Get Your Popcorn Ready!

Today in class we performed a lab over conduction, convection and radiation.  We used all three forms of heat transfers to make popcorn.  The lab sheet is below.


Thermal Energy Popcorn Lab

M and M's Into The Pool For The Sake of Science!

Today, students first took a quiz over their reading of Chapter 5 Lesson 1 and then used their investigative plan to perform their lab about thermal energy and it's effects on M&M's. Once complete, students will need to write a conclusion based on their data.

Investigative Planning

Today we are writing an investigative plan based on the question "How does the temperature of the water affect the time it takes the candy coating to dissolve on an M&M?  The focus is review of variables, hypothesis writing, writing a procedure with all the requirements, etc.  QUIZ TOMORROW over pages 136-139!  Make sure you read it!

M and M Investigative Plan

Mermaid Bungee Jump

Today we worked on a mermaid bungee jump, collecting data, creating a scatter plot and then making some predictions of a bungee jump on a greater scale.  Tomorrow, we will build on this concept with doing an investigative plan based on a similar idea and incorporating energy knowledge into our plan.

Side One Bungee Jump
Side Two Bungee Jump

Momentum and More

Two things today, the Momentum Lab was today in class and students are ready to bring in supplies for our Balloon Racer Lab.  All requirements for that lab are below.  We will test all cars on Thursday! I will provide balloons on test day.


Momentum Marble Lab

Balloon Racer Requirements

Balloon Rockets!

Today we went over the MSP practice and then jumped into an activity that reinforces Newton's 2nd Law of Motion, Balloon Rockets.  We will finish this up tomorrow.  

Balloon Rocket Lab

Crash Test Dummies Lab

Newton's Laws of Motion Project was due today.  I look forward to seeing the amazing work all have put into it.  Today in class, we applied Newton's Laws of Physics and did a crash test dummy lab. The only supplies needed are a Hot Wheels car and a chunk of clay.  The lab and all the details are below.

Crash Test Dummy Lab

Zip Line Challenge

In class today we did a Zipline challenge.  Students were to create a carrier that would travel the length of the zipline between 4 and 8 seconds.  Using their engineering skills, as well as their knowledge about friction, they should be able to be successful.  See the lab paperwork below.

Zip Line Challenge Lab

Gravity Lab

In class, after watching the video below, students performed a gravity lab where they compare how mass impacted net force.  Students completed the worksheet below and turned it in before the class was over.

Gravity in a Vacuum

Gravity Lab W/S

Calculating Volume Using Displacement

We watched the above video and then applied what we learned to a lab in which students were to calculate the volume of various irregular shaped objects using a graduated cylinder.  The objects included: 5 marbles, 10 pennies, 2 crayons, 4 dice.  Once complete, they were to answer questions based on the lab.  There was homework assigned and it is located below for those that may need it.

Volume of Irregular Objects Lab

Voume of Irregular Shaped Objects Worksheet

The Sticky Details

We finished up our gummi bear lab today and calculated the change in volumes from beginning to ending points.  Once completed, the students were to write a conclusion using the proper format and graph their results.  The instructions for graphing are below.  Conclusion instructions are on a previous post.

Gummi Bear Graphing Instructions
Graph Paper

Gummi Bear Lab....1st day

The gummi's volume was calculated, they were tagged and tossed into the glasses of water.  Now, we wait for our results.  Tomorrow we will calculate their volumes again and the difference between the beginning and ending volumes.

Gummi Bear Volume Data

Gummi Bear Write Up!

Today after our conclusion quiz, we began writing up our Investigative Plan for the gummi bear lab. We will be doing the lab on Monday and Tuesday now.  (If you would like to donate gummi bears, I'm still accepting them)  The investigative question that the students need to test is......

How does the amount of color in a gummi bear affect it's volume in water?

Below is a copy of a blank investigative plan if you need one.  You will need it completed in order to do the lab.

Investigative Plan Template

Density, Oh Density.....

Seeing The Relationship Between Mass and Volume

Today we performed our lab based on the procedures the students wrote yesterday over the question "How does the volume of the wood affect density?"  Once complete, the students were to write a conclusion based on their data.  We will graph the data and discuss the results tomorrow in class!  Fun times in science class.  

Thanks to all who have donated Gummi Bears....with luck they will become science experiments on Friday!!  If not, then on Monday! 

Investigative Lab

Today we wrote up our investigative plan to test the question: "How does the volume of the wood affect it's density?"  Students were to write their hypothesis about what they think would happen, identify variables and write a procedure on how to test the question.  Once complete, if time allowed, they began the lab.

Investigative Plan Paper: Wood Density Lab

Using the Scientific Method

Today in class, we did an activity that helped refresh the student's memory about the scientific method.  We began on the "Thumb Wrestling Activity" listed below.  We will have to finish it up tomorrow in class.  As the week progresses, it appears that the quiz that is scheduled for Friday will be moved to Monday! Yeah!  

Thumb War Activity