Mrs. Colwell's Science Blog

Today we started by comparing mass and weight in our Q.O.T.D.  journals.  Then we worked through section “1.1: Chemistry and Society” in Apex learning.  While working we took notes using the Cornell Method and filled in the Study Sheet that accompanies the Apex Learning program.

Homework: Write the summary to this section of notes and finish the study sheet.

Welcome to Chemistry.   Before we can get in to mixing chemicals, I have some initial stuff to get out of the way:

1. Click on this link to fill out the New Student Survey.

• Your user name is your “firstname.lastname”
• Your password is “falcons11″

1. Take the Learning Styles Inventory to learn what your primary learning styles are.  To start the inventory, click where it says “Reset” towards the middle of the page (it may be hard to find).
2. Go back to the Learning Styles Page and take notes over learning strategies for your top two learning styles.  You can take notes by clicking on that style in the menu on the left side of the LSI page.
3. Go to the USATestPrep site and create an account (if you have not already).  Your school ID is “union” and Mrs. Colwell will give you the password.  Play around on this site to get familiar with it.

HOMEWORK: Write a Learning Log Entry with the following information (and don’t forget to add today’s date):

1. How can knowing your learning styles help you be a better student?
2. What are three strategies that were recommended by the website which you feel might be helpful when learning/studying?

1. Everyone sign in to NGADocs.
2. Task Master click on this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wmq0mW03zbbqoQKELHEcneNwEPeAaLwg9QU1w2MVYB0/edit?hl=en&authkey=CJCz5v0M

Go to this site for a step-by-step assignment on tornados:
http://questgarden.com/125/97/8/110504054610/

Today we are in the computer lab!  I want to remind you of two things:

1.  Remember the extra credit opportunities available to you:

• You can read a biology-related novel and keep a journal of your reading,
• USATestPrep:  Take a medium test and do a “10 random practice” for your lowest domain.

2.  Remember the resources available to you:

• http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078695104/

During this block, we will be doing practice tests on USATestPrep.

1. Log in and do a Medium Test.
2. Retake missed questions (do step three along with step 2)
3. For each question you got incorrect, write the question and answer.
4. For your lowest domain, take a “10 random practice”
5. Check your “would be” grade by clicking on this EOCT Conversion Chart

Today we took notes over section 13.1 and discussed about volcanoes.  You are encouraged to look up geomyths about volcanoes.

HOMEWORK:  Study for quiz on Monday (over section 13.1)

DON’T FORGET ABOUT EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES!!!!

For those of you who would like to raise your grade a little and are currently passing, there is an opportunity for you (those who were not passing have another option you may see me about). You may choose a book that relates to Earth Science or Biology (whichever class you are in) and journal about what you read.

You may check these books out from the library.  I have a few suggestions I found from a quick look around the library, and Mrs. Durbin is looking out for more, or you can bring a book from home.  Here are the steps:

1. Choose a book.
2. Get it approved by Mrs. Colwell.
3. As you read, keep a journal with brief summaries of what you have read and opinions you have.
4. When you are finished, turn your journal writings in to Mrs. Colwell.

Some suggestions:

Earth Systems (these titles have various reading levels):

• Jules Verne (From the Earth to the Moon, Journey to the Center of the Earth, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea)
• Anything by Robert Heinlein (he writes books about things like living on Mars)
• Antarctica, Journey to the Pole – by Peter Lerangis
• A Wrinkle in Time – L’Engle, Madeleine.
• 5 Boys in a Cave – Church
• Tunnels – Gordon
• Raptor – Zindell
• Z for Zachariah – O’Brien
• Endor’s Game – Card
• The Last Book in the Universe – Philbrick
• Deception Point – Dan Brown
• Any novel that has a main theme centered around space, volcanoes, earth, earthquakes, tsunamis, dinosaurs, oceans, weather (tornados, hurricanes, massive storms, etc.)

Biology:

• Peeps – Scott Westerfeld
• Fantastic Voyage –  by Asimov, Isaac
• Flowers for Algernon – by Keyes
• Next, or the Andromeda Strain-  both by Michael Crichton
• Outbreak and Contagion – both by Robin Cook
• Try works by Wade Davis (Example – One River)
• Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler
• The Judas Strain  or Amazon – both by James Rollins
• Any book that is centered around cloning, ecology, genetics, evolution, forensics, viruses, killer bacteria, etc.

NOTE:  I have not personally read all of these books.  Many of them were found doing searches on the internet.  I recommend looking into reviews if you are interested in reading a particular one.

(I will be adding more titles as I think of them)

BIOLOGY:  Remember that you also have the option of completing USATestPrep medium-sized tests and then a “10 Random Practice” in your lowest domain for extra credit.

If you are having technical problems email me before 8:10a.m. and try to work on it during the day.

Okay, we have finished our projects, now we have to send them in to be graded.   The way you are most familiar with is to email it to me.  To do this, follow the video I have linked to:

1. Go to mail.ucnga.org and sign in
2. under the panther paw, select “Compose Mail”
3. Put my email address in the “To” box (stacy.colwell@ucnga.org
4. Attach both files from your computer .  (Make sure you have saved the documents).
5. In the Subject line put your first and last name and your block.

Today we completed the mitosis vs. meiosis Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting events and characteristics from mitosis and meiosis.  Then we took notes over section 10.2 – Heredity.  Finally we worked on Science Notebook 10.2.

HOMEWORK: Science Notebook 10.2

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY:  Get at least a 65 on a Medium USATestPrep practice test.  Then find your worst domain and do a 10 random practice.

***If you are failing and want to read a novel for some extra credit – see Mrs. Colwell***

Today we are going to the computer lab to work on our Newspaper Project.  Below are the steps you need to follow. BE SURE YOU FOLLOW THEM IN ORDER AND COMPLETE ALL OF THEM.

1. Read section 10.3 in the textbook about Earthquakes and Society (p. 305).
2. Click the links following open both pages of the Newspaper Template (Front Page,  Back Page).  Use this to insert your information.  You will need to download it and work in Microsoft Word.  You will want to re-save it under a new name.
3. Write an advice column or How-To article for earthquake safety.  Be sure to include the following:
   1. Clearly describe what people should do if they are in an earthquake.  Include advice for before, during and after the earthquake, and include information about what to do if you are indoors and outdoors.
   2. Find websites for information about earthquake safety and reference them at the bottom of your article for people who want further information.  Include any important information from these sites into your article.
4. Find three news articles about the same earthquake and/or a resulting tsunami that has happened in the last 5 years (try the current event links on this page or aol.com, yahoo.com, etc.).  Write a newspaper article describing the event.  DO NOT PLAGIARIZE and DO CITE ALL SOURCES. Be sure to include the following in the article:
   1. A paragraph or two describing what earthquakes are.  (Use the words: fault, stress, elastic rebound, epicenter)
   2. Specific scientific information about the quake:  Magnitude, how deep it was, the location of its epicenter, etc.
   3. A description of the destruction that was done and any other newsworthy information.
   4. Include the website addresses for the articles you used at the bottom of your article.
5. Once all of the required elements are in, be sure to make your newspaper look official by inserting a date that corresponds with your current event, creating a newspaper name, insert a weather forecast appropriate for that date (you can check weather records here), add side articles (or at least start the first few sentences of them in the small boxes), and do a table of contents.

A HIGHLY HELPFUL SITE FOR EVERYTHING IN THIS ASSIGNMENT:  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

*** BE SURE TO EMAIL YOUR NEWSPAPER TO YOURSELF AT THE END OF THE BLOCK IN CASE YOU CANNOT USE THE SAME COMPUTER NEXT TIME OR WANT TO WORK ON IT AT HOME!!!!!!!***