letter abbreviations stood for.  I demonstrated how two or more chemical symbols are used together to create a chemical formula, which represents a compound.  Students worked with their partner to complete pages 3-5 and 3-7.
No homework was assigned.

Elements and Compounds

Today in class we reviewed section 3-2 notes.  We discussed the differences between compounds and mixutres.  We demonstrated how the atom is the smallest part of an element and a molecule is the smallest part of a compound.  We watched the http://www.brainpop.com/ video on mixtures and compounds and collectively took the quiz that followed.  Students then worked with their partner to complete worksheets 3-3 and 3-4.
No homework was assigned.

Separation of Mixtures

How would you separate a cup of oil and water?  of sand and gravel?  of lead and aluminum pellets?  Well you start by knowing the physical properties of the substances.  Students faced these and other situations today in class as we discussed the process of separating mixtures, both homogeneous and heterogeneous.  Students worked in pairs to complete this activity on worksheet 3-2.  Upon completion and review, we discussed the remaining vocabulary in section 3-1 notes, followed by an open discussion on technology issues in science class.
No homework was assigned.

Begin Chapter 3

As we do every Monday, we began today by allowing students to summarize their news articles out loud.  Students then received the new chapter 3 notes and packet, and we went over about half of Section 3-1 notes.  Students then worked with a partner to complete Activity 3-1.  In periods 2, 3 & 5, we were able to begin Activity 3-2.  However, periods 6 & 7 did not have enough time to begin that particular page.  We will finish 3-2 in all classes tomorrow.
No homework was assigned, and report cards will be distributed tomorrow at the end of the school day.

Final Day for VoiceThread Project

Today was the final day for students to work on their Chapter 2 VoiceThread project.  Having started this project last Friday, students therefore had 8 days to complete the assignment.  They handed in their scoring rubrics when they were done.
Their only homework is to have their 9th news article summary for Monday's class.

Chapter 2 Notebook Check

Today's notebook check was worth 120 total points.  50 of those point were dedicated to the online lab on gas particles.  The other 70 points was for the Chapter 2 worksheets and hands-on labs.  During the notebook check, students had the opportunity to work on their voicethread project, which is due tomorrow.
The only homework that students have is to complete their voicethread project.

Chapter 2 Test

Today in class, students took the Chapter 2 test on Moodle.  After the exam, they had the option of working on completing their notebooks for tomorrow's notebook check or working on their VoiceThread project which is due on Friday by the end of class.
The only homework assigned was to complete the above two assignments by their respective due dates.

Chapter 2 Review

Students were given the entire period to prepare for tomorrow's test on Chapter 2.  Students went to the moodle site to work through the various tutorials and simulations.  Extra emphasis was placed on understanding phase changes in matter.
Tomorrow's test will be taken electronically on the laptops.  The notebook check will be on Thursday, and VoiceThread projects are due by the end of class on Friday.

More VoiceThread work/ Test postponed a day

Today we began class by reviewing our 8th news article summaries. Afterwards, I explained to the kids that because the Moodle site was down all weekend, the test would be postponed until Wednesday. That means that notebook check will be on Thursday and their VoiceThread assignment is now due Friday by the end of the period. To that end, we spent the rest of today's class working on their voicethread project. They learned how to embed the finished product into their science wiki page. They now have the tools to work on it independently before or after school in my room or at home at their convenience.

Assigned homework was an advisement to study for Wednesday's test.