Global Science

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

LOOKING AHEAD: SEPT 21-25

MONDAY: We're definitely looking ahead to the Density Lab on Tuesday. We're making a Math connection too. I'm sure you know how to calculate the volume of a regular solid object, but how can you calculate the volume of an irregular object? We will learn this and how to calculate that important Physical Property called Density.
We will also look at a great Website for preparing your SCIFAIR Experiment Report from the University of North Carolina. CHECK THE LINK IN THE SCIFAIR SECTION!
HW: Applied Density Problems and your SCIFAIR EXPERIMENT has begun!

TUESDAY: We're completing one Lab (LAB BASICS) and adding the DENSITY LAB.
Which weighs more - a kilogram of feathers or a kilogram of lead?What does DENSITY mean? You'll need to apply this knowledge in the Lab. You'll be measuring volume by displacement and of course using your TBB. Which substance is more dense - quartz or metal?
Who will win the accuracy award?
HW: WORD SPLASH 2.2 (VOCABULARY QUIZ FRIDAY)

WEDNESDAY: We'll be looking at another great Website for SCIFAIR DATA. Create-a-Graph is a one stop website for all your graphing needs. You can make a GRAPH suitable for posting on your Tri-board. We'll demonstrate this site by using Data from the Lab or previous SCIFAIR experiment. Also, we'll see how much you remember about the Metric System.
We start Metric Mania!
HW: METRIC MANIA. You're still conducting you're SCIFAIR experiment right?

THURSDAY: METRIC MANIA! Today we'll explore metric quantities to determine which is greater than or less than the other. It's Active Learning. Do you know what a Conversion Factor is? It's a powerful math tool that uses fractions. FRACTIONS? OUCH.
Don't worry - its all GPS and fun. Do you remember King Henry?
HW: METRIC MANIA continues. SCIFAIR right?

FRIDAY: Don't you think its time for a QUIZ? We'll have a QUIZ over the Math and Vocabulary in this Chapter. Then, we'll follow that with a Video Quiz on Changes of Matter.
HW: SCIFAIR EXPERIMENTS continue into Wednesday of next week! NOW is the time to get it done!!

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SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD'S first meeting was held Wednesday Sept. 2 in Room 806. Students met with Mr. Stewart and Mr. Pratt and discussed possible competition areas. Team members also participated in BRD ENGINEERING. They tried to build a bird nest in less than five minutes. As teams competed, they learned about the 3-point arc. How do those birds create a spherical nest anyway?
Students then participated in PING-PONG and enjoyed refreshments. Tevin and David had quite a game going. David, where did you get that serve? Next month's focus will be about Robot Building and Rock and Mineral identification.
New members are welcome!

SCIFAIR NEWS

Because the Regional Science Fair comes early in February this year, ECMA's Science Fair will take place November 16-19. This year projects for TEAM 801 will be due Nov. 9-10 to enable time for grading and selection for competition. All students are expected to participate. Last year, over 93 students on 801 produced Science Fair Projects.
Thanks to Ms. Myers for her help with the Term Papers. Team 801 placed 5 first place and 3 second or third place finishes.
Here are the key SCIFAIR DUE DATES:
PROJ QUESTION DUE AUG. 26
RESEARCH PAPER DUE SEPT. 10
EXPERIMENT BEGINS SEPT. 11
EXPERIMENT REPORT DUE SEPT. 24
TERM PAPER DUE OCT. 16
LOGBOOK AND TRIBOARD DUE NOV. 4
COMPLETE PROJECT DUE NOV. 9-10
SCIFAIR PRESENTATIONS DEC. 1-3

Students and Parents may email me at cpratt@mcsdga.net.
Students that select a Project Topic that is related to Global Warming receive Bonus Points on the Final Grade!

There will be upcoming new features on this spot including FAQS and WEBLINKS for SCIENCE FAIR - GOOD LUCK!

My Hobby is Rockhunting!

Geology Field Trip: The Okefenokee Swamp.
www.okeswamp.com/park.htm

The first thing we saw was dark water, it gave off an erie light at the dock. What might be lurking beneath the shadows of the Cypress knees?

We would find out later after our look at a film about the Okefenokee. I walked into the pitch black theatre to let Dr. Hanley and everyone know we could book a cruise through the swamp. “Great,” they said! As soon as the picture faded off the screen, we headed out across the planks to the river boat. Howard Hunt would be our guide for the excursion. Once aboard, he directed the tour boat out into the mysteries of the swamp. “It’s not so dangerous”, he said. “Yes, there are about five alligators that regularly hang out around the pier. But, when you think about it, people are the dangerous ones.” He went on to expound on the predictability of nature even there in the land of alligators.
Howard Hunt was former reptile curator at Atlanta Zoo. He was now doing full-time what he had been doing for Atlanta, saving the alligators. We puttered out into the canal. The dark color of the water was due to tannic acid produced from dying vegetation. Plants die naturally, but here in the swamp, they don’t decay. Water temperature may reach 100 degrees in the summer. Bacteria can’t live in the acidic water. There is over a foot of muck being built up on the bottom of the 8 foot deep expanse. The area of the Okefenokee is one/eleventh of the entire state of Georgia. Hunt wanted to keep it that way - no encroachments of civilization out here - definitely, no industry or agriculture - just the animals and the plants. A corporation had bought the rights to Trail Ridge, a geological barrier to the Swamp. ”If they dug the right canal, none of this would survive,” he said.

The boat plowed on through the fertile waters. Exotic plant life
flourished everywhere. Cypress trees were slow growing but rot resistant. That’s what makes them valuable to builders. Each turn of the bow would bring us into focus of nature’s primal beauty - softly mirrored against the open sky. Pitcher plants, bitter root and saw grass were mixed together in a liquid prairie and in the distance we spotted a Great Blue Heron. Over there was a White Ibis and around everything was a symphony of sounds – pig frogs and cricket frogs. There was a balance out here - away from everything.