Chapter 9 Notebook Check

Today we reviewed the chapter 9 test.  Then, while watching Mythbusters "No Pain, No Gain", students had their chapter 9 notebooks checked for their final fourth quarter grade.
No homework is assigned.

Final Exam preview #3

My wife came down with the flu last night, so I took the day off to take care of things at home.  Miss Shadle was my substitute and she instructed students to grab a laptop computer and take the final exam practice test. 
We will due our chapter 9 notebook check tomorrow.

Chapter 9 Test

Today in class, students took the Chapter 9 test on Moodle.
The notebook check is tomorrow.

Finish Chapter 9

Today in class students closed the door on their year of science news articles.  We listened to the oral summaries for the 34th and final time.  Students then worked with their partners to complete worksheet 9-10 and 9-11, which we then went over before the end of class.
The chapter 9 test is tomorrow and the notebook check will be on Thursday.

Final Exam preview #2

Well, you know what they say about "best laid plans"- basically the same thing as Murphy's Law.  So today I had a doctor's appointment at Geisinger so I planned on having the students use the laptops.  That part was no problem.  However, their objective was to take the final exam practice test on Moodle.  Unbeknownst to me, Moodle needed "emergency maintainence" from 9am to 1pm (thanks for the advanced notice...NOT).  Thankfully, Mrs. Wonderlich, a veteran teacher, was my substitute teacher for the day, and she was able to roll with the punches until the Moodle was fully operational.  WHEW!!!
The last news article of the year is due tomorrow, and the final chapter test on Waves will be on Wednesday.

Wave Interactions

Today was our last discussion of chapter notes for the year.  We discussed the interactions of waves from section 9-3 notes, including reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference.  Students then watched their last http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Waves, followed by the interactive quiz.  Finally, students were assigned worksheet 9-9 to complete with their partner.
News articles are due on Tuesday.

Slinky Lab

We began class today by reviewing worksheets 9-4 & 9-5 which were done in class yesterday.  Students then worked in groups of three or four to complete the slinky lab from pages 9-7 & 9-8.  We discussed the answers to the conclusion questions once everyone was done with the lab.
No homework was assigned.

Speed, Frequency and Wavelength of waves

Today in class, we discussed section 9-2 notes, which described the amplitude, wavelength and frequency of a wave.  Students were assigned pages 9-2, 9-3, 9-4 & 9-5 to work on in class with their partner.
No homework was assigned.

Intro to Waves

After listening to summaries from our 33rd week of science news articles, we began Chapter 9 on Waves.  We discussed section one notes, which differentiates between transverse and longitudinal waves.  I provided a demonstration of each using a giant slinky coil.  Students were then assigned page 9-1 to do with their partner, and we reviewed the answers before class ended.
No homework was assigned.

Final Exam preview #1

Mr. Sampson was my substitute teacher today.  He instructed the students to log into Moodle and take the fianl exam practice test, a set of 100 randomly chosen questions from previous chapter exams.
News articles are due tomorrow.

Lewis & Clark Webquest- Final Day

Today students completed their group wiki comparing the Lewis and Clark expedition to a future mission to explore Mars.  Mr. Girardi was in for me today as I was helping the Junior class decorate for Saturday night's prom.
News articles are due on Tuesday.

Lewis & Clark Webquest- Day 5

As the title suggests, today was the fifth day of our Lewis & Clark webquest, and the second day for student to work in their group to create their wiki.  All students are well aware that the wikis must be completed by the end of Friday's class.  I will not be in school tomorrow, as I will be helping to decorate for the prom.
No homework was assigned.

Lewis and Clark Webquest- Day 4

Today students began step 3 of their Lewis and Clark webquest.  They have until the end of class on Friday to complete step 3, which is creating a wiki on their group's topic.
No homework was assigned.

Lewis & Clark Webquest- Day 3

Students worked on Step 2 of their webquest within their topic group today.  In tomorrow's class, each group will begin creating their wiki based on their group's topic.  This project will take three more class days.
No homework was assigned.

Lewis & Clark Webquest- Day 2

After listening to oral summaries of our 32nd week of news articles, students we given the task of researching their webquest topic from the Lewis & Clark perspective.  They were to take notes and copy any relevant graphics and links that pertain to their group's topic.  This information will be used again starting this Wednesday when each group begins creating their wiki for their particular topic.
No homework was assigned.

Lewis & Clark Webquest- Day 1

Today began our 6-day webquest for our Lewis & Clark thematic unit.  Our objective was to compare the trials and tribulations of Lewis and Clark's journey to our present day quest to explore the planet, Mars.  Students today worked on the introduction and task, and after news articles on Monday will be Step 1.
News articles are due on Monday.

Finish Electric Safety posters

Today students finished their electric safety posters in class.  Each group was given a safety rule and asked to illustrate it on an 11" x 17" piece of copy paper.  Posters will be judged Monday by the 8th grade team.
No homework was assigned.

Electric Safety Posters- Day 1

Today students began creating posters for the PP&L Electric Safety contest.  Students were put into six different groups and asked to illustrate the basic safety rule that their group was given.
No homework was assigned, and the posters will be due at the end of tomorrow's class.

Chapter 8 Notebook Check

Today we went over the Chapter 8 test in class.  We then watched a Mythbusters episode on electricity myths while students had their notebooks checked.
No homework was assigned.

Chapter 8 Test

After listening to some oral summaries of our 31st week of science news articles, students took the chapter 8 test online using Moodle.
The notebook check is tomorrow.