FCAT EXPLORER UPDATE

Everyone should be enrolled in the correct class now. I have assigned 3 not 2 lessons. Earth and Space will be good to review prior to the CGA in January. You will be assigned to complete more sections of FCAT so don't delay- but take your time and do well!!

GRADES!!!! Important Info

First let me wish everyone a happy and safe holiday break. School may be out, but learning continues. By Friday I will have all classes set up in FCAT EXPLORER- I'm working as fast as I can.
Your assignment for FCAT EXPLORER is to

• Do the Review Lessons: Particulate Nature of Matter and  How Science Works and
• Complete the Physical and Chemical Section.

Your first response scores on the 8th grade standards will be used to calculate your supplemented/alternative CGA 1 grade so that you my "recover" that grade. This will go into assessments so it is very important that you do your best the first time. If at first you don't succeed, try again because partial credit is better than no credit. Everyone should know their FCAT EXPLORER log-in and password from Language Arts class. If you don't then maybe you can refer to Mr. Geary's blog. He posted some directions. The log in in your last name with your first initial and your password is 16 followed by the first four letters of your last name followed by your birth month and birth day. So, for Sally Sue Salamander who was born on December 25 her log in is SALAMANDERS and her password is 16SALA1225. You may not need to use all caps.
The FCAT EXPLORER assignments are due on Jan 8 for B day and Jan 9 for A day.

I have graded almost all of the science projects, but I have a few more to do. I will post these grades after I have graded all of them . Please be patient and work on FCAT EXPLORER which will have a greater impact on your grade than your science project.

If you did not attend class on Tuesday or Wednesday or if you still have not finished the assignments and submitted them (see blog post) then you will have a chance on the first day of class in 2014 to submit your 8 activities including the foldable for historical models. Check out Mr. Geary's blog there may be some directions on it for the foldable.

Getting ready for CGA 2: It's time to start reviewing. Try more of the focus lessons at FCAT EXPLORER, watch the videos posted to this blog, and re-read your text and notes. Remember, the test will include all 6th and 7th benchmarks along with the benchmarks that we have used this year since day 1. You may want to work ahead on FCAT EXPLORER to better prepare for the CGA. The better you do, the better your grade, the less remediation you will need.

(67) Universe - How the solar system was made- Watch this if you missed it on Friday or Monday

Activity check before winter break

My  group was excused from jury duty so I am back at school today - Monday. That means today was a great day and it will be followed by 2 more.

Tomorrow (B day) and Wednesday (A day) we will finish any science projects for anyone who was absent on the day that they were scheduled to present.

The following should be completed, checked, and logged into the gradebook before you begin your winter break:
Models of solar system for distances

• BR - solar system model (drawing)
• Closing - Comparison of two models

Historical Models of Solar System

• BR - p. 105, questions 1& 2
• Closing p. 112 # 20.
• Foldable using p. 112 and including a venn diagram to compare and contrast the historical models including who developed the theory, who supported it, when it was developed, and where it was developed along with other data you would like to include.

 Formation of the Solar System

• BR How did our planets form?
• Closing summarize notes from video: Formation of the Solar System
• Fusion pp. 129, #1-9

That is a total of 8 activities so be prepared when you walk into class on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I am very busy trying to finish grading all science projects before vacation. I will post them when I am finished.

B day students and anyone who was absent last Friday on A DAY

B day students,
I won't be able to show you this clip on the two models of the solar system. If you can watch it before class on Friday, it will be very helpful for you.
Here's the link. I hope it works.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/space/galileo-sun-centered-system.html

Rubrics for Science Project and Changes in dates

This should be the link to the rubrics. If it doesn't work, tell me in class. Thanks.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1kJPZ_sUMJnajdzY3NYNUhUeUE/edit?usp=sharing

Remember, we only have two days for each class to present all projects due to my call to jury duty. Please prepare yourself to present and to answer any important questions. You will have 5 minutes only for each group and the head judge so you want to explain your project succinctly, explain your data analysis and results, and explain your conclusion.

Do NOT say if you were right or wrong. Let us know if the data supported or failed to support the hypothesis.  It's not significant if there's not at least a 5-10% difference in means.

New Assignments and SCIENCE PROJECT UPDATE

Quiz Recycle available for Phases of the Moon during the next class period for anyone who earned less than a 70%.

New Assignments
A day received their tests back today. B Day will receive them back on Thursday. ALL students are required to do Test Corrections if they missed any questions and all students must have the test paper itself signed by a parent/caregiver. Follow the directions for Test Corrections. This activity is worth 10 points. It is due during the next scheduled class period.

TEST CORRECTIONS

1.   REWRITE each incorrect problem or question as correct. (Yes, all of the question or problem.)

2.   CITE the source of the correct response or how you derived the correct response.

3.   ELIMINATE all of the incorrect answers by stating why each is incorrect.

4.   DEVISE a strategy to avoid the particular error in the future.  

All corrections must be complete, correct, and legible. Staple the corrections to the quiz to submit.   

____________________
SCIENCE PROJECT UPDATE
Presentations begin on Monday, 12/9 for B Day students. Sign up will be in class tomorrow. Students may sign up for one of three days: 12/9, 12/11, or 12/17.
Presentations begin on Tuesday, 12/10 for A Day students. Students signed up today for one of three days: 12/10, 12/12, or 12/16.
On the day of your presentation you must bring
>your backboard,
>science project journal, and
>a copy of your abstract.
You access the SSEF form through nefrsef.org. Use the student tab to go to ABSTRACT.
You should prepare a short 3 minute talk for your peer judges and the head judge. There will be time for a question or two, so be prepared.
Anyone who has not made prior arrangements to ask for an extension of the due date and does not present will be considered a late presentation and the project will be graded accordingly.

At this time, if you have not submitted a proposal it is up to you and your parents to choose an appropriate project since they are your sponsors. You are still responsible for doing a legal project so make sure you follow all of the rules and fill out all of the paperwork.  If your parents sign the forms and give you permission to begin, you may. HOWEVER- any projects that do not comply with the rules will be graded as a ZERO and you will have to recycle the entire project for no higher than a grade of C.