December 17, 2008

Today was a snow day. Tomorrow we will complete our notes on volcanoes. We will then do the Investigating Types of Volcanoes internet activity. Our quiz on volcanoes has now been moved to MONDAY December 22, 2008.

IF THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY DUE TO THE IMPENDING BAD WEATHER OUR QUIZ WILL STILL BE ON MONDAY!

Be sure to fill out your Study Guide. Check here after 3:00pm for the answers to the Study Guide.

Notes on Volcanoes

Here are the Student Notes

Volcanoes

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December 12, 2008

The quiz that we were supposed to take today has been moved to Monday. Today we reviewed the Earthquakes study guide (answers) and the Chapter Review. Don't forget to bring your study guide with you to class on Monday for extra credit. It must be turned in on Monday if you want the credit AND it must be complete and correct!
Our homework schedule has "shifted" due to the snow days. Refer to your Unit Outline. The homework that was ORIGINALLY due on 12/10 is now due on Monday 12/15. The homework that was ORIGINGALLY due on 12/11 and 12/12 is now due on Tuesday 12/16. Our Quiz on Volcanoes is now scheduled for Thursday 12/15.

QUIZ POSTPONED!

Due to the "ice day" our quiz is postponed to MONDAY DECEMBER 15, 2008. If we have school tomorrow we will move on to our next topic on Volcanoes, but quiz on Earthquakes on MONDAY. If we do NOT have school tomorrow, our quiz will be on TUESDAY.
Be safe today!

December 10, 2008

The week is flying by! Monday we did not meet due to the parent conferences. I really enjoyed meeting your parents and encourage them to contact me at any time. My email here at the school is duncanpa@wallenpaupack.org.

Tuesday we worked on our internet simulation of Finding the Epicenter of and Earthquake. This is an important skill and everyone needs to do the activity. The content of the activity will be on our quiz.

December 5, 2008

Today we finished up our Earthquake notes. Then we did the "Model of 3 Faults" activity. Afterwards, we started out Earthquake Internet Activity. Monday is a half day due to Parent Conferences. Tuesday we will finish our internet activity and review.

December 4, 2008

Today we watched Bill Nye "Earthquakes" (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Earthquake Song) and introduced ourselves to terms like fault, epicenter, focus, and Richter scale. We then took our notes on Earthquakes. Tomorrow we will be building faults and simulating what happens during each kind of tension force.

Earthquakes

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December 2, 2008

Today we reviewed for the quiz tomorrow on Plate Tectonics. We went over all of the answers to the study guide (answers), vocabulary (answers) and chapter review. After the quiz tomorrow you will have a chance to finish your posters and Google Earth assignments. That will be the last class time you will have for those. They are due on Friday and will have to be finished at home if you are not done with them tomorrow.
Thursday, we will begin our lesson on Earthquakes. Please refer to your Unit Outline for reading and homework assignments.

November 20, 2008

This week has gone by very fast. Monday we worked on the review guide for latitude, longitude and Topographic Maps. Tuesday we took a quiz and did an Internet activity about Plate Tectonics. Wednesday we watched the Plate Tectonics video and took notes. Today we finished up our notes and began our "Puzzling Plates" Poster Activity. Tomorrow we will be doing chapter review.

Click here for the Chapter 4 Review.
Click here for the Chapter 4 Glossary.

Plate Tectonics Notes

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November 14, 2008

Today we worked with topographic maps. We looked at the Hawley PA map and answered questions about the area. Then we used Google Earth to do the Google Earth Topographic Map Activity.
Our only homework this weekend is to review the notes on "Finding Locations on Earth" and "Topographic Maps". The quiz on these topics will be on Tuesday November 18, 2008.

Click here for the Chapter 3 Review.
Click here for the Chapter 3 Glossary.

Reading Topographic Maps

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November 13, 2008

Today we are learning all about topographic maps. We learned what they are and how to read them. We also examined real topographic maps of our area.

Topographic Map Activity 1
Topographic Map Activity 2
Hawley Map Activity

November 12, 2008

Today we looked at two different ways to find locations on the map using latitude and longitude. First we looked at paper maps of the world, US and PA. We located several different places by thier latitude and longitude. We also investigated the different time zones of the world. Next we explored Google Earth. We learned how to create a folder to "store" all of our work. We also learned how to find specific locations and determine the latitude and longitude. At each location we learned how to place a "marker" to identify it. Most of us even found our own house! We will be using Google Earth again several times over the marking period.

Finding Locations on Earth

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November 6, 2008

Today we started the Earth Science portion of the Science 9 course. We will be working with the Modern Earth Science book from Holt, Rinehart and Winston. You can view the Unit Outline here. We started with our notes on "The Dynamic Earth". We also colored a "Layers of the Earth" diagram. Tomorrow we will be working on the "Layers of the Earth Online Activity". Which uses this website. If you are absent on Friday, you should do this activity at home.

Click here for the Chapter 2 unit review.
Click here for the Chapter 2 Glossary.

The Dynamic Earth

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Chapter 6 Notes~By Mrs. Kretschmer

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Chapter 5 Notes (By Mrs. Kretschmer)

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Chapter 4 Notes (By Mrs. Kretschmer)

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From Farm To Table

In chapter 4 we are looking at the processes involved in getting "food and fiber" from farm to table. Today (May 30th) in class we took notes and watched a series of short video clips about some ways that foods are produced, processed, packaged and transported. Follow the link below and view the videos. If you were absent today, you should watch these! The items in the videos include: corn, tomatoes, tofu, cheese, chocolate, bread, milk, and dried fruit. Yum!

http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/studentCenter/index.cfm?cdCode=T3B64-3598

History's Harvest Video

Watch the video that shows how food has been made for thousands of years. Agricultural practices have changed due to the "green revolution" and have made it easier and cheaper to grow food. Countries that are using the new techniques are now being able to feed themselves and move away from subsitstance farming. The video also addresses the future of genetic engineering of crops to make them resistant to pests and disease. This will reduce the amount of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers needed in the future!
We watched this video in class on THURSDAY May 29. If you were absent, you need to watch it!
http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/studentCenter/index.cfm?cdCode=T3B5C-C51B

See me if you need a copy of the video quiz to complete as you watch!

Chapter 4 Notes (By Mrs. Duncan)

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Chapter 3 Notes (Except Section 3.1)

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Don't Forget Your Wiki!

Just a reminder that you are suppossed to be working on your Alternative Resources Wiki page! Make sure that you have logged in and made contributions to the content of your page! Click on the link on the left of this blog to get to our wiki. The directions for the project are there. The final product is due next Friday!

Catching Up

Well, we are ALMOST done with our exciting week on Lake Wallenpaupack. By now you should have had an opportunity to do a whole bunch of things that relate to what we are learning in the classroom. You have taken soil samples, checked pH of soil and lake water, "fished" for plankton and looked at it under the microscope, looked for macroinvertebrates in the stream, toured the watershed and the hydroelectric plant, and some of you even got to chase a chicken with Mr. Anke! We have a few more things to finish up tomorrow and Monday. We will be watching a presentation on different ways of collecting fish for monitoring ecosystems. We will also be taking a tour of our water treatment plant (if it is not pouring out). On Monday, we will have two speakers who will talk to us about ground water and contamination.
Please be sure that you have done all of your homework, and all of your fild activities. You need to have that packet complete to study for your quiz, which will be next Tuesday. Be sure to start reviewing vocabulary and everything that you have learned this week. STUDY OVER THE WEEKEND!

Visit the "Story of Stuff" website to see the whole movie

The clip below is only part of the Story of Stuff. Visit the website http://storyofstuff.com to see the "Whole Story"

The Story Of Stuff

Wed May 7, 2008

Today we started our notes for Chapter 2 on Resources.
Be sure to read sections 2.1 and 2.2.
You should be working every night on your vocabulary.

DON'T FORGET YOUR PERMISSION SLIPS TOMORROW!

Notes for Chapter 2

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LIVE version of the Discovery Channel Commercial

Really Cool Discovery Channel Commercial!

Lake Trip Permission Slips!

Our Lake Trip is scheduled for May 13, 14, and 15. The trip is a mandatory part of your course and everyone must attend. The deadline for permission slips is Thursday May 8. If I do not have your permission slip by then, I will need to call home. Remember, we will all be eating "A" lunch on those days. You may buy your lunch in the cafeteria, or you can bring your own. If you bring your own, you will have to carry it around with you in the morning. You will NOT be allowed to go to your locker at any time during the day on May 13, 14, 15 except before 8am or after 2:54. The trip WILL go even if it cold and/or drizzling. Dress appropriately.

May 2, 2008

Today we took a quiz on sections 1.1-1.3 of the Environmental book. The quiz on sections 1.4 and 1.5 will be on Tuesday, May 6. Be sure to work on your vocabulary and read the sections over the weekend.

Changes of State of Water

Changes in state from one form of water to another is the key to the water cycle. Understanding what happens to make water go from a solid to a liquid to a gas is REALLY IMPORTANT! Remember the bouncy balls in the jar! Changes like melting and evaporation REQUIRE energy so that the particles will speed up and are called ENDOTHERMIC. Changes like freezing (we are calling it solidification) and condensation GIVE OFF energy so that the particles will slow down and are called EXOTHERMIC.

Explore changes of state with this simulation

April 23, 2008

Today we continued looking at water. We discussed where the water is on earth and how it changes from state to state. We also talked about the water cycle that circulates water from place to place and acts as a natural "cleanser" of water.

We are making "informational brochures" that describe what the water cycle is and how it works. We will finish the brochures in class tomorrow.

Click here to explore the water cycle.
Here is another interactive water cycle.

Chapter One Notes

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EARTH DAY!

Happy Earth Day! Today we took some time to talk about resources, energy, alternative energy and waste. We took an "Energy Use" questionnaire. To take the questionnaire and see the answers click here. (I did not write this quiestionnaire... it was emailed to me by another teacher)

We also began our notes on Chapter 1 of the Ecology book "Watersheds and Wetlands". We covered where the water is on Earth, what percentage is fresh, how water changes from state to state and started a discussion on the water cycle.

You should be reading sections 1.1 and 1.2

Star Notes

Click here to get the star notes if you did not get them all in class or were absent.

Stars Galaxies and the Sun

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Star Life Cycle

Click here to see the "Life Cycle of a Star" animation that will help you study the stages of the life of a star.

Click here to work through the interactive lessons on the HR Diagram.





Click here for a printable worksheet to fill in about the star's life cycle (if you were absent and did not get one in class)

April 16, 2008

PROJECTS are DUE TODAY! Please make sure that you copy your project to the "Hand it in" drive by the end of the period today.
We will continue our notes on Stars tomorrow.

April 9th, 2008

Today we finished our notes on "The Moon". This included watching "Brainpop" about the moon, and taking the Brainpop quiz. We also diagramed the layers of the moon and talked a little bit about moon exploration. Your homework assignment is to read chapter 30, pages 615-629 (sections 1-3). You should also be working on your research for your project. REMEMBER! You need to come to class with research done. You will not have enough time in class to do the research AND build the Power Point.

Moon Notes

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April 8, 2008

Today we took notes on the Moon. (Well, WE were not "on the moon", though that would be coooool). We also watched Bill Nye "The Moon" and worked on our projects.
REMINDER: By the end of this week, April 11th, each group needs TWO posts on the class wiki about their stalactite lab.

REMINDER: Volcano/Earthquake/Tsunami projects are due NEXT WED. April 16th. DO RESEARCH AT HOME. You can save your links at http://www.portaportal.com/

April 7, 2008

Today we took our quiz on Weathering, Erosion and Deposition. We also looked at the guidelines for our Earthquake/Volcanoes/Tsunami projects that are due next Wed. April 16th. For information about the project click here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcfkk56q_0rbkpb4gs&hl=en

After the quiz we began our lesson on the moon by watching a video called "Moondance" we went to the Unitedstreaming website to take the post video quiz and filled in the lesson packet that went with it.

Weathering Notes

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April 1, 2008

NO QUIZ TODAY!
Just joking! April Fools!
We took our quiz on Rocks and Minerals today. If you missed it, you will have to make it up.
Those who finished early worked on the Weathering and Erosion packet that is due Thursday.

March 31, 2008

Monday! Mrs. Duncan is back from Boston and is VERY TIRED, but also psyched with lots of new ideas. Today, we worked on a review packet on rocks and minerals. We also went over the "Mineral Mania" packet, "Types of Rocks" packet, and "Properties of Minerals" packet. If you were absent today, you will get the answers tomorrow and take the quiz Wed. EVERYONE ELSE... quiz tomorrow! Study!

March 27/28, 2008

On March 27th and 28th Mrs. Duncan was away at the National Science Teacher Association Annual meeting in Boston Mass. In class we watched the movie "The Core" and answered questions about the movie as well as looking at the Fact vs. Fiction of the movie. We also watched the "Weathering and Erosion" video.

March 25, 2008

Today we worked on an internet activity involving "Rocks and Minerals". There will be some time tomorrow to finish this up, but if you do not finish, please do so at home and turn it in on quiz day: Tuesday April 1 (not an April fools joke... quiz really is that day!)

Review Rocks and Minerals

Concentration, vocabulary practice, flash cards on Rocks and Minerals

Cool Rock Cycle Sites

Click on these links to explore the rock cycle

Interactive Rock Cycle Activity

If Rocks Could Talk

Rock Detective

Just for fun...

Rocks ROCK HARDER!

Rocks

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March 20, 2008

Today we started learning about rocks. Make sure that you read chapter 10. Quiz on minerals and rocks next Wednesday March 26th. Have a great holiday weekend!

March 19, 2008

Today we explored the concept of density. We used the water displacement method discovered by Archemedes to find the volume of mineral samples. We then calculated density using mass and volume date. Then we compared our results to a list of known densities to determine our unknowns! SCIENCE!!!!

March 17,2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Today we started our "Stalagtite and Stalagmite" Lab. Visit our class WIKI http://duncanscience9.wikispaces.com to post observations of the crystal growth over the next few weeks. We also worked on "Mineral Identification", using the properties of Color, Luster, Hardness, Cleavage, and Fracture to identify mineral unknowns.

Minerals Notes

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March 14, 2008

Today we worked on Mineral Mania http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/staff/AndreaHemphill/earth_science/Rocks.Minerals/MineralMania.pdf
This is an internet activity that goes with the Kids Zone at Science Spot http://www.sciencespot.net/Pages/kdzethsci3.html
Any work on this activity not finished in class needs to be finished at home.
REMEMBER... your "Properties of Minerals" packet that you recieved on Thursday is due Monday.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2277085/minerals?ga_uploads=1

March 12, 2008

Today we took our test on Faults, Earthquakes and Volcanoes.
After the quiz, we worked individually on the following assignment:
http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/studentCenter/index.cfm?cdCode=TA9D1-8181

There will be a little time on Friday to finish this assignment. After that, you will need to finish it at home

March 6, 2008

Today we finished our notes on volcanoes. Homework was the chapter 7 section review sheet. Keep working on your research on historical earthquakes and volcanoes. Tomorrow we have the lottery to pick our projects.
Research Volcanoes
Research Earthquakes

Volcano Notes

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March 5, 2008

Today we worked on the Smithsonian Tutorial on Earthquakes and Volcanoes. This includes links to Quia games to review vocabulary.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2225219/InternetVolcanoes

March 4, 2008

Today in class we worked on the Volcanoes Internet Video Activity.
http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/studentCenter/index.cfm?cdCode=T7976-3746

Earthquake Notes

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Plate Tectonics Notes

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Dynamic Earth Notes

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