Friday, January 20
All missing assignments turned into my basket have now been accounted for. I
handed out missing assignment reports today BEFORE all the late or no names
were graded. Please check the gradebook to verify any missing assignments. If
there is a missing assignment listed ON THE GRADEBOOK, then it is actually
missing as of right now.
I apologize for having the incorrect page on yesterday's homework but we did
start on it in class and it was correct on the board so most students were
able to get the correct assignment. Nevertheless, if you did not complete
section 8-1 Thursday night you can turn it in on Monday. We also have some
Math and Science homework over the weekend. MOST students completed BOTH
assignments in class. I DID NOT COLLECT THE ASSIGNMENTS SO YOU CAN VERIFY
THEIR COMPLETION BY CHECKING BACKPACKS.
Last week we learned why the sky is blue and today we started discussing why
the wind blows. Students should know why the sky is blue and sunsets are red
but we just started with the wind. Tell your parents or parents ask your
students about both.
In Math we are starting with probability. Today was Experimental Probability
and next week Theoretical Probability. Hopefully, students will learn why
gambling is all about probability and why, over time, you are almost certain
to lose.
Friday, January 13
Once again my desk is clean. No papers to grade, ALL PAPERS ARE GRADED. If you
have a "Z" the work is MISSING! Check NOW! You have the extra day on Monday to
catch up. I did get 2 (two) no names today, one atmosphere drawing and one 5th
period science homework for today, both without names. Other than that
consider doing it NOW!
There is HOMEWORK this weekend if you did not get it done today. It is due
Tuesday at the beginning of class for Math. Please have it finished. Over 50%
finished in class and scanned the work today.
Beware of falling sattelites this weekend!
Tuesday, January 10
Yea! My basket is empty. Which means, all work is accounted for so all
assignments which have been
turned in are updated in Math and Science. There are a couple of "no names"
but only a couple. It has
taken a couple of days to get back to entering grades but now I am on top and
current.
Our first Math Test of 2012 will be next week, Wednesday, January 18th. We
will cover chapter 7, Data
Analysis. Teaching about graphs and such is always fun during an election
year. Scores should pop
back up after the overall struggles with percents, tax, discounts and
interest. We will be going back to
those again soon to gain a better understanding then we will re-test and the
scores will improve.
In Science, we are studying the Atmosphere. In the next day or two we will
learn the answer to the
age old question of "Why is the sky blue?". Hint: it is not because of the
ocean. The ocean is blue
because of the sky....but why is the sky blue? hmmm. We will also be studying
about the greenhouse
effect and how it keeps our planet cozy and gives us liquid water. If you have
not shared with
parents/students please ask about if the air has weight. We weighed the air
and found some
interesting results.
If you are in the giving mood still...we could really use some calculators so
we don't have to get
bogged down adding a bunch of numbers together to then find mean and median.
They will also be
very handy for our future unit on area and volume of triangles, parallelograms
and circles. Students
need practice with calculators (a tool) and it really saves frustration when
trying to calculate the
surface area of a soda can. With a calculator, students can focus on the
methods and not be confused
when they make a simple adding or multiplying error.
Welcome to 2012!
Friday, December 16
I wish you all a happy, safe and fun learning new year!
We have a great new year planned with lots of fun science labs. We already
found out that the
continents move around, why we have earthquakes and that energy never goes
away. Next we will
learn the age old questions like: Why is the sky blue?, and "What makes the
wind blow?" How does a
tornado work? and Why a zebra has stripes. Some pretty cool stuff is coming up
so enjoy the break
and I can't wait to see you all next year.
Sunday, December 11
My basket is clean. That means all assignments listed in the gradebook are
accounted for and if you (or your student) has something missing it is either
NOT TURNED IN or ON THE NO NAME WALL. I have quite a few "Let's go camping"
discount homework on the no name wall. I also have two (2) Layers of the Earth
projects on the wall. However, there are 5 students who are missing this 112
POINT SUMMATIVE (TEST) ASSIGNMENT. If it is not turned in, a student cannot
likely get higher than a 70% in Science this trimester.
The Science Test is completed but I have not posted the grade because I want
to read the essays one more time to be sure of consistency in grading.
Everything else (all other tests and homework) in all classes are accounted
for. Please check the gradebook and be sure you get credit for your work or
start catching up.
Friday, December 9
Wow, just when I thought I couldn't possibly get any busier....I apologize for
not being current with all
the grading but I am committed to getting everything done this weekend.
Today we modeled Earth's faults, subduction, colliding boundries, transform
boundries, diverging
boundries and much more. To say the lab was "sweet" was an understatement! If
you notice your
student bouncing around or falling asleep it might be due to eating the
evidence of our lab. We used
cookies, Graham crackers and icing to model the mantle, tectonic plates and
fault zones. So I
apologize again for any resulting sweet reactions at home tonight but it is a
lab they will not soon
forget. Drink plenty of water tonight to flush the sugar out of your system. I
gave away water at the
end of class today to get them started.
Thursday, December 1
The homework is now posted. I apologize for the delay.
Tuesday, November 29
I hope everyone had a great and thankful break.
Today we handed out REPORT CARDS in class. Please check/share your report card
with everyone who helps you with your work. All 80's and 90's gets you on the
HONOR ROLL and all 90's (all A's) gets you on the PRINCIPAL'S LIST. The
overall grades were very positive for the first trimester. It is always
interesting how USUALLY the students who complete 80% of the homework (80 or
above on the FORMATIVE score) usually score 80% or above on the overall grade.
Since homework only counts 10%, the relationship is about practicing the
concepts and SELF CORRECTING BY CHECKING THE ANSWERS IN BOB! There are a
couple of cases where students are completing the homework but did not do as
well on the tests. That may be due to confusion, or it may be due to copying
other student's work and not really checking to see that you really understand
how to solve the problems. If you see a lot of "3's" or "Z's" that is a huge
signal that the student will not perform well on the test. If you see a "5" on
homework assignments that means the homework was turned in after the test
which usually means it did not really prepare the student for the test. Either
way, anything less than a 10 is a warning sign.
We will be starting with Percentages and Sales Tax in the next week. YOU CAN
HELP your student by talking about what a "discount" is, how "sales tax" is
added to your purchase and how "interest" is added to a loan or to a deposit.
If you are shopping this Holiday Season, have your student estimate the tax
(use 10% and take a little off) on your purchases or have them calculate the
discount amount if the item is on sale for a percent off.
In Science we are discussing Plate Tectonics, Continental Drift, and soon
Earthquakes.
Wednesday, November 16
UPDATE!!!:
HAVING JUST GRADED AND ENTERED TODAY'S MATH TEST, I HAVE DECIDED THAT THERE
ARE ENOUGH STUDENTS WHO ARE ONLY 1 OR 2 PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM MOVING UP TO
THE NEXT GRADE, THAT I WILL HAVE A "RETAKE PARTY" ON FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL. If
you want to try and improve your MATH GRADE by one or two points (say an 89 to
a 90 or a B to an A) please arrange to stay and take a test or two. If you are
completely done with your Layers Project, you can start early during class!
This is your chance to show responsibility!
Friday is the last day of the trimester! All work MUST be completed by Friday
or it will not count in the grades.
Layers of the Earth Project:
We worked today in class after our Math test. On Thursday, we will work most
of the day (both periods) on the project. After Friday, any project turned in
WILL NOT be an "A". The Layers Project will be recorded as the first Science
grade in the 2nd trimester.
MISSING ASSIGNMENT REPORTS WERE HANDED OUT TO ALL STUDENTS. Please check with
your student to make sure they have no missing assignments by Friday. Any
missing assignment turned in today will be updated into the gradebook by 4:00pm.
Tuesday, November 8
ANSWERS TO PRE-TEST #10
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. D
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. A
11. D
12. D
13. B
14. D
15. A
16. C
17. A
18. B
HAVE FUN!
Thursday, November 3
Whew! We survived Halloween! The Candy Fairy struck again!
SCIENCE TEST ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4TH. OPEN NOTE. BRING ANY HAND WRITTEN NOTES.
YOU CAN COPY THE BOOK (BY HAND) IF YOU WANT.
I have several students who are missing the SAND LAB write up sheets. This was
a summative (TEST POINTS) assignment worth 40 test points. Not turning in the
lab will cost at least 2 or more grades for the trimester!
MISSING ASSIGNMENT REPORT HANDED OUT IN ALL CLASSES TODAY! Please check the
assignment report and have everything turned in by Monday. However, Science
notes and homework CAN be used on the test so you should get any Science done
tonight!
Friday, October 28
MISSING ASSIGNMENT REPORTS WERE HANDED OUT YESTERDAY AND TODAY. PLEASE MAKE
SURE THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE CAUGHT UP.
We do not have homework this weekend so there is NO REASON to not get caught
up on any missing assignments. My "NO NAME WALL" has 11 assignments and ALL
students were reminded to check the wall. If it is on the report assume it is
not on the wall and get it done.
RIVERS:
We had a lot of fun in 1st and 2nd period making rivers, beaches, floods, etc.
Please share or ask your student about what they observed. 5th and 6th period
will make their rivers next Wednesday. There will NOT be a test next Wednesday.
MONSTER MASH MILE:
It's not too late to get VIP treatment. Bring in $10.00 Monday and get a
U-Pick pass for 15 minutes of IPOD listening in class. $50.00 gets you into
the VIP area with even MORE MUSIC, MORE PRIZES!
HALLOWEEN:
Costumes are actually encouraged. We will be outside on the track from 9:30 to
11:30 on Monday. This is the major fundraiser for the PTC. This year the PTC
has given Cooley $25,000 to purchase new books for the library. The kids are
all noticing the extra books which are starting to fill the shelves. ALL of
the money comes right back to the school. Hopefully we will be able to
purchase more equipment for SCIENCE LABS and more. Raising money for the
school provides the 'extra' which makes school more interesting, more fun,
more educational.
Every $$ helps. If you combine with another student ($5.00 each) you can spit
the IPOD listening time with a friend! Call your relatives! Call your friends!
Call your enemies and offer to forgive them for a donation to the PTC!
Everyone wins!
NO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY NOVEMVER 1ST. This is not our first Halloween with middle
school students and no one will be in the mood to learn on the day after. So
go enjoy the night and the next day, then we all come back ready to go on
Wednesday, November 2nd.
Friday, October 21
If you are not too busy this weekend (tonight, Saturday morning or Saturday
evening) check this out. The most spectacular time is at dusk around 7:00pm
(twilight) tonight or Saturday night.
Weekend Meteor Shower
Oct. 20, 2011: Earth is about to pass through a stream of debris from Halley's
comet, source of the annual Orionid meteor shower. Forecasters expect more
than 15 meteors per hour to fly across the sky on Saturday morning, Oct. 22nd,
when the shower peaks.
Orionids are most easily seen during the dark hours before sunrise. Twilight
Orionids, however, are the most beautiful of all.
"Although this isn't the biggest meteor shower of the year, it's definitely
worth waking up for," says Bill Cooke of the NASA Meteoroid Environment
Office. "The setting is dynamite."
Orionids are framed by some of the brightest and most beautiful constellations
in the night sky. The meteors emerge from mighty Orion, the shower's
glittering namesake. From there they streak through Taurus the Bull, the
twins of Gemini, Leo the Lion, and Canis Major--home to Sirius, the most
brilliant star of all.
This year, the Moon and Mars are part of the show. They'll form two vertices
of a celestial triangle in the eastern sky on Saturday morning while the
shower is most active; Regulus is the third vertex. Blue Regulus and red Mars
are both approximately of 1st magnitude, so they are easy to see alongside the
35% crescent Moon. Many Orionids will be diving through the triangle in the
hours before dawn.
Tuesday, October 18
We had a lot of fun in our Sand Lab the last couple of days. Measuring,
graphing, writing up the analysis and conclusion of how dry sand stacks etc.
Everyone did a great job of collecting the data and being careful with the
measuring and the safety!
I am really excited about the Monster Mash Mile on October 31st. Be sure to
get ready for a great time. Raising $50.00 gets you into the VIP area, with
Krispy Kreme donuts and HATS, candy, treats, (even healthy food!) and some
extra fun and games with prizes. All students will participate on the track
and field so get a costume ready because the Candy Fairy only hands out candy
to those in costume.
Next week or so, we will create rivers in our classroom (my favorite lab of
the year!). It will be wet, messy, loud, fun and excellent learning for all.
Fraction test tomorrow, Wednesday October 19th. Please do the pre-test tonight!
Wednesday, October 12
WEBSITE UPDATE: Many are having difficulty getting the online textbook to
work well tonight. I have contacted our technology department and let them
know.
Homework: We will do something different on Thursday and have time to
complete any homework in class to start the day.
AND
On our Science Test there was an incorrect grading key and question #2 was
graded incorrectly. I have adjusted the test by reducing the number of
possible points by 1. So everyone gets credit for 1 incorrect answer on the
test.
I apologize for the error.
Tuesday, October 11
THE MONSTER MASH MILE IS COMING!
We are just past the halfway point to the first trimester. So far the classes
are doing very well compared to years past. I am constantly pleased by the
attitudes of our students. Everyone is so NICE! It makes the classroom a very
engaging place when students are considerate of each other.
I apologize for not always having all the grades for homework updated daily
but sometimes life happens. The way to find out if something is truly missing
is to get into the gradebook and CLICK on the individual CLASS. Then select
"GET REPORT". This opens the class and you can see every assignment for the
trimester and the score. Remember a BLANK means it is not updated to the
gradebook. ONLY a "Z" means the assignment is MISSING. Just because something
is past due does not mean it is missing. Please open the class to see the true
picture of your progress.
Last week, we had a math test which was not spectacular for the new material.
We will see this from time to time. In this case, I counted the review
material (integers - negative numbers) but did NOT count the Prime factoring
or the GCD and LCM sections of the test. However, tomorrow, October 12, those
sections will count for a test score. So tonight, go over the test I handed
back and work through the problems you missed. The homework covers all the new
material with examples of correct steps tonight.
On Thursday, I hope to start the Sand Lab on page 92 of the Science book. It
is a very involved lab with lots of data, measuring, graphing and
observations. I could use some full sized paper towel insides. The inner core
so we can pour sand.
Next week we should start our RIVER LAB! My favorite lab of the year. Lots of
sand, water, mess, fun and LEARNING.
Tuesday, September 27
Well we are really starting to collect some data on each class. 1st period
Math has an overall 85% in Math and 5th period Math has an overall 86% in
Math.
The axiom holds true that if students do 80% of the homework they usually have
an 80% or higher in the class. Homework only counts 10% of the grade but the
practice and learning is 90% (test) which is almost PRICELESS.
2nd period Science is holding at 86% and 6th period Science is at 83% on
average. HOWEVER, the classes are starting to realize that taking notes and
writing COMPLETE sentences is HUGE! NOTES are ALLOWED ON THE TEST. Please be
sure you or your student has a place to keep their Science notes. The next
Science test will be either Monday or Tuesday of next week. YOU CAN USE ANY
NOTES OR PROJECTS YOU HAVE WRITTEN BY HAND.
Saturday, September 24
Okay. No one was hit by the falling weather satellite. The UARS (Upper
Atmosphere Research Sattelite) crashed to Earth in the north eastern Pacific
Ocean off of Oregon and Washington. I have to admit that I did see a small
bright glare when I was outside looking to the north-north west about 8:55pm
on Friday night. It could have been a plane in the sunlight but it was
getting pretty dark by then.
According to NASA: Three more satellites are poised to make uncontrolled
entries into our atmosphere, with the next free fall expected in April of
2014.
I hope you have a great weekend, catch up on any missing assignments, and
enjoy the wonderful fall weather. The sky is not falling any time soon.
Friday, September 23
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!
Watch for the out of control weather satellite coming over North America
sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning. You might even be able to see
it in the daylight.
You have almost NO CHANCE of being hit so don't worry. Remember it is illegal
to keep, sell or trade any piece of "space junk" which falls to Earth. It may
even be dangerous because it may have some really bad chemicals or radiation
left on the pieces. So don't pick it up if a small piece lands near you.
All homework is graded and entered.
Missing Assignment Reports were passed out in class. If you received a
"missing assignment report" you have some homework for the weekend. If you are
caught up then relax and stay up late watching for falling satellites.
Please check your grades. The science test and the math test are posted and
your grades may have changed.
Tuesday, September 20
Thank you for the question on tonight's homework.
Hi Mr. Loudon,
I had a little trouble with my homwork on problem A,1'
What are the 5 characteristics of a mineral?
I agree! The book says a mineral must have five characteristics but then also
says MOST minerals have a crystal shape. So actually there are only four
absolute requirements to be a mineral.
1 Form naturally (not human made)
2 Be inorganic (not directly from a living thing)
3 A specific (defined) chemical composition - made up of ONE kind of molecule
4 Formed on or under the Earth's surface (although I might call some parts of
a meteor "crystals")
5 As for having a crystal shape, not all minerals have a crystal shape such
as gold. However, gold might form a crystal at a temerature the earth COULD
have such as really really cold or perhaps really really hot with a lot of
pressure?
So I will accept FOUR characteristics of a mineral and we can even discuss
the idea of a meteor having crystals.
Great Question!
Saturday, September 17
This week we had both a Math test and a Science test. The math test is graded
and uploaded to the gradebook. The Science test is not yet posted. It takes a
bit to read 350 essay questions.
We started our investigation on rocks this week. We got to see some great
crystals and other rocks. We will be making a drawing of the rock cycle in
class and making our version of sedimentary rocks. We will also start to look
at soil, up close and personal. The Soil Horizon pictured above will be a
part of our next test.
In Math we started learning about integers (negative and positive numbers).
This often is the first frustrating section of 6th grade math. We will be
adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with postive and negative
numbers. We keep having to remember that two negatives DON'T always make a
positive. Like -4 - 3 = -7 (not a positive)
Please check the gradebook often. Grades are also posted in class.
I handed out Missing Assignment Reports to each student with a missing
assignment. Please have these completed over the weekend.
Friday, September 7
ALL GRADES ARE CURRENT - MY BASKET IS CLEAN
If you have a 'Z' on the gradebook I am missing your paperwork!
Question of the weekend:
Will sea level rise if the ICE in the ARCTIC melts? Why or why not?
Email me with a response for a Monday prize.
We have been really working hard to get our homework up to standards. I kind
of held back on the posting until we got some better examples of correct
homework. Today in 5th period Math, EVERY STUDENT scored a perfect 10! Much
better! I may have to bake some cookies for such excellence!
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, September 7
Please check the Online Science Textbook if you get a chance, to make sure it
is fully functional. We watched a couple of cool short videos which can only
be found in the online book.
A couple of really great days since my last post. The early returns on the
Math test today looks good. Everyone is doing a great job being involved in
class. Lots of good questions.
Hey 4th Period Students!
Are you tired of peanut butter yet? We had some really good questions today
about science. You did a great job writing instructions and getting me messy.
Our Game Creation class is ready to go onto our first official game. One fun
aspect of this class is that I still don't know what direction your creations
will take.
In Science we drew all over our knuckles (or at least it supposed to be only
your kuckles)to create personal topographic maps of the back of our hand. :)
Tomorrow, we will hopefully make a 'map in a pan' topographic map of rocks
which suprisingly look like real mountains just in a smaller scale.
Math will continue with our exploring algebraic reasoning.
Monday, September 5,
The Science Textbook Online is now back and working.
The Username is: cooley
The Password is: student
Please DO NOT try and re-register or search for a password, USE ONLY THE
USERNAME and PASSWORD given above.
Sunay, September 04
A great first week of school. We have gotten to know each other a little and
all classes are very engaged.
It was great to see so many parents at Back to School Night. If you have any
questions please let me know.
I apologize for not posting sooner but I actualy posted but somehow the post
was not "posted". Is there a word for that yet? Something that you intended
to post and it failed to show up.
Grades should be accurate as of now. Please check the gradebook often.
We have done a couple of Science activities. One official lab and a couple of
quick activities. We used mason jar lids and water to view the difference of
the speed of evaporation in the sun versus the shade. This week we will start
exploring maps and map making.
In Math, we will have our first "summative" test this week. Early in the
grading period grades can move up and down quite a bit. Over time, we should
see a trend where grades don't change that much as we get more test scores
and other demonstrations of learning.
I apologize for the Science Online Textbook not functioning. It should be
working by Tuesday morning.
Have a great Labor Day and think about maps or try and draw a map in the dirt
as in before technology (early man).
Monday, August 22
I am so excited about school starting on Wednesday. It was nice to see many
of you tonight stop
by my classroom. If you did not get my website address, I'm not sure how you
got here but
congratulations!
If you look to the list on the left of this page you will see several links.
Please check them out.
Homework will be posted daily for both math and science.
Links - this is where you find the online textbooks, your grades, and other
interesting sites. We
will be using some of these sites for research throughout the year.
Tests/Study Guides are just that. Get a preview of science tests before the
test. You can even
practice the test and have it scored for you up to 99 times!
Games - interesting games which hopefully help you learn a little bit also.
Note the "After
Homework" tag. This is the reward zone for AFTER HOMEWORK. If you know of
some game sites
you think I should post please let me know.
Please email me and let me know what you think - click on the email link.
See you on Wednesday!
Thursday, August 11,
NEW UPDATE on the meteor shower. The BEST TIME to view the meteors will be
around 4:30am - sunup on the morning of August 13. There will be a smaller
spike around 11:00pm on Friday night and then on Saturday morning the shower
is projected to have OVER 60 METEORS PER HOUR! More than one every minute. So
get up early, get some hot cocoa and get outside for about an hour and enjoy
the show! Let me know if you participate!
Monday, July 25,
The Perseids are coming! The annual meteor shower will peak on August 13th
this year.
The best way to view is to get to a large open area, look about 1 hand height
from the horizon to the north-east. Look for the big dipper, the North Star
is the brightest. Look just to the right of the North Star. The moon will be
almost full so it will less than perfect but still nice. The best time is
around 11:00 pm. Get a chair or blanket, relax and keep looking aroung the
sky. You should see about one every 2 or 3 minutes (sometimes longer).
Enjoy!
Monday, July 4,
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Be safe, but it's okay to blow things up if you take the
nessassry precautions. The number one rule....THINK FIRST!
Boy, it's hot!
Speaking of heat, climate change means more energy in our environment which
can lead to hotter hots, colder colds, wetter wets and drier drys. But
overall, the Earth is heating up. No matter the reason, over 40 countries had
the hottest year on record last year.
The Nabro Volcano is still erupting. Now with flowing lava. It is in an area
of the world where most scientists are not allowed so we must rely on
sattelite photos.
I found some very cool fossils on the Oregon coast which I will share with
everyone when we get back in the fall.
Hooray for US!
Wednesday, June 22,
Off to the Oregon coast next week! Should be cool and hopefully cool. Cool
tide pools, natural sea arches, sea stacks, beaches, rivers with salamanders
you can jump off rocks into and much more.
The picture above is of the Nabro Volcano which is so remote we only have
pictures from space to use for information. More from NASA below:
After nearly a week of explosive activity, Eritrea’s Nabro Volcano seems to
be evolving toward a milder, more effusive eruption. By June 19, 2011, the
altitude of Nabro’s ash plume dropped from a maximum of 45,000 feet (14,000
meters) to 25,000 feet (7,600 meters), according to the Joint Air Force &
Army Weather Information Network. The shrinking plume revealed a 15-kilometer
(9.3-mile) lava flow, visible in this thermal infrared, false-color image.
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)
aboard the Terra satellite observed Nabro on the evening of June 19. Hot
areas are bright, and cold areas are dark. Thermal infrared data were
combined with a shaded relief image to show the terrain. The white feature
exending to the northwest is an active lava flow. A high-altitude plume,
likely rich in water vapor, is nearly black, and obscures the erupting vents.
A diffuse, ash-rich plume to the southwest of Nabro appears purple.
Because the volcano is located in a remote, hard-to-access region, satellite
images provide valuable insight into the nature of the eruption. The lava
flow fans out in the flat plain, providing a clue that it is probably basalt
lava, which is thinner (less viscous) than other types, says volcanologist
Eric Klemetti in his analysis of the image. Basalt lava can travel long
distances before cooling, thus covering a wide area.
Prior to June 12, 2011, Nabro had not erupted in recorded history. It is
unknown when the volcano last erupted. The volcano is one of many along
Africa’s Great Rift Valley, which is slowly spreading apart.
Monday, June 20,
A bit of sad news as the male gecko passed away today. He stopped eating and
finally succumbed to the parasite which also took the girl. His cage was kept
on our kitchen island where I could watch over him and try and keep him
comfortable.
Not sure if I want any pets next year. I may wait awhile to decide. If you
have any suggestions please feel free to share them with me.
Finally, we will have some summer heat this week. Use sunscreen and go out
and enjoy our beautiful planet.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Check out this link to the volcanic ash/smoke plume from the Nabro Volcano in
Eritrea. The ash travels west then makes a u-turn to the north-east across
Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and points east.
http://www.irishweatheronline.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/06/animation.t1308083483898539.gif
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I hope everyone is having a good start to summer.
I will try and keep you updated on the Earth's interesting developments.
Freddy,
If you read this here is an answer to your question but your email in Mexico
is not letting me send to you directly.
Clouds make thunder ONLY when there is lightning, even if you can't see it.
The lightning is so hot (hotter than the sun!) it makes the air expand and
move as fast as it does in an explosion.
If you are anywhere near Mexico City, the volcano is smoking there and Colima
Volcano is active this week tambien. You should be able to see the smoke/ash
if you are in Guadalajara of the Colima Volcano if it is not cloudy.
IN OTHER VOLCANO NEWS:
Two in Mexico, 5 in Russia, the big one in Chile and several in the South
Pacific are currently erupting.
THIS JUST IN:
Nabro, a stratovolcano in the northeast African nation of Eritrea, rumbled to
life late in the evening on June 12, 2011, following a series of earthquakes.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua
satellite captured this natural-color image the next day.
Initial reports from news agencies and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in
Toulouse, France, proclaimed the eruption to be occurring at Dubbi, a volcano
further south. But later reports from volcanologists, field scientists, and
the satellite image above appear to confirm the eruption at Nabro. There are
no historical reports of eruptions at Nabro before today.
The volcano is part of a larger complex with several nested calderas nearby.
It is part of the East African Rift, where the African continent is slowly
pulling apart due to tectonic plate movements.
I hope you are having a great summer.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Have a Great Summer!!
Watch out for Volcanoes!
Email me with updates of your summer or any cool new science stuff you come
across.
Tuesday, May 17,
LASER TAG AND MORE!
On Tuesday May 31st, Mr. Loudon’s classes are invited to join in fun to
celebrate everyone’s hard work with Accelerated Math. We will be meeting at
Golfland Sunsplash on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 around 5:45 PM. I have arranged
an hour of Laser Tag and a place to hang out upstairs. Everyone is welcome.
Please invite family or friends. Students who meet their goals in math will
been given letters for free games. I will hand out tickets and tokens for
games at the event. If your student does not qualify for free games, you are
still welcome to come and play with us! Laser Tag will be 2 for 1 so $5.00
gets you TWO games. Brothers, sisters, etc. are welcome to attend.
Please encourage your student to continue working hard the next 2 weeks to
qualify for FREE LASER TAG!
There are lots of other things to do at Golfland Sunsplash. Plenty of video
arcades and mini-golf games are available. The water park will also be open
but I do not encourage anyone going to the water rides. You might find me at
the Go Carts later on in the evening.
Golfland Sunsplash will be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. So please plan on having an
adult supervisor. This is NOT a school event and I CANNOT supervise any
student.
The Laser Tag starts at 6:00 PM and I will be playing the first game. Come
upstairs and join with all your friends from school for a fun evening. I plan
on being there until around 8:00 or later but I cannot be sure your child has
left at the end of the evening.
There will be some snacks (not a meal) and additional food can be purchased.
I hope to see you there.
Mr. Loudon
Friends and family are welcome to attend.
GOLFLAND SUNSPLASH
1893 TAYLOR RD.
ROSEVILLE, CA 95661
916-784-1273
Head north from Cooley Middle School on Blue Oaks Blvd.
Get on Highway 65 SOUTH
Exit at Galleria Blvd.
Turn Left at Roseville Parkway
Sunsplash is on the right just over the freeway
Friday, April 15,
SPRING BREAK!
All students in class today were handed a progress report for Math and
Science. Please REVIEW SIGN AND RETURN this report. Any missing assignments
"Z" on the grade should be completed over the break. ALL ASSIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN
ENTERED INTO THE GRADEBOOK.
Have a great break, HAPPY EARTH DAY!, enjoy our beautiful climate.
Sunday, March 27
The Climate Brochures have all been graded. There is one "no-name" on
"Chaparal", which I believe is from 6th period. If you have a "Z" that means I
do not have your brochure. Since the brochure is worth 60 summative (test)
points your grade for the trimester WILL NOT recover if you do not turn in the
brochure!
Tuesday, March 22
All work is graded EXCEPT for the Climate Brochure. I apologize for the
delay.
There are LOTS of NO NAME papers on my wall! OVER 15 NO NAMES. Please check
for your missing work. Papers will be filed tomorrow and you can search for
missing work on Thursday.
GOOD NEWS!
Our two classes, Periods 1/2 and 5/6, scored the HIGHEST (we tied with Mr.
Blake) on the 6th grade district wide benchmark Math test! 79% of all my
students demonstrated proficiency on the test. That is almost 4 out of every 5
students. I am so proud of you! With the STAR test only 6 weeks away, we are
on track for fantastic results!
There will be a substitute on Wednesday, March 23rd. I am taking my son for
his driving test and I guess they frown on student drivers driving themselves
to the test. If he passes, you might want to stay off the road for a couple of
weeks!!! Just kidding, he drives like my grandmother.
Tuesday, Mar 1
Good Question Emily
The picture today is of SMOG in China on February 20, 2011. As you can see the
extra unburnt part of factories, cars, fires, etc. causes lots of smoke. This
smoke can trap heat in the atmosphere by not letting the heat of the Earth
back into space. This heats the atmosphere. Heat is a form of energy which can
be easily used. Heat creates air pressure differences. Air pressure
differences creates wind. Wind helps storms get bigger.
#8) What human activities are causing extra heat (energy) to go into the
atmosphere?
Think about what things we do which requires us to change energy (burn plants
like coal) to help us do things. Since energy only changes from one thing to
another then when we burn something we can use the heat to power something
else. But where does the extra little pieces of burnt stuff (smoke) go? This
includes car exhaust, factories, power for lights, heating your house, pool,
etc. All those little pieces of leftover burning (smoke) goes into our
atmosphere which blocks the extra heat from leaving the Earth. The heat
bounces back and warms all the air a little tiny bit. Over time, the extra
heat (energy) in the air allows for more energy in storms so the storms can
get bigger and bigger.
Friday, Feb 25
The END OF THE TRIMESTER IS FRIDAY, MARCH 4. All work on my desk has been
entered into the Gradebook and the grades are correct as of today.
IF YOU WANT A DIFFERENT GRADE YOU NEED TO RETAKE A TEST!
You only have until Thursday after school to retake any test. Please check the
online gradebook (link to the left) and check your grade. We do not have any
more tests scheduled which will count for the 2nd trimester so what you see is
what you will get.....unless you act NOW!
If you are up early on Saturday morning look for SNOW! A really cold weather
front is hitting us from Eastern Alaska/Western Canada. This air is more
Continental Polar than we are used to here in California. It was fun to have a
little hail again today and possibly some snow in the Central Valley on
Saturday. This is likely to be our last cold snap of the year and then it is
on to SPRING!
Have a fun, safe weekend.
Thursday, Feb 10
If you can find the error between the picture above and the text which follows
I will give you a candy bar! Email me with your discovery of how NASA is not
really explaining the picture (hint: chapter 7 in math)
During the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2010–2011, unusually cold
temperatures and heavy snowstorms plagued North America and Europe, while
conditions were unusually warm farther north. Now the U.S. National Snow and
Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has reported that Arctic sea ice was at its lowest
extent ever recorded for January (since satellite records began).
This image shows the average Arctic sea ice concentration for January 2011,
based on observations from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS
(AMSR-E) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. Blue indicates open water; white
indicates high sea ice concentrations; and turquoise indicates loosely packed
sea ice. The yellow line shows the average sea ice extent for January from
1979 through 2000.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
On Wednesday, February 16th, the school nurse will be presenting the family
life lesson for 6th grade boys and girls at Cooley.
If you returned the prior notice stating that you want your child to
participate, your child will view the video, receive a pamphlet and be
involved in the discussion that follows. We encourage all parents to discuss
with their child the information that he or she will receive on that day. If
you have checked no on the prior notice, your child will participate in an
alternative activity.
Should you need an additional permission slip, you can print one from the
Cooley website, or pick one up from the school office or get one off my desk.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY 1/2 CLASS!
Our 1/2 period class raised $198.42 for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser!
WOW!
In celebration, I will be providing PIZZA and SODA for all 1/2 students
tomorrow, February 11th at lunch.
Way to go!
The Chapter 7 Science Test is finally completed. I changed some of the values
of the questions and the test is scored out of 30 points not 32 as written.
The overall scores are correct, meaning if your test says 26/32 your actual
score is 26/30.
Friday, Jan 14
A good week overall.
The picture above is Mt Etna in Italy on January 12 of this year. It is one of
the most active volcanoes in the world and it began putting out rivers of lava
on Wednesday.
In class, we have been studying about the atmosphere and working on percents
of tax, discounts and interest. We talked about how a bank works and how
interest affects borrowing and saving money.
OH! DON'T FORGET TO ASK "WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?" and "WHY ARE SUNSETS RED?". We
have covered this in the last couple of days. Hint: It is not the ocean
reflecting blue....
Thursday, Jan 6
The picture of the OZONE "HOLE" is from NASA, as well as the information
following. Remember, ozone is created by the inefficient burning of carbon
(fossil fuels), where unburnt carbon releases extra oxygen which bonds to form
O3 or ozone, rather than combining to form carbon dioxide CO2. Ozone in the
upper atmosphere is good, it protects us from harmful radiation. Ozone in the
lower atmosphere is bad, it creates SMOG and hurts lungs and plants.
The following is from NASA:
The yearly depletion of stratospheric ozone over Antarctica – more commonly
referred to as the “ozone hole” – started in early August 2010 and is now
expanding toward its annual maximum. The hole in the ozone layer typically
reaches its maximum area in late September or early October, though
atmospheric scientists must wait a few weeks after the maximum to pinpoint
when the trend of ozone depletion has slowed down and reversed.
The hole isn’t literal; no part of the stratosphere — the second layer of the
atmosphere, between 8 and 50 km (5 and 31 miles) — is empty of ozone.
Scientists use "hole" as a metaphor for the area in which ozone concentrations
drop below the historical threshold of 220 Dobson Units. Historical levels of
ozone were much higher than 220 Dobson Units, according to NASA atmospheric
scientist Paul Newman, so this value shows a very large ozone loss.
Earth's ozone layer protects life by absorbing ultraviolet light, which
damages DNA in plants and animals (including humans) and leads to skin cancer.
Wednesday, Dec 29
Only 4 more days until we meet again!
Science TEST grades are posted. Tomorrow....Math TEST grades....hopefully.
Friday, Dec 17
Wishing you and all you know, a Happy, Safe and Wonder-filled Holiday. We will
get together again on January 3rd. Until then, keep your eyes and your mind
open to enjoy all the wonders of nature, science and math.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
The image of the US Map shows the average - above average temperatures for
this past year. Notice how the areas near an ocean remained closer to normal
than areas farther from oceans. The upper northeast portion of the US has most
of it's air is carried in from the west and south, which means the wind blows
out to the ocean so the ocean does not have as much of a cooling effect. As
the Earth warms, for whatever reasons, more energy is added to the ATMOSPHERE
in the form of HEAT. Since energy never goes away, it only changes form, AND
Energy is the ability to do work or cause change, more energy in the
atmosphere means more ability to cause change. More energy, in the form of
heat, means storms can be larger, high temperatures can be hotter and cold
temperature and snow can be colder than normal. It's all about how much things
can change. It takes just as much energy to cool things off as heat them up.
More energy means a greater ability to change the weather hotter AND colder.
So when you hear stories about record cold, snow, rain, heat and drought,
remember, it's just the Earth balancing out the extra energy which has been
added to the system.
Friday, Dec 10
I handed out MISSING ASSIGNMENT REPORTS today to all students with missing
assignments for this trimester. Please ask your student if they received one -
it may need to be signed! I only handed out the report to students who have a
'Z' on any assignments. Please check the online gradebook for up to date
status.
ALL HOMEWORK HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO GRADEBOOK. Including anything you found or
turned in today. If you have a "Z" it is a missing assignment! Use this
weekend to catch-up!
We watched a video on Tsunami's today. The picture above is a Mosque in
Sumatra, after the December 26, 2004 Earthquake/Tsunami. You can see the
damage caused
as the wave went up to the 2nd balcony. The bottom doorway is over 10 feet
high.
Wednesday, Dec 8
Earlier this week I showed a photo of some volcanoes in Russia. I noted that
Kizimen volcano has not erupted since 1928. See the photo at the bottom of
this page. The photo above shows the Kizimen Volcano on November 22nd this
year. It is definitely active and perhaps one of the next to erupt. The steam
vent is called a fumarole. This photo shows that things might be heating up
once again.
Monday, Dec 6
This astronaut photograph of snow-covered volcanoes on Russia’s Kamchatka
Peninsula illustrates one of the unique attributes of the International Space
Station—the ability to view landscapes at an angle, rather than the
straight-down view typical of many satellite-based sensors. This oblique view,
together with shadows cast by the volcanoes and mountains, provides
perspective about the topography of the region.
Kronotsky and Kizimen stratovolcanoes are distinguished by their symmetrical
cones. Kizimen last erupted in 1928, while Kronotsky—one of the largest on the
peninsula—last erupted in 1923.
Schmidt Volcano, to the north of Kronotsky, has the morphology of a shield
volcano and is not known to have erupted since humans have been keeping
records.
To the south (left) is Krasheninnikov, comprised of overlapping
stratovolcanoes that formed within an earlier caldera. Krasheninnikov may have
last erupted in 1550. Two summit craters are clearly visible.
Lake Kronotsky is Kamchatka’s largest lake. It formed when lava flows from
Kronotsky Volcano dammed the Listvenichnaya River.
The Kamchatka Peninsula lies along the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The
ring is characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes associated
with the many active and transform boundary zones around the Pacific tectonic
plate. There are 114 volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula that have erupted
during the Holocene Epoch (approximately 12,000 years ago to the present).
Friday, Dec 3
The picture above is an excellent view of two REVERSE FAULTS in Peru. The
earthquake is back and below the ground level fault. You can almost see how
the angle of the break is down and toward the ocean. The exact spot of the
quake is where the Earth first moves or quakes. From that point, everything
around shakes and often moves inches to several feet. This quake moved the
fault edges about 5 or 6 feet up and on top of the other, lower rocks, moving
the ground to the right in the picture above.
Report cards were handed out this week. Please ask to see them from your
student.
Science project grades can be improved by writing an essay of a journey to the
center of the Earth, describing all the conditions (temperatures, materials,
consistency of the material, and depth or thickness of each layer. The Layers
Project counts for the 2nd trimester so current grades in Science reflect the
project score.
Tuesday, Nov 16
So how do I find the temperature and composition of the Lithosphere and the
Asthenosphere?
Okay,
The lithosphere and asthenosphere are BOTH part of the mantle. So the
composition (materials it is made out of) is THE SAME AS THE MANTLE.
But the lithosphere is REALLY hard and the asthenosphere is solid but getting
soft because one is hotter than the other.
The temperature of the MANTLE ranges from 870 - 4400 degrees Celcius. The
RANGE is about 3600 degrees (4400 - 900 = 3600)
The lithosphere is about 1/12 of the Mantle so the temperature ranges from
about 870 - 1170 degrees (warm - for rocks)
The ansthenosphere is about 3/12 of the mantle so the temperature ranges from
about 1170 - 2200 degrees (hot - for rocks)
The lower mantle is the rest of the way or 8/12 so the temperature ranges from
about 2200 - 4400 degrees (really hot - almost melted)
:D
Sunday, Nov 7
WHY HOMEWORK MATTERS
In grading the first part of the Math test I discovered some very interesting
facts about homework and grades.
The FACT IS:
Students with ONLY 1 or more missing homework assignments for Chapter 4 scored
MUCH LOWER than students who did all their homework. The result is startling.
Even more so when I look at students who "pretend" to do the work by writing
down the problem and answer but either show no work or when they do the work
they OBVIOUSLY DO NOT LOOK AT THE BOOK ANSWER to see if they did the problem
correctly.
The numbers:
1st period:
Students with ONLY 1 or more missing assignments AVERAGED 65%
Students with NO MISSING assignments AVERAGED 83%
5th period:
Students with ONLY 1 or more missing assignments AVERAGED 74%
Students with NO MISSING assignments AVERAGED 86%
How can I put this.......IF YOU WANT A B OR BETTER IN MATH...........
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND AFTER RE-WORKING THE PROBLEM
WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER!!!
PARENTS: I give the answers to every problem so the student can check if they
are doing the work correctly. If your student is not checking their own
homework then I guess someone must remind them!
I had my substitute pass out missing assignments last week. However, he failed
to pass out the notice for 5th/6th period. I will hand those out on Monday.
Please ask your student to see their missing assignment report if they have
any missing work in the online grade book.
Thursday, Oct 28
I am very sorry about the homework tonight. I did update the homework page
however I forgot to select October as the month! OOPS!
Dang.
Anyway, since everyone had a chance to get started in class today I expect
you will be able to complete the math homework. The science is not due until
Tuesday so if you don't get that done it is fine. We will go over the Science
in class, a bit, tomorrow, Friday.
Monday is a NON-SCHOOL DAY.
Friday is the Monster Mash Mile, and I'm sure the "Candy Fairy" will be
making an appearance. Our class raise over $1,000.00! That is FANTASTIC.
I hope everyone had fun and learned a few things with the River Lab this
week. A ton of work for me but worth it to see how much everyone enjoys the
lab.
Go Giants!
Friday, Oct 22
All homework turned in today has been entered in the Grade Book. I handed out
missing assignment reports for Math and Science today and if a student "found"
the work (backpack, book,folder, crumpled up ball,) and turned it in I counted
it today. So, if you have any "Z's" in your grades that means your work is
missing. You have no assigned homework, the mall is closed, and it's probably
going to rain.....COMPLETE ANY MISSING ASSIGNMENTS!!!!
Have a nice weekend.
Monday, Oct 18
I have had several students mention that the online textbook is slow or not
loading. I just tried and it appears that the link is working again. Please
try again.
At the halfway mark of the trimester, 50 out of 63 of my students in Math have
80% or better! Of those 13 who are less than 80% ALL BUT ONE are missing at
least one homework assignment, and ALL of the students below 80% have at least
one LATE assignment!
Only ONE of the students who have a grade above 90% are missing ANY homework.
The one student exception is only missing one assignment from earlier in the
year.
HOMEWORK MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Get your homework done, on time, complete, check the answers, ask questions!
Enough said.
Tuesday, Oct 12
Today was exhausting, at least for me. The lab we did was very involved and
time consuming. Hopefully everyone got a chance to practice measuring and
recording data. We graphed our results and I saw a lot of good work. Tonight,
please at least think about the analysis of your data. Try and divide the
width by the height of each measurement. USE A CALCULATOR. We are focusing on
the data not the dividing decimals....yet.
For each measurement in the lab today. Divide the width by the height. If you
got Height of 1.5 cm and a width of 12 cm, you would divide 12 by 1.5 and get
a relationship of 8 to 1. That is for every 1 cm in height the sand hill was 8
cm in width (sounds about right). Try it again for the next measurement.
Trial 1 1.5H = 12W.....divide 12 by 1.5 and you get H = 8W
Trial 2 2H = 14W.....divide 14 by 2 and you get H = 7W
Trial 3 2.5H = 15W.....divide 15 by 2.5 and you get H = 6W
Oh so it changes as you get higher? But does it stop? Would the sand hill
eventually get to the Height is the SAME as the Width?
Trial 4 3H = 19W.....divide 19 by 3 and you get H = 6.3W
Trial 5 3H = 20W..................................H = 6.7W
Looks like it is going back up.... or is it just getting closer to a final
amount?
See what numbers you come up with and we will discuss it on Wednesday.
We will complete the Analysis and Conclusion in class so don't worry if you
are still confused. Just try the division and USE A CALCULATOR!
Thursday, Oct 7
Well after only getting at most 2 emails in any one night, tonight I have no
less than 15. Of course it was during the Giants playoff game so now it
should be about your bedtime.
Obviously several students are confused about the homework. So tomorrow we
will spend time completing the homework and no one will be considered late.
However, we obviously need more practice so we will have to have review and
have a few practice problems before we go on.
Thank everyone for your emails and hopefully we can straighten everything out
on Friday.
Copy and paste the link below to your toolbar and go right to the online
video support for Thursday's homework lesson 2 - 8
http://my.hrw.com/math06_07/nsmedia/homework_help/msm1_ca/msm1_ca_ch02_08.html
Wednesday, Oct 6
The Math test is entered in the Grade Book. There are two grades. One is for
chapter 2 (26 points) and the other is review for chapter 1 (8 points).
Retakes are allowed but with a few requirements:
1. Correct errors on test on a separate piece of paper
2. ALL Chapter 2 homework must be either a 5 or a 10. Re-do any missing or
incomplete assignments.
3. Schedule the retake with me for before school, during lunch, or after
school.
4. I will provide extra practice to be completed before you retake the test.
You must score 80% or better on Accelerated Math worksheets I provide.
5. I am here before school, during lunch, or after school for tutoring. Please
feel free to stay or come early to get extra help.
Tonight's homework:
Please make sure you identify your variables. Such as #9
Prizes = p
Points = m
Write the equation
2850m = 19p
Then try and reduce it to a smaller equation. Divide each side by 19 and you
get 150m = 1p. Which means you need 150 points for each prize.
Monday, Oct 4
Hi Mr.Loudon!
I don't get question 20 on our math homework and I was wondering if you could
help me with it.
Thanks! Bye!
~Molly Taing
Thank you for the question.
If a number is on the X - axis (the X number line) that means Y must be
neither up or down. So...Y must EQUAL zero (0).
If a number is on the Y - axis (the Y number line) that means X must be
neither left or right. So X MUST equal zero (0)
Think about the following coordinates:
(3,0) (5,0) (7,0) all would be on the X - axis, 3 right, zero up, 5 right,
zero up or down, 7 right, zero up or down.
Same thing for the reverse.
(0,2) and (0,-4) these would be straight up and down from each other, on the Y
- axis. Neither left or right, just up or down.
We will practice more tomorrow.
Wednesday, Sept 29
No Homwork Tonight! The evacuation drill didn't allow us to completely review
for the Science test so we will put off the Science Test until Tuesday.
I highly RECOMMEND watching "How The Earth Was Made" videos on the History
Channel RIGHT NOW until 8:00 PM tonight.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Asteroids
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Vesuvius Volcano
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Mariana Trench - Deepest place on Earth
Check it out!
Monday, Sept 27
We learned a little about the Dust Bowl period of US history. Without soil,
survival is difficult. The picture above is millions of tons of soil blown in
drifts high enough to bury a car up to the steering wheel. That's a lot,
especially if you think that it is this deep as far as you can see....
Thursday, Sept 23
A pretty good week this week. I hope your clothes didn't get dirty from the
soil. Or at least not soiled from the humus, clay, sand, gravel, worm, etc.
mixture. :)
1st period had 100% homework turn in AND everyone scored a perfect 10! Nice
job.
We will probably have a Chapter 2 Math Test on Thursday. It will cover
adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with all integers (positive and
negative whole numbers). Expect a couple of word problems (diving, money) and
some algebraic problems to solve. Think -3x = 12, or -5 + x = 10.
Science will have a test as well. Most likely on Wednesday. This test will
cover chapter 2. I will expect you can describe things like the rock cycle,
kinds of rocks, weathering (mechanical or chemical), soil horizons, the way
soil forms, and soil conservation - how to protect soil...Why? It grows
pretty much everything we eat for one good reason.
All math and science homework is current in the Gradebook.
Thursday, Sept 16
STOP THE PRESSES! HOLY COW! YOWIEE!
Where did I get such incredible students?
The CLASS AVERAGES for the Math TEST.
1st period............93% The AVERAGE is an A!
5th period............90% The AVERAGE is an A-!
WOW!
Science TEST
2nd period............85%
5th period............85%
A TIE!
I have such GREAT students!!!!!!
Monday, Sept 13
I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was busy so I did not complete the
science test grading yet.
I am still missing a lot of PROGRESS REPORTS (ASSIGNMENT REPORT). They are due
Tuesday. Please ask your student or share with your parent and get it signed
and returned.
We have a Math test this week. Thursday looks like the day. One more day of
chapter 1, a day of review and then the test. In Science, we just got started
with my "box of rocks" when the mini day cut us short. We will start again on
Tuesday.
Friday, Sept 10
Nothing worse than writing a huge blog and having the work disappear when I go
to save it. Oh well. I did so much I couldn't bring myself to retype the whole
thing from Wednesday.
We had a science test today and the results show the test was way too easy!
Great job everyone.
I sent home Math progress reports today! Parents please check and sign the
report. Rewards for bringing it back Monday and trouble for bringing it back
after Wednesday. We have a MATH TEST next week and the missing or incomplete
homework needs to be brought up to standard before the test.
In the past, the average test score for students with 100% homework BEFORE the
test is over 90%. Students with less than perfect homework (I only count
completion not correctness) average less than 75%! Pretty simple to understand
why homework is important.
Have a great weekend!
Go Bears! Cal not Chicago...
Friday, Sept 3
Welcome new members to the Topo club. If you don't know ask your student!
We had a great week, finishing off with our "map in a pan". Homework is
getting better. Several students reworking homework from the first two weeks
and recieving FULL CREDIT.
We started Accelerated Math in class this week. I was impressed that most of
the class voted to "keep doing math" rather than watch an Earth video. We
watched the video but I saw several students "sneaking extra math practice"
hahahah!
Many parents might be amazed to hear their student almost begging to do more
math. I love it!
Enjoy your labor day. But don't be shocked if you catch someone trying to do
extra math!:)
Thursday, Sept 2
It was great to see so many parents at Back To School Night!
We are still having a few "NO NAMES" papers. Please make sure your name and
assignment is on the top of the work.
1st period had fun drawing maps and writing on our hands - we used washable
markers see how well you can wash your hands! 5th period did not get quite so
far. A much more chatty group but lots of good questions. We will do the lab
for 5th period on Friday after our first Quiz.
Please make sure you are looking at the problems you missed on today's
Accelerated Math work. The test will be VERY similar. Study any areas you
missed in chapter 1 sections 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-5.
All the grades are now current again as of tonight. If you have a Z it is
either not turned in or is on the "NO NAME" board!
Tuesday, August 30
The picture above is as of August 30th. It shows 3 hurricanes developing in
the Atlantic. Expect at least one of these to reach the eastern US by late
this week or early next.
Back To School Night is Wednesday, September 1st! Minimum Day!
Homework:
Writing the answer from the back of the math book for ODD numbered problems
is REQUIRED.
To receive full credit on math homework:
Write/copy the problem or provide a table of information on word problems.
COPY the answer from the back of the book (BOB) on ODD numbered problems.
SHOW WORK for each problem.
CHECK THE ANSWER with the answer copied from the back of the book.
10 - full credit
3 - incomplete, BOB answers missing, and/or work not shown
5 - complete but late
0 - turned in but so incomplete the assignment was worthless
Z - missing, assignment is missing (no name??)
blank - not graded yet.
Thursday, August 26
YEA! 1st Period 100% MATH HOMEWORK TURN IN!! - Treats???
5th Period missing 2 - Next time!
Excellent work for the first assignment.
Wednesday, August 25
Wow! What a great start to the year. The classes are great! Everyone is
participating well and we are on our way...
Check out the online textbooks on my Links page! You can get ALL the homework
pages for Math and Science. There is a Video Tutor for Math. The codes are on
the Link description.
Books
If you want to use the online textbooks you can leave your book at school.
Cover the book
Write your name in INK on the inside and on the OUTSIDE cover.
Check the homework page often or call 771-1745 ext 177 for my daily voicemail
of the homework.
I think everyone liked the cookie lab! The lab write-ups look very good so
far.
Homework - Starts tonight!
Thursday, August 19
Welcome to Cooley! It was nice to meet some of you on Check In Night. I hope
you check this site often. I will post homework daily. There are links to our
Online textbooks, Pre-tests, Study Guides, Science sites, and even a few games
for when you are done with your homework. You or your parents can sign up for
an RSS FEED so that when I update they will a notice.
I am looking forward to another great year!
By the way, check out the hurricane forming in the East Atlantic (bottom
right)....next week??
Friday, August 13
I observed several fireballs last night around 1:00AM. One was very bright and
traveled about 8 inches across the sky. It had a long tail and was white in
front, yellow/red behind. Tonight, Friday should also be excellent for sky
watching. Be patient, just gaze at the stars and your eyes will automatically
pick up any movement. I used a blanket, not for warmth, but to keep mosquitoes
away.
Wednesday, August 11
Observed a meteor tonight! 11:45 PM. Very bright fire ball from just above
the cup part of the Big Dipper through the handle and heading west. It lasted
about 2 seconds and about 5 inches long across the sky. Orange/red.
Today until Friday night, is the best time to observe meteors this year
Check it out!
Thursday, August 4
Perseid Meteor Shower Lights Up August Skies!!
The night of August 12 - 13 plan to stay up a little later. This year's
meteor shower promises to be be one of the best in quite a while. Find an
open area (Cooley football field?), a reclining chair or blanket and watch
the night sky starting just after the moon sets but after midnight is best.
This year promises to have up to 80 meteors per hour! At the least, you
should be able to spot about one meteor every 2 or 3 minutes. This annual
event is like the the solar system having a fireworks show to end every
summer. Check it out!
VIEWING TIPS:
Whether viewing from your front porch or a mountaintop, be sure to dress for
success. This means clothing appropriate for cold overnight temperatures,
which might include mittens or gloves, and blankets. This will enable you to
settle in without having to abandon the meteor-watching because your fingers
are starting to turn colors.
Next, bring something comfortable sit on. While Mother Nature can put on a
magnificent celestial display, meteor showers rarely approach anything on the
scale of a July 4th fireworks show. Plan to be patient and watch for at least
a half-hour. A reclining chair will make it far more comfortable to keep your
gaze on the night sky.
Lastly, put away the telescope or binoculars. Using either reduces the
amount of sky you can see at one time, lowering the odds that you'll see
anything but dark sky. Instead, let your eyes hang loose and not look in any
one specific spot. Relaxed eyes will quickly zone in on any movement up
above, and you'll be able to spot more meteors.
The meteor showers listed below will provide casual meteor observers with the
most bang for their buck. They are the easiest to observe and most active.
All these showers are best enjoyed in the hours after midnight.
Perseids
Comet of origin: 109P/Swift-Tuttle
Radiant: constellation Perseus
Active: Perseids begin to rise early August.
Peak Activity: Night of Aug. 12-13
Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 50 meteors per hour
Time of optimal viewing: Crescent moon will set early in the evening,
allowing for dark skies all the way up until peak viewing just before dawn
Meteor Velocity: 61 kilometers (38 miles) per second
Note: The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most consistent performers and
considered by many as this year's best shower. The meteors they produce are
among the brightest of all meteor showers.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19
We are starting a project on climate zones of the world. Each student will
report on ONE zone by creating a "travel brochure" for that climate. Below is
the grading rubric which every student will
receive. Please use this as a check off to ensure complete information. This
is a summative (test points) graded project.
CLIMATE BROCHURE (60 POINTS) DUE MAY 28, 2010
CREATE A TRAVEL BROCHURE, WHICH DEPICTS A SPECIFIC CLIMATE REGION OF THE
WORLD. THE BROCHURE SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
TYPE OF CLIMATE (PG 364 - 365 IN SCIENCE BOOK) OR MY WEBSITE
INCLUDE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION
TYPE OF PLANTS (PICTURE)
TYPE OF ANIMALS (PICTURE)
TYPICAL WEATHER (SUMMER AND WINTER)
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT (AND WHY)
TYPE OF CLOTHING A VISITOR SHOULD BRING TO WEAR
TYPE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES A VISITOR MIGHT DO IN THAT REGION
A MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF YOUR CLIMATE AREA
A CITY IN THAT CLIMATE REGION
THE KIND OF ADAPTATIONS A PLANT HAS TO SURVIVE IN THAT REGION
THE KIND OF ADAPTATIONS AN ANIMAL HAS TO SURVIVE IN THAT REGION
BROCHURES NEED TO BE ON CONSTRUCTION PAPER (OR BETTER) WITH CAPTIONS FOR EACH
PICTURE. BROCHURES CAN BE HAND MADE.
______/5 CONSTRUCTION PAPER OR BETTER
______/5 TYPE OF CLIMATE (NAME + DESCRIPTION)
______/5 AVE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION
______/5 TYPE OF PLANTS FOUND
______/5 TYPE OF ANIMALS FOUND
______/5 TYPICAL WEATHER (SUMMER AND WINTER)
______/5 BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT (AND WHY)
______/5 CLOTHING (WHAT TO WEAR/BRING) (HOW HUMANS
ADAPT!)
______/5 OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES (WHAT TO DO OUTSIDE)
______/5 MAP INCLUDE OR LIST A CITY IN THE REGION
______/5 PLANT ADAPTATION
______/5 ANIMAL ADAPTATION