Let the Science Fair begin!

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, January 5th

Objective: Today I will outline energy transformation examples given on a study guide.

What we did in class today: We took notes on what is an energy transformation, we went over examples of many energy transformations, and we worked on a study guide at the end of class.

If you missed today: Copy the notes from a classmate and ask questions of Mr. Jamsa afterwards.  We will be touching these topics over the next three weeks, but science fair begins tomorrow so we will be leaving these behind for awhile.

Tuesday, January 4th

Objective:Today I will differentiate among various energy types on the class exit quiz.

What we did in class today: 1) We looked at a varsity level Pendulum lab write up and wrote down ways we could improve for next time. 2) We watched movies and took notes on seven different energy types.  3) We furthered out understanding with a card sort and an exit quiz.

If you missed today: Your signed progress reports are due back tomorrow, Thursday.  Science fair projects that are dealing with humans and animals need to have typed procedures turned in by tomorrow for the science committee meeting.  Finally, find a classmate and copy the notes that we took in class into your own notebook.

Monday, January 3rd

Objective: I will review key science concepts by completing a review crossword puzzle.

What we did in class today: We looked at our grades from the Pendulum Inquiry, we worked on review crosswords, we broke into groups for science fair, and we shared information with the Hufflepuff science fair students.

If you missed today: Obtain a review crossword puzzle and progress report from Mr. Jamsa.  Make sure you are keeping up with the dates and information about science fair on this web page under the science fair tab.

Your hypothesis and procedure for science fair are due this Thursday.  See “What’s New” under the science fair tab for more detail.

This Week:

What we will do: This week is all about the pendulum inquiry.  Monday we are finishing experiments and making graphs.  Tuesday we are writing our anlayses for the experiment.  Wednesday and Thursday we are typing our work.  This assignment is worth 33% of your semester grade.

If you are gone for a day: You should not have much trouble catching up with your teammates.  Every student needs to do their own graph and their own analysis.  Those are critical.

If you are gone for multiple days: One version of the assignment is can be downloaded below.  There are specific directions for you to follow.  You can e-mail Mr. Jamsa for help if you are trying to complete this on your own.  Turn in what you have to Mr. Jamsa when you return.

Pendulum lab

Science Fair Hufflepuff hypothesis and procedure is due next Thursday!

Friday, December 9th

Objective: With my team we will collect data from the pendulum expeirment including writing down experimental problems.

What we did in class today: Most groups did approximately 9 trials of the pendulum experiment and wrote the results in their science notebooks.

If you missed class today: You will have to collect data when you come to class on Monday.

Thursday, December 8th

Objective: With my team, we will have our pendulum hypothesis approved and complete a good rough draft of our procedure including a materials list, digrams, at least ten steps, and a data table.

What we did in class today: With our table teams, we worked on the pendulum inquiry focusing on what is written above.

If you missed class today: You will need to catch up your notes and your thinking when you return.  This lab is what we shall be doing until Break, and it is worth 33% of the SEMESTER grade.  This is a final exam of sorts which demonstrates whether you understand the scientific method or not and that is a big focus for us obviously this year.

Wednesday, December 7th

Today was the day we went to the Oregon Garden to do our service learning by removing invasive species.

Tuesday, December 6th

Objective: With my team, we will write a hypothesis for the pendulum experiment based on today’s research.

What we did in class today: We learned about mechanical energy for the research phase of the experiment. Based on that research, we wrote a hypothesis and had them checked out by Mr. Jamsa.

If you missed class today: When you return, copy your notes from your table team and have them help you understand where they are in the process.  We will continue the experiment Thursday after the field trip tomorrow.

Monday, December 5th 

Objective: With my team we will develop a scientific question for the pendulum inquiry and learn pendulum vocabulary.

What we did in class today: We talked about what we knew about pendulums, set up a practice pendulum, made a T-chart of variables both independent and dependent, and wrote scientific questions for the experiment we are doing this week.

If you missed today: You will have to copy the notebook of your team mates when you come tomorrow.