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.

Test Day and Project Details!

Chapter 2 vocabulary quiz today in class!! Woohoo, it went well and then students were assigned a project about Newton's Laws of Motion.  The project will be due next Thursday, December 18th.  No late projects or it'll be a ZERO.  The project will be scored as a test grade! Oh, the pressure.  The requirements of the assignment are below.

Newton's Laws Project

Quiz Tomorrow and Other Things.....

Today we went on the computers and worked on the concept of friction force.  The link is below on the worksheet.  You must have Java on your computer in order for it to work properly.  Tomorrow their is also a quiz over vocabulary in Chapter 2, 17 words.  It will be a matching quiz.  Study hard and see you tomorrow!

Forces In One Direction Interactive W/S

Quiz and More

Today, as promised we took a quiz over Chapter 1, Lesson 1.  After the quiz, students were to read lesson 2 and complete all the questions throughout their reading.  We will go over those on Wednesday after our Veteran's Day holiday tomorrow.

Graphing Data

Today we graphed our data based on our wood density lab.  Students, you also have a conclusion quiz tomorrow if you didn't get a 25 or higher last week.  Study!  Below is a link to help you if you need it! 

How to Write a Conclusion

Conclusion Quiz Today!

Quiz Over Conclusion Writing

We took a quiz over how to interpret data and write a conclusion properly.  Students are expected to "master" this concept by scoring a 25 or greater out of 28 on the quiz.  If they don't master the quiz, they will take it again until they do.  Conclusion writing is on the MSP test this spring.  After the quiz, we worked on calculating mass of various objects in the classroom and gaining some perspective on what a gram really is.  

Have a great weekend and if you can bring in gummy bears next week for a lab, that'd be great!

Experimental Variables/Conclusion Writing

We reviewed how to write a conclusion.  There is a format that the students will need to use each time.  We will be having a quiz on conclusion writing next week!  Students will be expected to take/retake the quiz until they receive an A on it!  Mastery of the concept is a necessity.  For class today, we wrote a conclusion together and then I gave them a paper on How to Write a Conclusion. Homework was assigned on conclusion writing.  A copy of it is below.  We also worked on experimental variables.  If not completed in class, it is homework as well.  

Conclusion Writing: Tomatoes
Experimental Variables Worksheet

Quiz Day and More.....

Today was quiz day.  Overall, the scores were pretty good.  I should have all of them posted shortly!  After the quiz, we reviewed procedure writing and allowed students to work with a partner in order to dust off their brains when it comes to writing procedures.  We will look at the procedures tomorrow as a class and identify variables as well as things students did well and things they can improve on.  

Reminder:  If you or your child hasn't signed up for the Remind notifications, please consider signing up.  It's a valuable communication tool.  Check my blog for instructions on how to sign up.  

Procedure Writing

Today we learned about the essential components of a procedure for an investigation!  When students write procedures, they must include all of the following: "Gather materials"(ALWAYS step 1), logical numbered steps, manipulated/independent variable, responding/dependent variable, controlled variables, the phrase "record data"(after any measurements), multiple trials must be represented.

The following is an example of a procedure.

Investigative Question:  How does the amount of peanut butter affect the time it takes to eat a cracker?

Procedure:
1.  Gather materials
2.  Place 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter on a saltine cracker
3.  Eat the cracker while timing how long it takes to eat in seconds.
4.  Record data
5.  Repeat steps 2-4 2 more times
6.  Repeat steps 2-5 using 1 teaspoon of peanut butter
7.  Repeat steps 2-5 using 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter

Quiz on Monday!  

The following link will take you to the study guide!  It is 13 questions, multiple choice.  Also, if you haven't signed up for Remind yet, check out the page on this blog with information on how to do that! Have a great weekend!

Thumb Wars!

Thumb wars were happening in Room 202 today.  These thumb wars happened after identifying variables and writing a hypothesis based on the investigative question: How does the size of the wrist affect the ability to win a thumb war?

Wrist sizes were taken, thumb circumference and thumb length were also.  Boys competed against boys, girls against girls.  Data was taken and winners were determined!  Tomorrow we will graph the data and discuss some experimental errors that took place as well.  

Tonight is Back to School Night 6:30-8:00pm.  Hope to see you all here.  

Note:  There will NOT be a quiz tomorrow.  It will probably be on Monday.  

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