Monday, December 22, 2008

WEEK OF 12/22/08 - 12/26/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"Happy Holidays!!!" ~Mr. J. W. Surpris (Who is/was s/he??? What do you think s/he meant???)

Announcements:
2nd Quarter Grades-Your grades have been updated on the classroom website.

2nd Quarter Missing Assignments-You have until January 5th, 2009 to make up any missing assignments for a score no higher than a 65 for each submitted work. Remember that homework #47-49 cannot be made up.

Late Assignment Policy-As of January 5th, 2009, I will no longer accept late assignments; in addition, only PF assignments will be allowed to be submitted via e-mail. ALL assignments will be due at the end of class on that particular day...not at the end of the school day.

Christmas Recess Assignments-Go to the classroom website for Hw #50-53.

School Closing-School is closed as of Wednesday December 24th, 2008 and re-opens on Monday January 5th, 2009.

This Week At A Glance:
Science Exit Project- This week we will generate possible topics for our Exit Project.

Weekly Quiz- Your postponed quiz will be on Monday this week focusing on Chapter 4 (Weathering and Erosion). Don't forget to review old quizzes. You can also visit the following websites to prepare: Glencoe Self-Check Quizzes and Ology from AMNH.

Urban Advantage (UA) Vouchers- Students, who have not received their UA vouchers, will need to come see me during Advisory or at the beginning of 6th period.

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
WINNER OF PUZZLE #4 ("T" Puzzle): Kallyiah Merilus of class 373. See her solution below.

Note: A special thanks to all the families that attended our Family Science Night and our Family Science Trip (check out the media clip below)!!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

WEEK OF 12/15/08 - 12/19/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech." ~Martin Farquhar Tupper (Who is/was s/he??? What do you think s/he meant???)

Survey Results:
I would do better in science if I:
Receive help from my parents (6%)
Have a tutor to help me (13%)
Study more often (16%)
Learn how to study (26%)
Could contact my teacher anytime for help (33%)
Have a group of people to study with (53%)

This Week At A Glance:
General Skills- Study Group: Learn how to study with a partner.

Science Skills- Investigable Questions: This week we will learn how to formulate questions that we can use to build experiments.

Science Exit Project- This week we will begin our Exit Project by learning about the different components of the Exit Project.

Weekly Quiz- Your quiz will be on Friday this week focusing on Chapter 4 (Weathering and Erosion), density and bar graphs. Don't forget to review old quizzes. You can also visit the following websites to prepare: Glencoe Self-Check Quizzes and Ology from AMNH.

Curriculum- We will begin chapter 6 “Plate Tectonics”.

Mid-Quarter Progress Report Update- You will receive your science mid-second quarter report along with your School Progress Report on Thursday December 18, 2008. As always, your parent/guardian will be required to sign it as it is counted as a homework assignment. Class 373 (my homeroom class), you will be required to have both reports sign.

Urban Advantage (UA) Vouchers- Students, who have not received their UA vouchers, will need to come see me during Advisory or at the beginning of 6th period.

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
See "T" Puzzle hints published on 12/12/08

Note:
A special thanks to all the families that attended our Family Science Night and our Family Science Trip last week!!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Mass, Volume, Density of Wooden Blocks (Media)

Click to play

"T" Puzzle Hints

Hints:
Step 1 label the parts of the puzzle as shown below:

Step 2: Flip parts 2 & 3 as shown below and use this set up to create the letter "T".


Bonne Chance!!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

WEEK OF 12/8/08 - 12/12/08 (Addendum)

Mid-Quarter Progress Report Update- You will receive your science mid-second quarter report along with your School Progress Report on Thursday December 18, 2008. As always, your parent/guardian will be required to sign it as it is counted as a homework assignment. Class 373 (my homeroom class), you will be required to have both reports sign.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

WEEK OF 12/8/08 - 12/12/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." –King Solomon (Who is/was s/he??? What do you think s/he meant???)

Survey Results:
How often do you study for your science class?
Five days a week (0%)
Four days a week (5%)
Three days a week (11%)
Two days a week (11%)
One day a week (5%)
More than five days a week (16%)
I don't study for my science class (50%)
Be sure to make your voice heard in this week's survey.

This Week At A Glance:
Family Science Night- This Thursday at 6pm, our school will be hosting its 1st Family Science Night for the 2008-2009 academic year followed by our Family Science Field Trip on Sunday to the Staten Island Zoo. Admission is free for both events. I will grant 25 extra-credit pts to any students who attend any one of these events and 50 pts to those who attend both events. More details will be provided in class.

Science Skills- Graphing: This week we will use the data gathered from the density mini-lab to create graphs.

Science Exit Project- This week we will begin our Exit Project by learning about the different components of the Exit Project.

Weekly Quiz- There will be no quiz this Wednesday.
Congratulations to the following students who have scored the highest score on the past quizzes:
2Q-1: Mr. Darnell Benoit of 371 (100%)
2Q-2: Mr. Warren Thompson of 374 (93%)
2Q-3: Mr. Joshua Balan of 371 (96%)

Curriculum- We will complete chapter 4 on “Weathering and Erosion”.

Mid-Quarter Progress Report- You will receive your science mid-second quarter report on Monday. As always, your parent/guardian will be required to sign it as it is counted as a homework assignment.

Urban Advantage (UA) Vouchers- Students, who have not received their UA vouchers, will need to come see me during Advisory or at the beginning of 6th period.

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
So far no one has solved the last puzzle.

Note:
A special thanks to all of my students for their birthday wishes last Monday!!!

Monday, December 1, 2008

WEEK OF 12/01/08 - 12/05/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar." –Raymond Lindquist (Who is/was s/he??? What do you think s/he meant???)

Survey Results:
Be sure to make your voice heard in this week's survey.

This Week At A Glance:
Science Skills- This week we will learn how to find the density of various objects.

Weekly Quiz- Last week's quiz (2Q-2) will be returned on Tuesday. This week’s quiz (2Q-3) will be based on everything you’ve learned thus far since the start of the school year. Don't forget to review old quizzes. You can also visit the following websites to prepare: Glencoe Self-Check Quizzes and Ology from AMNH.

Curriculum- We will begin to learn about “Weathering and Erosion” (Ch. 4).

Mid-Quarter Progress Report- You will receive your science mid-second quarter report this week. As always, your parent/guardian will be required to sign it as it is counted as a homework assignment.

Urban Advantage (UA) Vouchers- Students, who have not received their UA vouchers, will receive them this Monday.

Journal Check- On Friday I will check entries #3 and 4 from your classroom journal. Make sure you have completed both entries. Feel free to see me during Advisory if you need assistance.

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
So far no one has solved last week's puzzle.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

WEEK OF 11/24/08 - 11/28/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart." -Seneca (Who was s/he??? What do you think s/he meant???)

Survey Results:
Are you proud of your science grade for the 1st quarter?
Yes! I did my best (8%)
Kinda. I did ok (4%)
No. I need to do better (36%)
No. I don't care (52%)

This Week At A Glance:
Science Skills- See last week's.

Weekly Quiz- The focus of the quiz will on be on Rocks. Don't forget to review old quizzes. You can also visit the following websites to prepare:
Glencoe Self-Check Quizzes and Ology from AMNH.

Curriculum- Complete our learning on rocks.

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
So far no one has solved last week's puzzle.

Note:
Sorry for the late posting; I had a very busy weekend. I will post our Week in Review later this week. Please don't forget to work on Hw #37 & 38. Last but not least, I would like to wish you and your family a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! BE GRATEFUL & BE THANKFUL!!!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

WEEK OF 11/17/08 - 11/21/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now." -Bill Cosby (Who is he??? What do you think he meant???)

Survey Results:
How did you feel about using the SENTEO?
Loved it (28%)
It was ok (57%)
Hated it (14%)
Be sure to make your voice heard in this week's survey.

This Week At A Glance:
Science Skills- This week we will learn how to find the volume of liquids, regular and irregular shaped objects.

Weekly Quiz- There will be no quiz this week.

Curriculum- We will learn how to identify minerals using the various physical properties you learned last week in a laboratory exercise. We will also begin section 2 of chapter 3 which deals with igneous and sedimentary rocks.

Reading Initiative- As menitioned last week, you will be responsible to write a science book report and an article summary. By the end of this week you should have selected the book you will use for your book report. I will require that information from you this Friday. Please see me if you need assistance during Advisory.

End of Quarter Progress Report- You will receive your 1st quarter report this Monday to give to your parent/guardian in preparation for the Parent Teachers Conference that will be held this Tuesday from 1pm-3pm and 5:30pm-8pm. Your parent/guardian will be required to sign it as it is counted as a homework assignment.

Urban Advantage Vouchers- As we look ahead towards your science exit project, you will receive starting on Tuesday at the Parent Teachers Conference your UA Vouchers which will allow you to visit various institutions in the city to help you plan and execute your science exit project.

Week of 11/10/08 in Review (Media)

WINNERS OF LAST WEEK'S PUZZLE (#3): Micheca Benjamin, Jennifer DeLacruz, Sahar Gabbar, Brianna Martin, Jennifer Mendez, Kareem Roberts and Marquia Williams of 371. Download the solution and this week's PUZZLE CHALLENGE #4 .

Clips of last week. Click to play


Wednesday, November 12, 2008

WEEK OF 11/10/08 - 11/14/08 (Addendum)

This is a pic of puzzle challenge #3 from today's class. So far, a few students from 371 have solved it; nevertheless, you can still try to solve it yourself and if you are successful you will receive a reward.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

WEEK OF 11/10/08 - 11/14/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." -Benjamin Franklin
(Who was he??? What do you think he meant???)

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
WINNERS OF LAST WEEK'S PUZZLE (#2): Micheca Benjamin, Jennifer DeLacruz, Sahar Gabbar, Jennifer Mendez of class 371. Download the solution and this week's PUZZLE CHALLENGE (#3) .

This Week At A Glance:
Science Skills- This week we will learn how to use the Triple-Beam Balance to determine the mass of various objects; if you have any items that do not violate school policy that you would like to bring to class determine their mass, feel free to do so this Monday.

Weekly Quiz- Your quiz this week (Wednesday) will focus on section 1 of chapter 3 in addition to past topics covered. As always I STRONGLY recommend you look over the past quizzes which can be downloaded from the classroom website.

Curriculum- We will learn how to identify minerals using the various physical properties you learned last week in a laboratory exercise. We will also begin section 2 of chapter 3 which deals with igneous and sedimentary rocks.

Reading Initiative:
This quarter you will be required to read a BOOK and an ARTICLE of your own choosing on earth science, preferably on the topics we've covered or will be covering; you may also choose a sci-fi book with my approval or a biographical text. You may sign out books from the classroom libray or from the school library--I will notify Ms. Overstreet and let her know, so she might set aside some books for you; in addition, I have placed a set on books and magazines next to each table for you to browse and read once you're done with your class work. After you've read your book and article, you will be required to write a short report or summary using the printed forms that are next to the classroom library or you can download them from the classroom website--they are labeled as "Extra Credit Science ARTICLE Report Form" and "Extra Credit Science BOOK Report Form".

Sunday, November 2, 2008

WEEK OF 11/03/08 - 11/07/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."
-Epictetus (Who was he??? What do you think he meant???)

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
WINNER OF LAST WEEK'S PUZZLE (#1): Terrence Pierre Jacques of class 371. Download the solution and this week's PUZZLE CHALLENGE (#2) .

1st Quarter Grades:
Your grades for the first quarter are posted on the classroom website. Check your grades!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Previous Messages: WEEK OF 10/27/08 - 10/31/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein

Final Days of Quarter 1:
As the last day of the marking period draws near (10/31/08), students will be allowed to make-up the following assignments for a grade no higher than a 65:

  1. Hw #4-Biography of Classmate
  2. Hw #5-Science Goals
  3. Hw #6-Class Contract
  4. Hw #15-Brochure of One of Earth's Systems
  5. Hw #16-Earth System's Letter to Humans
  6. Hw #17-Signed Science Progress Report
I will collect these assignments on WEDNESDAY 10/29/08. Please make sure to have them stappled in chronological order.

Weekly Puzzle Challenge:
Download the PUZZLE OF THE WEEK (#1) from the "Photos/Docs" Page on the classroom website. Feel free to work with a student partner or parent/guardian. Solve and explain your answer on loose leaf.

Previous Messages: WEEK OF 10/20/08 - 10/24/08

Q.O.T.W.:
"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fea of failure."
-Bill Cosby

CD/Textbook Distribution:
If you've received a CD and are unable to open the file, make sure that your computer has Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can go to the "LINKS" page on the classroom website and download it for free.