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.