5/18/09 - 6th Grade Plate Tectonics

Today we are going to explore plate tectonics (the cause of earthquakes and volcanoes).

Vocab:
Ridge -
Plate -
Convection -
Ring of Fire -
Pangea -

Slide 1 of this presentation explains plate movement as convection:http://www.earth.northwestern.edu/people/seth/107/t9conclude.htm

This interactive activity explains plate tectonics: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/#

Sites:

http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/plate-tectonics.html

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/tectonics.html

5/12/09 - 6th Grade - Heat Transfer

Here are a couple of interactive websites on heat transfer:

See if you can make the heat in the beakers equal in 5 minutes, using one of the materials (glass, aluminum, copper, or steel). Which one works the fastest? What does this mean?

http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspView&ResourceID=388

Try this experiment, to heat up the water, using different metals:
http://www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/flashfiles/thermochem/heat_metal.swf

What is more important? - Is it the mass of the metal, or the material you chose?


If you have come up with some questions, after these activities, do a little research on heat energy:

http://www.physics4kids.com/files/thermo_intro.html

K-8 Typing Practice

Here are some internet based typing programs. Some allow you to enter text that students will practice typing. This is an excellent opportunity to integrate a lesson into typing practice. You could choose spelling or vocabulary words for students to type, and as they practice typing they will also be practicing their spelling or vocab. Or, you could fill the text box with a paragraph from their study-guide for a test, and your students can study (by rehearsing and becoming familiar with facts and information) while they type. Many also indicate which hand they should be using (with a hand outline at the top right or left), and tell students how to type a letter if they make a mistake.

This site from BBC has lessons that teach correct keyboarding for beginners through advanced students, and is dance themed (*a hipster sheep teaches you how to type, and encourages you as you go):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

The following practice programs allow you to enter text:
http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/games/chameleon.php?key=EN_regular

http://freeonlinetypinggames.com/typing-tests/speed-test/

4/24/09 - 8th Grade - Earth Day

Today we are going to talk about why it is important to take care of the earth. And, if taking care of the earth is so important, what can we do to reduce the pollution that damages our planet?

First, let's talk about greenhouse gasses and global warming. Global warming is one of the most significant causes of environmental change that humans contribute to. Gasses released by factories, cars, raising herds of animals, and running power plants.

This site has information about the effects of greenhouse gasses, and the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm

Every consumer product that we buy has a cost on the environment. As consumers, it is our job to choose the products that have the least negative impact on the environment. Let's talk about the cost of buying a product.

Acquiring Raw Materials --> Producing the Product --> Shipping --> Transportation to the Store --> Energy Consumption of the Product

Choose one of these articles, read it, and write a response on your teacher's blog.

Where does most pollution come from?
Livestock 18% (abc news)http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/Story?id=2723201

Top causes of greenhouse gas emission: read page 7 and 8 for top CO2 emissions.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads09/ExecutiveSummary.pdf

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes.html

What contributes to pollution? (read about air pollution, and take the quiz)
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/kidsQuizAir.cfmhttp://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/kidsQuizAir.cfm

http://healthandenergy.com/air_pollution_causes.htm

What are some ideas on alternatives to global warming? What can we do to reduce our impact on the environment?

4/23/09 -5th grade- Earth Day

Today we are going to talk about why it is important to take care of the earth. And, if taking care of the earth is so important, what can we do to reduce the pollution that damages our planet?

Where does most pollution come from?
Livestock 18% (abc news)http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/Story?id=2723201

Top causes of greenhouse gas emission: read page 7 and 8 for top CO2 emissions.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads09/ExecutiveSummary.pdf

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes.html

What contributes to pollution? (read about air pollution, and take the quiz)
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/kidsQuizAir.cfmhttp://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/kidsQuizAir.cfm

http://healthandenergy.com/air_pollution_causes.htm

4th Grade - 4/6/09 - Our Solar System

These sites will help introduce you to our solar system. As we research the planets, write down two questions that you have about space, planets, stars, etc.

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/our_solar_system/planets.html&cdp=/windows3.html&frp=/windows3.html&edu=mid

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/science/space-sci/exploration/voyager-sci.html

More Links:
http://www.cdaschools.org/students/fourth_grade_science.htm

Student Survey

Please take this brief survey, as a class during your technology time:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=sBD2_2fN8fnjBIc_2fwxjJRZcg_3d_3d