March 31st

Students began working on their mini-projects/presentations today. Students were divided into groups and each group received one of the following essential questions associated with the gravity, electricity, and magnetism unit:

1. How can a roller coaster move along its track without an engine pushing or pulling on it?
2. How is energy transferred to my home?
3. How do stereo speakers work?
4. How are electric circuits wired?
5. How are wind and ocean currents created?
6. How is lightning different from the electricity that I used at home?

Students conducted their research today and they'll have tomorrow to work. Their presentations will be done on Friday.

March 30th

Today students took notes about series and parallel circuits. We discussed how each one works and the advantages/disadvantages of each. After that, students completed their "Science Article Analysis" questions. The links to each article are listed below.

Homework: Students must submit late work by Friday, April 2nd.

Article Links:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100322/river-current-electricity/
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-06/dr-magneto
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/6171848/Spacecraft-could-surf-gravitational-tubes-to-make-solar-travel-more-efficient.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100319/lost-power-super-solution/

March 29th

Today students read about gravity in their textbooks and answered questions that required analyzing data and explaining how gravitational force operates. After working on the textbook questions, students started analyzing science articles. Each article pertains to one of the topics in our unit (Gravity, Electricity, and Magnetism). The purpose of this activity is to have students practice their analytical skills when examining science articles.

Homework: Students who have missing work need to submit it by Friday, April 2nd.

March 26th

Today we discussed the sun and how the sun's magnetism and gravitational forces affect the Earth. Students also watched a video on Electricity and answered questions pertaining to the video.

Homework: Students have until Friday, April 2 to turn in any missing work

March 25th

Today students viewed another introductory video on magnetism and how it is related to electricity. Following the video, students worked on the unit vocabulary where they had to write each word, define it in their own language, and draw a small picture representing the word.

Electricity, Gravity, and Magnetism Unit Vocabulary
Atoms
Attractive force
Circuits
Conduction
Electric charge
Electric currents
Electric energy
Electric force
Electromagnets
Electrons
Gravitational force
Magnet
Magnetic energy
Magnetic field
Magnetic force
Mechanical energy
Molecules
Parallel circuits
Radiation
Repulsive force
Series circuits
Temperature

March 24th

Students did a lab today titled "Detecting Fake Coins." During the lab, students used magnets to see if they could tell the difference between coins and metal washers (fake coins). Based on their observations, they created a brochure that explained how a device could be used to separate real coins from fake coins.

March 23rd

Students turned in their projects today. I will accept late projects; however, the parts that are turned in late will receive a 10-point per day deduction. Some students performed their songs and showed their movies in class. We concluded class by starting the next unit on Gravity, Electricity, and Magnetism. Students watched an introductory video on magnetism and turned in answers to questions covered in the video.

Homework: Light & Sound Unit review worksheet. (this worksheet will be graded as a quiz)

I've attached one of my student's video project... Enjoy!

March 22nd

I apologize for missing the last few updates; I was out sick with strep throat on Thursday and Friday. While I was out, students continued to work on their light and sound unit projects and they also worked on the review worksheet. The projects are due on Tuesday and students who wish to perform their skit or song or show their movie will be able to do so during class.

We will be starting the new unit on Electricity and Magnetism this Wednesday

Homework: Projects are due TOMORROW! Review worksheets are due on Wednesday.

March 17th

Students took notes and discussed the eye today. We covered the differences between convex & concave and nearsightedness and farsightedness. Students also received their quizzes and they can correct them and return them to me by Friday to receive extra points. Students finished class by working on their unit projects.

Homework: Corrected quiz (Due March 19th), unit projects (Due March 23rd), unit review worksheet (Due March 24th)

March 16th

During class students reviewed the schedule for the next week and a half. They received a review worksheet that will help them prepare for next week's unit exam. Students finished class by working on their unit projects.

Homework: Unit projects (due March 23rd). Light & Sound unit review worksheet (due March 24th).


Happy Brain Awareness Week!

March 15th

Students finished the last day of IBTS testing today.

Homework: Continue to work on the Light & Sound unit projects

March 12th

Today students continued working on the Light & Sound unit projects. So far, they have been using their class time productively.

Announcement: Our classroom is running out of some essential items. A modest donation of any of these would be GREATLY appreciated: paper towels, kleenex, paper (8.5 x 11), and paper clips.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

March 11th

Students completed another section of the IBTS tests in the morning. In the afternoon, the students continued to work on their Light & Sound unit projects. Students also received a revised rubric for the research paper.

Announcement: Students were informed today that grades are due by 4:00pm on Friday. I reminded them to get in any missing work by noon on Friday if they want to get credit.

March 10th

Students didn't have science class today. All the eighth graders, as part of their To Kill a Mockingbird novel study, watched the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, in the auditorium. Students also completed another part of the ITBS tests.

March 9th

Students did ITBS testing in the morning and started working on their Light & Sound unit projects during the afternoon class time.

Homework: Light & Sound unit projects (due March 23rd)

March 8th

We had a shortened class period today and we reviewed the rules for the Light & Sound Unit projects. Tomorrow students will receive the rubrics for the projects they chose and they'll have class time over the next two weeks to complete their projects.

Homework: None

Announcement: This week's tutorial has been rescheduled. It will be on Wednesday at 3:45pm instead of Thursday.

March 5th

Students took a quiz today.

Announcements:
1. Every Thursday I'll have Science tutorial after school at 3:45pm. Students will be able to receive extra help, assist other students with their studies, and work on their science projects. Students who attend tutorial will receive extra credit.

2. Grades have been updated in Infinite Campus.

Homework: Any missing work needs to be completed and submitted by Monday. Monday will be the last day I will accept quiz corrections.

March 4th

Today we played Jeopardy to review for tomorrow's quiz.

Homework: Study for the quiz

March 3rd

Today we corrected the Eye/Ear worksheet and we discussed the material that would be covered on Friday's quiz. The following topics will be on the quiz:

Vocabulary: Absorption, Amplitude, Refraction, Reflection, Diffraction, Frequency, Pitch, & Sound

Seismic Waves: Faults, Convection, Tectonic plates, how earthquakes happen

Frequency Equations: speed=wavelength * frequency

Eye & Ear: Anatomy of each, how sound travels through the ear

Questions from the last quiz


Homework: Study for the quiz.

March 2nd

I returned the students quizzes today. Students who received a low grade have the opportunity to correct their quiz and turn it in tomorrow for partial credit. We also watched a video on the ear and students completed a worksheet on the Eye and Ear.

Homework: Corrected quizzes and the Eye and Ear worksheet - due Wednesday.

March 1st

Today we watched videos and answered questions about plate tectonics and seismic waves. Students turned in their class notes and the answers to their questions for a grade.

Homework: None

Announcement: I received my new Atlanta Public School email address. Please feel free to contact me at cblack@atlanta.k12.ga.us if you need to communicate with me.


Class Videos