Thursday, 19 October, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Why and how has the atomic theory changed over time?

LEARNING TARGET: Why do theories change?

NGSSS:  SC.8.P.8.7

BENCHMARKS:

-Explore the scientific theory of atoms (also known as atomic theory) by recognizing that atoms are the smallest unit of an element and are composed of sub-atomic particles (electrons surrounding a nucleus containing protons and neutrons).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Describe and illustrate the modern model of the atom and why it has changed over time.

-Explain why theories (such as atomic theory) may be modified but rarely discarded).

-Explain the atomic theory and how it has been modified over time. 

-Research information for the Infograph project on Florida Everglades

BELL RINGER: Answer and justify. SC.8.N.3.2 The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models

Scientists create both scientific theories and scientific laws as they make observations and conduct experiments about the natural world. Which of the following statements most accurately compares the difference between scientific theories and scientific laws?

A.     Scientific laws are based on evidence, while scientific theories are not.

B.     Scientific theories involve only biology, while laws involve all types of science.

C.    Scientific theories involve mathematical equations, while scientific laws are based on observations.

D.    Scientific theories are ideas that explain natural events, while scientific laws more reliably predict natural events.

VOCABULARY: matter, chemistry, substance, element, atom, Atomic mass, periodic table, nucleus, proton, atomic number, neutron, electron, mass number

HOME LEARNING: work on infograph

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students completed and shared their answers to the bell ringer.

Students then did independent work. Those that had to complete the topic 2 assessment did so and those who needed to work on their infograph did so. All infographs are due in class on Monday.

Tuesday, 17 October, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Why and how has the atomic theory changed over time?

LEARNING TARGET: Why do theories change?

BENCHMARKS:  SC.8.P.8.7

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Describe and illustrate the modern model of the atom and why it has changed over time.

-Explain why theories (such as atomic theory) may be modified but rarely discarded).

-Explain the atomic theory and how it has been modified over time. 

-Research information for the Infograph project on Florida Everglades

-Take the topic assessment 2 exam.

BELL RINGER: Answer and justify. 

Which order is correct, from smallest to largest?

A.  proton, element, compound, plant

B.  compound, plant, element, proton

C.  element, plant, proton, compound

D. plant, compound, element, proton

Choose the sentence below that is a correct description of a scientific theory.

A. New scientific theories are always original and do not connect to those that came before.

B. Theories in one scientific discipline do not affect theories in other disciplines.

C. Scientific theories in one discipline can influence theories in other disciplines.

D. Creativity and insight are not important parts of developing new scientific theories.

VOCABULARY: matter, chemistry, substance, element, atom, Atomic mass, periodic table, nucleus, proton, atomic number, neutron, electron, mass number

HOME LEARNING: work on infograph

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students used the bell ringer FCAT paper to record their answer and justification, before discussing with each other.

Students were given an obsertainer and asked to determine the pattern of the container without looking. They drew and then changed containers with each other. After discussing why they thought the container was configured as they drew, they had the opportunity to change their design and redraw. Once all discussions and observations were made, students opened the containers and determined the correct configuration. This lead to the discussion that theories are often changed after other scientists have the opportunity to add input to the theory or new information comes along.

We then watched a video on the history of Atoms and the Atomic Theory. You can watch the video below.

(Right now, I am having technical difficulties uploading the video). If I can, I will try to upload at a later date. You can click the link below to access the video directly:

The Atomic Theory: A Brief History

Students began notes on Atoms and the Atomic Theory. While we did not complete the notes, we did begin. You can find the video of the power point of the entire presentation below.

Students were then given time to work on the research for their infograph project.

Friday 13 October, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Why are physical and chemical properties useful?

LEARNING TARGET: Review for assessment

BENCHMARKS:  SC.8.P.9.2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Compare and contrast physical and chemical changes

-Explain that adding heat to or removing heat from a substance may result in a temperature change and possibly a change of state.

-Explain that mass is conserved when substances undergo physical and/or chemical changes according ot the Law of Conservation of Mass. 

-Research information for the Infograph project on Florida Everglades

-Take the topic assessment 2 exam.

BELL RINGER: Review/study session

VOCABULARY: matter, substance, solid, liquid, gas, fluid, temperature, thermal energy, heat, melting point, freezing, vaporization, evaporation, boiling, point, condensation, particle, Law of Conservation of Mass

HOME LEARNING: work on infograph

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

We reviewed and asked questions for the first 20 minutes of class to prepare for Topic 2 assessment.

Students then took the topic two assessment.

The remainder of the period was spent working individually on the infograph project.

Wednesday, 11 October, 2017

I was out of the classroom today, so students worked independently on information from the Coach book dealing with the properties of matter. The topic assessment two will be given on Friday. Home learning is to study all notes for that assessment.

Monday, 09 October, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Why are physical and chemical properties useful?

BENCHMARKS: SC.8.P.9.2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Compare and contrast physical and chemical changes

-Explain that adding heat to or removing heat from a substance may result in a temperature change and possibly a change of state.

-Explain that mass is conserved when substances undergo physical and/or chemical changes according ot the Law of Conservation of Mass. 

-Research information for the Infograph project on Florida Everglades

BELL RINGER: Write a paragraph that explain a physical change and a chemical change you experienced in the last 24 hours. Be descriptive in your writing.

VOCABULARY: matter, substance, solid, liquid, gas, fluid, temperature, thermal energy, heat, melting point, freezing, vaporization, evaporation, boiling, point, condensation, particle, Law of Conservation of Mass

HOME LEARNING: update notebook

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students wrote a paragraph depicting a physical and a chemical change they experienced during the last 24 hours as their bell ringer.

Students then reviewed HL 6 on calculating density.

We worked in our lab notebook to begin write up of the Conservation of Mass lab. We will complete this lag at a later date.

Students needing to take the baseline exam did so, while others worked on their infograph project.

Tonight's home learning is to update the interactive notebook.

Thursday, 5 October, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Why are physical and chemical properties useful?

BENCHMARKS:  SC.8.P.9.2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Compare and contrast physical and chemical changes

-Explain that adding heat to or removing heat from a substance may result in a temperature change and possibly a change of state.

-Explain that mass is conserved when substances undergo physical and/or chemical changes according of the Law of Conservation of Mass. 

BELL RINGER: Hot and Cold Balloons

VOCABULARY: matter, substance, solid, liquid, gas, fluid, temperature, thermal energy, heat, melting point, freezing, vaporization, evaporation, boiling, point, condensation, particle, Law of Conservation of Mass

HOME LEARNING: HL 6 Law of conservation of Mass

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students completed the bell ringer Hot and Cold Balloons, by writing their answer on the white board paddles and sharing with their classmates.

Students received HL 6, which can be found above. Students should write on the handout and return. I will make a copy.

Students received the information for the project infograph, which can be found below. We will use part of next class period to work on research for the infograph.

Students watched the BrainPop on Conservation of Mass. Unfortunately, the video is not available for free online. However, you can go to YouTube and watch any video on the Law of Conservation of Mass.

Students took notes on physical and chemical changes of matter and the law of conservation of matter. You can find a movie of the power point below.

Students then did an experiment to determine the conservation of mass. While the experimental portion was completed, students will complete the write up in their lab notebooks next class.

Tuesday, 03 October, 2017

Students took the Topic 1 assessment, after a short study period. Students should prepare to take Topic assessment 2 next week.

Thursday, 28 September, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What is density?

BENCHMARKS: SC.8.P.8.4

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Describe density and/or calculate and compare the densities of regular and irregular objects using material’s masses and volumes. 

BELL RINGER: Density problem: Copy and solve: A block of aluminum occupies a volume of 15.0 mL and weighs 40.5 g. What is its density?

VOCABULARY: solid, liquid, gas, property, physical property, chemical property, mass, density, volume, matter, thermal, energy, temperature, heat, melting, solubility, conductivity, solute, solvent, saturation, law of conservation of mass

HOME LEARNING: Study for exam 

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students began a new Cornell notes section in their notebook. For the inside section, they copied and solved the above bell ringer question.

Students then submitted and reviewed HL 5.

Students took notes on density. You can find the powerpoint in video form below.

I forgot to show the BrainPop mov on density, so I will show it next class.

Students then added all handouts to this section. They are to update their notebook on their own.

Students are to study for an exam on: laboratory safety, the scientific method (including identifying variables), properties of matter, and density.

Tuesday, 26 September, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What is density?

BENCHMARKS: SC.8.P.8.4

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Describe density and/or calculate and compare the densities of regular and irregular objects using material’s masses and volumes. 

BELL RINGER: Complete Cornell Notes page for Topic 3

VOCABULARY: solid, liquid, gas, property, physical property, chemical property, mass, density, volume, matter, thermal, energy, temperature, heat, melting, solubility, conductivity, solute, solvent, saturation, law of conservation of mass

HOME LEARNING: HL 5 Calculating Density 

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students completed the Cornell notes page for Topic 3 as their bell ringer.

Students then reviewed HL 4 and received HL 5, seen above. I will copy and give back to you once graded.

Students then put together the remaining pages in their notebook, which consisted of pages:

5: the log to record scores on major District exams, for each benchmark.

6: individual independent assignment log

7: year at a glance

8: major projects/papers for the year

a: Costa's leveled questions for the left hand column of the Cornell notes.

b. examples of quality questions for the left hand column

c and d: standards that will be tested during the 8th grade Science FCAT. This includes all the big ideas taught in 8th grade and the     annually accessed standards from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade that will be included on the test.

inside back cover: contact information/password log

Students spent the remainder of the period in independent remediation.

They summarized the topic 3 notes as their exit ticket.

Friday, 22 September, 2017

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the properties of matter?

BENCHMARKS: SC.8.P.8.4

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

-Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic properties of matter.

-Classify substances on the basis of their physical characteristics.

-State the law of conservation of mass.

BELL RINGER: Ice cubes in a bag

VOCABULARY: solid, liquid, gas, property, physical property, chemical property, mass, density, volume, matter, thermal, energy, temperature, heat, melting, solubility, conductivity, solute, solvent, saturation, law of conservation of mass

HOME LEARNING: HL 4 Density 

AGENDA

WHOLE GROUP

Students complete the bell ringer ice cubes in a bag.

Students submitted HL 3, which was reviewed. They also received HL 4, which can be found above in the HL section of this blog. Students should answer all questions on this handout. Write darkly. I will make you a copy for your notebook.

Students conducted an investigation in the properties of matter by examining and observing various types of matter. They looked at properties such as ability to be poured, change shape, to be attracted to a magnet, and hardness.

Once students completed observations, they took notes on matter. You can find the information in the movie below.

Students spent the remainder of the period reviewing information on mass and weight before completing an exit ticket on changing matter.

Tuesday, 19 September, 2017

Students took the baseline Comprehensive 3 science exam.

Students also received HL 3, which can be found below.

Tuesday, 05 September, 2017

Students took the Eighth Grade Baseline Exam in Science. The exam will be continued next class.