« October 2006 | Main | December 2006 »
November 30, 2006
Today we completed the minerals lab activity which explored using scratch tests and Mohs hardness table to determine "hardness". We also learned how to use mineral terminology like lustre ,face, age, color, fragmented, cleaved etc. to describe minerals and then to determine their name. Tomorrow is a quiz, so study your mineral terminology.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:02 PM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2006
Homework for tonight is to find some local rocks, or rocks that they already have collected and bring them in preferably in an empty egg carton at the latest by Friday. They might want to started studying for the quiz or test on Friday as well.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
Today we had DEAR, and then reviewed the workbook homework, and finally started the minerals hardness, and metallic or non metallic color observation lab. We will finish this tomorrow. The students received a study guide hand out for 2.1 minerals, and I will going to have a test or a quiz on the chapter on Friday.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2006
Homework for tonight is from chapter 2.1 pages 15-17 in the workbook, due tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
Today I received most of my progress reports signed. Please remember to sign them and return them. The students got their tests and quizzes back, and I allowed students that earned a 70% or less to retake the test. If they earn a higher grade I will replace the original grade with the retest grade, but I will not give grades above 80%. While some students were retaking the test we did a promethean board/personal white board exercise that involved defining all the key terms in chapter 2.1. I gave out a study guide for chapter 2.1 with all the definitions on them. The students returned their homework review questions 1-4 for chapter 2.1 in the text.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:05 PM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2006
Today I distributed progress reports for the second quarter. We also started the rocks and minerals section. We read pages 46-54 from the text, then worked on a rocks and minerals word puzzle. I also distributed a study guide, and periodic table. Lastly I went over some of the questions from the test on weathering that confused some of the students. The students will get their tests back tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 03:35 PM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2006
Today I gave the erosion and weathering test. We then followed by the last chance to check missing assignments, or to do assignments or quizzes etc. that they might have missed due to an absence. I gave each student a strip of my official final report of their and only their specific assignments, grades, average overall grade and what was missing, or exempted. They looked in the no name folder to find an assignment that they could recognize by their writing, looked in their science binders, and all newly returned work. We start on minerals and rocks next.
I have printed all my progress reports and will distribute them for my students to bring to you parents fore review and sign for return to me. If you look on i-parent before 5:30 you can view you child's grades that will show up on the progress report. I will be adding grades from dates past 9.5 weeks after 5:30.
No homework over the holiday.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Take care, Mr. Woolsey
Posted by Woolsey at 05:42 PM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2006
Today we reviewed for the test tomorrow. We reviewed keywords, concepts, and definitions from a selected questions on the chapter 7 and 8 section assessments. The students were also given section 7 and 8 review study guides to help them prepared for the test. There is some information on these study guides that cover topics that they will not be tested on. These two study guides are to supplement the chapter 7 and 8 study guides already handed out. Remember review all you 7.1, 7.2 and chapter 8.1 notes, worksheets, and homework in your binder. No homework other than to study.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2006
We started the day with a review on the different layers in a typical soil horizon. I then gave the students a white board warmup exercise that reviewed the information that will be on the test and would be on the quiz, and will be on the test. I gave the quiz, and we finished the day with 5 minutes of heads up seven up. The students should study chapters 7.1, 7.2, and 8.1 for a test next week.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2006
The students have pages 87-88 from their workbook to complete, and a study guide as well due by tomorrow. There is a quiz tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)
Today groups presented their arguments depending on their groups position whether to protect or reduce pollution, or not to spend money to protect a monument. Some groups had quite inventive and persuasive presentations.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2006
Today we did DEAR day, and then I reviewed missing assignments, and finally started a small group activity where groups are assigned a position on protecting a monument from weathering, or not. No homework
Posted by Woolsey at 04:21 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2006
Homework due tomorrow is on pages 79-81 in the workbook.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)
We started the day with the honor roll students attending a short party in first period, and then the students received several assignments back. I -parent is almost completely up to date except for several straggler assignments, and corrections to be inputed. We had a Promethean board student review for chemical and mechanical weathering. Classes that had time read chapter 7.2 pages 221-227 of the text, and some students were able to finish and turn in review questions 1-4 on page 227.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2006
Today my classes went out the adjacent park areas and used a post hole digger to sample the different types of soil that are present in the three different sample sites. One site was beneath a pure pine stand, the next area was up on a small ridge beneath a mixed species of hardwood and pine trees, and the last site was down at the creek beneath predominantly hardwood trees. There was also a great area at the creek to discuss the exposed 18 foot soil horizon from parent material to the top soil or "duff" layer. We also were luckily enough to look at soil pipes, caused by the rotting away of roots, and the penetration of water. Homework is from the workbook pages 79 - 81 and is due Wednesday. My internet connection was down from Friday to hopefully not tonight. They adjacent office complex was getting connected, and for some reason they disconnected by broadband service which meant, TV and my internet. I'll will be finishing up grades tonight.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:29 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2006
Today we reviewed the weathering and erosion handout, in some classes the workbook homework, and in all classes we went out into the woods and collected a sample of the soil within one inch of the top of the soil. We started by me showing them that I wanted them to find some "white stuff", or fungi. This fungi is not a mushroom, but the primary decomposer of leaf litter, or needle litter. We also discussed how important this stuff is and the role it plays in decomposing leaf litter, and needle litter into mineral soil that the trees, and all other plants can utilize.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2006
There is a double sided worksheet with the front to read and the reverse to fill in. Some students need to finish the workbook homework from yesterday.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)
Today we continued with erosion and weathering. We started the day with DEAR reading time, then reviewed the workbook answers, and talked about how they can apply their knowledge to predict for example the features of an older mountain range like the Grand Tetons versus the Appalachian Mountain Range. We discussed the different types of weathering, and erosion like chemical, wind, water, animal, etc.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2006
I gave a volcano, geothermal homework handout to the students. We will review the correct answers tomorrow before the quiz. They get an extra 5 points on their homework if their parents sign it. Take care and good night from Mr. Woolsey
Posted by Woolsey at 06:01 PM | Comments (0)
Today we watched a Bill Nye volcano DVD and then did a Think, share, pair and walk activity. The activity was set up so that two students were paired up with an individual that I selected. They then were required share with their partner information on volcanoes. If they do not know something that their partner is telling them then they write it down on the white board they are carrying. Their partner does the same. The point of the exercise is to discuss the information that they both know, and find out if one understands, or has retained information about volcanoes that the other did not, and to record it. I finished the activity by asking each student what knew information they learned. This meant as an active participatory student directed review before the quiz tomorrow, and the test on Monday.
Posted by Woolsey at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2006
Today my class had DEAR reading time which they missed last week due to our busy schedule. We then did a volcano activity where we drew and labeled all the structures found in a volcano, there was an example of a volcano with all the structures. No homework. P.S. I hope you all had a great trick or treat or halloween day and night. My 3 year old son was shwashbuckling pirate, ooh scary.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:39 PM | Comments (0)
