We are in full review mode now.  Students are doing pretty well on all of the content.  Here is what our schedule looks like this week.

 

Monday - Review Electromagnetism, Mass, Weight, Gravity, Fossil Record, Variables, etc. (Week 2 Quiz)

Tuesday - TC: Adaptations, Fossil Record (not memorization); Review Biodiversity & Classification; Notes: Assistive v Adaptive Technology

Wednesday - TC: Graphs (not memorization); practice Adaptive v Assistive Technology; Review Elements, Compounds, Mixtures

Thursday - TC: Adaptive v. Assistive Technology; Notes: Scientific Method (bias, steps, cause-effect); Review Acids v Bases

Friday - TC: Mixtures v Compounds; Weekly Quiz 3 (Electromagnetism, Mass, Weight, Gravity, Adaptations, Fossil Record, Biodiversity, Classification, Variables, Graphs, Adaptive v. Assistive)

 

Good morning.  I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend.  We are wrapping up the nine weeks, and our core instruction over the next two weeks.  Then, we have our family life curriculum to close the nine weeks.

 

Weekly Activities

Tuesday (20th): finish TC: Atomic Values; Notes: Atomic Structure

Wednesday (21st): TC: Density; Critical Thinking: Periodic Table

Thursday (22nd): TC: Periodic Table; Review: Periodic Table

Friday (23rd): TC: Gravity; Quiz: Periodic Table

 

Monday (26th): Part 1 Quarter Final

Tuesday (27th): TC: Orbits; Review for Quarter Final

Wednesday (28th): TC: Elements v Compounds; Review for Quarter Final

Thursday (1st): Quarter Final Part 2

Friday (2nd): Quarter Final Part 3

 

Monday (5th): Retake Day; Family Life

Tuesday (6th): TC: Chemical Reactions; Family Life

Wednesday (7th): TC: Physical Changes; Family Life

Thursday (8th): TC: Elements, Compounds, Mixtures; Family Life

Friday (9th): Family Life

This nine weeks seems to be flying by.  This week we will continue our study of the periodic table.  We took a slightly different route than planned last week in learning about the periodic table, so this week may seem like a repeat. 

 

Activities:

Monday - Daily Quiz 3-5; Article: Protons, Neutrons, Electrons; Notes: Atomic Values

Tuesday - TC: Periodic Table; Notes: Atomic Values; Activity - Atomic Values

Wednesday - TC: Gravity; Activity - Atomic Values; Critical Thinking: Periodic Table & Atomic Values

Thursday - TC: Atomic Values; Articles: Bohr's Model & Lewis Dot Structure

 

Standards

SPI 0807.9.9 Use the periodic table to determine the properties of an element.

0807.9.10 Identify the atomic number, atomic mass, number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom of an element using the periodic table.

What the Students Will Learn

1. how to read the periodic table

2. the differences between metals, nonmetals, and metalloids

3. how to calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons

4. what an isotope is

We just finished with our MidTerm test, and I was very pleased with how most of the students did.  Now we are moving on to the Periodic Table.  Students will learn how the Periodic Table is one of the best cheat sheets ever created.  We will also learn about the structure of atoms.

 

Activities

Monday - Activity: Periodic Table

Tuesday - TC: Fossil Record; Notes: Periodic Table

Wednesday - Daily Quiz; finish Notes: Periodic Table; Article: Protons, Neutrons, Electrons

Thursday - TC: Acids v Bases; Notes: Protons, Neutrons, Electrons

Friday - TC: Mass v Weight; Activity: Solving Protons, Neutrons, Electrons

Standards

SPI 0807.9.9 Use the periodic table to determine the properties of an element.

0807.9.10 Identify the atomic number, atomic mass, number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom of an element using the periodic table.

What the Students Will Learn

1. how to read the periodic table

2. the differences between metals, nonmetals, and metalloids

3. how to calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons

I hope everyone enjoyed the extra time off last week.  This week we will begin our unit on elements, compounds, and mixtures.  This is one of the easier units we have for the entire year.  We will learn about how to identify elements and compounds based on their symbols; how to distinguish between elements, compounds, and mixtures; and how to separate compounds and mixtures.

 

Monday - Quiz: Law of Conservation of Mass; Notes: Elements v Compounds

Tuesday - TC: Adaptations; TC: Elements v Compounds; Article: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures; Notes: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

Wednesday - Guided Reading Articles

Thursday - Guidance Day

Friday - Daily Quiz; Notes: Separating Mixtures

 

SPI 0807.9.1 Recognize that all matter consists of atoms.

SPI 0807.9.3 Classify common substances as elements or compounds based on their symbols or formulas.
SPI 0807.9.4 Differentiate between a mixture and a compound.
SPI 0807.9.5 Describe the chemical makeup of the atmosphere. (next week)

 

1.  how to identify elements and compounds by their symbols

2.  how to distinguish between elements, compounds, and mixtures based on their characteristics

3.  how to separate compounds and mixtures

4.  the chemical composition of the atmosphere as a mixture (next week)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break.  I am excited for our new year.  We only have 4 concepts to cover, and we will be done with the science curriculum for the year.  Over the next few weeks we will really prepare for physical science in 9th grade and chemistry in 10th grade as we learn about the periodic table and chemical equations.  

 

Monday: Homework (due Thursday), practice balancing chemical equations

Tuesday: TC: Adaptations & Dichotomous Key (on Naiku), practice balancing chemical equations

Wednesday: practice balancing chemical equations

Thursday: Homework due, TC: Balancing Chemical Equations, review Law of Conservation of Mass

Friday: Quiz: Law of Conservation of Mass 

 

SPI 0807.9.10 Identify the reactants and products of a chemical reaction.
SPI 0807.9.11 Recognize that in a chemical reaction the mass of the reactants is equal to the mass of the products (Law of Conservation of Mass).

 

1.  how to identify the reactants and products in a chemical reaction

2.  how to balance a chemical equation to represent a chemical reaction

3.  how the Law of Conservation of Mass is illustrated in chemical and physical changes

We are almost done with all of the content for the semester.  We will finish physical v. chemical change this week, and then prepare for semester exam.  Students have several homework sheets to complete to prepare for the semester exam.  Students may not use a homework pass on these assignments, because they are so important to review for the test.  Students may begin this weekend on the sheets.  Study guide 1 is due this Thursday (Dec. 7th), study guide 2 is due Monday (Dec. 11th), and study guide 3 is due Tuesday (Dec. 12th).  Our semester exam is Wednesday (Dec. 13th).

 

Weekly Activities:

Monday - Lab: Chemical v Physical Change

Tuesday - TC: Physical Change; review for quiz

Wednesday - Quiz: Chemical v. Physical Change; review for semester exam

Thursday - Study Guide #1 due, review for semester exam

Friday - review for semester exam

 

Standards:

SPI 0807.9.2 Identify the common outcome of all chemical changes.

SPI 0807.9.8 Interpret the results of an investigation to determine whether a physical or chemical change has occurred.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break.  I must tell you, I am grateful we are moving on from density.  Density is one of the hardest units we cover in science this year.  Overall, many students did well on our density quiz, while a few others struggled.  We will continue to review density throughout the year, but will no longer dedicate the entire class to the study of density.  If your child wants additional help with density, please let me know and I may be able to set up a tutoring session.

 

Coming up next is physical v chemical change.  Students usually do very well on this unit, as the concepts do not involve math and are easy to observe.  Depending on time, we have several labs to choose from to help students understand the difference between physical and chemical changes.

 

Monday - Discovery Lab: Chemical Reactions

Tuesday - TC: Mass v Weight; Article: What is a Chemical Reaction; Notes: Chemical Reactions

Wednesday - TC: Gravity; finishing notes; Article: Physical Changes

Thursday - TC: Orbits; Notes: Physical Change; Kahoot

Friday - TC: Chemical Reactions; Demo: Baking Soda & Vinegar; semester exam review

 

SPI 0807.9.2 Identify the common outcome of all chemical changes.

SPI 0807.9.8 Interpret the results of an investigation to determine whether a physical or chemical change has occurred.

-->0807.9.8 Determine the types of interactions between substances that result in a chemical change.

 

Students will identify signs of chemical reactions.

Students will determine the common outcome of all chemical reactions.

 

This week we are starting a STEM unit that will incorporate all content areas.  Our focus of study will center of the Lewis and Clarke Expedition.  In science, we will focus on the technology that they used, such as the canoe, and on future transportation technologies.  We will incorporate studies on density, the engineering design process, and electromagnetism.  This is our first STEM unit that we have attempted, and it will be a learning process.  I hope it is fun and educational for the students.  They do have homework on Naiku this week.  It is due Thursday morning.  Our Mid-Term test is on Thursday.

 

Monday - review Lab : Density Columns; Notes: Density

Tuesday - TC: Magnetic Fields; review density, research Lewis & Clarke canoe

Wednesday - TC: Density; Lab: Density Columns; Lab: Penny Boats

 

I hope everyone has a great Halloween week.  We have some scary good labs this week.  We can only do these labs if the supplies are brought in though.  Supplies we need include: milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar, rock salt, spoons, corn syrup, dish washing soap, vegetable oil, and quart size ziplock bags.  Please have students bring them in Tuesday and Wednesday.  These supplies are to make ice cream for our states of matter lab and density columns.  Kids enjoy both of these labs, so please send it what you can so we can do both. 

 

Monday - practice density problems

Tuesday - TC: Phase Change, lab with density cubes and pennies

Wednesday - ice cream lab, prepare for penny boat

Thursday - Lab: Density Column, prepare for penny boats

Friday - Quiz: States of Matter & Density, Lab: Penny Boats

 

0807.9.7 Apply an equation to determine the density of an object based on its mass and volume.

-->Measure or calculate the mass, volume, and temperature of a given substance.

Learning Objectives

1. Use a triple-beam balance to measure the mass of an object; and use a graduated cylinder or ruler to measure the volume.  Then, apply the density formula to determine its density.
2. Apply the formulas for calculating density, mass, and volume for given word problems.
3. Construct a density column, and determine whether substances will sink or float in water or when compared to other substances.

     This week we begin our study of the states of matter.  This will provide another opportunity to go to the lab and explore the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.  The lab activities are discovery activities, meaning that students will perform the labs prior to being given any notes.  Then, we will create a set of class notes based on what students have learned from the lab.

 

Monday - Daily Quiz 2; begin States of Matter Discovery Lab

Tuesday - Quiz: Acids & Bases; States of Matter Discovery Lab

Wednesday - TC: Electric Generators; finish States of Matter Discovery Lab; create Notes: States of Matter

Thursday: finish Notes: States of Matter; Critical Thinking: States of Matter

Friday: TC: States of Matter; prepare for STEM unit

 

SPI 0807.9.6 Compare the particle arrangement and type of particle motion associated with different states of matter.

 

Students will learn about the particle motion, particle arrangement, shape, volume, and density for each state of matter.

    I hope everyone had a wonderful fall break.  I love the 2nd nine weeks.  We are starting to begin our study into chemistry.  Chemistry allows us to go into the lab more.  This week we start with acids v bases. 

    Another type of assignment that I will be introducing students to is a daily quiz.  It is not really daily, but that is just the name I came up with.  This will act as a review assignment to help students prepare for our semester exam.  It usually has 10 - 15 questions over all of the concepts we have discussed in class.  After they finish, we look over the questions that gave the students the most difficulty.  I have found this review super helpful for the students.

 

Monday - Daily Quiz 1; Mystery of the Safe Sleuth Activity

Tuesday - Article: Acids v Bases; create Notes: Acids v Bases

Wednesday - TC: Electromagnets; Lab: Acids v Bases

Thursday - TC: Acids v Bases; finish Mystery of the Safe Sleuth Activity

Friday - Article & Questions (sub will be in class)

 

SPI 0807.9.12 Identify the basic properties of acids and bases.

 

Students will be able to identify acids and bases in a lab setting.

Students can identify the differences and similarities of acids and bases.

One week to fall break.  I know all the students (and teachers) are excited for our first break.  In class, we are ending strong.  Students have really improved on each of our assignments.  We have many A's and B's in class.  Whatever you parents are doing at home, keep doing it. 

 

Students have homework this week on Naiku.  It is a practice test for our quarter test.  Students will have from Thursday, September 28th to Tuesday, October 3rd to complete the work.  They do not have to complete the entire practice in one setting.  They may complete it in parts as long as they do not push end exam.  However, it must all be completed by Tuesday, October 3rd by 8am.

 

Monday - Lab: Fossils

 

SPI 0807.5.5 Compare fossils found in sedimentary rock to determine their relative age.

 

Students will be able to determine the relative age of fossils while looking at sedimentary rock layers.

 

This week is a continuation of our study in biology.  We have learned about scientific naming and classification, and we will begin to learn about adaptations and biomes. 

 

As a general note, I am really happy how well the students have done this past week.  I am impressed with how hard most students have worked.  We will continue taking our target concepts for the 2nd time this nine weeks.  If students make a 100 on their 2nd target concept, then I replace their previous grade.  Anything less than a 100 and I average the two grades.  The #1 tip that I can give is to check your notes compared to mine.  Usually when students have missed out on points it is either because they did not copy all the notes, or copied the notes incorrectly. 

 

As always, email me with any questions.  Thanks for all you do.

 

Monday - retake Quiz: Mass, Weight, Gravity, Orbits; dichotomous key activity

 

Homework (Please wait til the night before to complete to help with TC)

 

This week we will begin our unit of study in Biology.  Students will learn about the classification system, how to use dichotomous keys, adaptations, biomes, and fossils.  We also have homework this week.  Each day students will turn in one part of their homework.

 

Monday - TC: Classification; review gravity unit

Tuesday - TC: Electromagnets; dichotomous key activity;

Wednesday - TC: Electric Generators; Classwork: Dichotomous Key; read article on adaptations

Thursday - TC: Magnetic Fields; create vocabulary list

 

SPI0807.5.1 Use a simple classification key to identify an unknown organism.