After completing the timeline, we studied our modern understanding of the atom.  To practice our understanding, students were given a worksheet that is due next Monday November 5th.  Below is a copy of the worksheet.

Today we covered our last topic for our upcoming quiz next Friday, November 9th.  Continuing with triangle components, this week we will study the intersection of perpendicular bisectors within triangles, known as the circumcenter.  Below is a copy of the homework for the week as well as the answer sheet that is due this Friday November 2nd.  

This week we tried out a new approach to math.  I am interested in hearing student feedback about their experience in math overall, and their impression about the changes.  Students should reply to the reflection prompts below for Monday.
 
     1.  How did you experience math this week?

               How do you feel about your performance?
               What, if anything, worked well?
               What, if anything, did not work so well?

     2.  How did you feel about the changes?
   
               Did it feel any different from past weeks?  Why?
               Will it affect your work moving forward?  Why?

     3.  What is your sense of how others experience math?

There is no requirement for the length of the reflection, but students should try to make thoughtful responses.  The reflections will be collected on Monday, and they can be either typed or hand written.  Below is a copy of the reflection sheet handed out in class.

This week we started to learn about the atom, and students are researching how we arrived at our current atomic model.  The research for the timeline should include:

• the key players/scientists
  
• what their contributions were 
  
• what, if any, model of the atom did they propose
  
• what, if any, notable experiments did they perform (ex. Ernest Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment).
  

Below is a copy of the assignment.  Students can choose to compile their findings in anyway of their choosing.  We will present and go over our timelines on Monday October 29th.  

Last week's quiz capped off our second section of Geometry, and now we are beginning our preparation for quiz 3.  The first two topics that we will cover involve more components of triangles, namely altitudes and medians.  In addition, we will learn about the intersection of these triangle components.  

Below is a copy of the skills sheet and the sheet to turn in for homework credit.  Today's class focused on learning about orthocenters, and Thursday's class will be on centroids.  In preparation, look over the work we did in class, and try to follow the steps involved in determining the centroid. 

This week is designed to focus on our quiz preparation.  For the first quiz, there were a wide variety of topics that students were responsible to understand.  In order to better pinpoint work habits that support better assessment preparation, this week's quiz covers three recently introduced topics (Congruent Triangles, Translations, and Reflections).  

The premise is that if students can prepare and perform well for relatively few topics, then work habits can be adjusted to realize similar success when preparing for more comprehensive assessments.  

The second quiz will take place this Thursday October 17th.  In addition to reviewing our basic skills sheets, a study guide with practice problems is also available below.

Today we began to take a look at the periodic table.  We discussed its history, the significance to its organization, and how to use it to find relevant information for our work.  

In addition to our discussion, each student was given a packet to complete and two elements to detail.  From those two elements, students are expected to choose one and reply to this post with information regarding the following:

• It's discovery and history.
  
• Significant properties
  

              shared with elements in the same family
              shared with elements in the same group (could be identical to family)
              unique individual properties

• Interesting and/or historical and current uses
  
• Any surprising facts

The packet is due by Wednesday October 17th.  Students are expected to post their findings for their element research as a reply to this blog entry by Thursday October 18th.  Below is another copy of the assignment if needed.
Please contact me if there is need for clarity or assistance.

Today we completed the laboratory exercise that we began last Thursday.  Last week we worked in class to collect data, and today we practiced techniques to analyze what we gathered.  

If needed, below is a copy of the lab.  Although we worked in groups, be sure to turn in an individual lab report by tomorrow (Tuesday October 8th).  

In addition to turning in a written lab from your group work, reflect on your experience and respond to the following prompts below by replying to this post.  

1. What did you learn, or find significant, from this lab experience? 
2. How might this lab experience help you in future learning?
3. This type of laboratory work is sometimes referred to as pre-scripted, or cookbook-like. Why do you think it is called this? 
4. What type of science work would you describe as not being pre-scripted, or cookbook-like?
5. Later in our course, you will get the opportunity to design your own experiment.  What do you think will be necessary to do this?

 Well-constructed responses are expected.  Take some time to reflect on each of the prompts, and try to be thoughtful and careful in preparing your responses (organize your ideas and check for spelling and grammar).  I look forward to reading your insights!

Also, you have been assigned a partner from the other half of our team.  Reply briefly to their post, either by adding your thoughts, or commenting on one of their responses.  Below is the list of student pairings.  

Last week's quiz capped off the first section of our math class, and now we're onto the next.  

This week begins our work with understanding shapes, with particular attention to the relationships between them.  A few key concepts to understand are congruence and transformations, including translations and reflections.  

Below are two worksheets that provide notes about these topics as well as some practice problems to help strengthen student skills.  Because of the school-wide activities planned for Friday (Advisory Olympics), the worksheets will both be due by Monday October 4th.  If needed, the worksheets are available below or in the Resource tab.