August 31, 2006
We went over heat transfer by convection, conduction, and radiation. We also used dictionaries to define Bloom's taxonomy words to help them with their eventual writing project.
Posted by Woolsey at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)
Heat transfer - convection, conduction, radiation workbook pages 44 and 45.
Posted by Woolsey at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2006
Today our class read out of the text about heat transfer by radiation, conduction, and convection. We discussed the different methods real life analogies and examples. I also used several images for additional examples.
Objectives of the next lessons:
Explain how heat is transferred
Identify what causes convection currents
Describe convection currents in earth's mantle
Key terms:
Heat transfer
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Density
Convection current
I Will be using several different lab techniques over this week and the next to demonstrate all of the key terms and achieve the above mentioned objectives.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:49 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2006
The class used vocabulary words describing the layers of the Earth's core that I had written on the white board, and individually wrote them on the promethean board. I have an example of the work. It looks messy but it engages the students and is a very good review prior to a quiz. I then gave them a short quiz, which most did quite well on.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:40 PM | Comments (0)
The home work for tonight is to now use the resources identified on the previous night and write down facts, and related topics about your selected Earth's core layer in the Bloom's graphic organizer handout. I will check your work in class. You will keep this sheet until you are finally done with your assignment. This worksheet/tonight's homework will be graded complete or incomplete depending whether you have demonstrated a reasonable level of effort.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:35 PM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2006
The assignment was assigned on Monday, 8-28-06. The first step that I have instructed the students to begin is choosing a layer of the Earth's core to investigate in more detail, and find where they can obtain more information about that layer. The resources I suggested were the internet, google, the encyclopedia, the dictionary, etc. I also instructed them to read the Bloom's Taxonomy worksheet to help think in more depth about how the facts they will uncover connect, and can be interpreted. The first step of the assignment is not due till Wednesday on 8-30-06. They will have put some ideas, facts and details, that will eventually allow them to write a short report on the specific layer or aspect a layer that have chosen. There is a quiz on 8-29-06, and we will further review what I want in their writing report. I have not scheduled a due date for the final report.
Posted by Woolsey at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2006
Hey guys I hope you had fun, learned alot, and I must tell you, it was a lot of work and organization for me, but it was worth every minute to see you all learn in the concrete way that hands on teaching delivers.
No homework today. There is a review that we will be working on for several days. Tomorrow we will start working out of the book with reading. We will not assign any homework over the weekend. Take care, you have all worked hard for me for the first two weeks, and I am so proud, and happy to have every single one of you in my class. We will never cease to discover!!!!!!!!! I can not wait for the next week Mr. Woolsey.
Posted by Woolsey at 12:05 AM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2006
Hey guys my internet service was down till now. I hope you had fun today doing the graphing exercise, with the class room data, and the M&M's. Tomorrow we will finally be working with modeling clay measuring, weighing, and making the layers of the core, mantle, and crust representing the Earth. See you then, Mr. Woolsey.
Posted by Woolsey at 10:53 PM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2006
Nothing new kids and parents in terms of info on the homework. I have this info on my previous homework blog. Remember we will be reviewing this homework tomorrow, we will be reviewing the answers to the questions on Wednesday, and you will complete them in complete sentences by Thursday.
I want to advise you that although this is the second week of school, science is a fun but precise discipline and I will be grading slightly more rigidly from this month forward. I will not be happy with late homework if you have been present in my class.
Posted by Woolsey at 09:14 PM | Comments (0)
My classes were introduced for the first time to true precise measurement instruments, and the data collection process. We collected measurement data. We also collected observational data. The groups worked as a team at their lab stations, and were introduced to an effective and efficient method of working as a team in the process of data collection, recording, analysis, and inference which lead us to the WHY question. The question was first what is the item measured, how much did it weigh, and why do certain items weigh more than others when they are smaller in size than them. This is the size versus density lesson which leads into the mass of an object concept. We will have fun tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)
This geology homework is reviewing what the students have been working on the last several days. This homework will be given either a complete or incomplete grade. We will go over the correct answers in class on Wednesday and they need to complete the worksheet by Thursday.
Posted by Woolsey at 08:13 AM | Comments (0)
This pretest will be scored and analyzed to try and see which topics relating to geology, or chapter 4-6 my students have previous knowledge in, and which topics in this area they do not. It was a long test but all the students have as much time as it takes to finish. Some finished within the class period while others needed some extra time today.
On Tuesday some students will be finishing up the pretest, while others will be working on a word puzzle. We will then start instruction on how to use a scale to accurately measure the weight of an object. We will also be going over an efficient method of working in small groups that minimizes classroom confusion, while maximizing inquiry and accurate data collection. The lesson will be an inquiry activity. We will be measuring different objects of different weights and asking the question why some objects are heavier than others, when they are so much larger. This will lead us into the concept of density and mass. The students will graph the weight in grams of each object. This will construct a bar graph with weight on one axis, and the object on the other axis. Soon, but at a later date we will perform a similar exercise adding measurement of the size as well as the weight of different objects and construct a slightly more complicated graph further exploring the concept of mass and density. These two concepts directly relate to important aspects of the different layers of the core of the earth, their composition, and state with increasing temperature. Tuesday will be our first "lab activity" and I hope it is interesting to all of you.
Posted by Woolsey at 08:03 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2006
The homework for the students is to describe the relative thickness or depth, temperature, and (state: for example liquid, solid, or plastic), for the layers that make up the core of the Earth. They have two work sheets and a diagram that they drew that will help them accomplish this.
This is an example of what I want. The temperature of the crust is colder or cooler relative to the inner core.
Another example is the following. The mantle is thicker than the crust.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
This thursday my students further studied the different characteristics in terms of composition, thickness, temperature, and state for the crust, upper mantle and majority of the mantle as you go further towards the core of the Earth. We also studies the same characteristics for the outer and inner core.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
core measureing earthquakes http---pubs.usgs.gov-gip-earthq1-corel.webarchive
Google Image Result for http---www.seismo.unr.edu-ftp-pub-louie-class-100-earth-layers.webarchive
Earths core layres2 http---library.thinkquest.org-C0112871-Earth%20Layers_files-image008.webarchive
Earth layers2 http---etap.org-demo-science_g6-layers.webarchive
cores layers wool exp http---www.spinsterstreadle.com-photo-amandasearth.webarchive
Posted by Woolsey at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)
The first day of school, all my classes got to know me, and I began the process of learning their names faces, their different interests, and modalities of learning. We went over some of the school and classroom routines, as well as what they have to look forward to. I also introduced all the optical, mechanical, and electronic measurement equipment that I have accumulated over twenty years collecting scientific data as a registered professional forester. My students were respectful, committed to learning as much as possible in my class, and realize that they will have to work on a regular basis to keep up with all that we will learn and do.
The second day of school we began the process of reviewing lab safety rules, that with due diligence will make all our inside and outside lab activities safe. I also brought in some of my own personal year books, and pictures albums so the students could further get to know me. The students also did an exercise that required them to interview their fellow classmates.
On the third day of school we finished safety rules by a reinforcement exercise, then finally proceeded into the first area of study, the core layers of the Earth. The were given a handout that they brought home to help them think about the core layers, More interestingly, I had numerous images of the layers of the Earth's core in full color in our fantastic high tech "promethian" board during class, as well as all the internet sites where they can get a wealth of additional information. I am going to try to include some of these images on this blog.
On Thursday we will continue to learn and review the layers that make up the core of the Earth. We will have a worksheet activity, as well as more interactive ways to learn about the layers of the Earth's core.
Posted by Woolsey at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2006
Click to download my course syllabus.
Hello parents and students. I hope you had a great and minimally stressful first day at your Mabry.
I was so blessed to have your precious sons and daughters in my classroom today. My impression was that they survived their first day in middle school admirably, and will make great new science students. I will do my best to insure that they are given all the incentives, encouragement, and interesting/challenging activities that will pull them into the world of science, and scientific inquiry. I will be adding many items to my blog page and will see your students first thing tomorrow morning. P.S. they have have a one or two paragraph homework assignment to support if and why they think why science is important. During the first day I introduced myself to them, and got quite a few information from them regarding what their interests are, etc. See you tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 10:25 PM
August 09, 2006
Welcome young Earth Scientists I hope that you are as excited as I am about this year. I will start filling this blog with addresses to web sites that relate to our topic. I will include images that I hope you find as interesting as I do, topics that connect to the new scientific principles we are covering, and how these principles and skills are used by professional in the “real” world. Just get ready to have fun in my class because science is by far the easiest subject to play around in. See you next Monday
See you at Mabry, Mr. Woolsey
Posted by Woolsey at 08:17 AM
