Earth Science
2017es.docx |
This term
Assignments
FarmObservations (16OCT): Go to the farm and choose something to study in detail. Spend at least 30 minutes doing the following: 1. Observing it. 2. Drawing it. 3. Describing it. 4. Writing down interesting observations and questions
Earth Packet (due 03NOV). See Mr. Allred for a copy of this packet. Students can optionally do a project instead (must be approved by Mr. Allred).
Geology News (21NOV). Borrow one of the geology news articles from Mr. Allred (or find your own). Write a brief summary of the article and then write what impact this discovery could have on society (why it is important, etc).
Notebook entries
27oct
Respond to the following: What are some of the positive aspects of portable technology like smartphones and laptops? What are some of the negative aspects? Do you think we are better or worse off as a society and as individuals with this technology?
03Nov
1. This week I gave about ___% effort in class. 2. My biggest challenge in class this week was... 3. My favorite thing about class this week was...
Respond to the following: What is the purpose of education in general? What is the purpose of your education (for you personally)? Does school do a good job of helping you fulfill that purpose? Why or why not? Why do you come to school?
Respond to the following: What is the purpose of education in general? What is the purpose of your education (for you personally)? Does school do a good job of helping you fulfill that purpose? Why or why not? Why do you come to school?
10nov
13NOV/14Nov
Observe 4 different rocks. FOR EACH ONE: Write in your notebook the things you observe (color, shape, roughness/smoothness, etc). Write down any inferences from the observations.
Finally, write down TWO interesting questions about what makes the rocks the way they are.
Finally, write down TWO interesting questions about what makes the rocks the way they are.
17Nov
This week I gave ____ % effort in class.
The best part of the week in class was _____
The most challenging part of the week in class was _____
My goal for next week is ____
Dear Mr. Allred...
The best part of the week in class was _____
The most challenging part of the week in class was _____
My goal for next week is ____
Dear Mr. Allred...
01dec
1. What motivates you in general?
2. What motivates you to come to school?
3. What motivates you to do well in school?
2. What motivates you to come to school?
3. What motivates you to do well in school?
quizzes/tests
09NOV Plate Tectonics Quiz
see Mr. Allred for an opportunity to take this test.
see Mr. Allred for an opportunity to take this test.
01DEC Rocks/Minerals Quiz
last term
Assignments
25 aug why explore space?
Read the following article and answer then respond in your notebook: www.lettersofnote.com/2012/08/why-explore-space.htmlWhy Explore Space?
1. Write a summary of the article
2. Evaluate the author's arguments. Do you think he makes good points? Which ones? Why or why not?
3. Do you agree with the points made by the author? Why or why not?
4. What would you add to the article if you could (ideas, questions, analogies, etc)?
Entries should be approximately 1 hand-written page.
1. Write a summary of the article
2. Evaluate the author's arguments. Do you think he makes good points? Which ones? Why or why not?
3. Do you agree with the points made by the author? Why or why not?
4. What would you add to the article if you could (ideas, questions, analogies, etc)?
Entries should be approximately 1 hand-written page.
05SEP Planet distance model
05SEP Construct a model that accurately shows relative distances between objects in our solar system. This can be done with objects or on paper, just make sure the distances are to scale. Refer to this table for help: people.bu.edu/sscruggs/images/planettable.gif
07SEP Planet size model
07SEP Construct a model that accurately shows relative sizes of objects in our solar system. Find objects that could represent each planet (or the sun) and include measurements. Example: Earth, tomato, 5cm; Neptune, cantaloupe, 19cm.
Refer to this table for help (using the "diameter" column: https://otvet.imgsmail.ru/download/146c956f606da86555a51ce6c11a998c_i-462.jpg
Refer to this table for help (using the "diameter" column: https://otvet.imgsmail.ru/download/146c956f606da86555a51ce6c11a998c_i-462.jpg
21Sep observation and inference (checks)
Part 1.
Take a look at this picture: https://middleschoolscienceblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/goat_boy_water_observations.png?w=600&h=450
First, record in your notebook as many observations as you can from the picture. An observation is something undisputable and requires no creative thought, for example: "there is a boy sitting in the water." Label this in your notebook as “Observations 1”
Next, make inferences about the picture and write them down in your notebook. Label this “Inferences 1”. An inference is the story behind the observation, for example: the boy fell from the tree. A good inference explains as many of the observations as possible without contradicting any of the observations; inferences should be consistent with what you already know, and usually the simplest explanation is the best (so, it would not be a good inference to say that the goat telepathically caused the branch to break so that the boy would fall).
Repeat the process with this picture, label the parts “Observations 2” and “Inferences 2”: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ph1E1hTmuAk/Vi9iv0mJL5I/AAAAAAAACCo/EaT5m7BIroE/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-10-27%2Bat%2B6.39.59%2BAM.png
Part 2.
Borrow one of the check-envelopes from Mr. Allred. Remove 3 checks at random. Discuss what you observe and record in your notebook the information from each check that you think might be important. Once you've made your observations, make inferences as to why the various checks were written. In other words, attempt to construct a plausible story that explains the observations.
Once you've done this, remove 3 additional checks at random. Make new observations and new inferences. Feel free to refine or change your story to better explain the checks.
Finally, answer these questions in your notebook:
Take a look at this picture: https://middleschoolscienceblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/goat_boy_water_observations.png?w=600&h=450
First, record in your notebook as many observations as you can from the picture. An observation is something undisputable and requires no creative thought, for example: "there is a boy sitting in the water." Label this in your notebook as “Observations 1”
Next, make inferences about the picture and write them down in your notebook. Label this “Inferences 1”. An inference is the story behind the observation, for example: the boy fell from the tree. A good inference explains as many of the observations as possible without contradicting any of the observations; inferences should be consistent with what you already know, and usually the simplest explanation is the best (so, it would not be a good inference to say that the goat telepathically caused the branch to break so that the boy would fall).
Repeat the process with this picture, label the parts “Observations 2” and “Inferences 2”: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ph1E1hTmuAk/Vi9iv0mJL5I/AAAAAAAACCo/EaT5m7BIroE/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-10-27%2Bat%2B6.39.59%2BAM.png
Part 2.
Borrow one of the check-envelopes from Mr. Allred. Remove 3 checks at random. Discuss what you observe and record in your notebook the information from each check that you think might be important. Once you've made your observations, make inferences as to why the various checks were written. In other words, attempt to construct a plausible story that explains the observations.
Once you've done this, remove 3 additional checks at random. Make new observations and new inferences. Feel free to refine or change your story to better explain the checks.
Finally, answer these questions in your notebook:
- What is the difference between an observation and an inference?
- How did your inferences change once you added 3 more checks?
- Did any of the new checks conflict with the inferences you had made?
- Did adding 3 more checks affect what you paid attention to with the first 3 checks?
- How is this activity similar to real scientific discoveries?
12OCT Radiometric dating with dice
Answer the three questions on this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cbAF86sKPml6vI8fa216f9KojimxOviqxNNw-2vKQgk/edit?usp=sharing
Notebook entries
NOTE: IN ADDITION TO THE NOTEBOOK PROMPTS BELOW, EACH FRIDAY ENTRY SHOULD INCLUDE A WEEKLY RECAP WHICH INCLUDES:
This week I:
Dear Mr. Allred... (write me a letter)
- read
- wrote
- discussed
- used "Drew"
- achieved my goal from last week
- avoided "toenails" and "elephants" (swearing, distractions, and lots of other stuff)
- avoided using my phone during class
Dear Mr. Allred... (write me a letter)
18AUG (Friday Check-in plus) Rose, Thorn, Bud (highlight of the week, low point of the week, and something you are looking forward to).
23AUG (Drew and Gunn) 1. When is a time you have used Drew to learn something that you can now do automatically (with Gunn)? 2. What is something that you are still using Drew for (still difficult for you)?
25AUG (Friday check-in plus) In exactly 50 words, answer the following question: Should we, as a society, spend resources to explore space? Why or why not?
28AUG 1. What do you think is a good model for the nature of Earth is (flat like a pizza, round like a ball, infinite, etc)?
2. What is that model based on for you (something you heard, personal experience, photographs, experiments)?
2. What is that model based on for you (something you heard, personal experience, photographs, experiments)?
31AUG From the Avatar episode "The Fortune Teller", list three characters and tell what source they draw their views from. Example: Katara believes the fortune teller but is willing to change her mind when she hears that her brother has seen the volcano.
01SEP (Friday check-in plus) Write a one-page essay on "Is the world round like a ball or flat like a pizza?". Include multiple sources of evidence to support your answer. Acknowledge and debunk at least one argument from the opposing view.
06Sep Express your place in the universe starting with "Mr. Allred's Classroom" then going to --> "Roots charter high school" --> "West Valley City", etc. Don't finish until you get to "universe" and try not to skip steps.
12SEP Compare the size of the solar system to the size of the galaxy (size information can be found on google). Use something we can understand to demonstrate the relative sizes (based on calculation, not just throwing things out there), for example, if the solar system was a donut, the galaxy would be roughly the size of West Valley.
14SEP Watch the following video clips about the Cassini Satellite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67_sPgi8CXs&index=3&list=PL2gLpWRK0QlBE2dKzZw6zHJkGtp-eyK-s
Write down at least a half-page of your thoughts in your notebook (including what you think about the Cassini mission, things you think are cool, questions you have, etc)
Write down at least a half-page of your thoughts in your notebook (including what you think about the Cassini mission, things you think are cool, questions you have, etc)
19SEP 1. How old is the universe? 2. How old is the sun? 3. Is our sun the biggest star? (explain) 4. What color indicates a hot temperature for a star? 5. How do we tell how far a star is? 6. How are heavy elements created? 7. What is it called when a star explodes?
26SEP Doppler Effect Notes. Explain the Doppler Effect. Explain how we use the Doppler Effect to learn about our universe. What specifically have we learned?
28SEP Watch the following video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B7Ix2VQEGo
Write a one-paragraph response to the following: Other than the Doppler effect, what is another great evidence for the big bang theory? (Explain what was looked for and what was found, and how this supports the big bang theory)
On the farm (or similar location), find an example of something you can determine the age of. List it and the age you think it is and then give EVIDENCE for why you think it is that age. Example: I think this fence has been here for 6 years because it has a few tree limbs growing through it but the tree limbs have not become very large yet...
Write a one-paragraph response to the following: Other than the Doppler effect, what is another great evidence for the big bang theory? (Explain what was looked for and what was found, and how this supports the big bang theory)
On the farm (or similar location), find an example of something you can determine the age of. List it and the age you think it is and then give EVIDENCE for why you think it is that age. Example: I think this fence has been here for 6 years because it has a few tree limbs growing through it but the tree limbs have not become very large yet...
29SEP Friday Check-In + 1. Think of some small act of service or kindness that you could do; write it down and set a goal for yourself to do it. 2. Think of a service or act of kindness that our class could do (I will take the best suggestions and we will use class time to do them).
06Oct Friday Check-in
10OCT Radiometric Dating Practice. Let dice represent a radioactive isotope. 1. What is the half-life of a six-sided dice (d6)? 2. What is the half-life of a 20-sided dice (d20)? 3. If you started with a sample of 32 six-sided dice and now have 16 "parents" and 16 "daughters", how old is the sample? 4. If you started with a sample of 100 20-sided dice and now have 40 "parents" and 60 "daughters", how old is the sample? 5. If you had that same sample of 100 20-sided dice and now have only 12 "parents" and 88 "daughters", how old is the sample?
13OCT Friday Check-in
Extra Credit: What have you learned from this class this term? Be specific! What information have you committed to memory? What skills have you acquired? What epiphanies have you had? How has your thinking changed?
Quizzes/Tests
08Sep Quiz (see Mr. Allred for this quiz, should only take 5 to 10 minutes).
06Oct Quiz (see Mr. Allred for this quiz, 10 to 15 minutes)