Today we reviewed our data from the outside lab. What does our data tell us about direct and indirect light?
Today we spent the class period outside using the Fresno lenses to pop popcorn and water balloons. We also measured the angles of spray-painted lids and used infrared thermometers to determine which angle produced the most heat energy (inferring the most direct sunlight). Remember direct sunlight is the reason for the seasons, and it is caused by the Earth's tilt!
After watching a video on the effect of Earth's tilt, we prepared for tomorrow's lab outside with the Fresno lenses. Remember to bring sunglasses!
Getting whacked directly in the face hurts... Remember that direct light from the sun is what causes the seasons, thanks to the tilt of the earth. Watch the video from Rebecca Kaplan on the seasons for more info.
Today we are finishing our calculations of direct vs indirect lighting in the light lab.
In an attempt to understand direct vs indirect lighting, we started a lab using flashlights and measuring the amount of light that hits a surface at various angles. To be continued tomorrow...
Ancient civilizations saw the seasons with different perspectives. We acted out a readers' theatre of the Greek explanation for the seasons and viewed a TEDtalk on the seasons.
We started a new unit today by watching Bill Nye's episode on the seasons. Who said that cheesy video Monday isn't any fun? The seasons page of the website is under construction and will be finished (hopefully) soon.
Test scores looked very good! I am saving the tests to be shown at parent/teacher conferences (first week of October). A score of 3 means students mastered the material, less than a 3 means students will be given a little more practice. Grades can be viewed online by going to the school or district webpages and clicking the link.
Scientific method test is today. Grades will hopefully be entered into the grading system by 5 pm so that they can be checked through the school webpage.
Today we reviewed for tomorrow's scientific method test by practicing with the mysterious Brown Box of Science (lightning crashing in background). Review the steps for tomorrow! For more info see the scientific method page.
An observation is a fact, something visible. Inferences are where we process those observations and make decisions about what we see. Our example from class involved several dinosaurs. What they were doing would be observations, what they might do next would be inferences.
Today we practiced the scientific method with buckets of water of varying temperatures. Quantitative data has specific numbers/measurements made with instrumentation, qualitative data is mostly an estimate based on observations. For example, "Jackie is 60 inches tall" would be quantitative while "Jackie is tall" would be qualitative.
To observe the scientific method in action, we watched Mythbusters solve the myth of the Confederate missile.
Part of the scientific process is gathering data. To practice this step, we used clothespins and stick-it notes to track information. More to come!
Today we looked at a global concern: colony collapse disorder for bees. Our unit is focused on the scientific method, and we read/watched information about how this phenomenon is being (potentially) solved through the use of microchip backpacks.
The Scientific Method page has been updated, which is what was introduced today. The steps we listed in that process include: Observe, Ask a Question/Notice a Problem, Form a Hypothesis, Experiment, Collect Data, Look for Evidence, and Make a Conclusion. Often this process begins again (especially if the hypothesis is proven to be incomplete).
Today we drew pictures of scientists. Too often we think of them as individuals wearing white lab coats, glasses, and are mixing chemicals together. In fact, scientists are actually anyone studying the world around them, from toddlers to teenagers, and all of us older folks as well. Tomorrow the scientific method!
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Mr. Frenzel
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September 2017
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