Sept 27-30: Finishing Phys/Chem Properties

We're done with the properties part now, and will be going onto physical and chemical changes!

Monday - We finished pg 11 in their notebooks and talked some of the more "different" physical properties like; malleability, ductility, solubility, the phases of matter, mass, weight, & density, etc.

Tuesday - The day for the much anticipated cornstarch lab. Good times. Hopefully your student had a good time getting a little messy and learning about a very interesting substance with some pretty cool properties at the same time.

Wednesday - R&S Quiz on physical and chemical properties. Actually they only took the quiz for the last few minutes of class. Most of the class we played a review game involving bean bags, four square, and hot potato... it got a little crazy, but it seemed to work since most kids passed the test!

Thursday - Finish matter vocab pg 10. We'll get in a quick review of atoms and how they work before we get into physical and chemical changes so that when we talk about H2O they remember what we're talking about. Funny how they forget things like that. Do you remember when you learned what H2O was? I don't... it's one of those things that it seems like you've always known, but there must be some point where you learn it, right? Maybe it was 8th grade science.

Friday - NOOOOO SCHOOOOOL!!! Since it's student led conference week, you can thank your teachers for wanting a teacher comp day at the end of the week. Enjoy your time off!

Extra Credit: Post a comment describing the physical and chemical properties of YOU!

Sept 20-27: Physical & Chemical Properties

This week we will be looking at the physical and chemical properties of some common substances. We'll review some stuff from 7th grade about matter (p10) - then jump into physical and chemical properties and changes notes (p11). Then we'll do a fun activity with candy, and something with cornstarch, some easy chemical reactions.

On Wednesday, we'll have our first rise and stretch activity day. If your students didn't pass the 3 quizzes given in science, history, and English, with a 75% or higher, then they will be retaught and re-quizzed during Rise on Wednesday. If they passed all three classes, they will get the opportunity to go to a stretch activity... I'm thinking of doing more with bubbles, since our bubble lab was so fun!

Thanks for all your help and support so far. Please be keeping up on your student's grade with Skyward (I have completed the first grading of their notebooks, so you should be seeing more "stuff" in there than the safety contract now).

Sept 13-17 : R&S Quiz & Physical & Chemical Changes

We finished up our unit on the scientific method this week. We analyzed and discussed the famous experiment of Alexander Fleming who discovered the antibiotic effects of penicillin. Then we spent Tuesday reviewing for our rise and stretch quiz which we took on Wednesday. If your student was absent they will need to make it up ASAP (they need a score before next Wednesday when we do our rise & stretch activities).

Thursday and Friday we spent reading about the first state 8th grade science core standard - chemistry! They read about physical and chemical properties, and changes. Plus more about energy and how it changes in chemical reactions. This was just a quick overview of what we'll be discussing more in depth over the next few weeks (the rest of the quarter actually). They filled out pg9 for this assignment.

REMINDER - The first homework assignment (designing and performing an experiment), is due Tuesday, 9-21. This will be their portfolio item for this class during student led conferences.

Sept 7-10 : Scientific Method

This week we will be reviewing the scientific method! We will be doing our first lab, so if your child hasn't turned in their safety contract they will not be participating... please check Skyward.

Monday - No School - Labor Day!!!

Tuesday - Scientific Method Notes - pg5 (should be completed today).

Wednesday - Variables practice pg6 (should be done by Friday)

Thursday - Bubbles Lab

Friday - Discussion and finish things up.

Our essential questions this week (what they should be able to answer by the end) are:
1. What is science?
2. How am I a scientist? Who can be a scientist?
3. How do you set up a good experiment?

EXTRA CREDIT: Post a comment explaining why the figure in the picture is not representative of a scientist. Make sure you put your name and period.