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English Homework:
Mystery book quizzes

12days until
School Ends

277days since
School Started

Physical Sciences

The curriculum for this year has two complementary facets -- the "bookwork" and the in-class activities.
Here, just in case you noticed, are my reading notes.

Unit 1:  The Nature of Science   August 29 - September 23 (18)
Overview and Divisions of Science
Scientific Methods (ppt, apple preservation)
Chapter 1 -- The World of Physical Science (exploring physical science / scientific methods / scientific models / tools, measurement, safety)

Unit 2: Motion and Forces  September 26 - October 21 (20)
Chapter 5 -- Matter in Motion (measuring motion / what is a force? / friction / gravity)
Chapter 6 -- Forces and Motion (gravity and motion / Newton's laws of motion / momentum)
Chapter 7 -- Forces in Fluids (fluids and pressure / buoyant force / fluids and motion)

Unit 3: Introduction to Matter  October 24 - November 18 (19)
Chapter 2 -- The Properties of Matter (what is matter / physical properties / chemical properties)
Chapter 3 -- States of Matter (three states of matter / behavior of gases / changes of state)
Chapter 4 -- Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (element / compound / mixture)

Unit 4: Work, Machines, and Energy  November 21 - December 16 (15)
Chapter 8 -- Work and Machines (work and power / what is a machine / types of machines)
Chapter 9 -- Energy and Energy Resources (what is energy / energy conversions / conservation of energy / energy resources)
Chapter 10 -- Heat and Heat Technology (temperature / what is heat / matter and heat / heat technology)

Unit 5: Atoms and Elements  January 3 - January 17 (18)
Chapter 11 -- Introduction to Atoms (development of atomic theory / the atom)
Chapter 12 -- The Periodic Table (arranging the elements / grouping the elements)
Chapter 16 -- Atomic Energy (radioactivity / energy from the nucleus)

Unit 6: Chemistry & Interactions of Matter  January 30 - February 28 (17)
Chapter 13 -- Chemical Bonding (electrons and chemical bonding / ionic bonds / covalent and metallic bonds)
Chapter 14 -- Chemical Reactions (forming new substances / chemical formulas and equations / types of chemical reactions / energy and rates of chemical reactions)
Chapter 15 -- Chemical Compounds (ionic and covalent compounds / acids and bases / solutions of acids and bases / organic compounds)

Unit 7: Electricity  February 29 - March 23 (18)
Chapter 17 -- Introduction to Electricity (electric charge and static electricity / electric current and electrical energy / electrical calculations / electric circuits)
Chapter 18 -- Electromagnetism (magnets and magnetism / magnetism from electricity)
Chapter 19 -- Electronic Technology (electronic devices / communication technology / computers)

Unit 8: Waves, Sound, and Light  March 26 - May 4 (23)
Chapter 20 -- The Energy of Waves (the nature of waves / properties of waves / wave interactions)
Chapter 21 -- The Nature of Sound (what is sound / properties of sound / interactions of sound waves / sound quality)
Chapter 22 -- The Nature of Light (what is light / electromagnetic spectrum / interactions of light waves / light and color)
Chapter 23 -- Light and Our World (mirrors and lenses / light and sight / light and technology)

Unit 9:  Astronomy  May 7 - June 1 (14)

Unit 10: Human Growth and Development  June 4 - 7 (4)


What We Wonder


McDougal-Littell Book:
Structure of Matter
Properties of Matter
CSI:  Powders at a crime scene, blood splatter size, ink sample, cloth fibers
States of Matter
Popping popcorn... when do you smell it and why?  PS3 lab
Drawing particle proximity then experiment with syringe (air & water) and revise drawing.
Use probeware to graph heating water
Dry ice sublimation lab
Atomic Structure
paper ball demo
Periodic table
Do patterns and clusters first, then look at atomic structure
Properties of Elements lab (which item is made of which metal)
Flame test lab
Periodic strip of the elements cut
Other
Cherie's "Lost" lab (separating sand, iron, salt)

Chemical Interactions
Chemical Bonds and Compounds
valence electrons as magnet squares on magnet sheet... kids try to pair up (Cherie's "ionic bonding activity game")
Chemical Reactions
Solutions
Chemistry of Living Systems

Motion and Forces
Motion
Forces
demo/activity: support a meter stick between two fingers (off center) and predict where they will meet
Gravity, Elastic Forces, and Friction
Density and Bouyancy

Space Science
Earth, Moon, and Sun
Our Solar System
Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe

Random Ideas
  1. use blabberize to create a piece that reviews/explains a concept in science (test review?)
  2. use voicethread for students to give comments/analysis on a machine or mechanical device
  3. timeline along the top of a wall showing yearlong course outline, and a way to thread activities to it
  4. "Pyramid of Discovery" project.  Perhaps making a fake FaceBook page about the inventor (friends, wall, news feed, chats, adds, etc)
  5. http://groups.physics.umn.edu/physed/Research/CGPS/GreenBook.html
Talk To
  1. Cherie Remkus cremkus@smfc.k12.ca.us (Abbot Middle School, San Mateo)

Field Trips & Explorations
  1. iFly
  2. Exploratorium
Experiments/Explorations
  1. balancing centripetal and gravity (tube & weights on a string)
  2. Steve Spangler Science:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdmnDPX5o0A
Design, Invention, Engineering, and Manufacturing
  1. http://science.discovery.com/tv/how-its-made/