Friday, 8/28: Measurement Quiz

Opening: Instructions

Worktime: Measurement Quiz

Closing: Questions

HW: none!

You can see the measurement quiz here. You will be provided with a ruler to complete the problems that require measurement of length. Liquid, temperature, and weight measurements will be completed at stations around the room. Please make sure that you are familiar with each method of measurement and please include UNITS for each answer, or your answer will be incorrect (example: 3.6 cm, 151 g).

Wednesday & Thursday 8/26 & 8/27: Crime Scene Investigation

Disclaimer: We are doing a CSI unit to learn about scientific investigation, needs of living things, organs, organ systems, cells, and genetics. The topic of the unit is an investigation of a SIMULATED, FICTIONAL, FAKE murder. We are investigating a SIMULATED crime scene with SIMULATED evidence. Students who are not comfortable with the content of this unit have been invited to complete alternate assignments.

Opening: Briefing

Worktime: Crime Scene Investigation

Closing: Debriefing

HW: What other information would be helpful in this investigation?

Monday & Tuesday, August 24th & 25th: SAVE FLUFFY

Opening: Liquid Measurement

Worktime: SAVE FLUFFY

Closing: Projects

HW: Enter your metric olympics results on the form below.

Today we are saving Fluffy, an imaginary white cat with a pretty serious illness. Each group will hand in one packet of work for a project grade.

Next class we will have a measurement quiz to end our unit on basic lab skills. You can see the quiz here so you can make sure you know how to do everything you will need to do on the quiz.

Here are the skills you need for the quiz:

• length measurement (using a ruler AND estimating)
• use of metric units (degrees C, cm, mm, m, mL, g)
• weight determination (using a digital scale)
• temperature measurement
• liquid measurement (using graduated cylinders and volumetric flasks)

We will start a crime scene investigation unit to continue learning about scientific investigations and to learn about organs and organ systems.

Wednesday & Thursday, 8/19 & 8/20

Monday & Tuesday, August 17th & 18th

Opening: Wrist Taker

Worktime: Scavenger Hunt

Closing: Measurement

HW: Measure the length and width of your bed or of the area where you sleep.

Today we are learning to use metric measurements to determine length.

Watch this video demonstration of how to measure centimeters:

Wednesday & Thursday 8/12 & 8/13: Why is this happening?

This is a video of an ice cube made of blue water melting in oil. What do you see happening? Why is this happening?

Monday & Tuesday, August 10th & 11th

Opening: Readiness Check

Worktime: Drops on a Penny

Closing: Syllabus

HW: Return Syllabus Signature Page

Today we are starting with a presentation on a contest we have in class to see which tables are the most ready. You can see the presentation here:

After that we are learning to use the lab table areas for lab activities. We are doing a laboratory activity called Drops on a Penny. You can download the notes for this activity here. You may even be able to do this activity at home if you have a water dropper. Here is a video of somebody doing this activity:

Discrepant Event- Water Drops On A Penny - The top video clips of the week are here

After we are finished cleaning up from the lab activity we are getting copies of the class syllabus, which is a document in which I say how I will run the classroom this year. You will get a copy of your engrade code that will let you check your grades on our grading website: http://www.engrade.com/mrtrainer.

Please get your syllabus signature page signed and bring it back to the next class.

Thursday and Friday, 8/6 & 8/7

Opening: Grades in A-11

Worktime: Airplane investigation

Closing: Airplanes wrap-up

HW: Class item due Tuesday (for even periods), Monday (for odd periods)

Today in class we are taking our paper airplane investigations further. We are asking ourselves and discussing what factors make paper airplanes fly far and how we can find out if these factors are actually important. We are trying out some different planes to see what exactly makes a good paper airplane.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 8/4 & 8/5

Today we are making paper airplanes, testing them, modifying them, and then flying them again to see who can make the farthest-flying plane and to see what makes a good paper airplane.

Opening: A-11 Rules

Worktime: Paper Airplanes

Closing: Making Conclusions

Homework: 1. Get Binder 2. Get item to share

We completed a notebook entry today.

Monday, August 3rd: Getting to know you

This is Darwin, a Mus musculus.

Welcome to life science! On Friday I met most of my new life science students (except for the ones that were absent from school). I introduced myself to the students. I asked everyone to get a 1" 3-ring binder over the weekend. I introduced our class pet, Darwin the mouse. I showed students a demonstration of sewer lice. I was very happy to meet everyone and I am excited to get to know you all better in the coming weeks of school.

Here's what we're up to in class today:

Opening: How to enter A11

Worktime: Getting to know you

Closing: How to exit A11

Homework: Get a 1" 3-ring binder (if you haven't already) and a classroom item to donate. This is due the next time I see you (which is Tuesday for periods 2, 4, and 6, and Wednesday for periods 1, 3, and 5).

Today we are working on GLO (general learner outcome) #2: Community Contributor.

And finally, here is an important reminder: it is HOT in our classroom. I typically do not allow any food or drink in the science classroom, but in the interest of personal health and comfort, I allow students to bring water bottles to class. Here is a video of Darwin being thirsty to demonstrate how important this is.