Today we did are first "formal" lab activity, The Candle in a Jar Lab. Get it here!!! It involves making a hypothesis about how the size of a jar will affect the time a candle will burn when covered by the Jar.
YOUR HOMEWORK: was to graph any data you collected and be ready to share it with the class on Friday.
Here are the notes Day 07 Notes from the day that go over how to properly read the water level in a beaker. Remember, WATER IS STICKY! And AWESOME!
Friday, we're going to share our results with the class to calculate a class average and see if our procedures were all written well enough to get consistent results.
ALSO: Awesome new Science discovery.
Astronomers have recently discovered a "perfect" planet about 20 light years away that they are very confident supports or at least, can support life. It's in the all important "life zone". It's about 3 times the size of Earth and is tidally locked with it's Red Dwarf Sun. Meaning, like our moon, the same side of the planet always faces it's sun. Scientists don't yet have the tools to analyze the atmospheric contents, but are very, very hopeful that it contains water. If it does, there's almost 100% assuredness that the planet contains life.
Read more here:New planet Discovered!!
Rock on!
-
Monegan
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday/Tuesday, September 27/28th
Today was a big day. Finally, we got through all the stuff we need for the Nature of Science. We finished off how to write a good procedure, talked about Manipulated and Responding variables and then moved on to how to properly display your collected data using graphs and charts so other non-science people would love it.
Here are the notes from the day.
Make sure you understand the difference in Variables, there will be test on it tomorrow.
Hope your evening goes well and I look forward to meeting some of your parents tonight at our Open House.
--
Monegan
Here are the notes from the day.
Make sure you understand the difference in Variables, there will be test on it tomorrow.
Hope your evening goes well and I look forward to meeting some of your parents tonight at our Open House.
--
Monegan
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24th
Today we started with a couple of Logic Problems as warm ups. After some proding, we got the correct answers. Good job class!
Then, we went on to flesh out our procedures and finished up sharing our Lab Safety projects.
Monday/Tuesday should be exciting as we finish up our unit on The Nature of Science with an awesome lab activity.
Cheers,
-
Monegan
Then, we went on to flesh out our procedures and finished up sharing our Lab Safety projects.
Monday/Tuesday should be exciting as we finish up our unit on The Nature of Science with an awesome lab activity.
Cheers,
-
Monegan
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday/Thursday, September 22/23
Woohoo! Today we presented our Lab Safety Projects. A lot of great posters and videos. I'm very impressed by the artistic talent of some our students. Very creative.
We looked at how a hypothesis, can eventual help support a disprove a Theory. And, what exactly a theory is (no trivial thing for sure) and how some theories can ultimately become a law after they've withstood the test of time.
When then moved on to some more notes, this time dealing with how to write a proper Experimental Procedure. Procedure writing can be tough. We take a lot of things for granted when giving directions.
Remember the keys to a good procedure are:
1. Discreet, number steps. Keep things simple.
2. Don't combine two steps in one.
3. Use exact measurements.
4. Tell them when to record data. And where to write the data down.
5. The steps should be easy to follow and repeatable.
If you follow these simple rules, chances are your procedure will wind up being easy to follow and produce consistent results.
Here are the notes from the day: Day 5 notes
Homework for the day was to write a 5 step minimum procedure of your morning routine. Think about it like this: If I were building a robot to copy exactly what you do in the morning getting ready for school, what would the program instructions for that robot be?
These are due Friday, the 24th of September.
Until Next time,
-Monegan
We looked at how a hypothesis, can eventual help support a disprove a Theory. And, what exactly a theory is (no trivial thing for sure) and how some theories can ultimately become a law after they've withstood the test of time.
When then moved on to some more notes, this time dealing with how to write a proper Experimental Procedure. Procedure writing can be tough. We take a lot of things for granted when giving directions.
Remember the keys to a good procedure are:
1. Discreet, number steps. Keep things simple.
2. Don't combine two steps in one.
3. Use exact measurements.
4. Tell them when to record data. And where to write the data down.
5. The steps should be easy to follow and repeatable.
If you follow these simple rules, chances are your procedure will wind up being easy to follow and produce consistent results.
Here are the notes from the day: Day 5 notes
Homework for the day was to write a 5 step minimum procedure of your morning routine. Think about it like this: If I were building a robot to copy exactly what you do in the morning getting ready for school, what would the program instructions for that robot be?
These are due Friday, the 24th of September.
Until Next time,
-Monegan
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday/Tuesday, September 20/21st.
Today we stared with a warmup, operationlly defining the following terms:
Observation
Subjective Observation
Objective Observation
Hypothesis
When then went on to discuss Scientists use of DATA to help them make INFERENCES and further refine their HYPOTHESIS. Data comes in two main types; Quantitative and Qualitative.
Here are the notes from the day: ICB Day 04 Notes
When then worked on our Lab Safety Projects, which are DUE WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY.
We also had homework:
Bring a paper folded object, this can be a paper airplane, origami object or something along those lines.
All the best,
--
Monegan
Observation
Subjective Observation
Objective Observation
Hypothesis
When then went on to discuss Scientists use of DATA to help them make INFERENCES and further refine their HYPOTHESIS. Data comes in two main types; Quantitative and Qualitative.
Here are the notes from the day: ICB Day 04 Notes
When then worked on our Lab Safety Projects, which are DUE WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY.
We also had homework:
Bring a paper folded object, this can be a paper airplane, origami object or something along those lines.
All the best,
--
Monegan
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday/Thursday, September 15/16
Woo, busy day.
We refreshed ourselves on the necessities of what we need for the Lab Safety Project. FRIDAY will be our only class day to work on this assignment. Then it's due next week on Wednesday/Thursday.
We then dove into our powerpoint notes, exploring the nature of what is Science, who some famous scientists were (Newton, Archimedes, Bacon, Sagan) and the difference between a Subjective Observation and Objective Observation.
Subjective - An observation based on Opinion. "That shirt is ugly".
Objective - An observation based on Fact. "That shirt is blue!"
We then dove into our Mystery Bag Lab, (downloadable HERE) and used our Objective/Subjective observation skills to describe various unknown objects.
You can download the notes HERE (Day 03 Notes).
I'd also recommend checking Youtube for Carl Sagan's video, The Pale Blue Dot.
Also, Cat in Space.
Next period will be working on our Lab Safety Project.
Until then,
-
Monegan
We refreshed ourselves on the necessities of what we need for the Lab Safety Project. FRIDAY will be our only class day to work on this assignment. Then it's due next week on Wednesday/Thursday.
We then dove into our powerpoint notes, exploring the nature of what is Science, who some famous scientists were (Newton, Archimedes, Bacon, Sagan) and the difference between a Subjective Observation and Objective Observation.
Subjective - An observation based on Opinion. "That shirt is ugly".
Objective - An observation based on Fact. "That shirt is blue!"
We then dove into our Mystery Bag Lab, (downloadable HERE) and used our Objective/Subjective observation skills to describe various unknown objects.
You can download the notes HERE (Day 03 Notes).
I'd also recommend checking Youtube for Carl Sagan's video, The Pale Blue Dot.
Also, Cat in Space.
Next period will be working on our Lab Safety Project.
Until then,
-
Monegan
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday/Tuesday, September 13/14th. We're on a PRIDE schedule.
Today we went over the course syllabus and Lab expecatations and rules. You can download the safety contract here, Click to download safety contract, and the following along project, our Promoting Lab Safety Project. Lab Safety Project Handout
Students need to use their creative and artistic abilities to WOW us into the importance of proper lab safety.
We also started to explore the Nature of Science and will be continuing with this activity on Wed/Thur.
Expect your Safety Project Proposal next class and we'll discuss a time line for completion then.
Caio!
Oh yeah, today's quote was: "Science is not a belief, but the will to find out." -- Anon.
If you didn't get a chance in class, leave a comment on what this quote means to you.
--
Monegan
Students need to use their creative and artistic abilities to WOW us into the importance of proper lab safety.
We also started to explore the Nature of Science and will be continuing with this activity on Wed/Thur.
Expect your Safety Project Proposal next class and we'll discuss a time line for completion then.
Caio!
Oh yeah, today's quote was: "Science is not a belief, but the will to find out." -- Anon.
If you didn't get a chance in class, leave a comment on what this quote means to you.
--
Monegan
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Science Class: Friday, September 10th 2010
ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE!!!! And Friday classes, means we're meeting for only 35 minutes.
Welcome back! I hope your summer went well.
Today, we'll get to know each other. You can download the syllabus if you'd like by clicking here: Cellular Biology Syllabus!!!!
The syllabus will be handed out on Monday, September 13th (my dad's birthday).
Things to think about: Safety Project! How can we show the importance of safety in the lab to other students?
*Make a video
*Make an awesome interactive poster (the technology may not exist, but that didn't stop Galileo!)
*Write a song
This is a project we'll get to work more in class on.
Until Monday,
--
Monegan
Welcome back! I hope your summer went well.
Today, we'll get to know each other. You can download the syllabus if you'd like by clicking here: Cellular Biology Syllabus!!!!
The syllabus will be handed out on Monday, September 13th (my dad's birthday).
 |
| Courtesy of Morrisonlabs.com |
*Make a video
*Make an awesome interactive poster (the technology may not exist, but that didn't stop Galileo!)
*Write a song
This is a project we'll get to work more in class on.
Until Monday,
--
Monegan
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
School's almost here!!!
So, I'm getting stuff set up and organized at my new school.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I'm teaching back in Eugene Oregon.
Anyway, I'm slowly getting set up and figuring out how the class is going to work. The other teachers have been very supportive and helpful. It's an integrated Cellular Biology course with hints of physical science and chemistry.
You can check here, where, I'll hopefully have daily updates and assignments and documents you can download. As a matter of fact, I'm hoping Friday I'll have the syllabus for those that want it.
Anyway, things are going well and we'll be back here later.
-
Monegan
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I'm teaching back in Eugene Oregon.
Anyway, I'm slowly getting set up and figuring out how the class is going to work. The other teachers have been very supportive and helpful. It's an integrated Cellular Biology course with hints of physical science and chemistry.
You can check here, where, I'll hopefully have daily updates and assignments and documents you can download. As a matter of fact, I'm hoping Friday I'll have the syllabus for those that want it.
Anyway, things are going well and we'll be back here later.
-
Monegan
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