FCAT Review Section:

1)      FCAT Reference Sheet

2)      6^th Grade Vocabulary

3)      Practice Workbook Section 1-1, 1-2 completed (in the workbook)

4)      Prep Test 1 completed, turned in and graded

5)      Lab Organizer Worksheet (Homer lab) for some classes

6)      Practice Workbook Section 2-1, 2-2, completed (in the workbook)

7)      Prep Test 2 completed, turned in and graded

8)      A Cell-a-bration Worksheet turned in and graded

9)      Living Things Worksheet turned in and graded

Astronomy Notebook:

12/10-11 Introduction to astronomy. Big Idea and Benchmarks

12/14-15 Scale Model of Solar System EarthComm activity solar distances and diameters

12/17-18 Nebular theory & Big Bang, distances in space: Astronomical Unit, Light Year, Parsec

1/4-8 Planet research (simply a note as to what we were doing, not the project)

1/11-13 Lunar phases description and illustration
             Notes Chapter 22.1 Early Astronomy

1/14/15 Tides EarthComm graphing activities
             Notes Chapters 22.2, 22.3 Earth Sun and Moon, Earth’s Moon

1/27-2/2 Orbits – EarthComm activity
             Compare and Contrast Inner and Outer Planets
             Changes to orbits and their effects
             Notes Chapter 23.4 Minor Members of the Solar System

2/4-10 Structure and processes of the Sun description, illustration, notes from video
             Benchmark review, what learning objectives did you meet, what still needs work
             Notes Chapter 24.3 The Sun, 24.1 The Study of Light, 24.2 Tool for Studying Space

2/11-17 Electromagnetic Radiation and Life Cycle of Stars

This week we are reviewing the study guide in class. You should have already completed the guide to the best of your ability so class time can be utilized to clarify points and cover certain topics we have missed.

What else can you do?

• Use the online textbook user id: LMS123  password: lakeview
  Review chapters 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, and 22. At the end of each chapter is a study guide of key concepts and questions. In particular everyone should read chapter 22.
• Review first marking period test and second marking period test (don’t worry about questions on stars).
• Use the comments to this post to ask and answer questions.
• Here are some astronomy documents to study:  seasons, planets, lunar phases.

If you are wondering where to look let me help you out. Click on “Resources” in the menu above. Then scroll down to the heading “First Marking Period” keep scrolling to “Tests”, just above “Second Marking Period” you’ll see a link that says “first quarter test”. Click on that and you’ll see the test.

Remember that whole page is there to help you everyday. There is tons of information just waiting for you. Visit it often and watch your grade soar!

Be good tomorrow and best of luck on the test — make me proud!

Looking for some last minute study resources? Then try these classroom PowerPoint presentations:

• Ocean Circulation
• El Nino

 

First you needed to discuss ocean circulation and how it changes during El Nino. Here’s what I was looking for:

• Factors that influence currents: winds, land masses, Coriolis effect
• Normal non-El Nino Pacific currents: strong easterly trade winds, easterly equatorial currents, mounding of warm surface waters in the western Pacific, cold deep water upwelling along South America
• El Nino changes: weak or reversed trade winds, equatorial currents reverse (flow down hill) towards east, central and eastern Pacific warm, western Pacific cools, upwelling ceases.

Second discuss the relationship between ocean and atmospheric circulation during El Nino:

• Changes in pacific equatorial currents and warming of central and western Pacific affects Walker Cell circulation. Normal Walker Cell circulation collapses and warm moist air raises over the central and eastern Pacific, low pressure moves east.
• Jet streams move south across US
• Changes in these circulations affect the weather around the globe

Next discuss the weather impacts in Central Florida:

• Changes to jet stream results in fewer hurricanes due to increase wind shear aloft, hurricanes that do form tend to be pushed more towards the north Atlantic.
• Temperatures do not vary significantly, some slight cooling in winter months of about 2-3°
• Increased cloud cover and rainfall, an additional 10 inches (30%). This may have some negative impacts on crops and tourism, however it helps to recharge the aquifers and reduce the number of brush fires
• Increased likelihood of tornadoes

Discuss the relationship between ocean circulation, the aquatic food chain and El Nino:

• During non El nino years upwelling occurs along the west coast of south America. This upwelling bring nutrient rich cold bottom waters to the surface where it helps feed small organisms called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are producers and form the bottom rung of the ocean food chain.
• During El Nino years the upwelling stops which results in significantly less phytoplankton. The reduced levels of phytoplankton means each level higher up on the food chain will have insufficient food.

How El Nino changes might affect the food chain/production in Florida:

• While El Nino has a significant negative affect on the fishing industry along the west coast of South America, it does not have a significant impact on fishing in Florida. El Nino is an event in the Pacific ocean not the Atlantic. However it may affect imports of certain fish and fish products raising prices due to decreased catch
• El Nino does affect our winter crops in Florida with increased rainfall and reduced sun. Increased rain might delay planting or increase diseases. Different varieties may need to be planted or different planting techniques used. El Nino even affects cattle raised in Florida, as pasture area is less productive.

A summary recommendation on whether Florida should or shouldn’t hold a conference on the impacts of El Nino:

• Based on our research I would not recommend a conference on EL Nino since the major impacts to Florida are fairly mild except for increased number of tornadoes and some agricultural impacts. However it would seem reasonable to have some type of meeting to discuss tornado preparedness and public safety. Agricultural issues can be resolved through better forecasting of El Nino events allowing farmers to better plan.

Good accurate presentation of this information would have earned a B. To earn an A requires going beyond what we did in class and adding information from additional resources.

Get your grade report signed and return it by this Friday. It’s an easy 10 points and for some of you it will count 20 points!

If you’re struggling, well you’ve taken a good step in the right direction by visiting this site. Now read some of the posts and follow the links. Go to the home study page and click on the textbook links on the right sidebar.

Want some more help? Check out a textbook from the Media Center or come see me before or after school. You can also ask me questions by leaving a comment on any of the posts.

If you were at open house you received your login id and password for Progress Book. This is your online access to your child’s grades, attendance, homework and more. If you were unable to attend open house the information was mailed to your home address. Be sure to login and explore the Progress Book site. I’ll be adding a link to Progress Book on the sidebar of this page, just look for this logo. Click on the image and it will take you to the login page.

While you’re at the Progress Book site check your child’s science grade. After last weeks quiz almost everyone’s grade went up! Now make sure you are studying for this week quiz.

On Monday I will give each of you a new grade strip showing all assignments and grades.

You have a lot of work to complete this week so stay on top of it.

Wednesday — Science In The News is due
Thursday — Hershey Kiss Lab due (period 1 has until Friday)
Friday — Test on global climate change

Next week Wednesday — Poster project is due (see Home Study page for more details on the project)