Science News

I had fun today; I really enjoy it when we discuss the articles you've read. So many different science topics are raised like: global warming, the ship leaking oil off the coast of England, the Hubble space telescope, new treatments for congestive heart failure, penguins and more.

It keeps me on my toes because I don't know what topic will come up and it relates science to things that are happening in the world today. I hope you enjoy it too. (it's also an easy way for you to earn 25 points each week)

Thursday it's back to FCAT ScAT review.

Have a great night and I'll see you all tomorrow.

Hi Guys

I added today's FCAT ScAT pictures to the gallery; stop by and take a look.

It's about 8:30 and I'm working on another PowerPoint presentation to go along with the FCAT review we did today. Just like the one I posted yesterday, it will have links for each station providing more information. While all this FCAT stuff may make your eyes glaze over it is important for you and the school. So I plan to give you as much time and as many resources as possible to help improve your score.

Tomorrow in class we'll review and grade the first 2 days of FCAT ScAT. If time allows we'll pick up where we left off on our energy term presentations and continue those on Wednesday. Remember, Science News reviews are due Wednesday. Thursday and Friday we'll be back to doing FCAT Science Activity Stations.

Have a good night, see you tomorrow.

FCAT ScAT

I hope you enjoyed the science activities on Friday (pictures are in the gallery). Each of the 7 stations was designed to help stimulate your thinking and enhance your recall of various science concepts. You'll be tested on these during the FCAT in March.

Monday, Thursday and Friday of this week will be spent doing similar activities. Don't miss it!

Get some extra study and review for the FCAT by clicking on the image and following the links embedded in the presentation.

More On Cells

I just loved watching that video in class today and I know many of you enjoyed the Inner Life Of Cells too. But you may have struggled to recognize the cell structures, after all not many people have seen them like this before and it does go quick.

So here a little help. Click on the cell picture to the left and it will take you to a site where you can review cell organelles. Once you're there click on the name of an organelle to learn more.

Now watch the video again (click on the picture in the post below). Can you find the mitochondrion, Golgi Complex, microtubules, nucleus, cell membrane, and centriole?

Have fun, science is just too cool!

The Wonder of Science

Click on the picture to watch this amazing 3D digital video. It shows you actual processes taking place inside a cell in a way you have never seen before.

Give it a little while to load, especially if you have a dial up connection. If it doesn't begin to play on it's own click the play button.

If you're ready for some advanced cellular biology, here's a link to the same video with a descriptive narrative and no music. (Life just seems more interesting when set to music)

Time Flies

Wow! I can't believe how fast this week has gone. Yesterday while you were diligently studying and completing your worksheets on simple machines, I was meeting with all the other 8th grade science teachers. We are putting together 30 different information stations: atoms, cells, plants, genetics, phases of the moon, weathering, convection currents, and more. All designed to help you succeed on the Science FCAT.

Right now though, its time for you to get some last minute studying in for your simple machines test. Review worksheets 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3, view some of the simple machine power point presentations listed on the Home Study page, and look over your notes.

Get a good night's rest and I'll see you tomorrow.

Simple Machines

We are almost done with our unit on Work and Simple Machines. Most of you did pretty well on your Mechanical Advantage Lab and now we are finishing up notes on the 6 types of simple machines.

Tomorrow you'll receive some additional review worksheets. Take your time to carefully read and complete them as best as possible in class. If you don't finish due to short classes (Wednesday schedule) take them home and finish for homework. I'll check them on Thursday.

The worksheets you get tomorrow and 4-1 & 4-2 you received last week, will be good study resources for the test this Friday. Also follow this link and explore the study resources tied to your textbook. Be sure to take the self test.

Also, if I can, I'll be adding some power point presentations on simple machines to the Home Study page. Look for them on the right side bar.

Have a good night.

Report Cards Today

Students share your report cards with your parents. This is a time to talk honestly about your successes and challenges, what's easy for you and what's difficult.

Middle School years are a time of significant change in your life --- you begin to grow from a child into a young adult. Your body, emotions, thinking and reasoning skills are all maturing and at different rates. You have increased expectations from school to achieve higher levels of learning, communication and responsibility; while, on the other hand, you may be more concerned about social aspects, fitting in and making friends.

It's a tough time in your life and you are pulled in many directions. Although some seem to glide right through it, others struggle to find a balance or may just want to hide from it all.

Celebrate your successes, even the small ones, and make a plan to overcome your challenges. Let your parents know what is going on; they really do want what's best for you and I bet they're willing to help. If science is one of your challenges come see me before or after school and I'll help you develop a plan to meet the challenge.

Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Some of you are feeling really uncomfortable right about now; not sure what you should be doing with your lab, maybe a bit confused or frustrated. Believe it or not, those are good things. It means you care about doing this right, getting a good grade and maybe even learning something! It's called taking you out of your "comfort zone" and it's the place where some real learning can happen.

In this lab you were to examine mechanical advantage using a simple machine called an incline plane. That means you were going to investigate, experiment and play with an inclined plane to see if changing it in someway had an affect on this thing called mechanical advantage.

Our approach was to start with things we already knew. Some of this came from notes on work, and ideal and actual mechanical advantage. Other things came from prior labs where we used an incline plane and/or where we measured different forces. This gave us some ideas on how we might conduct an experiment.

Next was to do some background research. This is where you go exploring. Look information up in your textbooks, other classroom resources and the internet. The more you know about incline planes, ideal and actual mechanical advantage, work and efficiency the better. Part of your research should also have included "playing" with the equipment --- doing some testing to see what happens and how to best set it up.

Out of this comes your experimental design, how you will conduct the experiment, what you will measure, and your hypothesis. Skimping on the research and design results in poor quality and wasted work. Planning is very important.

Now you are collecting the data and calculating various things like work, mechanical advantage and efficiency. You're also making graphs, drawing conclusions, looking for patterns and making comparisons.

Some of you are doing an excellent job --- keeping up with your classwork and doing some extra at home. It pays off by giving you some time to discuss your findings with me and confirm that you have done the write-up properly.

Keep up the good work. There is more pleasure in succeeding at something that is difficult than there is when you take the easy route.

Mechanical Advantage

We are continuing our study of simple machines by creating an experiment which will allow us to explore mechanical advantage using an inclined plane. To review work and mechanical advantage follow this link, in addition you can use the links provided on the Home Study page under "Study Resources".

Remember this lab is worth 100 points so it is important to do your very best. All work should be neat and follow the Lab Guideline and Grading Rubric. For periods 1, 3, 4, and 6 the lab will be due at the end of the period this Wednesday. For period 5 it will be due on Thursday.

This is a very busy week for you. Besides the lab you will be receiving worksheets to complete for homework and your Science News Review is due on Wednesday. Don't get behind, do you work each day.

Change The World

So what does the new year mean to you? Is it just another day or is this a time to start over, to make changes, and to get a fresh start? I'm hopeful that you enter this year with the knowledge that you are capable of changing the world!

I believe that deep within each and every one of you lies the ability to change your world. You can truly make this a better place for all. And it starts now, this moment, with the very next thing you think, say or do. You can help change the world -- one person at a time -- one act at a time.

You make a difference, you impact the lives of people around you. Will you greet them with a smile or frown? Will your words be harsh or kind? Will you show love or hate?

You determine the path for your life, no one else, no matter what your circumstances. What road will you choose to follow? Will it lead to honor, respect and integrity?

As you pass through this world will it be better for your having been there? Is the world your garbage can or your garden?

Will you strive to constantly improve your mind, body and soul or will you be a receptacle for junk food and junk thoughts?

As we move into a new year I want each of you to know that I believe in you and wish you the very best. Let's all make this world a better place.