Thursday 9/3

Journal:

What is missing from the line graph below?


Today we finished going over your Variables Practice Packet, then did an activity to discuss the difference between true science and pseudoscience (no makeup needed for that assignment).

HW:  none

Wednesday 9/2

Journal:

1. Suppose you want to find out how fruit production of zucchini plants changes in soils of varying pH (acidity). Identify the following for this question:
1. Make a hypothesis
2. Independent variable
3. Dependent variable
4. Constants
5. Control

Today we went over a PowerPoint about graphing and did an activity associated with what graphs are best for different sets of data. Here's the presentation. Feel free to print it, take notes from it, or just read over it.

HW:  none! :)

Tuesday 9/1

Journal:

1. How do graphs fit in to the scientific method?
2. With what types of data should you use the following types of graphs:
1. pie
2. bar
3. line

Today we finished working on the Variables Practice Packet in class. The remainder of the packet was assigned as homework, however if you don't finish it 100% because there are some you don't understand, just bring it to class tomorrow anyway and we will discuss the answers as a class.

HW:  Remainder of Variables Practice Packet (what you can finish)

Monday 8/31

Journal:

I design an experiment to see how different liquids affect a tomato plant’s growth. I think that if I “water” the tomato plant with a sugary drink then it will grow faster than if I “water” it with normal water or a salty drink. I get three tomato plants and pot them in the same size of pot with the same soil. I place them all in the same window on the same side of the house and “water” them every day at 5:00pm. One plant is watered with water, one with 7Up, and one with V8 juice. I record the plant’s growth each day for 30 days. In this example, identify the following:

a. hypothesis
b. independent variable

c. dependent variable

d. constants

e. control

f. question

Today I collected your Coin Lab, then we worked on a series of worksheets to review the scientific method and parts of the experiment.

Here is the link to all 3 worksheets:

Scientific Method Practice

HW:  none, just make sure to  bring your papers back with you tomorrow

Friday 8/28

Journal:

I design an experiment where I’m going to have a runner eat 5 different energy bars before running one mile. The first day, the runner gets 8 hours of sleep, wakes up, eats an energy bar, and runs one mile at 7:00am. I time the mile and record my data. Over the next 4 days, we repeat the procedure with 4 different energy bars and time the mile. In this example, identify the following:

1. independent variable
2. dependent variable
3. constants
4. control

Today I collected your paragraph about something you wonder about, then we finished data for the Coin Lab and finished anything left of the graph, analysis, or conclusion. We will hand it in on Monday.

HW: Anything left of Coin Lab

Thursday 8/27

Journal:

1. List the steps in the scientific method as well as you can remember.
2. List the parts of an experiment as well as you can remember.

Today we started a Coin Lab as an introduction to the scientific method and parts of an experiment. Here is the writeup. Today we just made a hypothesis and nearly finished the data table. If you need the materials, find a time to come into class and make it up, otherwise use materials you have at home to get the data.

HW:  Write one paragraph about something you wonder about (after researching an answer). Due tomorrow Fri 8/28.

Wednesday 8/26

Journal:

1. What have you observed lately?

2. What do you wonder about?

I assigned the homework to take the question you wrote for #2 of your bell work and research it (google, encyclopedia, friends/family, etc). Then write one paragraph explaining what you found. This will be due Friday.

We finished the PowerPoint The Art of Observation.

HW:  Write one paragraph explaining the research you found about the thing you "wonder about." Due Friday 8/28