Chapter 11 Notebook Check

Today in class we went over yesterday's test on chapter 11.  Overall, students did very well, although most seem to struggle on the combustion engine questions.  Following our review of the test, students worked on completing their online energy lab while an episode of mythbusters was played on the big screen.  During that time, I called students up individually to check their chapter 11 notebooks.
The online energy lab is due tomorrow.

Chapter 11 Test

Today in class students took the chapter 11 test using my moodle site.  After completing the test, students had the rest of the period to work on the online energy lab.
The chapter 11 notebook check is tomorrow.

Complete Chapter 11

Today, after summarizing our 26th week of news articles, our mission was to complete the Chapter 11 activity packet.  To that end, students were assigned pages 1 & 17, which they could complete while working with a partner.  Any remaining time after reviewing these pages was used to work on the online energy lab.
The chapter 11 test is tomorrow, and notebook check will be Wednesday.

Online Energy Lab- Day 2

Today I was in State College for the PIAA basketball championships.  In my absence, Ms. Shadle continued to lead the students through their investigation into kinetic energy.
News articles are due on Monday, and the Chapter 11 Test is on Tuesday.

Online Energy Lab

Today students began their investigation into kinetic energy using our online energy lab.  Students will relate mass, velocity and kinetic energy in three separate activities during this online lab. 
News articles are due on Monday and the chapter 11 test will be on Tuesday.

E=mc2

Today we talked about Albert Einstein's famous Theory of Relativity, E = mc2.  We also talked about the Law of Conservation of Energy to close out section 11-4 notes.  Students then were assigned pages 11-4 and 11-9 to work on during class with their partner.  Students put the solution to those problems on the board.
No homework was assigned, and the chapter 11 test is on Tuesday.

Calculating Kinetic and Potential Energy

We discussed section 11-3 notes today, which included the difference between internal and external combustion engines.  The difference is the location of where the fuel is processed.  Students then worked with their partner to complete pages 11-5, 11-11 & 11-10.
No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 11 test will be on Tuesday, March 31st.

K.E. vs P.E.

After listening to some summaries from our 25th week of news articles, we continued our differentiation of kinetic and potential energy.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on both types and took the video quiz using the student responders.  I demonstrated the motion of a pendulum so that the class could complete worksheet 11-16.  We then finished by completing activity 11-6 together.  Any remaining time was used to show clips from the Discovery original series, "LIFE".
No homework was assigned.

Kinetic vs Potential Energy

Today we reviewed yesterday's assignment from page 11-2 & 11-3.  Students had to identify the energy conversion that took place on different machines.  We discussed section 11-2 notes on potential and kinetic energy.  Following the discussion, students performed a quick mini-lab from page 11-12 that analyzed the difference in rebound of a tennis ball dropped from 50 & 100 cm.  We culminated the class by going outside on this beautiful day to do worksheet 11-7 which asks students to identify all the things that have kinetic energy in 2 minutes that they see outside.  We repeated that procedure with potential energy and then compared the two lists.
News article # 25 is due on Monday.

Energy Chapter

Today we began our chapter on energy.  Students were given a new packet and we discussed section 11-1 notes.  We watched a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on energy before we began the day's assignment.  Students worked with their partner to complete pages 11-2 & 11-3, which focused on identifying energy conversions.
No homework was assigned.

PSSA Science practice exam

Today in class students got a small taste of what the PSSA Science Exam will be like.  Students were given a 61-item multiple choice exam (which didn't count towards their grade) so that they have some experience with the PSSA format once the real test is here.
No homework was assigned.

Chapter 7 Notebook Check

Today in class students presented their summaries for our 24th week of news articles.  Following those oral summaries, students had their Chapter 7 notebooks checked for 100 points, during which time they watched the "Viral Videos" episode of Mythbusters.
No homework was assigned.

Online Simple Machines Lab Check

Today in class students received a score for their 8-day online lab about simple machines.  During the time that their lab reports were checked, students watched a Mythbusters episode that tested the validity that swimming in syrup was as easy as swimming in water due to its increased viscosity.
News articles are due tomorrow, as are the Chapter 7 packets.

Chapter 7 Test

Today students took the assessment for Chapter 7 on the Moodle site.  Students were able to see their grades after the test and analyze which items they got wrong.
The online lab packet is due on Monday for 115 points.

Chapter 7 Test Eve

Today in class students completed their Chapter 7 packets (pages 8, 9, 10, 18, 19 & 20).  They were allowed to work with a partner or in small groups to complete the day's assignment.  At the end of class, we reviewed most of the answers.  The only pages whose answers we did not cover were pages 19 & 20, the two crossword puzzles. 
No homework was assigned and the Chapter 7 test is tomorrow.

Simple Machines Notes

Today in class we formally discussed section 7-5, 7-6 & 7-7 notes on simple machines and the mechanical advantage of simple machines.  We watched http://www.brainpop.com/ videos on the simple machines before doing pages 15-11, 12, 15, 16 & 17 together in class.
No homework was assigned, and the chapter 7 test is Friday.

Final Day for Pulley Lab

Every student was able to funish the pulley lab before the end of today's class.  We discussed the lab and the results and meanings from each section after everyone was done.  Students also had some time afterwards to work on their online lab and their chapter 7 packets.
No homework was assigned and the test will be on Friday.

Pulley Lab, Day 2

After reviewing our 24th news article summaries, students continued working on the science portion of their thematic unit, the pulley lab.  Most students completed the single-fixed pulley aspect of the lab and were well into the block and tackle (or 2-pulley) system before the bell rang.  Student have tomorrow's classtime to complete this lab, or they will need to come in before or after school.
No homework was assigned, and the test on Chapter 7 will be this Friday.

Pulley Lab

Today began the first day of our 3-day pulley lab.  It also marked the beginning of our thematic unit on simple machines.  Students will analyze the difference between a single and multiple pulley system.
News articles are due on Monday, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Friday, March 12th.

Online Lab- Simple Machines, Day 8

Today was the students final day to work on the online lab in class.  About half of all students were able to complete the lab within the 8 days alotted in class.  Those that did not finish have until Tuesday, March 16th, to complete the 23-page lab.  Our plan for the near future is we will begin our thematic unit tomorrow with a 3-day pulley lab.  That should take us to Wednesday, at which time we will probably need two days to finish Chapter 7.  That would put the chapter test either Friday, March 12th or Monday, March 15th.
No homework was assigned.

Online Lab- Simple Machines, Day 7

Students continued to work on the online lab working with simple and compound machines.  About 4-5 students from each class have completed the entire lab, while other students are only up to page 12 (out of 23).  Students have been informed that tomorrow will be the last day to work on the lab in class.  After that, they are on their own to complete it.
No homework was assigned.

Online Lab- Simple Machines, Day 6

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack!!! Today was my first day of school since February 19th.  I was glad to be back and ready to dive back into science.  Students continued their progress in the online lab.  I told them that this Thursday, March 4th, would be the final day that we would work in class on the lab.  After that, students are on their own to complete it before/after school or during study hall, or they may take it home to complete.  It must be completed by Friday, March 12th, the day after the test.
No homework was assigned.

Online Lab- Simple Machines, Day 5

Today was the fifth day for the online lab, the fourth in a row with Mrs. Lepley substituting in my place.  I am very anxious to get back to my classroom tomorrow and return to some sense of normalcy.
News articles are due tomorrow, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Thursday, March 11th (tentatively, no sooner).