Directions

Unit Summary

Write a one to three paragraph written summary of each unit. Do not cut and paste! Use the vocabulary you have learned. Write I learned that statements rather than I learned about statements. For example "I learned that energy is the ability to do work and occurs in many forms such as kinetic, potential, and chemical which can be converted", rather than saying "I learned about energy". Read, proofread, reread, and proofread. This is easier when it is done a little bit at a time as opposed to waiting until the end of the unit. You may use the unit outlines as a guide.

Advanced Option: Link specific words in your summaries to appropriate websites, include citations for text and images.

OR

Create a concept map using at least 20 vocabulary words from the unit. You can use programs such as bubbl, popplet or something you find on your own. You must include connecting words in your concept map. Click on the example below.

Example: The image at left shows a fighter jet reaching the speed of sound at 341 m/s. The cloud surrounding the plane is the condensation of water created by the shockwave as a result of the built up sound waves. This shockwave, a longitudinal wave heard by observers on the ground as a sonic boom, cannot be heard by the pilot since it occurs behind him as he is traveling faster than the speed of sound.

Advanced Option: Use your own photographs or edit someone else's image in Photoshop, Paint, or another photo editing software to include text, diagrams, magnification, an animated GIF,or some other modification. Or, create a slideshow of images with captions using a free program such as Picassa.

Current Event

Summarize, relate, and link to a current event. You should write two paragraphs in your own words. The first paragraph should summarize the article's facts and the second paragraph should explicitly say how the article related to your unit of study. Some suggested sources:

• Google News Search

• Academic Index Search

• American Institute of Physics News Search

  • LA Times Science Page

  • NY Times Science Page

  • National Geographic

  • Economist Science Section

  • CNN Science and Space

• Science News Online

  • Science Daily

• Scientific American

• BBC Science and Nature

Example:

How Tall Can Trees Grow?

SummaryRedwood trees are the tallest in the world and can grow to over 300 feet. They are found in a narrow range in coastal mountain ranges in Northern California and Southern Oregon. They live in moist climates and can obtain some of their water requirements from Fog. The tallest tree at 379.1 feet was discovered in 2006 in Redwood National Park, but its exact location is not public. The largest tree in the world, the Giant Sequioia, also grows in California. It grows in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is wider, bigger, and shorter than its cousin the redwood.

Connection to Unit

In our unit on ecology we learned that the distribution of organisms is controlled by climate and every organism has evolved to grow in a certain habitat and occupy a specific niche. This article shows that the Redwood's habitat is one with plentiful moisture and it only grows to great heights in certain places indicating ideal growing conditions. Even though the Giant Sequoia is related to the redwood it grows in a different location with less rain and colder temperatures.

Advanced Option: Get your article from Nature, Science, Physics Today, or another peer reviewed journal.

Unit Documents

Post all of your electronic documents related to the unit on your unit webpage. You can do this by uploading your documents to "Google Docs". Once you have a google doc open your website and then on your webpage click "insert" then "document". Be sure to invite me: stephensteach@gmail.com as a collaborator with the capability of editing for anything that needs grading.

• • Naming your document: It is very important that you name your documents appropriately. Please use the following format: name_of_assignment_your_name(s). Be sure to use underscores instead of spaces and put the name of the assignment first followed by your full name.

  • Revising your document: After I grade your lab you will find the newest version in your google docs. Following grading, you will have 3 school days to make any revisions for credit.

Rubric