We have almost completed the matter part of our class. We have studied the periodic table a bit, and last week we designed and completed investigations that were trying to show that matter cannot be created or destroyed, but it CAN be changed. We changed matter by melting, freezing, mixing simple acids and bases (mostly vinegar and baking soda) and saw the effervescing and felt the temperature changes that indicated a chemical reaction was going on...and we saw how we can easily have so many sources of error in an experiment! Hopefully most of those things were identified and under control by the end of our trials.
We will be having a gallery walk this week to look at trends in the investigations, and we will have a chapter test on Thursday. On Friday, we will be starting our unit on energy. So when you hear about roller coasters and Rube Goldberg plans and bells ringing, you'll know that we're learning more cool things in science class!!
If a student is still interested in entering the AMS Science Fair, the paperwork needs to be submitted by Friday, September 27. This date is especially critical for the projects that will be using human test subjects. Those projects need approval from our review board, which will meet the following week. I will be in my room every day during lunch to help students fill out the required papers.
Until next time,
Mrs. Hopple
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
What are we doing in science?
We have successfully completed the first two weeks of school, and I think that we have accomplished some good things. The "Fortune Fish" activity has let me know that my students have very different skills that they have developed so far in science; we will certainly try to increase understanding of the scientific method for everyone. One observation: We need to make sure that we are able to support a hypothesis, but we have not been able to prove anything with the experimentation that we do. I am sure that we will make progress throughout the year.
We are currently working on trying to figure out how the periodic table of elements is organized. We spent Friday making sketches of different atoms, and we were able to find some patterns to help us see why some elements are found where they are found. I also found out that many of my students especially liked the socks that we used as erasers for the white boards that they had; I had no idea that the socks would be such a hit!
The next few days will be spent in the computer lab, trying to look up ideas and background information for the science projects/science fair projects that are due in December. We will be exploring some possibilities, trying to find some suggestions for projects, but working to make the ideas unique. I am always impressed with the creativity of my students.
Until next time!!
Mrs. Hopple
We are currently working on trying to figure out how the periodic table of elements is organized. We spent Friday making sketches of different atoms, and we were able to find some patterns to help us see why some elements are found where they are found. I also found out that many of my students especially liked the socks that we used as erasers for the white boards that they had; I had no idea that the socks would be such a hit!
The next few days will be spent in the computer lab, trying to look up ideas and background information for the science projects/science fair projects that are due in December. We will be exploring some possibilities, trying to find some suggestions for projects, but working to make the ideas unique. I am always impressed with the creativity of my students.
Until next time!!
Mrs. Hopple
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Welcome to Science 7--2013
Even though the calendar says that fall starts on September 22, we all know that summer is really over when school starts! So I hope your summer was great, and the next school year will be even better! :)
Welcome to Science 7 with Mrs. Hopple. This is the beginning of my 18th year at Athens Middle School. I taught at some other schools in the area for 12 years, so this begins my 30th year of teaching young people in Athens County. I'm excited for what this new year will hold.
A little about me: I was born and raised in central Ohio, in a small town called Fredericktown, home of the Fighting Freddies. I came to Athens to attend Ohio University, joined the OU Marching 110, met the man I would marry, graduated from the College of Education at Ohio University, and decided to settle here in this beautiful area of southeast Ohio. Our daughter graduated from Ohio University a few years ago.
This year, we welcome an addition to our classroom, Mr. Birchfield. Mr. Birchfield is studying to be a teacher, and we are able to see him regularly throughout the year; a few days a week during the first semester of the year, and then every day for the second semester. Perhaps Mr. Birchfield will write a post soon so that you can know a little about him.
I think it is important that students "do" science as much as possible. I want students to understand that the process of science is very important, so I do assign a number of investigations. I want the students to practice how to do science, and I want students to be curious and creative. I get some of the best products from my students!
The first investigation was assigned on the first day of school: Find out something about the "Fortune Fish" that you were given on the first day of school. Make sure that you follow the instruction sheet that you were given. We will share our results in class on August 27.
I am looking forward to a wonderful school year! I am honored to be able to teach a new group of students.
Until next time...
Mrs. Hopple
Welcome to Science 7 with Mrs. Hopple. This is the beginning of my 18th year at Athens Middle School. I taught at some other schools in the area for 12 years, so this begins my 30th year of teaching young people in Athens County. I'm excited for what this new year will hold.
A little about me: I was born and raised in central Ohio, in a small town called Fredericktown, home of the Fighting Freddies. I came to Athens to attend Ohio University, joined the OU Marching 110, met the man I would marry, graduated from the College of Education at Ohio University, and decided to settle here in this beautiful area of southeast Ohio. Our daughter graduated from Ohio University a few years ago.
This year, we welcome an addition to our classroom, Mr. Birchfield. Mr. Birchfield is studying to be a teacher, and we are able to see him regularly throughout the year; a few days a week during the first semester of the year, and then every day for the second semester. Perhaps Mr. Birchfield will write a post soon so that you can know a little about him.
I think it is important that students "do" science as much as possible. I want students to understand that the process of science is very important, so I do assign a number of investigations. I want the students to practice how to do science, and I want students to be curious and creative. I get some of the best products from my students!
The first investigation was assigned on the first day of school: Find out something about the "Fortune Fish" that you were given on the first day of school. Make sure that you follow the instruction sheet that you were given. We will share our results in class on August 27.
I am looking forward to a wonderful school year! I am honored to be able to teach a new group of students.
Until next time...
Mrs. Hopple
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