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April 30, 2007
Today we did a psychrometer activity which uses a "wet and dry bulb thermometer to gather data to determine the relative humidity in percent in the atmosphere at three different locations around the school. First we made data tables, then we saturated the wet bulb and the swung both bulbs in the atmosphere which caused the moisture around the wet bulb to cool the mercury inside the thermometer as it evaporated by the air and evaporated more in the thirty seconds than if their was air filled with more moisture. Our three locations were outside on black asphalt in the full sun. The second location was inside the building in a sunny location with a Southerly location. The last location was in my freezing classroom that has a North Westerly exposure. We calculated the difference between the two bulbs, and used a table to calculate the relative humidity. Some classes were able to view two cloud type and classification images, where they drew some of the clouds and labeled them. The homework is to study for the test on weather that will be on Wednesday.
Posted by Woolsey at 09:26 PM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2007
Today we started off by catching up on a DEAR reading time that my students lost while preparing for the CRCT test. Next we reviewed the 16.4 workbook homework from last night. The next activity was a discovery video about water in the atmosphere that demonstrated the energy that water can create in the atmosphere. I let some of the classes look at my old high school year books that I have not looked at in 20 years during DEAR time. We are doing a "Old school" thing about the teachers where we display the really young pictures of ourselves in the hallway. Some of the kids actually read some of the yearbook signings that were on the inside covers of my year book. Enjoy a well deserved weekend.
Posted by Woolsey at 06:33 PM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2007
Today we reviewed 16.3 homework because it was connected to and demonstrated the most basic concept to understanding weather and why things work the way they do. I hope if you read this your pre-teen can explain why the winds from the ocean typically blow on shore in the afternoon and blow from the land to the sea in the morning. Please quiz them. We then started chapter 16.4 and read the text and went over the review questions to the chapter. I gave them a 16.4 worksheet to work on when they were done with their reading and review questions. I assigned them chapter 16.4 workbook chapter for homework.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2007
Global Wind Patterns- wind belts of the general circulation-1.webarchive
Today we started the day with a short DEAR reading activity. Next I collected the essay homework about hurricanes and the worksheet. Next I showed them three of the best images of the globe that I could find. These images showed the different major global winds, where they are located in terms of latitude and hemisphere, the direction they blow or flow their official names and why they flow the way they do as well as global cultural and economic history behind why knowledge of how the global winds like the trade winds were and are very valuable just like the flow of the currents in the ocean. Next I had them draw and label the global winds from page 453 in the text. Finally when they were done they started the 16.3 winds worksheet which they can finish tonight if they were not able during class time. I have attached several of the images I used as the introduction to todays lesson. The homework for tonight is workbook chapter 16.3.
Posted by Woolsey at 06:51 PM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2007
Today we watched a Discovery movie on hurricanes and wrote an essay on it, the movie was quite good. We reviewed the weather worksheet from last nights homework. I handed out a worksheet for homework tonight.
Posted by Woolsey at 03:36 PM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2007
Today we had a quick quiz on some of the things that cause and effect weather. Following the quiz if they finished early they were given their homework worksheet. When everybody was done I introduced the prism or electromagnetic radiation bending/scattering activity. We went outside and made rainbows and the students actually understood why all the colors in the visible spectrum could be seen due to being bent through the prism. Finally we watched a short video on Tornados. The worksheet was homework and will be collected tomorrow. Some of you are already done with it, and you have earned at least a one evening break. Take care Mr. Woolsey
Posted by Woolsey at 05:32 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2007
Congratulation kids, and parents the official tests are completed, and I hope and believe that you worked and tried your best. As a reminder, do not throw away any school work until the year is done because they are the best information to prepare for these big tests. In all of my classes except 6th, we watched a Bill Nye instructional DVD on some of the new material that we will resume on after these tests. After this movie the students worked on a word puzzle related to the current topic. No homework and relax but realize the learning will continue and I will not slow down the pace of introducing and working on new science concepts. Take care, Mr. Woolsey
Posted by Woolsey at 05:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 19, 2007
Today was the science CRCT and from what I heard it was difficult. In my class we read chapters 16.2 and 16.3 and went over the review questions for both chapters. Some classes had time to watch a Bill Nye video. Tomorrow is a social studies CRCT day. I have assigned no homework.
Posted by Woolsey at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2007
Today the students took the math CRCT for several hours. For science I have given my students a three page worksheet. They need to read the text and fill out the worksheet. I also have given three pages of images that depict the relative distance and location of the inner and outer planets relative to Earth. For most of the science we watched a two part Bill Nye video that taught the students about Stars, and planets, and the phases of the moon. This is all information that will be on the science CRCT that is tomorrow. Please study as much of your worksheets, notes, tests, and quizzes that you have in you science binder. Please do not stay up too late good luck tomorrow and try your best on the science CRCT.
Posted by Woolsey at 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2007
Today we spent several hours on the CRCT reading and language arts, and watch a Discovery weather movie. Homework is a short two paragraph essay on the video which they should use their two column notes to help them complete. Sorry for no blog on Monday but I wrote it at home and it did not send. Good luck tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 04:38 PM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2007
Today we reviewed the workbook correct answers. I also handed out another two page study guide. We then viewed several images that show all the different forms electromagnetic radiation can take. I have attached some of the images. No homework.
Posted by Woolsey at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2007
Today we had a short review, and then took the quiz. Following the quiz began chapter 16.1 which is about energy in the atmosphere. I handed out a key terms and objectives for this chapter and we answered the four review questions. Some students did an energy in the atmosphere word scramble. Finally I introduced some features about the sun's electromagnetic energy. Homework is chapter 16.1 in the workbook.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)
April 11, 2007
Today was started with a white board warmup exercise which was a review for the quiz tomorrow. This took up the majority of the period. The rest of the period was spent reading due to the fact that science does DEAR on Wednesday. Homework is to study chapter 15.1 and 15.3 for the assessment tomorrow.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2007
We started the day by reviewing the question from the homework sheet from yesterday. Next I demonstrated how to use the difference between the water level before and after adding an irregular object to a graduated column of water with the weight of that object to determine the volume and eventual density with simple math of that object. I then handed out a worksheet on 15.1 which if not finished is homework. Lastly I introduced our new topic in chapter 16.1.
Posted by Woolsey at 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2007
Today we had a very busy day starting with a massive paper flurry of all the graded assignments, quizzes, test, homework, and graded classwork. I then showed them the barometer change in our homemade barometers, and a discussion why. I demonstrated the proper technique to read the meniscus of fluid in different graduated cylinders. We then discussed why you would fluid displacement to measure an object that could not be measured with a tape or ruler. The students then read three different graduated cylinders with fluid in them, and then set up their own graduated cylinders with fluid in them and read them for volume then prepared a graduated cylinder to have a precise volume of fluid in it so it could be used to help determine the volume of an irregular object. The last step was a worksheet handed out that multiple different graduated cylinder scales and meniscuses to read, as well as a displacement worksheet on the other side. This worksheet is homework if it was not finished in class.
Posted by Woolsey at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
