9th GRADE SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT LIST

SEMESTER 1  08/09 Academic year   Last updated  10/13/08   03.30pm.

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Each quarter students will be able to hand in two small daily assignments ONE DAY LATE (not two days or a week late) and still obtain credit (using the "oops pass"). After that all late assignments will receive no credit. All late work should be done however, even if the student does not get point credit, because a learning or practice goal is attached to each assignment, which may be on the end of unit assessment.

SEMESTER 1

#

Assignment     

Due date

Category

Poss. Pts.

WELCOME

Week 1     09/02 - 09/05

No after school  help available this week.

09/02 Tuesday class work - Welcomes and class survey.

Students will start this in class and should finish it at home; due tomorrow 09/03.

09/03

Assignment

09/02 Tuesday in class - Students will be given the class newsletter, and blue signature sheet / lab safety code of conduct etc, to give parents/guardians - three evenings to read this material. This is due on 09/05,

09/05

Assignment

09/02 Tuesday homework - Finish the class survey. Due Wednesday 09/03

09/03

Assignment

5

OBSERVATIONS AND SCIENTIFIC DRAWINGS (ANNOTATION)

09/03 Wednesday class work - Observations - Demo(s).

09/03

Assignment

09/03 Wednesday homework -

Class website scavenger Hunt - follow the directions on the sheet given out in class today.

09/04

Assignment

5

09/04 Thursday Class work -

Collect class website scavenger hunt.

School expectations.

09/04

Assignment

09/04 Thursday Homework -

class newsletter / LAB SAFETY CODE OF CONDUCT

Read/Share the class newsletter (given in class on Tuesday 09/02) with your parents/guardians. In the newsletter, on page 3, complete the short assignment with your parents/guardians to discuss and prioritize your ideas on the keys to academic success and good interpersonal skills. 

Ask parents/guardians to sign the separate blue signature sheet, which also includes a request for contact information, answers to questions, and the lab safety code of conduct.

Have your parent(s) / guardian(s) keep the newsletter itself at  home, and file it for reference. If you have not already made one, I suggest you start a file at home for all these important papers from your school classes and activities.

The blue signature sheet/lab safety contract will be checked and collected in class on Friday 09/05.

09/05

Assignment

5

09/05 Friday Class work -

Warm up: students writing a list of instructions to make an excellent scientific drawing.

Collect blue signature sheet.

Scientific Drawing - notes on scientific drawing, format, labeling, and preparing the annotations. Drafting five annotations.

09/05

Assignment

09/05 Friday Homework -

Complete the annotations on your scientific drawing or a pencil. Finished assignment due on Monday.

09/08

Assignment

15

NOTE: There will be a supplies check in class next Wednesday for 5 points.  Please refer to the list in the newsletter given on 09/02/08.

NOTE: OUR FIRST ASSESSMENT/TEST (ON THE MICROSCOPE AND TOOLS) IS NEXT FRIDAY

Week 2      09/08 - 09/12

Help available this week after school on Tuesday 09/09 and Thursday 09/11

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

MICROSCOPE AND TOOLS LAB

Unit test 09/12/08

09/08 Monday class work -

• AGENDA UPDATE: Students have 3-5 minutes to fill out their homework and due dates in their agenda for the week

• WARM UP: On carbon forms. EXTRA CREDIT opportunity - students research on the internet and complete the table in list format with very good detail. hand into the IN TRAY for your period. Extra two points.

• HAND OUT PACKET: Students given the microscope and tool lab packet today.

• MICROSCOPE LAB. Learning the parts, proper handling and use of the microscope.

9/08

Assignment

09/08 Monday homework  -

• Independent study of the microscope parts reference sheet that we used today in class.

• On a piece of your own paper do the self test several times. Finally do it on your packet.

• Read and highlight the notes on proper use of the microscope (that we used today in class) and the introduction, materials, procedure and results for tomorrow's lab

09/09

Assignment

09/09 Tuesday class work -

• WARM UP: Review and relearn the steps in the scientific method. Students should copy and save, to attach to next week's EXPERIMENTATION PACKET.

• Students were advised how to study as they write lists like this for more effective and efficient learning one item at a time. Students will be able to use this list as a pre-write or framework if they were ever asked to describe/discuss the scientific method in an essay or presentation.

• Complete the MICROSCOPE LAB.

• Make scientific drawings of two selected slides if time.

• TEST HELP: Students were shown a version of the test they will have on Friday so they know exactly what to expect. They saw the format and sample questions.

09/09

Assignment

09/09 Tuesday homework -

• Independent study/learning of your microscope lab notes. There is an upcoming test on Friday.

• On your own lined notepaper, practice possible questions (some showed to you in class today) that could be asked on Friday's assessment on the care and use of the microscope. This is the evidence of your effort/work.

9/10

Assignment

09/10 Wednesday class work - TOOLS LAB. Need to finish by the end of your class period on Thursday. If you think you may need more time come during A lunch on Thursday or after school on Thursday.

9/10

Assignment

09/10 Wednesday homework - Independent study/learning  of your tools lab notes. There is an upcoming test on Friday.

09/11

Assignment

09/11 Thursday class work - Complete the TOOLS LAB

09/11

Assignment

Help available after school today Thursday 09/11

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

09/11 Thursday homework - Independent study/learning  of your tools lab notes and microscope notes in this week's packet. The test is tomorrow!

9/12

Assignment

09/12 Friday class work - Microscope and tools lab assessment.

9/12

Assessment

EXPERIMENTATION - PENDULUM LAB FORMAL LAB REPORT

The Pendulum formal lab report is the performance assessment for this unit. It is due on 09/26/08

09/12 Friday class work - Experimentation packet handed out today.

9/12

Assignment

09/12 Friday homework - Start the EXPERIMENTATION key terms / definitions assignment in the packet given out in class today.

• Read/Study the given definition breakdowns.
• Write a one sentence definition for each word/phrase including as many of the breakdown pieces as you can. There is an example given for the definition of "Science."

Complete the first fourteen words/phrases, from the word, "science," to the word, "trials."

9/15

Assignment

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Subject to change so please check often / DAILY

Week 3  09/15 - 09/19   

Help available this week after school on Thursday 09/18

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

09/15 Monday class work -

• AGENDA UPDATE.

• WARM UP: Profile - Who am I?

• TRADE AND GRADE FRIDAY'S TEST for quicker/detailed feedback. Students who scored below 33/45 may do a retake test for a maximum score of 33/45 (73%). THE RETAKE WILL BE IN ROOM #140 DURING A LUNCH ON THURSDAY 09/18 OR AFTER SCHOOL ON THURSDAY 09/18.

• PENDULUM LAB; Introduction to the pendulum lab as our vehicle to review experimentation and the writing of a FORMAL LAB REPORT. This assignment will be broken down into smaller parts.

• (If time) review of variables - manipulated, responding and controlled - discrete and continuous.

09/15

Assignment

09/15 Monday homework - Finish the definitions for the EXPERIMENTATION key terms from  "fact," to  "technology."

09/16

Assignment

09/16 Tuesday class work -

• WARM UP: Answer to "Profile - Who am I?"

• HOMEWORK CHECK: Definitions in the Experimentation packet.

• PENDULUM LAB: Title, purpose, introduction, hypothesis and start the Experimental Design Diagram (EDD).

09/16

Assignment

• PRINT A HARD COPY OF YOUR DRAFT THAT YOU ARE DOING FOR HOMEWORK AND BRING THEM TO CLASS ON THURSDAY 09/18.
• Use the PENDULUM LAB - FORMAL LAB REPORT GRADING SHEET/RUBIC in your packet, for all the pendulum lab work this week.
• Read the items for the section you are working on BEFORE you start to write and word process. You can earn a perfect score if you are proficient for each item.
• Students should edit their drafts first using the rubric. Peers and parents and guardians can use the rubric to be a second editor of the drafts.
• THE FINAL FORMAL LAB REPORT YOU TURN IN is graded/scored as an ASSESSMENT/TEST.
• THE FINAL PENDULUM LAB, FORMAL LAB REPORT IS DUE ON FRIDAY 09/26

09/16 Tuesday homework -

• Word process the draft for the following parts of the pendulum lab:

TITLE (top center)

1. PURPOSE  For the 2 classes that were hurrying to finish at the end of class I did actually write notes on all the three purposes in the grading rubric - read it carefully.

2. INTRODUCTION

3. HYPOTHESIS AND JUSTIFICATION

• Start the bibliography. For help with your citations go to www.lwsd.org and click on... students...research and homework help...7-12...citing your resources.

• Use the pendulum lab report grading check list for guidance on how to do complete and excellent work.

09/17

Assignment

09/17 Wednesday class work -

PENDULUM LAB: Finish the EDD; do the materials list, procedure and team data table

09/17

Assignment

Take note!

RESOURCES FOR YOUR PENDULUM LAB INTRODUCTION

Our Librarian, Ms. Yusko, has pulled aside about ½ dozen books and encyclopedias that discuss pendulums. 

They will keep these at the library front desk and students can ask to borrow them while in the library.  I suggest you go during A lunch, or before or after school.

In addition, for your “online” source, she HIGHLY recommends that you use the World Book database on the district website…lots of information can be found there!
www.lwsd.org; click on “students”; click on “research & homework help (grades 7-12); click on “databases for junior high students”; click on “World Book Online Reference Center.”

You can access this site from any school computer.  If accessing from home, you will need a password.  Ms. Yusko has bookmarks in the library with these passwords.  Please ask her for one.

09/17 Wednesday homework  -

• Word process the first draft of the materials list, and procedure.

• Use the pendulum lab report grading check list for guidance on how to do complete and excellent work.

• PRINT A HARD COPY OF YOUR DRAFT from the title to the end of the procedure AND BRING IT TO CLASS ON THURSDAY 09/18.

09/18

Assignment

• Students were informed about the book resources in the library and online resources on the district website (see above).
• Revision of the drafts using the grading rubric/check list.
• Design of the team raw data table, and calculation table.
• Students given the rubric/check list for the procedure diagram.

09/18 Thursday homework -

• Draw the procedure diagram on a sheet of plain paper and remember to write a caption.

• You can word process the subheading at the top left and the caption at the bottom of a document, print it off and then hand draw the labeled diagram. This method would give a neater presentation.

• Use the extra sheet with the pendulum lab procedure diagram grading check list for guidance on how to do complete and excellent work.

09/19

Assignment

09/19 Friday class work - PENDULUM LAB:

• Performing the lab. 

• Recording the TEAM data in the TEAM data table

• Completing the TEAM calculation table.

• Entering team data into the CLASS calculation tables in an Excel spreadsheet.

09/19

Assignment

09/19 Friday homework - Spend at least 30 minutes revising and editing your formal lab report.

09/22

Assignment

Week 4     09/22 - 09/26

Help available this week after school on Tuesday 09/24.

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

• Students given the CLASS calculation tables and the graphs.
•  Writing the conclusion and error analysis.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Students can lose all their work from a flash drive if it is not formatted to Vista and they attempt to use it on a Vista machine.  Many schools are reporting student’s files disappearing while they are saving/working on them!

Students who are using flash drives at school should reformat them on a Vista machine. This way, the drive should work better with the computers, and still work on XP machines, also.  Students need to back up their files first (just copy and paste them somewhere safe, like their home computer), and then format the flash drive on a Vista machine.

 To format the flash drive, students should plug it in (to the USB drive), and then the flash drive window should appear.  Close that, go to Start, then select their name (or Computer, whichever appears).  They will now see a list of all drives. Right-click on the flash drive and choose “Format” and follow the prompts.

09/22 Monday homework  -

• Word process the draft of the conclusion and error analysis, and your citations.

• Use the pendulum lab report grading check list for guidance on how to do complete and excellent work.

SCALE AND MEASUREMENT

The unit test is currently scheduled for Thursday, October 2nd.

09/23 Tuesday class work

• WARM UP: A metrics pretest

• LEARNING GOALS: Scale and Measurement

• SCALE CHART: the scale of things Q and A.

09/223

Assignment

09/23 Tuesday homework  - Work on your final pendulum lab formal lab report.  THE FINAL PENDULUM LAB, FORMAL LAB REPORT IS DUE ON FRIDAY 09/26

09/26

Assessment

09/23 Tuesday homework  - Finish the class work if necessary.

09/24

Assignment

09/24 Wednesday class work

• WARM  UP: Little Millie Metric

• DIRECT INSTRUCTION: The metrics staircase/units/rules for converting units

09/24

Assignment

09/24 Wednesday homework  - Work on your final pendulum lab formal lab report. Try to finish. Do not procrastinate and leave too much for tomorrow evening.

09/26

Assessment

09/25 Thursday class work

WARM UP: Prefix table

ARTICLE: Nanotechnology - Could Tiny Machines Rule the World? Read and highlight.

VOCABULARY: Scale / microscopic / macroscopic / human scale / metric system / SI units / prefix / nano / nanotechnology.

09/25

Assignment

09/25 Thursday homework - Finish your final pendulum lab formal lab report. THE FINAL PENDULUM LAB, FORMAL LAB REPORT IS DUE TOMORROW, FRIDAY 09/26

09/26

Assessment

09/26 Friday class work

HAND IN THE FINAL PENDULUM LAB, FORMAL LAB REPORT, DUE TODAY - Assessment

09/26 Friday class work

DIRECT INSTRUCTION: Scientific and decimal notation and practice

09/26

Assignment

09/26 Friday homework - Complete all columns of the first two vocabulary sheets. On the last one, read and highlight the information on the row for scientific notation.

09/29

Assignment

NOTE: 10/02 Thursday - SCALE AND MEASUREMENT TEST

A test example has been posted in the classroom to show the format and types of questions.

Week 5     09/29 - 10/03

Help available this week after school on Tuesday 09/30

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

09/29 Monday class work -

• Check vocabulary sheets for homework completion.

• DIRECT INSTRUCTION: Significant Figures and practice.

• VOCABULARY: significant figures.

09/29

Assignment

09/29 Monday homework -

• Read through the Uncertainty of Measurement lab sheets in preparation for the lab on Tuesday and Wednesday. Read slowly. You may need to reread sections before you understand.

• If you  have any time over start your INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR THE TEST ON THURSDAY 10/02

09/30

Assignment

09/30 Tuesday class work - LAB; THE UNCERTAINTY OF MEASUREMENT

09/30

Assignment

09/30 Tuesday homework - INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR THE TEST ON THURSDAY 10/02

10/01

Assignment

10/01 Wednesday class work -

• Complete the LAB; THE UNCERTAINTY OF MEASUREMENT. This is due on Monday.

• Assigning textbooks

10/06

Assignment

10/01 Wednesday homework - INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR THE TEST ON THURSDAY 10/02

10/02

Assignment

10/02 Thursday class work - SCALE AND MEASUREMENT TEST

10/02

Assessment

10/02 Thursday homework -

• Text book A-Z assignment -  brainstorm text book features beginning with each letter of the alphabet. 

• A tabulated handout will be given out in class to be completed for this assignment.

• Write more items for some letters if you can think of them. (Note: there are a few letters where it is hard to think of even one text book feature beginning with that letter).

• The text book feature does not need to be in your science text book - you can include some that are in your math book or social studies book also.

• The goal of this assignment is to draw your attention to all the text book features, have  you look over them and to encourage you to use them.

10/03

Assignment

10/03 Friday class work - Go over the test. Go over the textbook features A-Z assignment.

10/03

Assignment

SYSTEMS THINKING BASICS

Test currently scheduled for Thursday 10/09/08

10/03 Friday homework -

1. Visit http://www.howstuffworks.com  to research the workings of a car cooling system.

2. Read and take double column notes on your own lined paper.

3. Look under the hood of a car with a family member or friend who knows a little about car engines. 

4. List the parts in a car cooling system on the sheet in your packet 

5. Make a labeled, diagrammatical, flow chart style drawing of a car cooling system under the list of parts in  your packet.

It is OK to get some help on this assignment but you must make the parts list and labeled drawing yourself. Actually looking under the hood of a car and examining the cooling system is preferable to just doing book or web site research.

Due on Monday 10/06

10/06

Assignment

Week 6     10/06 - 10/10

Help available this week after school on Tuesday 10/07/08

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

10/06 Monday class work -

learning goals: mark M, R or N - as mastered, need review, or new learning.

Systems Thinking Basics: Parts, system or heap, hierarchy of systems, subsystems, optimum size, adaptability and system stability

10/06

Assignment

10/06 Monday homework  -

How the Toilet System Works. Follow the instructions in the handout in your packet. PLEASE OBTAIN PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION to do the two short experiments on the toilet system. Try not to spill. If you do. Clean up your own mess.

10/07

Assignment

10/07 Tuesday class work -

FINISH Systems Thinking Basics: Input and output, feedback loops, bike and rider system,.

BEHAVIOR OVER TIME (BOT) GRAPHS.

10/07

Assignment

10/07 Tuesday homework - Independent study for the SYSTEMS THINKING TEST on Thursday.

10/08

Assignment

10/08 Wednesday class work -

Using BOT graph data, to build a System Map, to study a complex problem.

10/08

Assignment

10/08 Wednesday homework - Independent study for the SYSTEMS THINKING TEST tomorrow.

10/09

Assignment

10/09 Thursday class work - TEST ON SYSTEMS THINKING

10/09

Assessment

10/09 Thursday homework - Start "How the SEWER and septic System Works." Follow the instructions in the handout in your packet.

10/13

Assignment

10/10 Friday class work - Go over the Systems Thinking test.

10/10

Assignment

MECHANICS - NEWTON'S THREE LAWS OF MOTION

This unit is about 16 school days long.

10/10 Friday class work - Introduction to SCALAR and VECTOR quantities and the PARALLELOGRAM RULE.

10/10

Assignment

10/10 Friday homework - Finish "How the SEWER and septic System Works." Follow the instructions in the handout in your packet.

10/13

Assignment

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Subject to change so please check often / DAILY

Week 7   10/13 - 10/17

Help available this week after school on Monday 10/13

Parents/Guardians need to provide the transportation home.

10/13 Monday class work -

• Check the sewer and septic system homework.

• Finish scalars and vectors

• Speed, velocity and acceleration.

• If time - start the diagrams review and practice - vector diagrams, free body diagrams and tickertape diagrams.

• Prep for tomorrow lab.

10/13

Assignment

10/13 Monday homework - Historic Background

• Read Hewitt, pages 17 - 22 and scan pages 23-30.

• Check that the notes for Aristotle are complete.

• Write similarly detailed notes for Galileo and Newton in the table provided in your packet. The first column will give you the prompts.

10/14

Assignment

10/14 Tuesday class work  - Inclined Plane lab

• How does the angle of the receiving (2nd) ramp (MV) affect the distance the marble travels up this 2nd  ramp (RV)?
• The angle of the first ramp and the height at which the marble is released on this ramp are both controlled variables.
• Perform the lab and complete the data table
• Do the graph on your own graph paper
• Write the conclusion  - on the blank page in your packet after the lab sheets
• Answer the questions - on the blank page in your packet after the lab sheets

10/14

Assignment

10/14 Tuesday homework  - Finish the lab write up.

10/15

Assignment

10/15 Wednesday class work - 

• Go over the lab write-up

• Finish the diagrams review and practice

• Given website address, the username and password to do the vectors tutorial online.

10/15

Assignment

10/15 Wednesday homework - Vector tutorial online - take handwritten notes. You will be given the website address, the username and password in class.

10/16

Assignment

10/16 Thursday class work - VIDEO and worksheet.

10/16

Assignment

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