New Stuff

We will finish the 2009-2010 school year with a two week astronomy unit. We will be studying the properties of light, taking a photon walk and using spectral fingerprints to identify elements in stars. We will then learn the life cycle of stars, investigate our Sun's properties, check the space weather, monitor the Northern Lights and put planets into a scaled model around our Sun. The readings include (Chapter 20: #8, #13-#16), (Chapter 21: #3, #6-#18), (Chapter 22: #5), (Chapter 26: #6). All topic questions from the listed reading sections will be collected and graded. The Astronomy Test will be Friday, May 21, 2010. We will end the year with a beautiful story that will leave you with a vision of the big picture.
May 6, 2010
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With spring break behind us, it is time to continue our geology tour into plate tectonics. We will be covering readings from Chapter 5 topic #4, Chapter 13 topics #1-15, Chapter 14 topics #1-6, Chapter 15 topics #1-4. All topic questions listed will be collected. Please visit the website: Plate Tectonics In A Nutshell to see the big picture. Alfred Wegner's bold continental drift theory got the ball rolling. As evidence mounted, plate tectonics unified much of geology into one simple concept. Different plate boundaries driven by convection currents have and are shaping our Earth's surface. Geologists use earthquake waves, landforms and volcanic rock information to piece the puzzle together. Use the class plate tectonic videos, labs, readings and notes to learn the story.

 

The Plate Tectonic Test will be a five page essay test. Each of the five essays will have topics, notes, links and a lab to help you get the information organized into a good story (the one page essay). Please get to work on the five plate tectonic essays ASAP. I will grade each, as you finish, so you will be able to rewrite them until they are a perfect 20 out of 20. You will have a few weeks to get the essays done. On the day of the essay test, bring all five graded essays to class. I will choose one and you will choose one to write from memory. The other three will be handed in. You are guaranteed at least a 60% if you bring all five with a 20 out of 20 to class.
March 29 , 2010
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What Is Experience?
Lack of experience diminishes our power of taking a comprehensive view of the admitted facts. Hence those who dwell in intimate association with nature and its phenomena are more able to lay down principles such as to admit of a wide and coherent development; while those whom devotion to abstract discussions has rendered unobservanant of facts are too ready to dogmatize on the basis of a few observations. Aristotle, taken from Shop Class As Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford
March 10 , 2010
 
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Now that we have the knowledge and the skills to identify minerals, it is time to move on to rocks. We will be performing an Igneous, a Sedimentary and a Metamorphic rock investigation. Be sure to read chapter 5 and restate/answer the chapter 5 topics 1-23. Spend some time checking out my Rock Review Trackstar. The Rock Practical Test will be Monday, March 29, 2010 and the Chapter 5 Written Test will be Tuesday, March 30, 2010. Your success in this rock section is directly proportional to the time you spend reading and practicing the labs.
March 9 , 2010
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Need a good insult? Shakespearean Insulter Page     
February 26, 2010
 

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Over the next Month, we will be studying Geology. First we will be identifying minerals by using an arsenal of observations and tests. Before the Mineral Lab we will practice with the Specific Gravity Lab. Students will then begin testing and identifying 30 rock-forming minerals. The Mineral Lab will be due Monday, March 8, 2010. Reread chapter 4 (pages 53-57) EVERY DAY! Practice the Mineral Notes, and put in lots of time practicing the minerals in your kit. Check out The Mineral Project Website. It has a mineral search, mineral identification notes, and a large database of minerals. Check out Minerals for more information. The mineral practical test will be Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The Chapter 4 written test will be Wednesday, March 10, 2010.                                                  
 February 26, 2010