Week of October 5-9, 2009

Science Fair: Research Plans for projects that require “Prior Approval” (projects involving vertebrates, humans subjects, or microbes) are due on Friday, Oct 9th. Research Plans for all other projects are due the following Thursday, Oct 15^th. Official ISEF Forms are available on the Science Fair section of our class website. Students can type directly on these form and save them on their computer or on a flash drive. This makes revisions and changes super-easy! Mrs. Flynt also gave out copies and went over all forms in class on Tuesday and Wednesday. Remember that all signatures and hand-written info must be completed in blue, non-erasable ink!!!

8^th Graders: Next FCAT Explorer Science Voyager Report is due Thursday, Oct 15^th! Dates: 10/3-10/15

Thursday, October 8, 2009

6^th Grade

7^th Grade

8^th Grade

Daily Launch

Discuss tomorrow’s LCROSS lunar impact mission to explore the possibility of water on the Moon.

Daily Mission

Pop Corn Lab. Before conducting our first round of tests, students will deliberate how to implement safety procedures into our experimental design and ensure all necessary controlled variables are held constant.

Journal Entry: Phases of Matter Venn Diagram. Students will use visual graphic organizer to reinforce the differences between particle motions and spacing in solids, liquids, and gasses.

Watch and discuss another clip from Faces of Earth: Shaping the Planet (Science channel documentary). Reflect on use of different kinds of models (scaled simulation material models, computer imaging models, mathematical/statistical  models) to study tectonic processes. Video clip also introduces theory of “slab pull” and the possibility of density-driven forces that may power subduction of oceanic lithosphere.

Handouts

Homework

No Homework.

No homework.

Quake Plotters: Letter to Secretary Salazar due tomorrow! Letter should be typed, 2-3 pages, single-spaced, 12 point font, paragraph format.

Science Fair: Research Plans due tomorrow for projects requiring prior approval. Log book check for all projects.

Friday, October 9, 2009

6^th Grade

7^th Grade

8^th Grade

Daily Launch

Discuss early return of data from LCROSS lunar impact mission and the “value” of space missions to facilitate future manned space travel.

Turn in Salazar Earthquake letter to INBOX.

Daily Mission

Pop Corn Lab. Have students analyze the procedures used in first trials and evaluate the need for procedural modifications. Discuss usability of data from these first trials in regards to controlling variables.

Discuss selection of impact site for LCROSS. Introduce students to the striking differences in temperature between sun and shadow on the moon’s surface due to lack of atmospheric gasses. Discuss the role of the atmosphere vs. direct solar radiation in terms of surface temperatures on Earth.

Structure of the Earth Classnotes. Compare/contrast oceanic and continental crust (thickness, density, chemical composition, magma viscosity and common rock types). Differentiate between brittle, plastic, and elastic behavior of matter and associate these terms with the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. Introduce the concept of convection in the asthenosphere and correlate to convection in the atmosphere.

Handouts

Homework

Have a spectacular weekend!

Meet in Computer Lab 109 on Monday!