Embedded Files
Ms Q’s Realm April 2023
Ms Q’s Realm March 2023
Ms Q’s Realm Feb 2023
A-STEAM
We discussed three basic shapes: circle, rectangle and triangle, then we determined that the triangle is the most stable, and that when a triangle point-side up is connected to a triangle point-side down, etc., trusses can be made. Each student built triangles out of K-nex, then connected to others’ triangles to create 2 long trusses. Then, we put 20…yes 20 books on the long “bridge” that spanned two gaps between three tables before it bent and fell apart. Next: each team of two will build their own bridges and test them.
CHEMISTRY
Chemistry students first had to understand the direction of equilibrium reactions, then, they did several labs involving endothermic and exothermic reactions, quantity of heat, entropy and enthalpy. In addition, they did a lab where they determined the caloric count of peanuts and popcorn by burning them and measuring the amount of temperature change of water held above.
EARTH SCIENCE
In an effort to encourage snow to fall, or at least just learn how to make 6-sided snowflakes, students made numerous snowflakes that were hung on our windows, making the room magical. Students began a unit on Water, repeatedly drawing and/or labeling the 11 parts of the water cycle, filling in water budget charts and creating graphs to represent them, and even writing poems about both (which can be found in the Poetry Publication of the Rocket News website). The next unit on Energy included labs of heat transfer by conduction and convection.
ECOLOGY CLUB
Since November, we have been promoting Local and Seasonal Food and were thrilled to work with the Cafeteria staff to make a winter food item for all students to try: ABCC SLAW made of apples, beets, carrots, cabbage mixed with apple cider, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon and nutmeg. YUMMY!!!
Ms. Q's Realm Jan 2023
With the end of the first half of the year upon us, I thought I would give some insight into the myriad of topics, concepts and skills my students worked hard on.
EARTH SCIENCE
We walked our way from OBSERVATION, CHANGE, POLLUTION and basic MEASUREMENT to identifying MINERALS and ROCKS, with the students writing poems about minerals and rocks as we ended that topic. We explored the APPARENT and ACTUAL SHAPE OF THE EARTH and did some cool MAP READING labs. Then, we were moved by the intriguing unit of DYNAMIC CRUST, including PLATE BOUNDARIES and the features that form along them, including a lab with Laffy-Taffy, fun flipbooks students created representing their choice of plate boundary features and we plotted the movement of continents throught history. Lastly, we explored HISTORICAL GEOLOGY, WEATHERING and how all EROSION and UPLIFT create LANDSCAPES, coloring the 3 landscape regions of NY and encircling several of the NY state watersheds on labs. We prepared for the midterm with student choices including: write a poem, draw a picture, create a cartoon, write a newsflash, invent a superhero or a quiz of facts and fibs, which we did after every unit review.
CHEMISTRY
We first discussed the history of Chemistry, honed measuring skills, then terms and locations of SUBATOMIC PARTICLES and ELECTRON ARRANGEMENT. Our most difficult chapter was chapter 2: WRITING FORMULAS, REACTIONS, IONS and COMPOUNDS. Then, working hard with math, we took on the MATHEMATICS OF FORMULAS, THE MOLE and BALANCING EQUATIONS. We learned about the BEHAVIORS OF GASES and how to use the GAS LAW. Then, we did a deep dive into THE PERIODIC TABLE and the reasons for the current arrangement and the group characteristics that define elements. We ended with BONDING and SOLUTIONS. After weeks of review and redo’s, the midterm drew to a close 7 of the 12 units.
ECOLOGY CLUB
We started in November and spent the first month promoting EAT LOCALLY AND SEASONALLY. We were recently given the OK to join the cafeteria staff in making LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD for the whole school to enjoy. Working toward the statewide program of NY THURSDAYS, it will be on a Thursday that the locally made food item will be served. In December, we promoted VERMICULTURE which is the use of worms to break down paper and food waste. If we are able to put up compost bins, we will be adding worms to the pile in the spring. In January, we traced the school’s property from Google Maps on the large screen and drew out some recommendations that we hope to implement to promote SUSTAINABILITY and EARTH SUSTAINABILITY. Once finalized, we will be presenting to the Board these initiatives.
FEATURE VIDEO:
Ms. Q.'s Earth Science classes physically became part of TimeLines of Geologic and Life Events from the beginning of time after they chose the moment in time they wanted to represent, measured the distance from "today" using an appropriate scale, stuck their moment in time marker on the wall, then called out their moment from the beginning of Earth.
YUMMY!! Delicious and nutritious!!!
February 16, 2023
Ms. Q
The Winter Local and Seasonal food item was ABCC SLAW and it was served on Thursday and Friday, February 17 and 18 to promote the idea that eating food that is SEASONAL (available either as recently grown or currently in storage) and LOCAL (as local as possible) is HEALTHIER, MORE READILY AVAILABLE and REQUIRES LESS TRANSPORTATION ENERGY, thus making LOCAL AND SEASONAL EATING far more sustainable and good for the Earth than other options. The ECOLOGY CLUB has been promoting EATING LOCAL AND SEASONAL since November and plans to present other food items during each season.
Report abuse