EA Integrated Science

Week in review

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:54:00 +0000

A little catch-up...
The school site no longer supports our quick access to the blogs. Lame. But we are working to solve the problem.
Recently, we completed a lab wherein we built models of organic macromolecules from marshmallows and tooth pics.
We also completed a lecture series and many drawings about how to read organic chemistry notation. We also learned how to count calories using the macromolecules and nutrition facts found on our food.
Here are ALL the notes in one PDF
Macromolecules%20%28int%20sci2%29.pdf

Test on Monday/ Tuedday!

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:04:00 +0000

Blogger seemed to have erased this post from earlier this week:
Chemistry unit test on Monday/ Tuesday
Here's ALL the class notes:
Basic%20Chem.pdf
Chem%20bonding.pdf
Rnx%20types.pdf
Acid%20%3A%20Base.pdf

The test has 10 multiple choice questions. Read them each twice because they are not easy.
AND there are 5 chemistry problems: For each one, you must balance an equation, identify the reaction type, and calculate of a bond is ionic or covalent.

Welcome to semester 2

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:54:00 +0000

Welcome to a new beginning. The classroom expectations are the same, and we need to focus on student responsibility and accountability. All students desire to learn and do well, and want to do interesting things in science class. We can continue to do so, and it works best when everyone is in it to help each other. You are here to get to college.

OK, on day 1 we covered the classroom rules, set goals, and got right back to chemistry. Posted here are the notes about bonding and electronegativity.
Chem%20bonding.pdf

2010

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:36:00 +0000

We have been focusing on laboratory skills and now are upon the semester 1 final exam. 2 notes:
Success day: On tueaday, the only work I will have eligible for completion will be the 3 chemistry labs. No super-late home works allowed.
Final exam: Attached is the review guide. Everything on the guide is on the exam.
S1%20int%20sci%20review%20guide.pdf

Solar System presentations

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Presentation update:
Generally speaking, students spoke loud enough for the class to hear and stood up to present. A solid beginning.
To improve: we will work on NOT READING YOUR NOTES FROM THE SCREEN. By not reading off the screen, you give the audience and immediate need to listen to you AND you become the expert, not the reader. This is a leap in presentation skills.

If you DID NOT present (about 15% of students) You must petition to present. This means writing me a letter that explains WHY you did not present. (R.W. and I.R. excused from petition)

Here's another posting of the Nov 5 template, just in case anyone is attempting to do this at home. Use the template to create a keynote or a powerpoint. Bring it in on a flash drive with your petition.

Solar%20System%20presentation%20template.pdf

Grades update!

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Did you EVER turn in your mousetrap lab report?
Are you ready for next weeks planetary presentations?
Have you submitted the 4 big assignments for Q2 so far:
1. Mousetrap Project reflection
2. PE & KE worksheet
3. Paraphrasing 4 homework
4. Vectors packet
Mid-quarter grades go out next week, so ya' better be ready!

Planets

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:03:00 +0000

We have moved into the planets section of forces.
Remember, the force and motion of planets is due to GRAVITY and GRAVITY pulls stuff toward the middle.

We used class time to research and organize information in preparation for designing a presentation. By the end of today, students MUST have completed the 2 attached forms in class:

Solar%20System%20wks.pdf
Filled out the template:
template.pdf

Quarter 1 NC's

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Wow. I'm stunned at the number of NC's that went out in Q1. Many smart and talented students did not complete their mousetrap car lab reports. We have several days with the computers in the classroom, there were after school times for students to type daily, so... ??? If you don't do your work, you don't get a grade, but that's old news.

Parents/ Guardians: PLEASE feel free to contact me about this!
daniel@envisionacademy.org
voice mail: 510-569-8901 x306

Final Push

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Friday Oct16: Submit your Final Lab Report form the mousetrap project for EXTRA CREDIT
Monday Oct 19: ALL 1st period Lab reports due
Tuesday Oct 20: ALL 5th and 6th period Lab reports due

The final checklist is attached.

Final%20checklist.pdf

Major Change in Project

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Because of new scheduling changes next week, the new project deadline is:
Friday Oct 16 for extra credit in college work habits
Monday Oct 19 for full credit

Homework assigned!!

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:21:00 +0000

Your assignment from class is to write:
Procedures (organize your notes in the project log into a quality list of steps, 250 word min.)
Statement of purpose (answers, "Why are we doing this project?" 50-60 words)
Title, Materials, Hypothesis (Academic project title, list of ALL materials with quantities)

See the rubric for to self-assess your writing.
We will be typing in class next week.

Data collection

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:48:00 +0000

If your project is ON-TRACK, then your car is done and you have collected data by the end of Tuesday. In blocks A, B, & C, that might be 5 groups total. That means that about 15 groups are behind. Does this include you? Do you use the class time provided to be productive? Do you take responsibility and seek solutions?

The attached page is the data collection page that must be done by Tuesday October 6.
data%20tables.pdf

Bring materials for car construction

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Bring your materials!
First period groups made major headway on mousetrap car building. Remember, it's the calculations that matter most, so we will continue to work on the acceleration and force calculations.
No new homework from today.

Week 4

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:30:00 +0000

Homework: Bring all the supplies to build your mousetrap car!

This week we learned about Newton's Second Law (F=ma_ completed a mini-lab report, and built our cars, and previewed the grading rubric I will use to assess the physics of motion projects.

Because of all the in-class work, DO NOT BE ABSENT! Generally speaking, NEVER be absent. The homework load is light, but the classwork load is heavy.

Project Overview:
Physics%20of%20motion%20project%20overview.pdf

Grading rubric:
Rubric%20Physics%20of%20Motion.pdf

Week 3

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Because of a computer srash, I have lost files I intended to post. I'm recreating them now, for your homework bliss!

Homework:
Paraphrasing is the most important science research skill. Paraphrasing is when we take someone else's words (written or spoken) and put them into our own words. Paraphrasing captures ideas and details; it is never a summary.
Attached here are the paraphrasing homework assignments we have used to develop our skills so far.
Paraphrasing 1: Paraphrasing%201.pdf
Paraphrasing 2: Paraphrasing%202.pdf
Paraphrasing 3: Paraphrasing%203.pdf

Week 1

daniel@envisionacademy.org (Daniel) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Welcome to Integrated Science 2, 2009-10. This class is designed as one year of a two year loop to develop foundations in science. Attached, find the course syllabus:int%20sci%20syllabus%202009.doc