Nov 30th and Dec 1st

Our do now today was on the differences between physical and chemical changes. We discussed both, and gave examples of each. We then discussed that the do now questions would make good quiz questions (hint, hint). I would exoect a quiz on wednesday/thursday on this.

After the do now we built our fifth and final design, then explained the changes we made from design to design. Finally we tested and filmed our final designs-look for the films on youtube or in the class wiki.

We also started chemistry. We handed out a periodic table for each student then briefly discussed group 18, the Noble gases, and group 17, the Halogens.

Nov 23-24, creating our posters

Today we spent our time working on our posters. We illustrated our four designs and then explained what we would do if we were to build another version of our thermal protective system.

We will present the posters on the 25th.

Nov 20 The final design

Today we created one more thermal protective system. Kudos go to the group in period 5B that created a design that lasted 41 seconds--almost double what all other groups were able to do.

Be sure to check out the video footage on youtube--look for videos by beakernflask

Nov 18 and 19--Engineering Design Challenge Day

Today we first took care of our first marking period grades. I handed out a sheet to each student, the sheet showed every grade that they had earned in the 1st marking period. They then filled out a form titled "Why I got the grade I got" and wrote one sentence on what they could focus on in second marking period in order to do better.

Once this was out of the way we created two structures for our engineering design challenge. The first structure was made with just a 3 inch square of Al foil. This was tested (and the tests were filmed).

The second structure was made using a 3 inch square of copper mesh, a piece of Al foil, two nuts and one washer. These were also tested and filmed.

Film can be seen at;

http://sciencerocksroom121.pbworks.com/FrontPage

Once on the website look at the right hand side of the screen. There should be several hotlinks, one for each class. Click on the hotlink, then download and view the video files.

Nov 16th--Engineering Design Challenge

We are taking a short break from the textbook and are working on a design challenge created by NASA. It is called the Thermal Protective Systems design challenge and it models how engineers create protective systems for rockets.

We will be working this challenge until the Thanksgiving break. Our students are creating prototypes of thermal protective systems and then testing them on our very own test bench.

So far, the project has been both fun and informative!

Nov 9th and 10th-Welcome back from break

Today's class theme was 'Pause and Reflect'. We are just about to finish the first marking period and it is a good time to look back at how we have done.

We discussed a demonstration on air pressure. We inflated a balloon inside a soda bottle, then pressurized the bottle and watched what happened to the balloon. We also felt the side of the bottle and noticed that it became warmer when air was added, and became colder when the air was released.

We then reviewed our chapter two test, and then received graded chapter two homework and also our graded lab reports.

Finally, we are done with our sound and light books--please bring them back in for the next class.