December 2014

 Physical Science Newsletter December 12, 2014 

What have we been doing?
We have finished our force and motion and unit with an Egg Drop Common Task and Unit Test. These are the first two summative grades of the quarter and are updated on the portal. Students had the opportunity to revise these and could make corrections on the test or re-take the test, the deadline for this was Tuesday December 9th. If you have questions about this, please contact me. We have also started our unit on Energy. 

What is happening in the next two weeks?
We will be working on our Energy Unit through Christmas vacation and beyond. During the week of the 15th, students will work in groups to create a rollercoaster out of rubber tubing with a ball bearing representing the car. Students will draw these to scale and label energy transfers that occur. This will be the second common task for physical science. When we return from vacation, students will be looking at alternative energy sources as a way to power a "city of the future." 

Honors Designation Students
The STEM Night 1 was a huge success and congratulations to our winners and all our students. 

The second STEM Night will be Wednesday March 11th and students will be designing a toothpick bridge. All the information can be found on www.physicalsciencehonors.weebly.com

January 16th- Bridge Abstract due 

November 7th, 2014

 Physical Science Newsletter November 7th, 2014 

What have we been doing?
We have still been working on her second unit of forces and motion. The students have finished up learning about Newton's laws of motion and momentum. The students completed labs where they tested Newton's laws with carts and made parachute for characters and we dropped them off the stairs. 

What is happening in the next two weeks?
The next two weeks will be very busy in Physical Science. We will have our first common task where students will create a "holder" for an egg and drop the egg. This reinforces the concept of impulse where a longer impact time yields a lower impact force. Students will also be given a unit test on the forces and motion until which will include the topics of acceleration, free fall, forces, friction, Newton's Laws of Motion and momentum. 

The first quarter ends on November 14th. The common task and unit test will both be part of the 2nd quarter grade. All summative assessments need to be turned in to Mrs. Russillo in order to receive a grade for physical science. Summative assessments make up 90% of the student's average in the class. If there are any questions about this, please contact me. 

Important Dates:

Quarter 1 End: November 14th, 2014

Report Cards Issued: November 21st, 2014

Egg Drop Common Tasks due: November 17th

Unit 2 Test: E Period-11/20   B and C Periods - 11/21

Honors Designation Students
Honors Final Videos -- November 12th

STEM Night 1 - November 20th

    *students should be just about ready to present their Rube Goldberg projects. The students will have from 2-5:30pm on November 20th to set up their projects in the cafeteria. The students will be supervised by Mrs. Russillo, Mrs. Armstrong and Mr. Sosnowski during that time. I do recommend that the students bring something to eat with them. 

*If you would like to serve as a judge for the STEM night, please contact me by November 11th. 

Newsletter 2 Physical Science September 26th

 Physical Science Newsletter 2 September 26, 2014 

What have we been doing?
We have been working on our 2nd unit which is a long unit about forces and motion. The individual topics in this unit include: speed, graphing, acceleration, free fall, forces, air resistance, newton's laws of motion and momentum. We have been working on speed word problems and speed graphs over the last two weeks. We have learned how to calculate the speed of an object and how to create and interpret distance versus time graphs. We have completed a few formative assessments which included measuring our own speed lab and acting out skits with graphing. The softball lab is a summative assessment that was completed in class on either 9/25 or 9/26. 

What is happening in the next two weeks?
In the next two weeks, we will be continuing our work in this unit. We will be starting acceleration and free fall. Students will learn how to calculate the acceleration of an object as well as different variables in the free fall equation. Students will be able to graph and interpret a speed versus time graph and will have the opportunity to work with "Go Motions" which are a computer based instrument that allow students to measure their instantaneous speeds. 
Friday October 3rd marks the halfway point of the quarter. Grades will posted on that day but grades will continue to be updated at least twice a week as assignments are turned in. 

Important Dates:

Speed Quiz: All sections Monday 9/29
Softball Summative Assessment Lab: Due Monday 9/29
Progress Report Post Date: Friday 10/3 

Honors Designation Students
Honors Speed Problems: Due Friday 9/26

Rube Goldberg Sketches (2 energy conversions) -- 9/29

Newsletter 1 September 12th, 2014

Physical Science -- September 12th 

What Have We Been Doing? 

The first few weeks of school have been exciting for the ninth grade students. They seem to be adjusting well to their new teachers and surroundings. We are just completing our first unit in physical science with is an introductory unit that includes the topics of Safety in the Science Classroom, The Scientific Method, Metric System, Scientific Notation and Graphing. We had a few summative assessments which included a safety quiz, a candle lab report and a thumb wrestling lab report. We had a handful of formative assessments that included a few pop quizzes, homework assignments and small lab activities. 

What's Happening in the Next 2 Weeks? 
Before we move on to Unit 2, we will be having our first unit test this coming week. Unit 2 is a large unit and includes Speed, Acceleration, Free Fall, Friction, Newton's Laws of Motion and Momentum. Our first common task will be completed in this unit and is an Egg Drop Project. The math can be challenging in this unit and I will be posting optional homework assignments for students that need some extra practice. 

Important Dates:

Thumb Wresting Lab 
B and C Due Monday 9-15
E Due Tuesday 9-16

Unit 1 Test
Periods B and C Unit 1 Test: Monday 9-15
Period E Unit 1 Test: Tuesday 9-16 

Topics to Study:
Metric System and Conversions, Scientific Method, Scientific Notation and Graphing          
Extra Practice to Study:
Metric Conversions (Click)
Scientific Notation (Click)
Dimensional Analysis (Honors Click) 

Honors Designation News
STEM Night 1: Making of a Rube Goldberg Machine is November 20th. First two energy conversions sketches are due September 29th.
Extension Unit 2: Hang Time Problems