Spring is Sprung

Hi All,

We've made it through the long hard winter and spring is here. In the few days I've noticed that attention spans have shrunken as the days have lengthened, mine included. I'm working hard to make sure science stays as engaging as possible for the boys and girls.
In that vein, we have a tree planting coming up for students who didn't plant trees in the fall. The science piece of a multi-discipline project based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is on its way as well. 4th quarter means that we will be studying geology. We'll learn about tectonic plate theory, earthquakes, volcanoes, and a bunch of other things that shake and explode. Near the end of the term we'll dissect sharks, and learn what makes them some of the most efficient predators ever. It's shaping up to be an exciting quarter.

A little more snow-work

On right is a graphic taken from the NY Times comparing snow totals for Mid-Atlantic cities from last year and this year against the average. It's amazing how a 2-3 degree shift in the temperature can turn an inch of rain into 15-20 inches of snow, and a normal workweek into a second winter break.

I now have 37/46 responses to the review assignment I posted on Tuesday. I'm impressed. I've thought of using this format for homework in the past, but for some reason I thought it might be too difficult to manage for students. Now I see that even under the most trying of circumstances you all responded well. So that little experiment pays off and I can put it in my back pocket for another day.

Since school will be closed until Tuesday, I'm going to post one more assignment on the homework page to make sure we all stay in the swing of things. It's an outline assignment for Chapter 2. You can use your textbook, notes, the newest podcast, and/or the internet to complete this assignment. It would be great if everyone were done with this one in time for class on Tuesday, but I understand there are extenuating circumstances.

There are a few students who are waiting to retake our most recent test. That retake will happen on Wednesday during study hall. I can take questions regarding that retest between now and then, via email or in school on Tuesday (assuming yet another record-defying blizzard does not develop and bury all of Baltimore in the ultimate "snow-pocalypse").

snOMG

Hi all,

Hope everyone is toasty and warm in their homes, or out on a ski hill somewhere. Quite the weather we're having. Considering that we're missing several days in a row of school, Ms Herrity encouraged teachers to assign some work to keep students mentally agile. 6th graders are currently studying space exploration, so I took the liberty of putting together a review assignment. Just click on the following link to see a homework form that can be done online - no paper needed.

http://tinyurl.com/yzv7uuk

The link is also posted on the homework page. Please use the electronic textbook on MyCalvert to complete the assignment if the paper text isn't available. Some of the questions are straight from the book, and others require some internet research.

Good luck,

MrE

Rocket Scientists

Hello!
Here's a quick update on upcoming events in the science classroom. This week students aremaking and launching water and air powered rockets made from plastic bottles. We brainstormed a list of requirements (fins and a nosecone) and possible supplies (seemingly endless possibilities) in class and we build on Thursday. I made it clear that these are extra items from around the house, not a shopping list for mom and dad. I'm hoping to see a new Calvert record out of this hard working and competitive group. They have a lot of neat ideas and this is always a fun day. We're hoping to launch on Friday, if there's no snow day.

On Friday, February 5th we have the privilege of hosting Dr Don Thomas,

a former astronaut and current Director of Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science at Towson University. Dr Thomas comes highly recommended from Makayla G-P, who volunteers with Dr Thomas every other weekend at Saturday Morning Science (SMC),at TU. SMC is a series of programs suitable for all ages, focusing on all kinds of awesome topics. I can't wait to hear about his experiences on shuttle missions, and aboard the International Space Station.

It's an action-packed couple of weeks, and the big International Space Station quarter project is coming up soon as well. I'll also be returning our most recent test here in a couple of days.

MrE

Cow Eye Dissection

5th graders dissected eyes on Monday. I sense a few future surgeons...

Happy New Year

Hi All,

Welcome to 2010! This year has some great things in store for us - a new topic of study (Astronomy) and some fun new classroom tools. We're finally going to start using our classroom wiki, and we'll be making better use of the podcasts as well.

Our major project in the astronomy unit is building a space station. Students will learn

about the International Space Station by writing a short research paper, then they will demonstrate their knowledge by creating a model space station in small groups. The space stations are among my favorite models that students build - they have a few required parts, but the rest is up to to the imagination. In past years I've had built-in Starbucks, paintball courses, shopping malls, grocery stores, and a host of other extra rooms they feel a flying clubhouse just "has to have." We end up hanging them from the ceiling of the science room and dodging the parts as they fall off for the rest of the year. It's a blast - but we won't be starting that process for a few weeks.

We also get the chance to visit the Luetkemeyer Planetarium a few times. Since it was revamped a couple of summers ago it gives us a great chance to fly around the solar system, visit other stars and galaxies, and to get an idea of just how vast and wonderful our universe is. I love planetarium days.

Finally, before we move forward we have to take a quick look at our past. We'll spend a couple of days reviewing the mid-term exam and discussing how we prepared for it. Overall scores were excellent and we'll see what we can learn from this test that will help us prepare for exams in the future.

MrE

PS - I had to share a photo of the Ewen House during that snowstorm at the beginning of Winter Break.