Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Classification Rap

Here's the video everyone loves!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Resources for Geologic Time

Slideshow to go with Chapter 14

Greek and Romans found dinosaur fossils too - a podcast on how cultural context influences interpretation of findings

A pretty good geologic time line for 7th graders.  A little more info than you need, but not TOO much!

Can you put together dinosaur bones?  This is a fun paleontology puzzle.
A very pretty pictoral time line with visuals of what the earth may have looked like at all kinds of different points in Earth's history.  Click Start the Journey.  Skip through the introduction to see the much more interesting whole time line.

Lots of fun paleontology activities to do here.

An interactive tutorial on geologic time, including some of the stuff we've already learned (fossils, relative age, absolute age), but worth having another look at anyway.

Big 5 Mass Extinction Events from the BBC - very nice!


Dinosaurs in Denver (Discovery Channel)

Asteroid Theory (National Geographic)











Dinosaurs A to Z - alphabetical list of many dinosaur species


... More to come!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Western Black Rhino Is Now Extinct

Coincidentally, we were just talking today in class about how extinction in general is a non-event in the geologic time scale, while mass-extinction is something different entirely.  Just saw this article about the Western Black Rhino's status changing to "extinct", as the last living animal was observed in 2006.


I'm not really sure how I feel about this "non-event."  Feels tragic to me...

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Resources for Fossils and Geology

Here are some videos and other links that help illustrate some of the principles in Chapter 13...

This video illustrates the law of superposition in an easy-to-understand way.

Video explaining the three types of unconformities


 
This video explains absolute age and how we can use Carbon 14 isotopes to date once-living things.


This is the "Nerd-Version" for anyone who wants to really, really understand radioactive decay!


Recipe for Salt Dough for homework.  If you don't have any clay or plaster or playdough, you can make your own.  Use sand, pebbles, dirt, spices, whatever... to make the different layers of rock.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Thinking About the Food Drive...

 
This is a video of a TV chef showing how to prepare some delicious food you can find at the food bank.

Here's what's on my mind.  Every year we have a food drive at school, and donate tons and tons of food for the local food banks.  This year, I'd like to push our food drive to a new level.  I want to learn more about how food banks and soup kitchens work, what kinds of people are "food insecure", what kinds of people volunteer at soup kitchens and food banks, and how to best get involved in helping the needy.  So I've been doing a little research...

Ever thought about "volunteering at a soup kitchen"?  I think it's something a lot of people talk about, but I wonder if anyone ever actually does it.  I looked into volunteering at a soup kitchen and was shocked to see what goes into providing enough food for all the hungry people who show up for lunch.  Here are the volunteer guidelines and soup recipes for a soup kitchen that serves between 700 and 1000 meals a day.  In Denver, you have to be 14 to volunteer...  )-:  But we can still help out in our own way, right?  (-:

Food Bank of the Rockies is a great place to volunteer if you are over 14.

I've also been thinking about the kinds of foods we donate to the food bank.  Most years we reward students for the number of food items brought in.  This means that kids are bringing in whatever unused stuff they have in their own pantry that no one wants to eat, or they are buying really cheap items, like ramen noodle soup, so they can get the most reward for their dollar.  But if I was in need of help feeding my family, and all we had to choose from was creamed spinach and ramen noodles, I would really worry about whether or not my kids were getting balanced, healthy nutrition.

I'd sure like to see kids bring in LESS food, and make it MORE of the stuff people would really want to eat, and which would help them meet their nutrition needs, rather than just fill the food drive box.

Here is a list I compiled from my research about what food banks are asking for...

  • Peanut Butter (provides ready to eat, kid-friendly, portable protein)
  • Cereal (less sugar is better)
  • Tuna and other canned meat (non-perishable protein)
  • Beans of all kinds - dry, canned, pinto, black, refried, kidney
  • Rice - instant, wild rice, brown rice, or any kind of rice
  • Macaroni and Cheese - easy!
  • Chili - dry mix or canned
  • Canned Stews - filling, easy to prepare, great for small portions (seniors who live alone, etc)
  • Canned Soups - lower sodium is better, chunky soups are more filling
  • Canned Lunch Meats
  • Full Meals in a Can/Box - many people don't have the extra ingredients needed to make a recipe from scratch.  If all of the ingredients are in the box, that is often better
  • “Pop Top” Food Items - something most of us wouldn't think about...  some folks don't have can openers, or have arthritis and can't operate them.
  • Non-food items - food stamps can't be used on non-food items - things like diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cleaning products, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, coloring books, etc.
    I also found that there are many items people try to donate to food drives, but the food banks can't take them.  Here is a list of items you can't donate to a food bank...
  • Home-canned or Homemade Goods
  • Rusty or Unlabeled Cans
  • Alcoholic Beverages, Mixes or Soda
  • Opened or Used Items
  • Glass Containers (they may break)
  • Baby Food in Glass Jars (but baby food in boxes or plastic jars is okay)
  • Over-The-Counter or Prescription Drugs
  • Food After or Very Close to its Expiration Date
Here is a cool poster you can print to help advertise the items most needed...
12 Most Wanted Posters

 Know what else I learned?  Dollar for dollar, your donation goes a lot farther if you just donate money to the food bank, rather than share your dollar with the grocery store.  Food banks can buy a lot more healthy food at a better discount, using monetary donations, and can even buy some perishable items, like fresh fruits and veggies.  My conclusion, if you have food in your pantry your family will not eat, by all means, donate it!  But rather than buying items from the grocery store simply to donate for a food drive, you'd be better off giving your money directly to the food bank.  Here is a link you can use to donate money to the Rocky Mountain Resource Center.  https://www.givingfirst.org/addToCart.do?organizationId=27214What could be easier?

 One more thing I discovered is that often times people don't know how to prepare the bulk ingredients found at their food bank. People often prefer the pre-packaged convenience foods because they are easier to make, but they are not very good for you.  Also, they get snatched up quickly from the food bank shelves, leaving only ingredients that need preparation.  I found one simple cookbook with recipes designed for food bank clients.  I was thinking students at FMS could prepare a cookbook and have it printed, and give them to the foodbank in addition to our food donations.

Well, these are all big ideas, and I can't pull them off by myself!  If you are interested in being a part of my little project to take the food bank to a new level, please contact me at the school.

Tiffany Norton
tnorton@plattecanyonsd1.org
(303) 838-2054 x 1413

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Chapter 12 and Glossary

Here is Chapter 12, in case you need it...  And it occurs to me you might need a glossary!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Blog on Climate

Your challenge today is to write a blog post about Climate Change. The requirement is simple:  250 - 500 words, on any aspect of climate change that interests you.  I will choose up to three blog posts to publish here on this blog.

First, take the Carbon Footprint Calculator Quiz.  Open the link in a new tab so you can come back here easily.

Next, decide what you want to write about.  Ideas ...

What does Carbon Footprint mean?
What is 350.org?
What are greenhouse gases?
How to decrease your carbon footprint.
Wangari Maathai, and what her work has to do with climate.
Rainforest degradation and climate.
Desertification and climate.
Polar bears and climate change.
What does eating meat have to do with your carbon footprint?
Is "organic" better for the environment?
Climate change is everyone's problem.
Arguments against climate change.
What is the number one thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint?
Which countries have the largest and smallest carbon footprints?
What are carbon offsets?
What is cap-and-trade?
Is climate change good?
 
Then start collecting some research.  In a good blog post, you will include quotes and links to other sources by highlighting the text you wish to link, and then inserting a hyperlink to the URL, so that your reader can click for further information.  Look above - see how you can click the words, "Carbon Footprint Calculator Quiz"?  You will need to include at least three hyperlinks in your blog post. You must also include at least one photo or video.  When including photos or videos, you must include a caption below, with the URL for the page the photo or video was taken from.

Write your blog post in Microsoft Word.

When you have finished, SAVE AS [your name]climateblog in your home file. 

SAVE AS, again, [your name]climateblog in the J drive, inside the 7th grade science folder, where you will find a folder called Nortons Inbox.  This is how your work will be graded.

If you must do your blog post at home, you can email it to me as an attachment.



Friday, October 7, 2011

Chapter 11, in case you need it

Here is a link to a copy of the CD book, in case you are using the online version and have trouble.  Test is Thursday of next week.  Have a great weekend!

Chapter 11

Monday, October 3, 2011

P and S waves rap for 10-4

Quite possibly the most boring educational rap on the web, but it sure does the job...  Maybe one of my youtubers can find me a better one.  (-:


Monday, September 26, 2011

Wangari Maathai

Please watch the following video about Wangari Maathai, and then work together to read the Discussion Guide.  In what ways does Wangari Maathai's story serve as a connecting point for Kindness Day, International Towne, and Earth Science?

Taking Root The Vision of Wangari Maathai


Another video you can watch:


Chapter 10 in Earth Science

Here is a link to a copy of the CD version of the text book.  Just Chapter 10.  I hope this helps!  If you are having trouble listening, see if there's a yellow warning bar at the top of the page.  Click options, and then tell it to "trust this document always."  That should work.

Chapter 10

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Videos for Plate Tectonics

Level 1!
Level 1.5 - this one is a dedication to Mr. GN! Thanks!!
 

Level 2!

And, if you're really into it...  Here's a Level 3!  :-D
Plate Tectonics and Structure of The Earth at Khan Academy.  Khanacademy.org - geekiest site on the nets.  My favorite place! You can keep clicking through to "Next Video" to watch more videos on the same topic. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Accessing online Earth Science Book

Here is the website for the online textbook:  http://www.glencoe.com/ose/index.html

The Earth Science (Red) book is this code:  F7E31Bf874

Highlight the code above, copy, and then click on the textbook link, and paste in the box.


Monday, September 19, 2011

Videos about Separating Mixtures:

Question:

What properties of matter can be used to separate single-stream recycling mixtures into individual materials, so that they can be recycled?  Is this a homogeneous or heterogeneous mixture?

Question:

How can a mixture of dyes in an ink pen be separated to determine who is the guilty party?  Is this a homogeneous mixture or a heterogeneous mixture?

Monday, September 12, 2011

Updates and Homework Links 9/12

Good morning!

A little confusion last week while I was gone.  Sorry guys!  We are truly working in Chapter 3, not Chapter 8.  Some of the concepts from chapter 3 (mixtures) are revisited in chapter 8, and more detail is given there.  But I really did want to start with just reviewing chapter 3, which students should have covered last year in 6th grade.  I do apologize for the confusion!!

Okay, for part of this week's homework, kids can give the self-checking quizzes a shot, and explore some of the other resources available on the textbook's website.  Here are the links (hint - if you want to open the links in a new window, so you don't lose this page, right click over the link and choose "open in new tab"):

Chapter 3, Section 1 self-check quiz
Chapter 3, Section 2 self-check quiz
Chapter 3, Section 3 self-check quiz

And here's a short Brain Pop about how the atomic theory has changed over time.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Update for September 6

A short, simple video about elements, compounds and mixtures - 3 minutes long.  Click here if the video does not load below.



A very thorough video about the atom, and elementary chemistry - 20 minutes long.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Netbook lab August 31

This netbook lab is enrichment.  You have permission to do the enrichment lab if you...
1.  Have no missing assignments
2.  Have no incomplete assignments
3.  Do not need any practice measuring length, mass, volume, density
4.  Are confident you could ace the test if you were to take it today.

If you are not doing the netbook lab, instead, look at yesterday's blog post for the resources you need to do what needs to be done.

Here's the lab then!  First watch the video about cold ocean currents, then complete the interactive simulation linked below the video.



Blue Planet Challenge

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Science Update - August 30

Good morning!  Here is your science update for the week...

This week there will be a test on Thursday.  It is a metric system Lab Practical.  Students will work at stations, demonstrating measuring skills, and answering questions about the metric system, measurements, and properties of matter.  Topics included:

Measuring length with a metric ruler and/or a meter stick (in meters, centimeters, and millimeters).
Measuring mass with a triple beam balance (in grams).
Measuring the volume of liquids with a graduated cylinder (in milliliters).
Measuring and calculating the volume of a regular solid, using a metric ruler and the formula V = L x W x H
Finding the density of an object, using the formula D = M/V
Understanding the difference between accuracy and precision.
Converting measurements (for example, which is larger - 3 cm or 300 mm?)

What resources can be used to study?

Vocabulary
Powerpoint for Length
Powerpoint for Mass
Powerpoint for Volume
Notes pages (printed out, fill in the blank) - one each for length, mass and volume
Chapter 2 in the Physical Science book - mostly just section 2.  There won't be any questions on graphing (that will be next week!).
Notes in notebook covering density.  You might want to check over the accuracy of  the notes taken, against what is below.  Many students are still needing to improve note taking skills!  (-;

Summary of notes on density:

Density is a measurement of how much matter there is in a given unit of volume.
Density can be calculated by finding the mass (in grams) and dividing by the volume (in mL or cc)
D = M/V  The unit for density is g/mL (grams per milliliter)
If we are talking about WATER, the mass of 1 mL of water is 1 g.  Water has a density of 1 g/mL.
Something whose density is less than 1 g/mL will FLOAT, in water.
Something whose density is more than 1 g/mL will SINK, in water.
The density of salt water is greater than fresh water, which is why it is easier to float in the ocean or hot springs than in a swimming pool.
Temperature also affects density.  Cold water is more dense than hot water (because the particles move faster and spread apart slightly when the temperature goes up). This is not something we talked about in every class period, so your student might not know this.  It's okay - it won't be on the test.  (-:

Want more fun with the metric system?  Heres' plenty to keep you busy!  http://mrsnorton.pbworks.com/w/page/21801815/Metric%20System%20Helpers

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tuesday, August 23

Good morning!  Here are your updates for science:

Homework was assigned on Monday, due on Friday.  Some folks have questions about books.  Here is the link to the online text book site.  http://www.glencoe.com/ose/index.html  The code for the Physical Science book is E02337817E.  That should take you straight there.  If you can't use the online book, there are books in the library for check out.  You may check these out for one month at a time.  We do not have enough books in the school for every student to have a copy of all three books at all times.  6th, 7th, and 8th grade students use all three texts, so we need to bring them back to the library when we are done using them.  Thanks for understanding!  (-:

There is a vocabulary quiz on Thursday.  Yellow highlighted words from Chapter 2 of the Physical Science book.  Match definitions from the glossary.  Easy peasy.  Everyone should aim for 100% on vocab quizzes.  I will also check to see that vocabulary definitions are done on that day (even though the homework isn't due until Friday).

Here are some helpful (and some goofy) websites to aid your student in studying the metric system.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  If you leave a comment below letting me know you stopped by, I'll give your kiddo a PRIDE ticket at school.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday August 19

Today you will be taking the animal personalitites test.  This will help you learn more about yourself, and how you get along with other people, and it will help me get to know you better as well.  You will also learn how to access documents I have saved for you on Google Docs, and how to save them to submit for grading.  Here's what you need to do:

Before you get started, please make sure you are LOGGED in on the computer.  Don't select "workstation only," or you won't be able to save.

1.  First set up 7th grade folders in your Home drive.  One folder for 7th grade.  Inside that folder, make new folders for science, social studies, math, and LA.
2.  Take the test.
3.  Read your results.  It will give you a description of an animal, for example I am a Beaver.  But if the description doesn't seem to quite match, it also tells you you might be another animal, for example Owl or Wild Dog.  Pick the animal that describes you best.
4.  Find the worksheet for today by clicking this link.  You must SAVE this document in your 7th grade science folder.  The name of the document MUST BE [your last name.first initial]animalpersonality.
5.  Fill out the worksheet.
6.  When you are finished with the worksheet, save a copy of it in the Apps on FMS Students:J DRIVE.  This is the only way to get credit for your work.  Please ask me if you need help!