Need Something to Do?

I hope you have been enjoying your break!  If you are looking for something to do, revisit the Extra Credit document for this class and see if anything appeals to you.  I have been reading a number of books that were recommended to me by students.   I have enjoyed them all, although each is quite different.

1. The Radioactive Boy Scout, by Ken Silverstein, 2004 (recommended by Elliot in period 2).  This is the true story of a teen-ager who built a nuclear reactor in his backyard.  No, I do not recommend this activity to my students, but the science is well-explained and it may pique the interest of a future nuclear engineer!
2. The Canon:  A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science, by Natalie Angier, 2007 (recommended by Maggie in period 4).  Angier, a science writer for the NY Times, explains topics of science in very witty and colorful terms.  She begins with an excellent chapter on thinking scientifically.
3. The Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku, 2008 (recommended by Corey in period 4).  Have you ever wondered if force fields, teleportation, time travel, and many of the other things you read about in science fiction are possible?  Kaku discusses the real science behind these topics and speculates as to when or if some of these far-flung ideas might come to fruition in the future.
4. The Velocity of Honey and More Science of Everyday Life by Jay Ingram, 2003 (recommended by Austin M-S in period 4).  This book is made up of quick and quirky discussions of everyday topics such as toast falling, baby-holding, the effects of staring at people, skipping stones, and curling (the sport, get ready to view the Winter Olympics with science in mind!). 

I'm always looking for new recommendations, so if you have read any good science books, send the titles my way and I will add them to my list.   I have been able to obtain all of them fairly quickly from the Multnomah County Library, so you might want to start there and see what you can find.   The Lincoln library has copies of a number of books from the list as well.  Check with the librarian and/or look for the Raczek book cart in the library. 

If you are curious about grades, I uploaded them on the Thursday before break.  These grades do not include your latest test, Critical Reader, or the Reaction Rates Lab.   Check for any missing assignments.

Sodium Acetate Videos

And here's another one that I found that is awesome.

The Week of 12/14-12/18 (updated)

This week I will have 2 lunchtime FLEXes so that students can get caught up as much as possible before break.  Take advantage!!!

• Monday 12/14:  Did you bring something to test for acid/base?  Acid/Base Lab.  Complete acid/base worksheet, due tomorrow.  Hand out short Chapter 8 Review. Remember Critical Reader due tomorrow!!
• Tuesday 12/15:  Turn in Critical Reader.  Check off Acid/Base worksheet and go over.  Brief notes on Acids and Bases.  Go over Review Sheet.  Lunchtime FLEX in my room.
• Wednesday 12/16:  Take Short Chapter 8 Test.  Start Chapter 11 on Motion.  Pick up 11.1 Worksheet and do in class.   Notes on measuring quantities and frames of reference.  Take some velocity data.
• Thursday 12/17:  Lunchtime FLEX in my room.
• Friday 12/18:  Turn in 11.1 Worksheet.  Finish Data taking.  Velocity Problems.  Do odds (9,11,13,15,17,19) in your notebook with 3-step method.  Test Corrections. 

Have a safe relaxing Winter Break!!!  If you get bored, check out my recommendations for science reading and read for fun and some extra credit.   If you prefer being active over reading, investigate the laws of Physics as you swoosh down the mountain on waxed boards!

The Week of 12/7-12/11

• Monday 12/7:  Go over Chapter 7 Review.  More notes on solutions, properties of solutions, and solubility.   Read 8.1.
• Tuesday 12/8:  Turn in 7 review with equations completed.  Take Ch 7 Test.  Start solubiltity worksheet.  Critical Reader due next Tuesday.  Bring text book tomorrow.  Read 8.2.
• Wednesday 12/9:  Dissolving sugar lab.  Finish solubility worksheet.  Test Corrections either today or Friday depending on how many have taken the test.  Start Acids and Bases worksheet using text book. Mid-Day FLEX after 2nd period.  No mid-day FLEX next week, so come in today!!
• Thursday 12/10:  FLEX during lunch in my classroom.  Limited FLEX next week, so take care of business today!! 
• Friday 12/11:    Bring Text Book Today!!! Properties of acids and bases.  Neutralization reactions.  Indicators.   Read 8.3.  Bring something to test for acidity on Monday (examples:  drinks, shampoos, cleaners, must be soluble in water).

Preview of next week:  Acid/Base Lab on Monday.  Critical Reader due and go over Chapter 8 Review on Tuesday.  Chapter 8 Short Test on Wednesday.  Start Velocity Problems.  Test Corrections on Friday and more on Velocity/Acceleration.

The Week of 11/30-12/4

I hope you had a relaxing break!  I know I sure did.  It was great to meet with so many of your parents and even some of you during Parent-Teacher Conferences.  It is always worthwhile to sit down and talk about what is going on in the classroom and how each one of you can better reach your academic potential.

This week:

• Monday 11/30:  Questions on Reaction Rates Lab Write Up?  2nd draft due tomorrow!  Quick notes on Rules for Predicting Products.  Then, lots of practice on this new skill!  Predicting Products worksheet due Friday. 
• Tuesday 12/1:  Color-Marking Reaction Rates Lab.  (This is a peer-editing activity).  When finished more work on Predicting Products.  Final Draft of Reaction Rates Lab due Monday 12/7.
• Wednesday 12/2:   Predicting Products Stations Lab.  For each station, you will write observations, determine the type of reaction, and write the balanced chemical reaction.  Completed lab hand-out due Friday, 12/4.
• Friday 12/4:  Turn in Chemical Reaction Lab.  Check off "Predicting Products" worksheet and go over.  Review for Chapter 7 test to be taken next Tuesday 12/8.  Remember that the final draft for your Reaction Rates Lab is due Monday 12/7.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

To Parents/Guardians and students,

I look forward to seeing you on Monday or Tuesday to discuss your student's progress in this class!  Please note that the conferences will be done by sign-up and drop by.  For example, you can come to my room (218) to sign up for a particular time slot or just drop by if the time slot is free.  All conferences will be limited to 10 minutes (the only exception being when nobody is waiting or signed up).  It is important that we keep to the schedule so that parents can coordinate conferences with multiple teachers.

Please note that I will not be here on Tues until approximately 9:30 am.  I will be attending my own son's conference across town and will get back to Lincoln as soon as I can. 

The Week of 11/23-11/27

• Monday 11/23: Only day of school this week!! Bring in Completed Reaction Rates Lab up to conclusion/evaluation.  We will go over data transformations and how to write a conclusion/evaluation.  Write conclusion in class.  2nd draft of lab due Tues, Dec 1st.  We will do in-class peer editing on that day.   Evening: (4:30-7:30) Parent-Teacher Conferences!!
• Tuesday 11/24: Parent-Teacher Conferences: 9:30-11:30 (I will be an hour late due to my own son's conference), 12:30-3:30 pm, 4:30-7:30.
• Wed-Friday: Enjoy your time off!! If you get bored (ha ha), see this website for my upcoming post about extra credit

The Week of 11/16-11/20 (revised on 11/17)

• Monday 11/16:  Notes of Types of Chemical Reactions and Balancing Chemical Reactions.  Work on "ID and Balance Chemical Reactions" (due Wednesday).  Test Corrections during the last 15 minutes of class.
• Tuesday 11/17:  Notes on Energy Changes during chemical reactions.  Endothermic/Exothermic Lab (write date table and questions in notebook).  Flaming candy demo.
• Wednesday 11/18:  Turn in ID and Balance Chemical Reactions.  Finish endo/exo lab questions.   Flaming Candy Demo.  Discuss parts of a good lab write-up (hypothesis, variables, data collection, and more).  Introduce Reaction Rates Inquiry Lab.  Do test trial and pre-writing for lab.  All parts up to completed data table should be ready before Friday.  Test corrections during last 15 minutes of class.  Remember, there is mid-day FLEX today in my classroom!
• Thursday 11/19:  Lunchtime FLEX in my classroom.
• Friday 11/20:  Reaction Rates Inquiry Lab:  take careful data, and start processing the data.  Bring in a completed graph on Monday 11/23!!

Funny Video on Dihydrogen Monoxide

There are lots of them out there, but I liked this one the best.

The Week of 11/09-11/13

Monday 11/09:  Turn in Naming and Writing worksheet.  Notes on Metallic Bonding and molar masses.  Hand out Compound Practice and work on it.
Tuesday 11/10:  (Block day).  Work on Compound Practice (I will collect before the test on Friday).  Bill Bryson reading activity.  Notes on Types of Chemical Reactions.
Wednesday 11/11:  Veteran's Day.  No School.
Friday 11/13:  Turn in Compound Practice.  Take Chapter 6 Test.

Video of the Week

Brought to you by Luke in Period 2!  We will cover the Big Bang later in the year, but for now, here's a fun preview.  I dare you to try to keep this catchy tune out of your head!

The Week of 11/2-11/6

Remember that the Late Work and Extra Credit deadline is Tuesday 11/3 at 1:30 pm!!

Monday 11/2:   Tests and Critical Readers back.  Update your Points Sheet.  Work on 2nd side of Writing Ionic Compounds (due tomorrow).  Hand out Naming Compounds and go over the rules.  Read 6.1 in text.
Tuesday 11/3:  Check off Writing Ionic formulas (both sides) and go over.  Practice naming compounds.  Late work/extra credit deadline is today.  Read 6.3 in text.
Wednesday 11/4:   More on naming compounds.  The difference between ionic and covalent compounds.  Lewis dots structures.  Model kit activity.  Read 6.2 in text.
Friday 11/6:  Teacher Work Day.  No School!

The End of the Quarter Approaches!!

The official end of the 1st Quarter is next Thursday, November 5th.  The deadline for late work and extra credit for this class is Tuesday, November 3rd at 1:30 pm.  You should have received notice of new grades this week.  If you need help accessing Webgrade, e-mail me and I will try to help you.   Let me know if you see a discrepancy on your grade report.

Tomorrow (Fri, October 30th), your last assignment for the quarter, a Critical Reader, is due.  We will also be doing test corrections for the 4+5 Test that we took on Wednesday.  Make sure that you check in with me about missing assignments before the week-end.  If you want to do some extra credit, you can turn in extra Critical Readers by Tuesday.  The maximum number of points of extra credit this quarter is 20, which is about 2 Critical Readers.  You can also try to find good links for this website, although that generally won't generate as much in extra credit. 

The Week of 10/26-10/30

Notebook Check on Wednesday during the test!  We have done 11 entries and you will be graded on having Cornell Notes (questions and/or clarifications on the lefthand side).

• Monday 10/26:  Turn in Electron Config/Word Search.  More patterns on the Periodic Table.  Chapter 4 + 5 Review.  Periodic Mystery due tomorrow.  Short Test on Wednesday.
• Tuesday 10/27:  Turn in Periodic Mystery.  Review for test.  Valence electrons and ionic charges.
• Wednesday 10/28:   Turn in Notebooks.  Take 4+5 Test.  Start Counting Atoms.  Counting Atoms Worksheet checked off tomorrow.  Critical Reader due Friday.
• Friday 10/30:  Turn in Critical Reader (last assignment for the quarter!!).  Check off Counting Atoms.  Go over valence electrons and ionic bonding.   Start Bonding Worksheet (1st side due Monday).

Fun Videos on the Periodic Table

Why does the reactivity of the Alkali Metals increase as you move down the column?

Alkali Metal Video.

Halogen Video.

The Week of 10/19-10/23

• Monday 10/19 (A Schedule):  Add up EW #2.  Go to library for Atom Project research.  If you haven't taken the Matter Test yet, you should take it while we are in the library.  Bring materials for atom model today or tomorrow!  Atoms Worksheet due tomorrow.
• Tuesday 10/20 (Assembly Schedule so that we can have some FLEX!):   Turn in Atoms Worksheet.  Build Atom Model and/or create 8.5x11 information sheet.  Bring something to do if you did it at home.
• Wednesday 10/21 (Late opening block):  15 minutes to prepare models.  Evaluate Atom Models.  Notes on Periodic Table.  Hand out Critical Reader assignment.  Due next Friday (10/28).  Read 5.1.
• Friday 10/23 (A Schedule):  3 Question Quiz, Groups in the Periodic Table, Metals versus Nonmetals.  Read 5.2.

Atom Model Project!

This coming week we will be very busy doing the Atom Model Project.  If you have been sick, you can get the document describing the project from the link on this site, and you can e-mail me to get the name of your element.  I especially encourage you to be creative in the materials you select to make your model.  Remember to look around your house for old junk or small cheap everyday items (check with your parents to make sure it is up for grabs!)  Bring your materials to class on Monday or Tuesday.  Monday we will be going to the library for research and test makeups.  Classtime on Tuesday will be devoted to assembling atom models.  I have limited items in the classroom, so if you need a particular type of glue (I have Elmer's) or something like that, remember to bring it.  On Wednesday we will spend the first 15 minutes getting our atom models set up, and then evaluate them.  Remember to do your 8.5 x 11 information sheet!  You may choose to do your model at home, but that means you will have to be productively occupied in class on Tuesday so that your classmates can get their work done. 

I have put links to 2 element-themed websites over on the left.  I especially like the "Chemicool" one.  Each element has lots of interesting info, a photo or two, and at least one video link.  Here is a quick video I found on that site (nobody has Mercury...):

The Week of 10/12-10/16

Monday 10/12 (Block Day!!):  Review for Matter Test (if you don't have it, look for "Matter Review" on the bottom of the Documents links on the left of this blog.  Take Matter Test.  Notes on Early Models of the Atom.  HW:  Read 4.1 in text.

Wednesday 10/14 (25 minute classes):  Test corrections for Matter Test.  Hand-out Atoms Worksheet to students who finish early.

Thursday 10/15 (regular 50 minute classes):  Finish models of the atom if necessary and discuss structure of the atom.  Start working on Atoms Worksheet (due Monday).  HW:  Read 4.2 in text.

Friday 10/16:  Introduce Atom Model project.  Modern Atomic Theory.  Finish Atoms Worksheet.

Extra Credit: The Strange Density of Ice

Today in class we talked about how it is strange that the density of water actually becomes lower after a certain point (4 degrees C).  Most substances get denser and denser until they freeze.  What would the world be like if ice became more dense as it froze?  Write 2 or more paragraphs describing what this strange world would look like.  (Keep in mind that there is no set answer to this question, so I will be looking for reasonable arguments.)

Cool Phase Change Video----Brrrr!

What kind of phase change is this?  Would it work with cold water?

The Week of 10/5-10/9

No Block Days this week!!

• Monday 10/5:  Look at Carrot Posters.  Hydrometer Lab.  Hydrometer Lab and 2 graphs due Wednesday.
• Tuesday 10/6:  (ISC Freshmen gone)  Notes on Physical and Chemical Changes and States of Matter.  Work on Hydrometer Labs.  Read 3.1 and 3.3.  For students who missed today, look on the link at the top left of this blog that says "October 6 Notes".
• Wednesday 10/7:   Turn in Hydrometer Lab.  Physical versus Chemical Changes Lab.  Complete worksheet and turn in by Thursday.
• Thursday 10/8:  Turn in Physical versus Chemical changes lab if not already.  Review States of Matter.  Chapter 2 and 3 Test on Monday (since Monday is a Block Day, we will begin the class by reviewing the test material before taking the test.  Test corrections will be on Wednesday).
• Friday 10/9:  No School!  Statewide Inservice Day.

The Week of 9/28-10/2 (updated Tuesday)

• Monday 9/28:  Add up Early Work #1.  Notes on Chapter 2.  Basic vocabulary and physical properties.  Complete definitions at home.  Chapter 1 Test corrections during the last 15 minutes of class.  Read 2.1.  For help distinguishing between elements and compounds, go here.
• Tuesday 9/29:  Density.  What it is and how to calculate.  Work on Density Worksheet (due Friday).   Read 2.2.
• Wednesday 9/30:  Carrot Lab.  Take measurements, make neat data tables and graphs, and form conclusions.  Finish Density Worksheet.  3 Question Quiz on Friday.  Read 2.3.
• Friday 10/2:  Hand in Density Worksheet.  3 Question Quiz.  Finish Carrot Lab posters.

The Week of 9/21-9/25

• Monday:  Using measuring instruments.  Measurement Lab.  Conversion worksheet back.  Check your work and ask questions.  Measurement Lab due tomorrow.
• Tuesday:  Turn in Measurement Lab.  Significant figures.  How to count them and computing numbers using appropriate rounding rules.   Significant figures side of conversion worksheet due tomorrow.  Short Chapter 1 Test on Friday.
• Wednesday:  Making a good data table and scientific graph.  Aluminum Thickness Lab. 
• Friday:  Short Chapter 1 Test.

Welcome to the 2009-2010 School Year!

This year I am going to use this "blog" format to help keep students and parents informed of classroom assignments and activities.  I see this blog as a work in progress, and I will be relying on my much more tech-savvy students to help me find useful links and tools from the web.  Please feel free to make comments.  The comments will be moderated by myself at least once a day.   If you have a question or comment you don't want to publish, send me an e-mail.   I'm looking forward to an excellent school year!