Thursday, December 18, 2008

Blog Poll: Are you challenged by the classwork given at school?

Are you challenged by the classwork given at school?

Never (3) 8%

Most of the time (6) 16%

Only by one or two teachers (20) 54%

All the time (8) 21%

Votes: 37
Poll closed December 18

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Water Cycle Song II

Objective: It is time to show your creative side along with your knowledge of the water cycle terminology.

Vocabulary: 
1. Transpiration
2. Percolation
3. Aquifer
4. Evaporation
5. Condensation
6. Precipitation
7. Runoff
9. Groundwater


Building Landers


Build Day!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Egg Lander Projects






Examples of past projects. Students will learn more about the project this week. 

Enrichment: Fire

Safety:  Locate the fire blanket and fire extinguisher. 
Discuss how to use the blanket and fire extinguisher.
Wearing googles place a cup of water next to you.
Strike match away from you, keeping your fingers clear of the flame. 

Hypothesis: What direction will a match burn fastest? How can you use matches in your project?



Play-Doh Review

Mr. Swafford!
Students explaining Earth's place in the cosmos.
 Today we finished class with the students seeking to answer our big questions for this nine weeks: "What big ideas guide human understanding about the origin and structure of the universe, Earth's place in the cosmos, and observable motions and patterns in the sky?"

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Monday, December 1, 2008

What is Parallax?

Lab today used the scientific method testing a project to view parallax.

Here are two links to help you learn more:

Stellar Parallax


Astroprof's Page: The first parallax Measurements

Water Cycle Song!

Objective: It is time to show your creative side along with your knowledge of the water cycle terminology.

Vocabulary: 
1. Transpiration
2. Percolation
3. Aquifer
4. Evaporation
5. Condensation
6. Precipitation
7. Runoff
9. Groundwater

Student Example:

Blog Poll: How often do people ask to look at your work?

How often do people ask to look at your work?

1. Never (3) 14%
2. Sometimes (12) 57%
3. All the time (6) 28%

Poll two week long with 21 respondents. 
Taken durning the last two weeks of November 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Great Space Pictures From LIFE Mag.

Students check out these pictures.


If you would like credit for work you do. Take these pictures and put them into a PowerPoint or Google Documents Presenter (Free with a GMail account). Show the pictures in class. 

Mr. Swafford


Spring & Neap Tide

Vocabulary: 
1. Spring tide
2. Neap tide
3. Gravity
4. Right angle
5. Align  
6. Range

Object: Students will understand how and why spring and neap tide occur. 

Examples:

Inertia & Gravity Cause Elliptical Orbits!

Vocabulary:

1. Satellite
2. Gravity
3. Inertia
4. Orbit/Revolve
5. Elliptical

Task: Use a table tennis ball on a string to explain the the vocabulary words. Each student will take turns demoing and listening. Miss statements should be corrected. 

Examples: 

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008

Student Council Elections 2008

The Speeches are Here!

NASA Movie: What is a Planet?


Enrichment Project Group 8

Day 1

Dominoes
Table Tennis Balls
Mouse Traps
Wood Blocks
Windup Toys
String

The Class:

Mouse Traps for the First Time:

Clifford Launches a Ball:

Launcher:

Launch & Catch:

Launch Eight:

Planet Cookies: Real Or Fake!

Objective: 1. Differentiate Between Planets 2. Research & Communicate the Difference

Task: 1. Students were asked to make a planet and demonstrate specific characteristics for that planet. 2. Students compared and contrasted the planets. 

Class: 1A

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Do you know how planets and stars compare?



Extra Credit! Learning More About Space...

Two free open source programs that offer wonderful opportunities for star gazing, knowledge gain, and general fun are: Stellarium and Celestia.

Any student wishing to learn more will receive extra credit when he/she demonstrates there knowledge of either of these programs. "If you can show knowledge gain then your grade will be increased." 

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

New Enrichment Photos/Video Coming!

Our new Enrichment classes have started... I have 8 new videos to post and will try to get them up tomorrow. Sorry, no time tonight. Students get your parents to go vote! 

Quiz: Next Class Moon Phases and Eclipses. 

Monday, October 27, 2008

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sent Home

Parent letter and exam sent home, please look the two items over with
your student. Homework is to make a timeline with 15 space history
dates and 10 other events.

See NASA timelines: History Timelines

Monday, October 6, 2008

Enrichment Round 1 & 2






















Here are a few pictures and video from the first two rounds of Rube Goldberg projects.


Thursday, September 25, 2008

Water Cycle Songs/Stories

The students have made wonderful songs and I hope to upload a few soon. You will be amazed by their work. More to come...