Welcome to Ms. Davis' Physical Science blog
Science Fair projects are due tomorrow, Friday, February 18, 2011.
If you worked in a group with others, you will need to submit the following:
1. One log book per person
2. One research plan per group
3. One tri-board per group
If you worked alone, you will need to submit the following:
1. One log book
2. One research plan
3. One tri-board
All projects should be submitted by 4:00 p.m.
We continuously find new social mediums to communicate with one another. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Skype, and even Oovoo are just a few new ways that we choose to converse with our friends and loved ones. These have actually trumped the traditional methods of communicating such as a good 'ol telephone call, a pleasant e-mail, or short text message. Education is no different! In science, we have recently started using a website named Edmodo.
Edmodo is the leading social learning network for K-12 education. This website provides students an opportunity to communicate with classmates and teachers on a consistent basis and to stay updated about assignments/events for class. Although we don't have a 1:1 laptop classroom, students will still have the opportunnity to utilize edmodo to submit assignments, join discussions, and ask for assistance for their individual needs.
Each student created an account in class, but it can be used at home. Students can even pull it up on their cell phone!
Parents, please ask students to show you the edmodo website. A parent code can be provided (upon request) to help you stay updated on your child's assignments.
Check it out! It actually looks a little like Facebook! =)
http://www.edmodo.com/
We have been diligently working on Science Fair projects. Now, it is time to turn in a portion of the project before Winter Break. Many of you continue to ask what is due Friday (although we discuss this EVERY time you come to class and a packet was distributed with due dates). I'm in the Christmas spirit! So, I will share this information with you again. Below is a checklist of everything that should be turned in to me by Friday, December 17, 2010:
1. Research Report - a report that summarizes current information related to your topic. It will help you understand the procedure, observations, and results of the research. The report will also help you to form an educated prediction (or hypothesis) about the outcome of your experiment.
* The research report should include definitions and explanations of the main concepts or topics
related to your project. It should also include information from similar investigations.
* If the paper is typed, it should be two pages in length with a 12 point, Times New
Roman font. If it is hand-written, it should be 4 pages in length in classic blue or black ink
(Handwriting needs to be legible).
* The research paper should be double-spaced (if it is typed).
* One paper per group should be submitted.
2. Bibliography - a list of sources that have been used to collect background information
* A completed Bibliography Worksheet with three sources should be submitted.
* One of the sourcees should be a non-internet source (book, encyclopedia, magazine, scientfic
journal, interview with a scientist)
3. Materials and Procedure List - a list of all the items, quantitatively and qualitatively presented,
and steps in order, that are needed to conduct the experiment. Procedures should be detailed.
* A list of all of the materials you need for the Science Fair experiment should be submitted. (One per
group)
* A list of the procedures that should be performed to conduct the experiment should also be
submitted. (One per group)
* Many of the groups got a topic from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/. So, you can use the website as a
guide to create a materials and procedures list.
4. Hypothesis - an educated prediction of the outcome of the experiment. It should be written in as
a conditional statement (if/then).
* The hypothesis will be completed in class Thursday/Friday. One hypothesis and list of variables
should per group should submitted.
5. Forms
* Forms will be completed in class.
It's the most wonderful time of the year ... SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT TIME!
Ms. Traylor and I recommend that students complete individual projects. This is standard to ensure that each student participates fully and thoroughly and understands the process involved in the Scientific Method. However, each individual student working on a group project will receive the same grade regardless of individual effort, time, and money spent.
It is imperative that students and parents alike understand that all Science Fair Project work is done outside of the classroom. Students working together must determine worksites, times, and transportation. These are all important factors to remember when deciding on group vs. individual projects.
Each week, a Science Fair related assignment is due. These grades will count as daily grades. This is to help with keeping students on track and preventing last minute projects that are just thrown together in an effort to “just get a grade”. Much focus is put on Science Fair and we want all students to work towards a project that is worthy of competing at the school fair, the region fair, and the state fair. I challenge you to have YOUR project as one of the greatest our school has yet to see.
Our hands-on, inquiry approach to studying the Scientific Method will result in at least 4 major grades for the 3rd Nine Weeks grading periods.
Students, please put forth 110% effort. Parents, please keep weekly tabs on your child’s Science Fair Project progress.
KRMS is the best and we expect nothing less!
If you have any further questions, Ms. Traylor or I can be reached via phone at (770) 229-3760 or via e-mail at dontauneia.traylor@gscs.org or robyn.davis@gscs.org, respectively.
We have been involved in understanding what matter is and how it can be identified. Matter is anything that has mass (or as we call it "stuff") and takes up space (or has volume). We completed an opening activity for the unit to understand what things around us would be classified as matter. Students now understand that any object in a solid, liquid, gaseous, or plasma state is considered matter. Some of those things include, but are not limited to: cell phones, iPods, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Fire is even considered to be matter, but students now understand that the heat energy it gives off is not. We cannot calculate the mass of energy or measure how much space it occupies.
It seems as though middle school students are "<3" with someone every other week; although <3 consumes a large part of their life ... it isn't matter. So, does it really matter? (=
Students have also determined the difference between physical and chemical properties of matter. A physical property is any characteristic of matter that can be detected by our five senses without changing the object's or substance's appearance. Examples include an object's color, taste, and shape. Chemical properties is a characteristic of an object or substance that allows it to change to something new. Examples of chemical properties that we have discussed include flammability, reactivity, and combustibility.
Matter also has the ability to change physically or chemically. A physical change is a change in the object's size, shape, form, or state of matter. It allows the object or substance to change appearance, but not its identity. When objects change chemically, it will change the material into a new material with new properties. Believe it or not, cooking and eating usually involve a chemical change.
Test your knowledge of physical and chemical properties and changes with the following website.
Good luck!
http://www.teacherbridge.org/public/bhs/teachers/Dana/chemphys.html
The last portion of the Force and Motion standard covers simple machines and how if affects work. Over the next week and a half, we will discuss these concepts as we relate them to force and motion.
We will discuss each of the six simple machines and their descriptions, and you will have the opportunity to complete hands-on investigations to build a better understanding of each is used.
Remember, you are responsible for completing two activities on the Individual Lesson Plan and each station on the Simple Machines Lab by next week. Let's get to work! (=
The due dates for the Newton's Laws of Motion project have been extended. Please make sure you have a completed project on the date listed for your class. Late projects will not be accepted.
Due Dates
A Day - Tuesday, September 28, 2010
B Day - Monday, September 27, 2010
This week, we will continue to discuss Newton's three laws of motion. We will also discuss gravity and how it affects the weight of an object. Remember, you are responsible for completing one of the Newton's laws of motion projects. Here is a video and a link to help complete the project. You can also refer to your notes on force or schedule a time to stay after school to receive additional help.
Newton’s laws of motion describe the relationship between forces and motion. For this project, you will use Newton’s third law of motion to design a vehicle or create a brochure relating the three laws of motion to your favorite sport.You were given a description and rubric for the project of your choice. A description of each project and due dates are listed below. Have fun and good luck!
Newton's Scooter Project
In this project, you will use Newton’s third law of motion to design a vehicle that moves without the use of gravity or a power source such as electricity. You will also be required to explain how your scooter relates to the three laws of motion.
Your Goal: To design a vehicle that moves without an outside force acting on it
Your vehicle must:
• Move by pushing on something
• Not be powered by any form of electricity or use gravity in order to move
• Travel a minimum of 1.5 meters
• Be built following the safety guidelines found in the following standards:
S8CS2 and S8CS4
Plan It: Preview the chapter to find out about Newton’s laws of motion. Determine factors that will affect the acceleration of your vehicle. Brainstorm possible designs for your vehicle, but be careful not to lock yourself into a single idea. Remember that a car with wheels is only one type of vehicle. Think of ways to use household materials to build your vehicle. Draw a diagram of your proposed vehicle and identify the force that will propel it. Then build your vehicle and see if it works. Finally, write a summary of how your vehicle works and relates to Newton’s three laws of motion. You should also include the vocabulary of the standard correctly within your explanation (i.e. inertia, friction, gravity, net force, balanced force, unbalanced force, mass, acceleration, action force, reaction force).
Good luck!
Newton's Laws of Motion Brochure
In this project, you will explain the three laws of motion by relating it to your favorite sport. Your final product should be in the form of a brochure.
Your brochure should include the following:
1. In a minimum of seven sentences, provide a brief summary about your sport.
Your summary should include such information as: the objective of the game,
how many players are needed to play the game and the positions they play,
the rules of the game, etc.
2. For each law of motion, you should:
a. State what the law means (or provide a definition)
b. Provide an illustrated example of how the sport can be related to the law
c. Explain the illustrated example using the vocabulary of the standard. The
following vocabulary should be included within your brochure and be
related to the appropriate law.
1. balanced force 6. force
2. unbalanced force 7. acceleration
3. friction 8. mass
4. gravity 9. action force
5. inertia 10. reaction force
Due Date for the Newton's Laws of Motion Project:
A-Day Classes: Friday, September 24, 2010
B-Day Classes: Thursday, September 23, 2010
