Creating Your Own Experiments

Much of your time this year will be spent designing and conducting your own experiments. We began with the pendulum lab and now we're continuing with "Inclined to Roll", which we started this week (see the home study page). The labs are not complicated but are designed to give you an opportunity to learn in what is called a hands-on environment or learning by doing. Because this is how you are going to learn, it is important for you to understand how to create a good scientific experiment. And that is why I'm testing you on it tomorrow.

Good luck and study hard.

Experimental Design and The Scientific Method

Last week we finished up our introduction to the scientific method and experimental design. We'll be using these processes throughout the school year and you need to be very familiar with them. Here's a quick recap of what we've done:

• First concepts were introduced in classroom lecture and should be included in your notes. As each concept was introduced you applied them to the pendulum lab.
• Next you watched a video which reviewed the steps and provided an example of students creating an experiment to test if scary movies increase heart rates.
• Then you were given a reference handout detailing the steps and how you should write-up a lab.
• Next you were asked to create an experiment to test the claims made in magazine ads
• Today I returned your graded pendulum labs and reviewed areas in which students fell short of my expectations.
  

On Friday you'll be tested on your knowledge and ability to apply this knowledge to various experiment descriptions. You should be able to identify both the independent and dependent variables. Create a key question and hypothesis. Complete an experimental design box and data table, plus take the data from your table and create an appropriate graph.

Please put some extra time in home study to review this information.

Good Luck.

Scary Science

I hope you enjoyed today's scary movie (and took good notes). You watched some students apply the scientific method to answer a "key question" --- How does watching a scary movie affect someone's heart rate.

Now you should be better able to apply the same method to creating your own experiments. Look at how you applied this method to conducting your pendulum experiment. What did we do well? What could we have done better?

Good luck on your next experiment "Inclined To Roll"

Don't forget to do your homework.

My Science Space Videos

I've been at this all weekend, trying to get our new video feature working on the class website. After installing and uninstalling software about a dozen or more times and numerous web searches to identify and resolve error codes and malfunctions, it's working!!

So please take a moment now to click the play button below and watch my sample movie. It should play right in the window, of course you need speakers. Leave me comments on how it works.




I hope to get the equipment set-up and software installed on a class computer this week. Then I'll post job descriptions for MyScienceSpace.com staff positions and begin accepting applications.

Design and Data Collection

As one student said, "Mr. Grant, science is harder this year than last." Well good, it should be. I'm asking more from all of you and relying on you to step up to the challenge. For example you had to design much of the experiment you conducted in class today. Most of you have never designed an experiment before.

• How well did it go?
• Did you do "good science"?
• Did you really design your experiment on Thursday or just play around at it?
• Did you understand what you were doing?
• What would you do differently if you were to repeat this experiment?
  

Things don't go perfectly, and that give us all a great opportunity to learn from our experiences. It is as, or more, important for you to learn how to improve the way you do things, as it is for you to learn "science facts or formulas". Perfect the method -- the science will come.

Check the "Home Study" page for your homework assignments. Enjoy your weekend.

Forever Swinging Pendulum

Here is a comment that was posted by Malachi. I thought it was good enough to bring it onto the main page as a separate post.

Malachi said: Is there a way to make a forever-swinging pendulum? I think I saw one in a science museum, except it was a spinning top in a dome with no friction.

What do you think? Why does a pendulum stop? What would we need to do to keep it moving? Do some research then add a comment.

The Hypothesis Challenge

Today's class was a bit more challenging and required some real focus and thinking. Again we're building on previous lessons about the pendulum, while at the same time learning about creating an experiment.

This time you had to write a hypothesis for each of 3 different independent variables: the length of cord, the weight of the bob, and the starting height or angle (also called the amplitude). A hypothesis is a prediction of how the dependent variable will react when you change the independent variable. In this case will the frequency of the pendulum change when you change any of the 3 listed independent variables.

Lastly you had to be able to support your prediction by explaining your reasoning.

Do your best.

Awesome Students!

I just have to tell everyone how impressed I am with you guys! You are really "Thinking Like a Scientist", participating in class, and behaving respectfully and responsibly. I am proud of each of you.

In class today we worked with independent and dependent variables. You identified several independent variables for your pendulum; ones that you can change or manipulate. Then from that list you were to select the 3-4 you thought would be easiest to modify in a class experiment.

You are now on your way to creating your first experiment. Over the next several days you'll work in your small groups to design, conduct, analyze and report on your pendulum experiment. Have fun!

Brick On A Rope

Today we began our unit on Force and Motion with a simple demonstration of a pendulum. The challenge was to "think like a scientist" and make detailed observations of its movement while drawing connections to science terms such as: gravity, momentum, inertia, acceleration, friction, etc. It's obvious we need more practice with this skill, don't worry you'll get it.

We'll continue to use the pendulum example throughout the week as students design and conduct their own experiment.

So How Do You Feel About Science?

If only everyone felt this way!

Welcome Back!

Today was the first day of school and it was great to see all the kids again. I have 140 students so it will take me sometime to get to know them. As usual first day schedules were really messed up with periods at the end of the day lasting only 6-7 minutes. Tomorrow will be better.

If you are viewing this site today (8/7), don't judge it too harshly, it's still under construction. I promise to finish some of the other pages this week and get them published.

Students should have brought home several things that parents need to review and sign.

1. First, because this is my science site, is the 8th Grade Science Class Brochure. Please have parents or guardians sign at the bottom of the parents page. Bring the brochure back to class tomorrow.
2. Next is the code of conduct and the Parent Acknowledgement. The parent acknowledgement is a single page but has several places for parents or guardians to sign. Return this to your mentor teacher tomorrow.
3. Then there is a white folder containing various pieces of information and forms concerning, free and reduced price lunches, Boys & Girls Club and other info. Be sure parents read through this and complete any forms necessary. Return forms to your mentor teacher.
4. Lastly I'm sure you have information or forms from other teachers.

Unfortunately the first couple of days tend to be a lot of paper work. But we'll get through it and move on to the "joys of science".

Thanks for stopping by.

Getting Ready

I am really excited about the new school year! So much work has gone into getting ready for students returning to the classrooms next week. And there will be a lot of them, we've grown again and anticipate almost 1800 students. Of course to accommodate that many, Lakeview has added several new "cottages" (ok so they are portable classrooms but they're nice, honest).

I'm not out in the cottages, but I did change classrooms; I'm now in room 404 directly behind my old room and I changed from 7th grade to 8th. Some of my students from last year will like that and some won't, but you know what --- people change, students and teachers, so I look at it as an entirely fresh start.

Another thing that has changed is the website, more than just the name and look. This year students will manage much of the site, creating and posting class summaries, news and reviews, and even a picture gallery. It should be fun and I hope both students and parents find the site enjoyable and valuable.

See you soon!