Dr. Blaisdell

As Chaucer said

"... for ay as bisy as bees
Been they, us sely men for to deceyve,"

                               from "The Merchant's Tale" from Canterbury Tales 

Classwork/Homework

4th Annual MESMS Science Fair !!!

Homework -

handouts if you did not finish them during the Science Fair.

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Monday March 15th, 2010

In class

we discussed the presentations in the gym tomorrow and began test corrections.

Homework:

Test corrections - download the test you took from the list at the top left corner of this page.

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Friday MArch 12th, 2010

In Class

we had several more SciFair presentations. 

Homework:

No new homework. 

If you would like to prepare for your oral presentation to the 5th and 6th grade kids - review your introduction and really understand the basic science behind your project. 

You will WOW them!

Cheers, 

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Thursday March 11th, 2010

 Can you name the object above for a Hello Kitty Pez dispenser in class?  Hmmmmmm?

In class

we had a wonderful Dinosaur Test YAY!!!

Homework

Add those last touches to your trifold.  Tomorrow is the day I collect them all. 

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Wednesday March 10th, 2010

In Class

we discussed the Scientific Method and had more presentations of science fair projects.  

Homework:

STUDY FOR THE CHAPTER TEST!!!  The test will be tomorrow since there will be many studetns mnissing from class on Friday.  Study your Dinosaurology reveiw sheets

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Tuesday March 9th, 2010

In Class

we had the pleasure of seeing more super SciFair presentations and helping our peers groom their trifolds.  

Homework:

Same as yesterday but in reverse order:

Study for the test and prepare for the in-class presentation of your trifold.  And otherwise - Chill!

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Monday March 8th,2010

WHEW! 

In class - 

YAY!!! we turned in

our Science Fair

Projects 

Homework -

Prepare for the in-class presentation fo your trifold and study for the test.  but otherwise - Chill!

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Friday March 5th, 2010

ALMOST THERE!!

In class

we did a worksheet examining the ways by which we measure the age of rocks both relatively and absolutely.  

Homework:

OK this may be slightly diffrent than you may expect.

For Monday you need to have your SciFair project materially completed. 

By that I mean the following:

1.   You need to have your final draft of your Science Fair Paper.    

2.   You need to turn in your up-to-date science notebook (marbleized composition notebook).  

3.   You need to bring in your trifold with all the elements completed

BUT I do NOT want you to attach them permanently to the trifold. 

You are going to give a presentation in class, and there is a very good chance that you will get good feedback on ways to improve the board. 

So if the pieces are removeable you will have an opportunity to improve your board for a better grade. Capisce?

OK, you have no other science homework, and if you have ANY questions - drop me an e-mail.  I am around all weekend. 

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Wednesday March 3rd, 2010

In Class

we had some wonderful travel plans laid out for us, and we get to choose!

Homework:

Same as yesterday

BUT - the Chapter test has been postponed officially until next week, Thursday or Friday.  Tomorrow and Friday we will finish the travel brochures and get our rough drafts back some in conference.

Tuesday March 2nd, 2010

Global Warming

anyone?

In class

we had geologic time travel brochure

presentations and discussed radioactive dating

of rocks to determine absolute age.

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Monday March 1st, 2010

BEWARE FOLKS

PLEASE NOTICE THAT

MARCH HAS COME IN

LIKE A LAMB - SO

BRACE YOURSELF FOR

THE 31st! 

In Class
we discussed the aging of rock samples and fossils - especially the Law of Superposition and the processof radioactive dating. 

Homework:

Prepare for your Travel Brochure presentation - index cards, costume, props, soundtrack, etc

Study the review sheets in anticipation of the review game Wednesday or Thursday and the Chapter test Thursday or Friday 

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Friday Feb 26th, 2010

D Block? 

A map of the world made entirely of Spam?

I don't know. ... What was your independent

variable?

In Class

we viewed a video on Geologic Time.

Homework:

The only homework you have is to finish the final draft of your Geologic Timeline Travel Brochure.  Presentations will begin Monday and we will go alphabetically. 

For those of you who have NOT been paying attention (!!) all the Science Fair Materials are due on March 8th (NOT March 1st, as assigned back in December).  We moved the date when we assigned the Timeline brochure three weeks ago.  We have reminded everyone of this change daily, and it is on the website but for those who missed it, here is your final reminder!

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Thursday Feb 25th, 2010

Well, when the dance

works - CELEBRATE!!

In Class

we discussed how geologists and paleontologists determine the age of rocks and fossils including radioactive dating.

Homework

Chapter 4, section 5 - notes and questions. 

This completes the chapter and prepares us for the review game next Wednesday and the Chapter test next Thursday the 4th of March. 

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Wednesday FEb 24th, 2010

In Class -

OH WAIT, we didn't

have class!!! Because

the snow dance

worked!!! YAY 

Homework:

OK, now the homework is to

1. finish the rough draft of your brochure with illustrations. 

2.  Bring your illustration for the class timeline to class too.  And finally

3. to read section 3 of Chapter 4 and do questions and notes.

4.  OH and FYI, the homework for Thursday night - due Friday - is Chapter 4, section 5 notes and questions which completes the chapter.

REMEMBER - next week, Chapter test on Thursday and review game on Wednesday.

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Tuesday Feb 23rd, 2010

In Class 

we discussed geologic time and the time periods. 

Homework:

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 24th, the rough draft of your brochure and your illustrations (for the brochure and the class timeline) are due.

For Thursday the 25th the homework is Chapter 4 section 3, notes and questions. 

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Monday Feb 22nd, 2010

In class

we reviewed the concept of Geologic time as reflected in our lab write-ups for "It's About Time.

Homework:

Read Chapter 4, section 2 and do the notes and questions.  I will collect both tomorrow.

The rough draft of your Travel Brochure with illustrations is due Wednesday the 24th and the final draft is due on Monday the 1st of March.  

In addition, the Chapter test will be next Thursday the 4th of March and the review game will be on Wednesday.

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Thursday Feb 18th, 2010

Just a quick note, especially for those students

in A Block. 

All 5 blocks had more than adequate time to

gather the data needed for the lab. 

The write-up for the lab on geological time

(the asterisk lab) is due FOR ALL STUDENTS

on Monday, Feb 22nd. 

If you neglected to gather the information you

need, the most important data is that a ream

of paper measures ~ 4.5 cm in height and our

room measures 263 cm in height.  With that

date and your tables you can complete the

lab. 

These write-ups are due on Monday - no

exceptions, unless you were absent both

Thursday AND Friday. 

ENJOY the rest of your

vacation!! - DR. B

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Thursday Feb 11th, 2010

Oh PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE!

I can smell it in the air.  Spring is just

around the corner!

In class

we worked on a lab regarding the scale of Geologic Time - As Time Goes By! - 

Homework:

Complete the handout distributed in class.

As soon as you have your Geologic Time period for the travel brochure, start to become the class expert on that time period! - Research magazines, books, and Internet sites to learn as much as you can about the period.

If you anticipate missing class tomorrow for ANY reason, make sure that you contact me for your assignment.  Otherwise you will lose 9 days of preparation for this important and point-laden assignment! :)

Continue to work on Scifair - rough draft of the paper is due the Monday we get back from break.

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Wednesday Feb 10th, 2010

SNOW DAY! 

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Tuesday Feb 9th, 2010

Karst topography?? 

Landslide???

Or just D Block playing with the spatial disrupters they developed for Scifair???

You guess.

In class

we introduced the idea of Geologic time and handed out the chapter assignment for Chapter 4: the Geologic Time Period Travel Brochure.

In addition, we reveiwed the timeline for the Science Fair.

Homework:

SNOWDANCE at 7:12 pm! :)

Read Chapter 4, section 1 and do the notes and questions.

IF, in fact, we do get snow tomorrow, the homework for Thursday (as announced in class twice) will be chapter 4, section 4 (THAT'S RIGHT 4 (FOUR)) notes and questions.  That will be due Thursday. 

FOR

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Monday Feb  8th, 2010

In class

we discussed the Chapter 3 test and began test corrections.

Homework:

Finish test corrections.  Any uncorrected incorrect answers from the first 3 pages will count against your corrections grade.  You may correct anything on the test except the pictures at the end.

If you finish this assignment, you may begin the assignment due Wednesday - Chapter 4, section 1 notes and questions and then the material due Thursday Chapter 4, section 4 (YES that's 4 (four) folks!) - notes and questions.

Friday Feb 5th, 2010

Extreme Ironing?!?! 

Maybe a new Olympic

sport but NOT a SciFair

project.  Sorry A Block!

-------------- 

In class

we took our Chapter 3 Chapter test on erosion

Homework

Get those finishing touches put onto your SciFair experiment. 

If you have all your data collected by next Friday the only thing you'll have to do over break is to finish the report you've already been writing and work on the rough draft of your trifold!

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Wednesday Feb 3rd, 2010

In class

we had our review game for Book II Chapter 3. 

Homework:

Study for the Chapter 3 Chapter test Friday the 5th. 

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Tuesday Feb 2nd, 2010

IN class

we discussed wind and waves

Homeowrk

Study for the Chapter test Friday and the review game tomorrow.

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Monday Feb 1st, 2010

Interesting SciFair project E Block. 

How did you determine that the fly

NEEDED glasses??

In class

we continued our discussion of erosion talking about the factors that affect how much soil is eroded by runoff and the ways that wind can erode landforms.

Homework: 

Handout on erosion by wind and waves.

Remember that the review game will be on Wednesday the 3rd and the Chapter test will be on Friday the 5th.

You may also do flahscards for 15 bonus points, but this is an optional assignment.  Make sure that you include all the new vocabulary from this chapter from the book AND from the notes.

I have included a list of much of the new vocabulary in the links at the top of this page.

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Friday Jan 29th, 2010

OK!  OK!  Yes, Squid

ARE invertebrates. 

I still think this a bit

ambitious for a Science

Fair Project! 

In class

we discussed the ways that water can erode landforms in the form of ice - ice wedging and glaciers.  LOTS  of new vocabulary!!

Homework:

Chapter 3 sections 5 & 6 notes and questions

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Thursday Jan 28th, 2010

Oooooh! C Block!  This is why certain

projects were just not meant to be

tested out at the science fair!!  

In Class

we discussed water erosion and glaciers.

Homework:

Chapter 3 section 3 & 4 handout.  

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Wednesday Jan 27th, 2010

In Class

we discussed the power of water to erode landforms and the variety of landforms that are produced by hydraulic erosion. 

Homework

Chapter 3 sections 3 & 4 notes and questions - I wil be collecting both. 

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Tuesday Jan 26th, 2010

In class

We took a topographic map assessment and began our homework

Homework:

Complete handouts for Chapter 3, sec 1 & 2.

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Monday Jan 25th, 2010

In class

we discussed Chapter 3 section 1 

Homework:

Chapter 3 section 1 & 2 notes and questions 

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Friday Jan 22nd, 2010

Now HERE'S a clever idea from C Block. 

They expanded on an idea from the Cape Cod

Capers Sand Art Unit.  They designed

their experiment around the tensile strength

of sand castle bonds and built these little

beauties. 

Not bad.  Not at all bad!

In class

we worked on test corrections and had a few individual discussions re: SciFair. 

Remember -if YOU need to talk to me about SciFair, YOU need to make time to do so. 

I am available before school every day, at lunch almost every day, and after school on selected days. 

If you wait for me to call you, it will be too late.  

Homeowrk -

Finish test corrections. 

If you are done, work on your SciFair project. 

If that is going incredibly well, you may work on Monday's homework which will be to do the notes and questions from chapter 3, sections 1 & 2. 

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Thursday Jan 21st, 2010

Now there's a useful

SciFair project!  An

alternative to escalators!

In class

we took our Chapter 2 test on soil and weathering.  YAY!

Homework:

Take advantage of this brief lull to get caught up on your SciFair Project!!!  Tomorrow we get back to work with test corrections and then on to 6-section Chapter 3!

Wednesday Jan 20th, 2010

Although boneless ballerinas do

represent a technological advance

in the Terpsichorean field, the fact

that they do not have backbones

does not alter the fact that as

mammals they are still considered

vertebrates - back to the

drawing board B Block.

In Class

we held the review game for Chapter 2 in anticipation of the Chapter test tomorrow.

Homework:

Study for the Chapter 2 Test on Jan 21st, 2010 - that's tomorrow!

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Friday Jan 15th, 2010

OK A Block -At NO time did I

approve this kind of wattage!!! 

Tone it down guys, no matter how

good your results look!

In Class

we discussed the vocabulary of weathering and erosion and soil horizions.

Homework:

1.  Lab Write-up for Rock Shake! due Tuesday 1/19. 

Remember the 4 major elements of the write-up:

          a.     Table of Data       

          b.     Observations and Predictions

          c.     Analyze and conclude questions 1-6 (pg 47 in the book.) 

          d.     Redesigned experiment testing the effect of a different variable on the rate of weathering. (see pg 47)

2.     Read Soil and Weathering Review Game sheets and Soilabulary Sheet in preparation for Review Game next Wednesday 1/20.

3.     Chapter 2 Test next Thursday the 21st. 

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Thursday Jan 14th, 2010

Now that's what I like to see!!! Practical

applications for SciFair projects.  Anyone want

to be the next new billionaire???

In class

we finished the Rock Shake Lab.  The results are due in a lab write-up on Tuesday the 19th.

Homework:

Tonight

Chapter 2 Review pg 62-63 

All students do problems 1-10, 15, 16 and

          if you have the Performance Assessment version of our text, do question number 18 on page 62,

or  

          if you have the Test Preparation version of the book, do multiple choice questions 25-29.

We also handed out the Chapter Review Game sheets for Chapter 2.  Study these.  Next week the chapter Review Game will be on Wednesday the 20th and the Chapter 2 Chapter Test will be Thursday the 21st.   

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Tuesday January 12, 2009

Another example of an exuberant

error.  I just don't think there is any

call for C Block's "New England

Jumping Foundations," do you??

In class

we worked on a topographic worksheet. 

Homework:

Chapter 2, section 2, notes and questions 

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Monday January 4, 2009

How many times have

I told D Block NOT to

mess with the space

time continuum?  But

do they listen, NO! 

In class

we completed a worksheet examining the boundaries of the 50 states and the reasons why those boundaries were chosen.

Homework -

Complete the handout if you did not do so in class. 

Also read Chapter 1 section 4 and do the questions for tomorrow. 

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Tuesday Dec 29, 2009

Hi All,  Hope you are

having a WONDERFUL

holiday.

I will be in the school working on Honk! sets On Tuesday and Wednesday from ~ 10:00-2:00. 

I will not always be IN the building as we have to go to the storage shed to pick things up, BUT someone will be in the main office and you can leave something there if you need me to pick it up.

If you have  question about your project please drop me an e-mail.

Have a Happy New Year!  

Dr. B

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Wednesday Dec 23, 2009

Have a relaxing holiday!

Have a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. 

I will be in next week one day.  Keep your eyes peeled to this page for the exact date.  If there is anything you need to drop off or if you need to touch base with me you could do it then.  

I can always be reached by e-mail too. 

Have a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

Monday Dec 21, 2009

 OOOh E Block, nice genetic manipulation,

and, of course, it is NOT a vertebrate.  But now

that it has gotten loose, what are you going to 

present to the judges, Hmmmmmm.

Yes folks, that is a REAL coconut crab in Florida.  How'd you like to come home to see one of those climbing up your garbage can! 

In class

we did a handout on landforms and maps, while Dr. B handed back the Templates he received. 

REMEMBER - if you have signed A and B forms (and C and D if your project requires them) and an approved project with Dr. B's signature, then you may begin your project over break.  If not, then you may not begin your project.

Homework:

 Complete the handout you started in class. 

Also make sure that any forms that need to be signed and any procedure or hypothesis that needs to be modified is so changed by tomorrow.

SHOW THEM TO DR. B!

TOMORROW! 

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Wednesday Dec 16, 2009

OK D Block, now that is an

INTERESTING distortion in our space-time

continuum, but I am concerned that it may violate

some rule in the SciFair Guide.  Back to square one I

think! 

In class

we discussed procedures and got our new books - YAY!

Homework:

Tonight - Read Chapter 1 section 1

and do the questions. 

REMEMBER - The drop-dead date for

your hypothesis and procedure are

THIS Friday the 18th along with your

template.

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Monday Dec 14, 2009

OK B Block, the crab is,

in fact, NOT a  

vertebrate, but that cat

hardly seems to be a

willing participant in

this particular project!!

In Class

we got our tests back and began the correction process.   

We also collected the most recent version of the hypotheses in preparation for the rough draft submission you will all make on Friday of this week.

Homework

Continue to work on the template and the three sections as outlined on Friday AND ...

Do the test corrections. 

Remember you must correct all the questions on the test (including the essays), they must be on a separate sheet of paper, and all of them must be in complete sentences.

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Friday Dec 11th, 2009

 A BLOCK!?!  What part

of NO COMBUSTIBLES is

unclear to you!!!  Back to

seedling research.

In Class

we discussed the progress on the Science Fair and the next step in the process. 

I outlined the template we will use for the Science Fair Report on the computer screen and showed everyone how to do this.

I also handed back the brainstorming sheet with my comments and suggestions for improvement before you write your procedure.  In general the most common suggestion was to do more research before you try to create a procedure.

Homework:

Have a finished, DETAILED, one-sentence hypothesis by Monday the 14th and a detailed procedure by Wednesday the 16th.  I should be able to take your procedure and perform the experiment at home without having to call you; so make sure that all steps, constants, and measurements are exact. 

Long term - You must have a procedure approved and signed by me AND your parents or guardian by Dec 23rd. 

To this end you must submit to me by Friday December 18th both a hard copy and a virtual copy of a complete template for the Science Fair paper, as we constructed today in class, with the Hypothesis and Procedure sections completed, and three (3) citations in your Bibliography section one of which (at least one) must come from a reference book or a journal article that is NOT on-line.

I have attached to this web page a copy of my template for you to study.  It is at the top of this page in the left hand column and is called SciFair Report Template. 

Please also refer often to the explanatory glossary for the sections of the report and what our expectations are for each section that I handed out in class today.

If you have ANY questions or thoughts about this assignment, or if you just want to run something past me for my input or approval, please drop me an e-mail and I would be happy to oblige. 

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Thursday Dec 10, 2009

YAY!!!!

Test Day!!!! 

No New Homework!

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Wednesday Dec 9, 2009

Well, looking out my window, it seems that

you all took your homework very seriously. 

Good job!  My daughters and I were able to

build a snow fort, so I took a picture:

Now for your next assignment

-STUDY FOR THE TEST

TOMORROW!!! 

That's Dec 10, 2009 

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

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Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009

Time's running out to study for the test! 

HurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurryHurry...  

In class

we finished the review game. 

Homework:

 Study for the Chapter 4 & 5 test on Wednesday the 9th.

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Monday Dec 7th, 2009

Sorry, but

cartilaginous skeletons

still produce

vertebrates -

NO MORE CLONING!! 

C Block this means YOU!

In class

we did the review game for the test on Wednesday.

Homework:

Study for the Chapter 4 & 5 test on Wednesday the 9th.

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Friday Dec 4, 2009

In Class

we continued to work on review packets for the rock cycle while we discussed scifair projects. 

Homework:

Study the review packet for the review game on Monday and the test on Wednesday December 9th.

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Thursday Dec 3, 2009

OK!  Did I or did I NOT

say "NO VERTEBRATE

EXPERIMENTATION?!?!" 

Man, C Block!  That is

SO wrong in so many

ways

In class

we continued to work on our Rock Packets while we discussed SciFair projects individually. 

Homework:

Your ONLY homework is to come to class tomorrow with a completed brainstorming worksheet for the one project that you want to have approved for your science fair project.  if I have already told you that your project is approved, then you should work on your literary research.

Wednesday Dec 2, 2009

Where is OUR snow?!?!

In class

we discussed rock classification, again worked on our igneous rock worksheets, and further discussed our SciFair projects.

Homework:

Read Chapter 5 sections 5 & 6 and do the questions.  

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Tuesday Dec 1, 2009

Or how about

designing something

like this??? ---

In class

we discussed the classification of rocks and our SciFair Projects.

Homework:

Read sections 3 & 4 of chapter 5 and do the questions.  Conitnue to work on the handouts. 

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Monday Nov 30th, 2009

Can't you come up with

something useful for

your SciFair project?? 

Like THIS -  

In Class

we discussed atoms, molecules, elements and compounds

Homework

Read sections 1 & 2 of Chapter 5 and do the questions.

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Wednesday November 25th, 2009

In Class

we finished the DVD on Krakatoa.

Homework:

IF you didn't hand in the packet early for the 5 bonus points, it is due on Monday the 30th.  It is worth 50 points and will not be accepted late on Tuesday.

You also should have significant interval work done on your scifair project proposal.  Next week your final proposal will be graded.  If you need brainstorming sheets they are available above as a download from this page.

I am available before school every day and after school on Tuesdays to discuss scifair.

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Tuesday November 24th, 2009

In class

we discussed minerals, their uses, how and where they form, and how we acquire them.

Homework: 

Mineral packet worth 50 points.  This packet is due Monday the 30th.  If this is turned in early on Wednesday the 25th you will get 5 bonus points.  After Monday it will be 0/50.