Mr. C's Science Classes Blog 8th and 9th Grade Science at Kirkland Junior High

It’s beginning again! I’m glad to see students again this year!

The first few days will be devoted to learning classroom expectations, safety rules, class procedures, and getting to know each other. You will be able to find class assignments here on my blog, which will be updated 2 or 3 times a week or when a change to the schedule is made.

Now, this blog may only last a month or so, because the district will be proceeding with a new system for teacher-student-parent communication. I don’t know exactly what that will be like, but if it does what I think it will be able to do, I will probably switch everything to that system. So this site will stay simple for now!

I will post the first classroom documents tomorrow after they are handed out. I’m looking forward to another great year!

8th graders: Here is the second Moon calendar. If you complete it, you, your incomplete will become a grade. If not, it will become a 0.

Moon Calendar

Here are the instructions (with links) for the Earth Science Webquest:

WA Geology Webquest Student Directions

The Measurement of Student Progress (MSP) is the replacement for the WASL at the K-8 level. It can be administered online, and you can see a demo to see what it’s like. Check http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Testing-Grades/Testing/Pages/default.aspx.

For those of you who weren’t able to copy questions in class, here is the lab instruction sheet:

Single and Double Replacement Lab

Today our Freshmen did a short lab using pH paper to test various household items to see which were acids and which were bases – and how strong those acids and bases are. Everyone finished with plenty of time to spare, so the writeup is due tomorrow. We’ll go over that and then I will give students the instructions for another lab on Thursday. This lab is performing two chemical reactions of two different types (single and double replacement, if you’re interested). Then next Monday and Tuesday we will be running a water electrolysis lab in which we will break water down using electricity and testing the gases produced. This lab wil have a formal lab report attached, so we have 3 days in the computer lab to work after the lab.

Labs are fun!

Last week, I gave my 8th grade students a Moon Calendar project. It requires students to go outside with an adult and observe the Moon. It only takes a few minutes to do this. Students are required to make 7 observations with calendar entries. They have a month to do this, and any observations beyond 7 are extra credit.

One reason I want them to do this with an adult is to ensure students actually go outside and not just look it up online. Seeing the Moon in front of you, actually looking at the real Moon, is not something you can replace with a computer screen. So please, I ask you not to let your student take the easy way and just look this up. Please go outside with him or her and make it a moment. It can be fun!

The calendar is due on Friday, May 14th.

Here is a link to the assignment:

Moon Calendar

Please note: The 3 in the example on the calendar is just an example. You may start any day.

We’re moving along in 8th grade with the seasons. Right now we’re working on latitude and longitude, the tropics, the polar circles, and the tilt of the Earth’s axis and how all of those things relate to seasons, and the length of days.

Freshmen are still in chemistry. We took a test last Friday, which will be returned tomorrow, and we’re moving ahead in identifying types of chemical reactions. Friday we will do a lab on single- and double replacement reactions. Next week will be an acid-base lab and the electrolysis lab, which will have a formal lab report. Then we will move on to the next unit.

Today 8th graders took a quiz on the first parts of Earth in Space. We’ve covered the Planets, the scale of the cosmos, and the way the Sun casts shadows depending on time of year, time of day, and latitude. We’re getting into seasons next.

Freshmen science students today saw a demonstration of chemical mayhem on a gummi bear. When the gummi bear is put into a tube with some molten sodium chlorate – exciting things happen. Here’s a link to a video of this demonstration. Unfortunately, it’s not me, but the same thing happens when I do it.

Friday Freshmen get a test! They have already done a review and we’re taking the test Friday. It’s on everything we have covered in the chemistry unit. We still have a couple more weeks of chemistry ahead of us, culminating with a few labs and one formal lab report.

Try to enjoy the lousy weather!

The test has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Bring your review packets tomorrow so we can go over them. I will give you more information in class tomorrow.