Thursday, March 31, 2011

Today was the third and final day for the writing PSSA exams.  In science class, we played with Slinky's to complete the lab on pages 9-7 & 9-8, which explored the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 9 test will be on Wednesday, April 6th.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Today was the second day of Writing PSSA exams, so students only had 35 minutes of each class.  During that time, I used a couple different online simulators to review transverse and longitudinal waves.  We discussed section 9-2 notes and I again used the one online simulator to illustrate the amplitude, frequency and wavelength of a wave.  I assigned pages 9-2, 9-3, 9-4 & 9-5 in class, and we had enough time to review page 9-2 before the bell rang.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 9 test will be on Wednesday, April 6th.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Today was the first of three days of PSSA writing exams.  Students met with each of their classes for 30 minutes.  During that time in science class, students were given their new packets for Chapter 9 on Waves.  We discussed section 9-1 notes on the two types of waves and their distinguishing parts.  I used a long slinky-like spring to demonstrate the differences between the two types of waves.  Students then had 10 minutes to complete worksheet 9-1 within their groups, and we reviewed the answers in the last 5 minutes of class.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 9 test will be Wednesday, April 6th.

Monday, March 28, 2011

We began this week (PSSA Writing Exam week) by listening to the oral summaries of the 26th week of science news articles.  Students then had their Simple Machines online lab packet checked for 100 points, during which time they watched the "Viral Videos" episode of Mythbusters.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 9 test will be on Wednesday, April 6th.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Mr. Girardi was in for me today.  Students had the entire classtime to work on the online simple machines lab.  If they are not done by the end of the period, it is there responsibility to have it done and ready to hand in at the beginning of Monday's class.

News article #26 is due on Monday, as is the online lab packet.  The Chapter 9 test will be Wednesday, April 6th.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Students had their Chapter 7 notebooks checked today for 80 points.  During that time they were able to use the laptops to work on completing the online simple machines lab.

The online lab packet is due on Monday, March 28th, as is the next news article (#26).

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

2-hour Delay

Students took their Chapter 7 test on Moodle today.  Upon completion they had some time to work on either their online lab or their Chapter 7 packet.

The Chapter 7 notebook check is tomorrow, and the online lab packet is due on Monday, March 28th.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Students had all period today to complete the remaining pages in their Chapter 7 packet, in particular pages 8, 9, 10, 19 & 20.  We went over the answers to these pages at the end of the period.

The chapter 7 test is tomorrow and the simple machines online lab is due on Monday, March 28th.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Back to normal length school days, students submitted their 25th week of science news articles.  We discussed section 7-5 & 7-6 notes on simple machines and watched  http://www.brainpop.com/ videos on Inclined Planes and Wheel & Axles (we previously watched the videos on pulleys and levers).  Students completed worksheets 15-11, 18, 19 & 20.  They were told to cross out pages 12, 15 & 16, as they are not responsible for the content within those pages this year.

No written homework was assigned, but students were encouraged to study for Wednesday's Chapter 7 test, and reminded that the simple machines online lab packet is due on Monday, March 28th.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Students completed their final PSSA reading exam today.  After a 30-minute study hall, students got to meet with their period 2 class, during which time students turned in their 24th science news article and continued their online investigation of simple machines.

News article #25 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Students took their final PSSA math exam today.  Afterwards, they attended their period 3 class, which for science involved handing in their 24th science news article and continuing their online investigation of simple machines.

News article #25 is due on Monday, and the Chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, March 23rd.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

PSSA exams continued today, and students only met with their 5th & 7th period classes.  In both science classes, students turned in their 24th week of news articles and continued to work on their online investigation of Simple Machines.

News article #25 is due next Monday, and the Chapter 7 test is on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

PSSA exams continued today for all 8th graders.  Students only met with their period 6 class following the exam.  In science, students turned in their 24th science news article summary, after which they continued their online investigation of simple machines.

News article #24 is due this week, followed by #25 next Monday.  The Chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, March 23rd.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Due to the beginning of PSSA exams, students did not have any science class today.

News article #24 is due this week, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Students continued their online investigation of simple machines.  By the end of today's class, most students were on or around pages 11 & 12 in the lab packet.

News article #24 is due next week, and the Chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, March 23rd.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Students got back their PSSA practice exam scores and we discussed the open-ended items.  They were also given a PSSA reference guide to help them prepare for the April 4th state exam.  We then continued with our 3rd day of the Simple Machines online lab.  Most students were somewhere between pages 6-9 by the end of the period.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test is on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Students took a practice PSSA Science exam during today's class.  The exam consisted of 29 multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions.  This practice exam is just that- PRACTICE.  It will not count towards or against a student's grade.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Our guest speaker today was Mrs. Carol Kirol, the school district's dental hygienist.  Her topic today was mouth myths.  Students got to vote true or false on many common misconceptions relating to dental hygiene.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Are you serious?  ANOTHER SNOW DAY...in MARCH????

Today's school cancellation means that our field trip to Penn College for Career Day has ben permanently cancelled with no future make-up date planned.

No homework is assigned, and the Chapter 7 test is Wednesday, March 23rd.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Students continued their online investigation into simple machines.  By the end of class today, most students were discovering levers and completed up to page 5 in their lab packet.

No news articles are due next week because of the Monday field trip to Penn College.  The Chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, March 23rd.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Today students began an online investigation on Simple Machines.  Today students explored the use of a wedge and lever.  They were shown a http://www.brainpop.com/ video on Levers at the beginning of the period, and they were given the lab packet to keep with them.  Most students got to the middle of Page 3 by the end of the period.  About a third of students got as far as page 5 on the Levers part of the lab.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Wednesday, March 23rd.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Students took their data from page 10 of the Pulley Lab and put it into an online graphing website called Create-a-Graph.  They had to save their graph into their Science 8 folder of "My Documents" and paste it to the top of their science wiki page.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, March 23rd.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Most students were able to finish their pulley lab by the end of today's class.  The data collected the past three days will be used to make a graph online tomorrow to be pasted in their wiki.

No homework was assigned, and the Chapter 7 test will be on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011.