Thursday, August 28, 2014

Monday, August 25, 2014

Density Lab (optional online density lab as well)

Today we had our density lab; groups worked well to determine the density of 4+ unknown objects' densities, and checked answers somewhat by performing a "float" test.

Here's a copy of the lab handout in case you are one of the many who left yours in the classroom.
HMWK: Lab and Post-lab are due on Wednesday 

Optional Assignment (or think of it as a lab make-up for those absent or who had trouble with today's lab): Density Lab Simulation
Due no later than Monday, 9/8.  Print out your answers, or print out the sheet and answer it.  If you don't have a printer at home, see me in class and request a copy.

In class tomorrow we will discuss answers to the homework turned in on Friday, see what happens with your objects from the lab today and water/oil.  :)
We'll also take notes on graphing (and scientific method)

Next HMWK:  Due Thursday:
Read p. 22-26
p. 26#1,2b,5
p. 34#4,6,10


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Measurement and Density

In class today (Tuesday) we finished up notes on measurement (see previous post for a link) and completed a measurement activity - the numbers on your worksheet need to be correct when you turn them in tomorrow.  One objective of this course is for you to be capable of using measurement tools properly to accurately represent a particular value; you will have some physical measurement question(s) on the end-of-unit exam.  (this skill will also be very useful in future labs/careers/life!!)
We also attempted another estimation; this time the length of the courtyard at school is the question.  Assuming no rain...  ? we will measure it tomorrow to see who's closest.
Wednesday in class:
Books will be passed out for those wanting regular texts.  Keep these at home!  

We will start notes on Density and have some fun activities and demonstrations mixed in as well Wed-Friday.

Homework:  will help give more background for density and wrap up some of the measurement topics we've reviewed so far:
Due on Friday: Read p. 14-21 in the text; work p. 21 #1,2,4,5    
Recommended extra problems:
P. 32 (chapter review) problems 2,4,9, 12-17 (except 15), 23,24, 27-29.
If you have any questions, you may come in and ask or see my teacher's edition to the textbook anytime!

On Friday in class we will go over answers to the homework, try some conversions between units, and see density demonstrations.  

August 28th (next Thursday in Science Club) we will try to measure a HUMAN's density!  Come and see, and bring extra clothes or a swimsuit!  :)

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Welcome to Mr. Freeman's Physical and Earth Science Class!

In this post: 
a note to this year's incoming Freshmen
details about class - required materials, this web page, optional assignments
your first homework assignments


I am very excited to have you in my class this year!  A few notes about the class that may be helpful:
-Book assignments are intended as background; read the assigned reading and try your best on homework problems.  If you haven't done the reading, you may find yourself lost in class.
-If you need help, ask!  I am around before and after school, and if you want to check any book - homework problems, feel free to look at my teachers' edition which is always available to you in the classroom.
-Homework assignments are ALWAYS given with 2 days' notice.  If you can't get work done by the assigned time, a 20% late penalty will be assigned and you can still turn it in one day late by 7:15am.  After that, there will be no credit assigned unless I am contacted by your parent to explain why you can't finish homework within 3 days. 
-Have fun!  I will try to get you involved as much as possible; hands-on demonstrations and activities are a great way to learn science.
This page will be updated daily as a resource for you and your parents.  Links to additional assignments (optional assignments) that you may do to buffer your grade, copies of upcoming notes and handouts, homework listings, and all sorts of fun things will appear here.
-Mr.F.

This year's first stuff to know:
Lab Journals:  We will do lots of labs in this class; we will do roughly one official lab write-up per unit.
I am trying a new approach this year:
 If you continue on to Honors Chemistry next year, you can buy a bound graph paper composition notebook and count on using it for two years. 
 If you aren't going into Honors Chemistry, or aren't sure, I am flexible on the journal you use and I can even give you graph paper to glue in when you need it.  
With the inception of BYOD this year, I am going to accept typed / emailed / other types? of electronic lab journals.  Your creativity as to how you want to share your work is the only limit.

Weird grading of labs/projects: Labs and many assignments in this class will be listed as "Optional" in the gradebook.  This doesn't mean that you have the option to sit there like a slug  :-)  , but if you do a poor job on a lab or another project, your grade will not be penalized; the lab will not be recorded at all.  The same goes if you are absent and can't make up a lab activity... this does weight your test and homework grade more heavily though, so you want to do well on labs and try many optional assignments! 

Online textbook:  On your syllabus there are instructions to access the online textbook.  Try it out and you can get a head start on homework - read p.14-21   and work problems p. 21  #1-5... due next week after books...
Digital copy of the textbook:  Bring in a flash drive to school and I will copy the textbook for you - we have lots of CD copies but they don't always work well.  (I will need a few volunteers to try this since we are short on texts)
Syllabus - sign (Parents too) and return.   You must have this signed and returned to participate in labs
1st assignment: List of 10 metric measurements + Metric vs. Standard argument- Due Monday:  
--> Argue for the use of either Metric or Standard units' measurements of a particular item.
-->Find ten items around the house and record the metric, or S.I. (International System) units of measurement on their labels.  Units should be based on liters, grams, or meters mostly, and many will use a prefix, like mL for milli-liters or cm for centi-meters.
Examples:
   Item                                             Measurement
1. Head & Shoulders Shampoo       400 mL
2. Canned corn                               375g
3. Aluminum Foil                             7.5 m^3
Argument example:  Yards make more sense than meters to me because there are 36 inches in a yard, which is easier to remember than 100 cm in a meter.

Friday's in-class worksheet (I will be absent but you will have an exceptional sub, Mr. Rademacher, here to help you!)

Student Information sheet for Friday

Monday's in-class worksheet

Friday's in-class notes