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