New for 4th Quarter

Can you believe we are in the final stretch??  I know I can't. 

A few things will be different during 4th quarter and I want to give you a heads up.  First of all, Test Corrections will only be available for students who score below a 70% on the test.  This is the way I have always done it in previous years, and now I remember why.  The amount of paper-shuffling involved in trying to get 120 students to take a test and then retake it for corrections has been a drain on my time and energy, and I still  haven't been able to help the students who need the most help.   Students scoring below a 70% on a test can do test corrections during FLEX to bring their score back up to 70%.

In addition, I offer the 4th quarter "deal".  Basically it allows you to select how much you want to weigh your final exam (between 10% and 40%) if you meet the necessary criteria.  We will be reviewing classroom expectations surrounding cell phones, eating, whining, and attendance on the first day of 4th quarter.   Most students are enthusiastic about this offer, and it helps motivate students to make good choices at the end of the year.  I hope this is the best quarter yet for all of us!!

The Week of 4/5-4/9

Last Week of 3rd Quarter! Remember that the deadline for late work and extra credit is Tuesday 4/6!


Monday 4/5:  Hand labs and notebooks back.  Notes on Electromagnetic radiation and the nature of light.  Grade Check.  Read 18.1 and 18.2.
Tuesday 4/6:  Deadline for late work and extra credit.  Refraction and refraction lab.   Read 18.3.
Wednesday 4/7:  Reflection and Colors.  Mirror Lab.  How the Human Eye works.  Hand out Waves, Sound, and Light Review (test on Wed 4/14).   Mid-day FLEX today.  Get those tests and test corrections done!!!
Thursday 4/8:  FLEX during lunch.  Last chance to take care of tests and test corrections.
Friday 4/9:  No School!  Teacher work day for 3rd Quarter grading.

The Week of 3/29-4/2

Welcome back from Spring Break!!

• Monday 3/29:  Questions on Wave Worksheet?  Turn in.  You can have until tomorrow if you need it.  Quick explanation of wave interactions and then Slinky Lab in notebook.  Read 17.3.
• Tuesday 3/30:  Notes on Sound and Hearing.  Turn in Wave Worksheet if you didn't yesterday.  Read 17.4.
• Wednesday 3/31:  Computer Sound Lab.  Music, harmonics, etc. Go over Notebook entries for Notebook Check on Friday.  Complete Cornell Notes if necessary.  Read 18.1 and 18.2.
• Friday 4/2:  Notes on Electromagnetic Waves and the Electromagnetic Spectrum.   Turn in Notebook for 3rd Quarter Notebook Check.   Read 18.3.

Next week is the end of the 3rd Quarter!  Deadline for late work and extra credit is Tuesday 4/6!!

Spring Break, Extra Credit, Etc.

I hope that you're enjoying your Spring Break!!  It's not too late to check your grade.   Grades were uploaded the Friday before break and I have included the log-in in the links section of this site.  Check your grades for missing assignments and e-mail me if you have any questions. 

If you are interested in doing any extra credit, you have several options.  First of all, you can do a Critical Reader or two or three, and for those of you in 4th period especially (you know who you are), you can still do the one that was due 2 weeks ago!!  Another option is to do some research on one of the heat transfer devices that we skipped over in Chapter 16:  a heat engine, a home heating system, a refridgerator, or an air conditioner.  Your task is to make a poster with a labeled drawing of the device, an explanation in words as to how it works, and a listing of at least 3 reputable resources.  It is assumed that you will go beyond what is in the textbook.  A thorough job can give you the maximum extra credit points for this quarter, as well as the distinction of having your poster displayed for all to see.

The Week of 3/15-3/19

Remember that the Final Draft of the Heating of Land and Water Lab is due Friday 3/18 or before you leave for Spring Break!!

• Monday 3/15:  Turn in Critical Reader if you didn't have one Friday!!  Turn in Heating Curve Worksheet and Specific Heat Worksheet.  Notes on types of Heat Transfer.  Start going over concepts for test.  Work on Heat of Fusion worksheet.
• Tuesday 3/16:  Bring your textbook today!  Turn in Heat of Fusion worksheet.  Work on Heat and Temperature review and Do Questions 4-7 and 11-15 on page 495 of text.
• Wednesday 3/17:  Turn in Heat and Temperature review.  Take Heat and Temp test.  Start working on Waves.  Wave notes, and problems.
• Friday 3/19:  Final date to turn in Heating of Land and Water Lab.  Slinky Lab and Wave Problems. 

Have A Fantastic Spring Break!!

The Week of 3/8-3/12

Remember:  Critical Reader due on Friday.  Format sheet is in the Documents section if you lost yours.

• Monday 3/8:  Heat and Temperature video (answer questions during video).  Go over Temperature conversions and work on worksheet (due tomorrow). 
• Tuesday 3/9:  Check off Temperature Conversion worksheet.  Notes on Heat and Temperature.  Specific Heat.  Introduce Heating of Land and Water Lab.  Write purpose, hypothesis, background, variables, procedure, and data table for tomorrow.  Test Corrections.
• Wednesday 3/10:  Heating of Land and Water Lab.  Take data and start graphing.  Hand out Specific Heat Worksheet.
• Friday 3/12:  Turn in Critical Reader.  Heating Curve of Water.  Latent Heat of Fusion and Vaporization.  Specific Heat Worksheet due Monday.  Heat of Vaporization worksheet due Tuesday.

2nd Draft of Heating of Land and Water Lab due Friday 3/19.
Chapter 16 Short Test on Wednesday 3/17.

OK Go's Rube Goldberg music video

Check out this awesome new music video from OK Go. It features a Rube Goldberg machine that they built in a two-story warehouse!