Week of September 29 – October 2, 2009

Science Fair: Research your project and start working on your Research Plan. Write the problem and hypothesis for current topic idea in your log book. Try to identify the independent, dependent and controlled variables. Start making a list of materials and procedures. Make sure you are documenting sources in NoodleBib and printing copies of sources for your reprint file. As you research, write all research notes directly in your logbook. Log books will be checked each Friday.  Remember that log books should reflect rough drafts and changes to topics, ideas, etc. The log book is NOT a perfect, “final draft” document, so don’t get nervous about what gets written down. EVERYTHING gets written down, even if it all changes later!

8^th Graders: Next FCAT Explorer Report is due this Friday! Custom Report dates: 09/19/2009-10/02/2009.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

6^th Grade

7^th Grade

8^th Grade

Daily Launch

Get started on Current Events Assignment.

Science Fair: Turn in log books (if Mrs. Flynt did not check yours yesterday).

Read highlight current events articles on yesterday’s earthquake near Indonesia and the huge quake and tsunami that rocked American Samoa on Tuesday.

Daily Mission

Current Events Assignment: Students will continue working on science-related current events reading and research assignment (follow link for details). Mrs. Flynt circulated to help with vocabulary and difficult concepts.

Current Events lecture on earthquakes and tsunamis. Students read and discussed several news articles about recent tectonic events and disasters. We viewed several maps, diagrams, and animations online and watched one or two short video clips  from MSNBC. Links to the sources we viewed in class will be posted on the current events section of our class website.

Handouts

Current Events Assignment

Current Events Assignment, History of Rocketry Research Questions

Links to Updates and Interactive Info on Recent Tsunami and Earthquakes

Homework

All: Meet in computer lab 109

Non Science Fair: Environmental Science Binder Cover Page due tomorrow!

All: Meet in computer lab 109

Non Science Fair: Work on Rocketry Research Questions

All: Meet in computer lab 109

Non Science Fair: Work on Great Quake Shake Up Follow Up WS. Answers can be typed or hand written.

Science Fair Folks: Continue with project research. Write research notes and answer research questions in log book. Work on Research Plan and cite sources in NoodleBib.

Friday, October 2, 2009   Computer Lab Day

6^th Grade

7^th Grade

8^th Grade

Daily Launch

Insert your new Cover Page into the front of your binder. Mrs. Flynt will come around and check your binder cover during class.

Go on to today’s Mission.

Print out FCAT Explorer Report and turn in to colored folder on back table (under bulletin board).  If you have not completed 25 questions, start working on FCAT Explorer.

Daily Mission

Science Fair: Research your project. As you research, write all research notes directly in your logbook. Make sure you are documenting sources in NoodleBib and printing copies of sources for your reprint file. If you have recorded a lot research notes in your log book and have run out of things to research, you may start working on your Research Plan. Your problem, hypothesis, and variables should already be in your logbook. You should also have rough drafts of your materials and procedures in your log book as well. Mrs. Flynt has Official Forms when you are ready.

Introduce/review steps for creating NoodleBib entries and uploading files. Mrs. Flynt will walk all new students through today’s assignment, step-by-step, on the overhead projector. You must KEEP UP and PAY ATTENTION to the details or you will lose points on today’s assignment!

Finish up History of Rocketry Research Questions. Cite at least 3 sources for rocket info in Noodle Bib. Name For Bibliography source list: Rocket History Sources.

Name of class to share with:

Flynt Space.

Finish questions on Great Quake Shake-Up Follow Up Report. Then review your initial instructions on the PRELIMINARY REPORT for Great Quake Shake-Up. Begin work on your letter to Secretary Salazar about earthquake patterns, our ability to predict quakes, and the need to fund quake research.

Other sites to visit:

Plate Tectonics: Natural Hazards and People (USGS)

Understanding Plate Motions (USGS)

Virtual Reference Book on Plate Tectonics

Handouts

NoodleBib and Uploading Files lesson

History of Rocketry Research Questions

Great Quake Shake-Up: Preliminary Report, Great Quake Shake-Up: Follow Up Report

Homework

All: Have an incredible weekend! Meet in Computer Lab 109 on Monday!

Non Science Fair: No HW

Non Science Fair: Finish Rocketry questions over the weekend. Be ready to hand them in on Monday. NoodleBib will be due sometime next week.

Non Science Fair:  Finish your Great Quake Shake-Up Follow Up Report WS.

Science Fair: Continue with project research, citing sources in NoodleBib, and/or working on Research Plan.