Mason County Middle School 7th Grade Science

1.  Pick an article from a newspaper or magazine that relates to one of the branches of science: Chemistry, physics, biology, ecology, geology, astronomy, oceanography or weather and climate
2. Cut out the article and secure it to a piece of blank paper. If it is an online article print a copy of it out.
3. Write a brief summary about the article and include:

• What is the article about?
• Where does the article take place?
• When did this happen?
• Which branch of science is it? (the subject might overlap branches)
• Why did you choose this article?
• After you have read it, do you have any questions about the topic?
• What did you learn about this topic?
• Did you learn any new vocabulary words? 

All extra credit assignments must be turned in no later than 2 weeks before the end of the grading period!!! Each article summary is worth a maximum of 10 points if done correctly.

Heat and Temperature Review

Here is a mp3 review for the test on Wednesday, February 9!!!

When heat is transferred, thermal energy always moves from HOT to COLD objects.

The transfer of heat by direct contact is CONDUCTION and it occurs most easily in solids.

The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of molecules from one part of a material to another is called CONVECTION. This happens mostly in liquids and gases.

Heat transfer by RADIATION occurs when energy is transferred by electromagnetic waves. This is best seen when the sun transmits waves to Earth through empty space.

Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius and 32 Fahrenheit. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius and 212 Fahrenheit. (NO MATTER WHAT TEMPERATURE AT WHICH YOU START).

A THERMOMETER measures thermal energy by molecules getting farther away as it gets warmer. They spread out and rise through the tube of this device. This is a good example of THERMAL EXPANSION.

 Stirring a cup of hot cocoa helps it cool by allowing the heat energy to escape.

If temperature of a glass of water rises from 5 to 10 degrees then heat energy flowed into the water.

 All objects will reach thermal equilibrium at some point. Meaning that they will become the same temperature as their surroundings.  This is why it takes a thermometer’s temperature a few minutes to stop changing. If you left a wool mitten, a piece of metal and a block of ice outside in 0 degree weather for a long time which would have the lowest temperature? THEY ALL WOULD BE THE SAME

A thermos works to keep your coffee warm because air slows the transfer of heat energy.

Metal chairs feel cold when you sit on them because metal is a thermal conductor and it conducts heat energy from you.

KNOW THIS FOR A FEW QUESTIONS: On a graph, a line that is going up represents adding thermal energy or an object getting hotter, a straight line represents thermal equilibrium, and a line going down represents an object cooling off.

Evaporation means when a liquid becomes a gas, Sublimation is when a solid becomes a gas.

Way to go to the Academic Team students from MCMS that placed at the Governor’s Cup District!! Good Luck at Regionals!

1st Place Composition: Courtney George

1st Place Mathematics: Rebecca Wood

2nd Place Mathematics: Courtney George

4th Place Science: Courtney Barnoski

Quick Recall team also placed 3rd overall!!

Way to Go!!!

Just an FYI for those of you following our class blog. Whenever we return to school upon the departure of the “white death,” we have lots of cool labs planned! Here is what next week looks like (without snow days that are anticipated based on what I have seen in the forecasts).

Monday: Thermometer Lab and CD-ROM Lab (Lab partners get 20 minutes per station and then switch), Eureka! Video Clip on Measuring Temperature (Check it out on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU-sPzshVnM) HW: Heat Energy

Tuesday: Conduction Lab and Graphing Exercise (Lab will take about 25 minutes and then you will complete a detailed graph and report of your results), Eureka Video Clip on Conduction HW: Temperature vs. Heat

Wednesday: Bill Nye Heat with Questions, Timed Reading Exercise, HW: Conduction

Thursday: Containers Lab, Eureka Video Clip on Convection and Radiation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz6wzOtv6rs and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pG-tkbQgMo)

Friday: Understanding Heat Video with Questions, Guided Reading Exercise from Motion, Forces, and Energy Book, No Homework!

Upon preparing for yet another day out of school due to snowy conditions here in good ol’ Kentucky, I thought I would share a bit of knowledge with my students about snowflakes and how cool they really are (no pun intended!). HA! 

Snowflakes can be categorized into six main types, plate, column, stars, dendrite, lacy, needle, and capped column although there will never be two that are identical due to the molecular composition and atmospheric conditions when the snowflake formed.  The formation of snowflakes is affected by a variety of factors that includes air currents, humidity and temperature. Particles of dirt trapped in the water vapor affects the weight and durability of the ice crystals and because of these fa…ctors, no two snowflakes will ever be exactly alike. Snowflakes may look the same but will not have the same number of water molecules or the exact amount of oxygen and hydrogen. Wilson Bentley even captured over 5,000 snowflakes in his studies of these marvels of nature and reported his findings in numerous books and scientific articles.

I just wanted to take a moment and let you know how I’ve been doing since I’ve been home with my new baby, Levi who was born on October 4, 2010. Life certainly is great to say the least! Levi is a great baby and we have been having so much fun spending all day playing together. I will be glad to come back to my wonderful students in January but I know that I’ll miss playing with my little guy all day. In the meantime, enjoy your last few weeks before Christmas vacation! Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! See you all soon!!!

Congratulations to this year’s Challenger students that made it to the science fair with your projects!!

Here are some cool food web and food chain games to enjoy!!!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm

http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/play_chainreaction.cfm

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/

Monday: NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY

Tuesday

• Current Science Magazine Directed Reading Activity
• No Homework 

Wednesday

• Bill Nye Food Web
• Food Web Reading Activity(Complete for HW)

Thursday

•  Deadly Connections Lab
• HW: Food Webs

Friday (Substitute Teacher)

• Eyewitness Reptiles
• Food Chains Worksheet

http://70.40.198.111/entries/psycho/version1.html

Monday

• How Many Bears? Carrying Capacity Lab at the Amphitheater
• Exit Slip: Abiotic/Biotic Tweet (Write a tweet that has 140 characters or less (spaces and letters) describing biotic and abiotic factors. Turn this in before the end of class.
• HW: Ecosystem Homework Sheet

Tuesday

• Oh Deer!! Limiting Factors lab at the Shelter
• Reflective Thoughts Exit Slip
• HW: Energy Pyramid Trophic Levels  and Food Web

Wednesday

• Eyewitness Survival
• Survival Reading Comprehension Sheet
• HW: Animal Adaptations

Thursday

• Population Sampling Lab with Beans
• Population demonstration (Stork and Grim Reaper)
• HW: Human populations

Friday (Substitute)

• Eyewitness Bears
• Animal Adaptations Reading Comprehension

Monday

• Bill Nye Populations (Answer questions during the video)
• Abiotic and Biotic Factors Review
• Abiotic and Biotic Factors ID Lab
• HW: What’s Living?

Tuesday (Sub Teacher!!!)

• Directed Reading Chapter 1 (Answer questions and turn into the teacher at the end of class)
• HW: Ecosystem of my Room

Wednesday

• Science Fair Topic Sheet(Students research science fair topics and complete the topic sheet)
• HW: Finish Topic Sheet (Due Friday 8/27 with parent signature, 100 point grade!!!)

Thursday

• Abiotic/Biotic Factors Scavenger HuntDemonstration of Populations
• HW: Abiotic/Biotic Factors Reading Comprehension

Friday

• Ecosystems at School Lab
• Ecosystems Grouping Activity

Sites to Find a Science Fair Topic:

• http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/links/sciprojects.html
• http://www.rossarts.org/naples/ideas.htm
• http://www.sciencefair-projects.org/
• http://www.terimore.com/
• http://www.juliantrubin.com/sciencefairprojectsaz.html
• http://www.education.com/science-fair/
• http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml
• http://www.makeitsolar.com/
• http://www.indianchild.com/science_fair_project_ideas.htm
• http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/ideas.php

If you are in the 6^th or 7^th grade, not failing any classes, and on level with your behavior, you are eligible to join the SCIENCE CLUB.  The Science Club is going to a world full of fun and excitement.  If you decide to join, you will have opportunities of a lifetime.  You will be able to participate in field trips that you will never forget!!!!!! In order to get these wonderful opportunities, you must join the SCIENCE CLUB and fulfill a few requirements, such as: 

ü  Field Trips (YOU DON’T HAVE TO ATTEND THEM BUT THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY FUN!!!)

ü  Attending Meetings (YOU MUST TRY AND MAKE SOME OF THE MEETINGS)

ü  Science Experiments at Meetings (YOU MUST PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE MEETINGS) 

If you choose to participate in this club and you are in the 7^th grade, you will be able to attend a trip to FLORIDA.The trip will be in May 2011. The trip costs $700.  We will have a parent meeting in late September to sign trip contracts and take deposits. IF YOU GET SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL, PLACED IN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, OR SUSPENDED FROM THE BUS AT ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE TRIP AND REFUNDS WILL NOT BE MADE!!!!! During the week we are there in May, you will be visiting all Disney World parks and Sea World. While on the FLORIDA trip, you will spend four days at Walt Disney participating in a program called Youth Education Series.  Each day, you will attend a science workshop for three hours.  At Sea World, you will participate in a 5-hour workshop. You may join the SCIENCE CLUB even if you are not planning on going on the FLORIDA trip.  The club will be taking other small trips that any club member can go on.    SOME OF THE TRIPS MIGHT INCLUDE:

• Carter Caves                           October 30, 2010    
  • Cost: $15 (Includes cave tour cost and transportation. Bring a lunch with you!!! Picnic shelter available) 
• Festival of Lights                     December 10, 2010  
  • Cost: $20 (Pizza dinner included, bring money for souvenirs and snacks if you wish to purchase these) 
• Newport Aquarium/GameWorks       March TBA
  • Cost: $35 (Includes aquarium admission, 1 hour playtime at GameWorks, and Buffet Lunch at Gameworks)
•  Louisville Science Center              April TBA
  • Cost: $20 (Bring money for lunch or souvenirs if you wish to purchase) 

WE MIGHT BE GOING CANOEING IN MAY DEPENDING ON THE WEATER…STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DETAILS!!! DATES MAY CHANGE!!! CHECK THE PERMISSION SLIPS FOR EXACT DATES AND TIMES!!! The meetings for SCIENCE CLUB will be on the following days FROM 3:30 TO 4:30 P.M.:

• September 16, 2010

• October 28, 2010

• December 2, 2010

• March 24, 2011

• April 21, 2011

***MEETINGS CAN CHANGE!!! LISTEN TO ANNOUNCEMENTS IN HOMEROOM AND LOOK FOR SIGNS BY MRS. BOWLING AND MRS. MEADE’S DOORS*** 

A parent/guardian MUST be able to pick you up ON TIME after the meetings!! If you are off level, you CANNOT STAY FOR MEETINGS!!During club meetings, we will do experiments, projects, and preparations for field trips.  In order to join the SCIENCE CLUB, there will be a membership fee of:  $15.00 

The fee is due when you sign up for the club.  DO NOT TURN IN  A PAPER WITHOUT THE $15!!!The fee is to provide supplies for the experiments at the meetings, cover some of the bus costs for trips, and possibly get club shirts.  Please see Mrs. Bowling or Mrs. Meade if there is a problem or concern about the fee.  If writing a check, please make it payable to Mason County Middle School. 

I hope you seriously consider joining the Science Club, because it will give you the opportunity to view science from a different perspective.  —————————————————————————————

In order to finish planning the events for the club, I must know how many students are interested in joining.  If you would like for your child to be a part of the SCIENCE CLUB, please sign and return the bottom of this sheet along with the club fee to Mrs. Bowling (7^th grade) or Mrs. Meade (6^th grade).   I give permission for my child to join the mcms science club for 2010-2011. I understand that if they are off level they cannot participate in club events. Name of Student:                                Team:__________ 

T-Shirt Size (Adult Only):    S                M                  L                      XL                    2X                    3X Parent/guardian Signature:                                           _ Parent/Guardian Phone:_______________________________________________Parent/Guardian Email:________________________________________________ 

Monday:

•  Density of Cylinders Lab (1st, 3rd, and 5th)
• Density of Water Lab (6th)
• HW: Finding Density

Tuesday: (MY SCIENTIFIC SUMMER IS DUE!!!)

•  Density of Cubes Lab (1st, 3rd, and 5th)
• Density of Water Lab (6th)
• EXIT ACTIVITY: Density Quiz (10 density problems to solve independently)
• HW: Puzzling scenarios

Wednesday:

•  Bill Nye Measurement
• Bad Hair Day Article and Reading Activity
• HW: SpongeBob Controls and Variables

Thursday:

•  Salinity and Density Lab
• HW: Density Practice Review

Friday:

• Density Performance Evaluation

This is really awesome if you want to stay up late Wednesday or Thursday night or get up really early on Thursday or Friday morning!!!! You can even take some pictures and send them to Mrs. Bowling to be added to the post if you want to share what you see!!

Meteor showers are caused by dust from comets colliding with Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, according to NASA. During this particular shower, these typically fast and bright meteors radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus. But you don’t need to know Perseus to watch the shower. The meteors appear in all parts of the sky. The Perseids are considered to be the year’s best shower, and often peak at 50 or more meteors per hour. 2010 is a great year for the Perseids. This year, the waxing crescent moon will set at early evening, leaving a dark sky for this year’s Perseid show. The Perseids tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into midnight, and typically produce the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn. These meteors are often bright and frequently leave persistent trains. The particles in the Perseid shower come from the Swift-Tuttle comet. (For more info check out http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide)

Here’s the plan for this week:

Thursday, August 12

• Welcome to 7th Grade Science PowerPoint/Trifold
• The Amazing Show of Science (Awesome teacher demonstrations to get you thinking scientifically!!)
• HW: Making Inferences Scenario Sheet (Click to download copy of homework as PDF file)

Friday, August 13

• Review Homework (10 points per day!!!!)
• Lab Safety Expectations
• Metric System Challenge
• Density of Water Lab Investigation
• HW: My Scientific Summer Assignment Sheet (Click to open PDF File of Assignment)
  • Email your completed assignment to Mrs. Bowling (Word, Publisher, or PDF) at ella.bowling@mason.kyschools.us or Turn in on August 17

DUE NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, AUGUST 17!!!

Here is the PowerPoint we are using in class to review our guidelines and procedures to help all students achieve success in 7th grade science!! If you are a student or parent that did not get the Science Tri-fold on the first day of school or were absent when we reviewed this, please look through how we operate in my classroom so that you are aware of my expectations for you!!

For other teachers, I didn’t make up these ideas on my own so feel free to use and share with others… The best teachers are the best borrowers, beggars, and stealers!!!

Click on the link below to access the PowerPoint…

Start of year PowerPoint

Welcome everyone to my 7th grade science classroom!! I am excited to start another fantastic school year with you here at MCMS. We have lots of learning to do and are going to have a great time in the process! Look at the brochure to see the ins and outs of our classroom and my expectations for my students. As we go through the school year, I will do my best to get all assignments and notes posted to this blog so that you can check it at home if you have internet access. I will also share cool science related things via this outlet.

Click the link below to see our class brochure on procedures and expectations…

Science Class Brochure