Classifying energy

Energy can be placed into two groups: potential (stored energy) and kinetic (energy in motion).

Homework: Complete both worksheets on energy and transformations. You may skip the side labeled Alternative Energy. We will do that one together.

Toys and Science

What's the connection? Hopefully you discovered through our energy show and tell that toys require energy to move. Tomorrow we will look at the specific forms of energy.

We also completed Inquiry 4 in class. For homework, complete your graph (if not done last night) and the reflection questions on pg 29.

Matter Cycles

Food is a vital part of our survival. There are also abiotic factors influence our survival, such as water. Three important elements that are critical for us and other organisms are carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. Today, we modeled how nitrogen moves through the ecosystem.

What to know about nitrogen:

• Most of the air we breathe is nitrogen
• Special bacteria break the nitrogen down so plants can use  it
• Animals can only get nitrogen from plants (either directly or indirectly)
• Nitrogen is released through decompostion

Period 1 HW only: Complete the 3 questions about the carbon cycle.
Period 2 & 4: Don't think you are getting off easy. You have to do the worksheet for CW on top of Friday's lesson.

Circuit review

It seems like ages ago we were here (thank you Mother Nature!). We reviewed different types of electrical circuits: series vs. parallel. To practice making your own circuits check out the link below.

http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Circuit_Construction_Kit_DC_Only

HW Tonight!: Write a paragraph describing the hardest work you have ever done. Explain what you did, what forces were being used, and what could you have done to make the work easier on you.

There will be a quiz on Friday on circuits and work. (We have not covered work yet-- that is Wed. and Thurs. lessons).

Energy transformations

Conservation of Energy states: energy can not be created or destroyed. HOWEVER, it can change form.

We completed/reviewed our energy transformation packets.

NOTEBOOK QUIZ THURSDAY: Get your notebook in order. You may throw away anything not related to Energy (January). Keep everything from January/Energy.

Also all missing work is due no later than Thursday: MOS logs, lab reports, graphs, etc.

Potential vs. Kinetic

If you paid attention in class today, then you should know the difference between the two types.

For those that are interested in the simulation used in class or others, click on the link below. Feel free to try different simulations and write about what you did/what you learned (MOS logs!!).

http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php?cat=Featured_Sims

Thinking about forces and machines

Today we tied up the loose ends of our lessons this week. You should have completed the following and be ready to move on tomorrow.

• Drop height vs. splatter size lab report & graph. Turned in to be checked.
• Inquiry 1.1 student sheet observations completed. For each station write a sentence explaining how each station worked. Keep in your binder.

Investigating forces and such

So began our unit on energy and motion. In class, you completed 8 activities that will relate to our studies during our unit. Be sure to complete your observations and be prepared to share them tomorrow.

Also, I am collecting your MOS logs no later than January 22. Start working!

I am still missing a few projects...if you are one of the missing, GET ON IT!!