Wednesday 23 May 2012 – 8th

Today was the last 8th grade science class of the year.  We held out paper airplane competitions with two competitions.  First was landing, scoring  was determined by a) the plane landing on the runway or lined up to enter the runway (not passed it or to the side)  and b) distance of nose of plane from the “X”. There were three heats flown, each student participated in each heat.  For the  stunt – point value as determined by all students (0,1,2 possible from each student for each flight).  There were to be two heats flown, best overall score won.  There was also a most attractive plane competition in 8D – Eva G and John B each won the competition for their gender – John shared his candy with most of the rest of the boys.  

The results are as follows:

8D: Landing –  1st place to Jared S at 0.27 m; 2nd place to Fabian S at 0.40m

Stunt plane -  1st place to Morgan B with 41 points; 2nd place to Adonis N with 39 points.

8F: Landing – 1st place to Noah B at 1.16 m; 2nd place to Hailey C at 1.20 m.

NOTE: Stunt plane  – we were unable to finish the 2nd heat due to unruly behavior from several of the boys.  1st place was awarded to Myles G based on  his 1st heat performance; 2nd place to Mr. Allen. Wedid not hold a beautiful plane competition due to poor behavior. 

 After the competition, one or more students decided to trash the room by tearing their plane into many small pieces and scattering them on the floor as they left. 

Tuesday 22 May 2012 – 8th

Key Question: How do you balance the forces of lift, gravity, thrust and drag to make a paper air plane that can land on the runway and/or do a trick?

HW: Bring your stunt plane and plane for the landing competition.

In class today: Some students were reminded of the textbooks that they have not yet returned.  Students had the rest of the period to practice making and flying their paper airplanes.  The planes must be made from papers from science class this year – anything in their binder.

Monday 21 May 2012 – 8th

Key Question: What is a polymer?  How can you make one with household products?

HW: None

In class today: We reviewed the term polymer.  We then shared the Dr. Suess story called Bartholomew and the Oobleck.  Mrs. Du Houx demonstrated the “alternative oobleck made with corn starch – which is more of an example of plasticity than polymers.  Students then used liquid fabric starch and Elmer’s glue to make Oobleck (see link: HowToMakeOobleck_ForStudents).  They enjoyed the mess and did a good job of cleaning it up when they were done.

Friday 18 May 2012 – 8th

Key Question: How can you determine the type of bonding using physical tests?

HW: None

In class today: Students worked with their table group to complete a lab on bonding.  They were given a several items to test and electric circuit materials.  The first test was to see if the material conducted electricity dry (yes = metallic bonding).  Items that did not conduct electricity where then placed in water to see if they dissolved.  If they did not dissolve, they have network covalent bonding.  The materials that did dissolve were next tested to see if they conducted electricity when dissolved.  Those that did have ionic bonding, those that did not have molecular covalent bonding.

Thursday 17 May 2012 – 8th late posting

Key Question: What holds atoms together in a molecule?

HW: Come to portfolio night – this evening.

In class today:  Students did a pretest activity, a reading assignment and took notes on four styles of bonding.  They worked with their table group and some whole class discussions on the topic.

Wednesday 16 May 2012 – 8th

We began class discussing portfolio night logistics.

Next, we went to the computer lab to take the 8th grade DPS technology test.

After the test, students had study hall time – to work on portfolios, math, or whatever they needed to work on.

Tuesday 15 May 2012 – 8th

Key Question: How many drops can fit on a penny?

HW: Finish portfolio reflections.

In class today: We retook pictures of element models.  Then, as a class, we walked to the dumpster to dispose of them – or students put them in or by their locker to take home.  Students had the rest of the period to do the last standard 1 (scientific method) assessment of the year by conducting an experiment to see how many drops can fit on a penny.  Their experiment write up was due by the end of class.

Monday 14 May 2012 – 8th

Key Question: What will you use as your best work in your portfolio?

HW: Work on your science portfolio reflections.

In class today: We passed back papers, talked about portfolio night, and students had the rest of class to work on their science portfolio reflections.  Here are the prompts:

Science Portfolio reflections: please answer these questions for each piece you selected.

1) What is the assignment about?

2) Why did you choose this piece? (Does this piece show your best work, or did you choose it for some other reason?)

3) How does this piece show what you learned about science?

4) How could you have done better (or improved) on this assignment?

Friday 11 May 2012 – 8th

Most of 8D was in class, but Shakespeare performers left between 1st and 2nd period, there were only 2 girls and a handfull of boys in 8F.

In class today: We finished our element presentations.  Students then passed out and organized the portfolio binders from 7th grade and all the papers that Mrs. Du Houx has been “babysitting” from this year.  Students will have Monday during science class to use the lap tops to write their reflections on the 6 assignments they select to represent their work in 8th grade science.

Thursday 10 May 2012 – 8th Late Post

Mrs. Du Houx was out, her husband had been put in the hospital the night before due to a reaction from bee stings he had gotten Sunday when helping a friend work in their bee yard near Salida.

Mrs. Costello – the sub – reported that all classes were well behaved.

8th graders began presentations of their Element Project, students were to write down the name of the presenter, their element and 5 pieces of information about the element that they learned from the presentation.

No homework.

Wednesday May 9 – 8th late posting

Key question: How do you balance chemical equations?

HW: Element project and paper due Thursday.

In class today:  We had shortened class due to the DU day trip.  Students took a quiz on vocabulary from a recent reading assignment and balancing equations – the same words and activity we did in class on Tuesday.  We graded these during  class.

Tuesday 8 May 2012 – 8th

Key questions: 1. What vocabulary are associated with chemical equations? 2. How do you balance them?

HW: Bring a sack lunch and whatever stuff you need (swimming suit, towel, socks for ice skating, etc.) for our walk to DU tomorrow.  Element projects due Thursday.  Tomorrow students will have a quiz over chemical equations – both vocabulary words and how to balance them.

In class today: We began by collecting portfolio invitations.  Next we discussed DU day.  Students took a “quiz” over the vocabulary associated with chemical equations – based on a recent reading assignment.  Most students did not do well, so we reveiwed the answers and will retake a different version of the quiz tomorrow.

We then discussed how to balance chemical equations.  We did multiple equations as a class (guided practice), then students were given a handout to work on by themselves and with their table group (see link:Balance equation_WS_forstudents ).  We reviewed the answers to the worksheet at the end of class.

Tuesday 8 May 2012 – 7th

Challenge question: What did you learn during 7th grade science?

HW: Bring a sack lunch and whatever stuff you need (swimming suit, towel, socks for ice skating, etc.) for our walk to DU tomorrow.  Ecology Picture Vocab due Friday the 11th.  Three sets of notes from BP due Thursday (seed plants p. 140-149, Gymnosperms p. 150-155, and Angiosperms p. 156-161).

In class today: Students began with the seed experiment observations.  We will wrap up this long term observation on Friday. By Monday students will need daily observations, at least 5 drawings, a data table (taped into their learning journal) and a conclusion.  Students then took the end of year district test over 7th grade science.  When they finished with the test, they could work on yesterday’s exploration of classroom plants (monocots vs. dicots), their notes, or read.

Monday 7 May 2012 – 8th

Key question: How can copper be isolated from copper chloride solutions using electrolysis?

HW: Finish the Isolating Copper lab.  Elements project due Thursday.

In class today: We began by collecting portfolio invitations and passing back papers (see link:23_8thSciBinder_7May2012 ).  We then did the Isolating Copper lab – most students finished this in class (see link:Lab Isolating Copper p. 36-37_Revised2012 ).

Thursday 3 May 2012 – 8th

Students took the end of year science test today.

HW: Read Chemical Interactions p. 32-37 on Controlling Chemical Reactions.  Element research paper and model due on May 10th.