The information below shows what will be happening in Mr. Willsea's science
class through the year. I will update this information weekly to reflect what we will do in the
coming week. If you will be absent on a certain day, you can look ahead (through the current week)
to see what you will miss. New information will be shown at the top, old information at the bottom.
And thus we begin Quarter 2:
Week 6: November 30 - December 4, 2009
All Grades: Storyboards collected on Monday. The FINAL paper and PRESENTATION are due on
Monday of next week.
7th grade:
M - Going over safety issues e-mail, and what to expect for the presentations next week. We will
look at a couple examples of posters from previous years.
T - Reading about Mendeleev and Periodic table. Can you survive the 4th grade test in chemistry?
See http://www.quia.com/jg/1252078.html for the activities.
W - Table by table challenge of the Quia information (above)
Th - something lab-y, TBA
F - Warm Up draw, and last minute questions on the Sci project.
8th Grade:
M - Going over safety issues e-mail, and what to expect for the presentations next week. We will
look at a couple examples of posters from previous years.
T - Creating a Quia page with the remaining electricity terms to know for the final (Last week of
December.
W - Intro to Magnets with Mr. Nye.
Th - Notes and review of all concepts for Magnetism and Electricity.
F - Warm Up Draw, and answering any last minute questions on the Project.
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Week 5: November 23 & 24, 2009
All grades: Rough drafts will be returned Monday. These will need to be stapled (or clipped) to their
final copies.
NEXT PART OF THE SCIENCE PROJECT DUE MONDAY NOVEMBER 30. The storyboards are explained
on the documents page, under the project due dates.
There are no new warm-ups this week.
All classes:
Monday: Rough drafts returned today. We'll look at the next assignment that is due, and some of
the common missteps in the rough draft. Investigating the partial knowledge that comes from
investigating science.
Tuesday: Students will practice the storyboards, which is the next part of the science project that is
due. Two students from each class will earn a perfect score on the next assignment based on the
work they do in class today. Can anyone catch defending champs Gabi, or Becca?
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WEEK 4 November 16 - 20, 2009
For all classes, Rough drafts due this Friday
7th grade:
M - We will talk about the rough draft, and hand out a checklist that will
help the students write it more clearly. Reviewing the student grades. Practicing the number of P, N,
E in atoms.
Tu - Taking last year's quiz, answers will be gone over in class. This will come home, and is a good
study guide.
W- A puzzle to see if the kids know their atom arrangements.
Th - A chance to work on rough drafts, or have Mr. W. proofread them. Study hall or elements
review before the atoms quiz tomorrow.
F - Small quiz over the number of atoms in atoms, ions and isotopes.
8th grade:
M - We will also look at a checklist to see what is expected for the paper, due Friday. A grade check
will be done in class, and students will make an outline of the chapter on Electrical Current.
Tu - Modelling Ohm's Law. Students will make a tutorial for little kids so they can understand the
concepts of electricity
W - Students work on tutorial.
Th - A chance to work on final drafts, or have them proofread by Mr. W. Study hall, and additions to
the Electricity timeline.
F - Warm up and playing with electro squares.
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Week 3: November 9-13, 2009
All classes: The next part of the science project is the rough draft of the paper. This is due
November 20.
7th grade
M - Defining element, compound, solution, mixture, Physical change, chemical change, conservation
of mass, heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures.
T - The periodic table's history and how the table is arranged
W - What each square of the table tells you, and how to identify elements by their P,N, and E.
Th - Practice Identifying P(rotons), N(eutrons), and E(lectrons)
F - Warm Up draw (aloud)
8th grade
M - What are conductors, insulators and resistors. Making "wires" for the next part of our
experiment.
T - Creating a complete circuit
W - Talking amps, volts, and ohms. What these mean, and creating an analogy using water.
Th - Ohm's Law
F - Warm up draw. (aloud)
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Week 2: November 2 - 6, 2009
Catching up from last week.
Experimental designs are due Monday November 2, 2009
Experimental log is due this Friday November 6, 2009
7th grade:
M - converting units practice. Explaining the experimental log. Creating a grade sheet.
T - Practice converting units. A question on conversions will appear on every test through the rest
of the year (school year) Examples. How many feet in 22 miles. Show the fraction canceling to earn
full credit.
W - In class worksheet for conversions, collected for points.
Th - Bill Nye States of matter
F - Notes on states of matter. Warm up draw, Experimental log collected.
8th grade:
M - converting units practice. Explaining the experimental log. Creating a grade sheet.
T - Practice converting units. A question on conversions will appear on every test through the rest
of the year (school year) Examples. How many feet in 22 miles. Show the fraction canceling to earn
full credit. A worksheet will be collected today in class.
W - Most electrifying student of the class competition. Notes on static electricity.
Th - Making a Leyden Jar in class.
F - Experimental log collected, week 2 warm up draw. Bill Nye Static electricity (worksheet collected.)
Week 1: Oct. 26 - 30, 2009
Both classes will work on conversions and becoming familiar with lab equipment.
Science project: The experimental Design is due this Friday. Class time will be given to talk about it
and
look at examples on Tuesday.
7th and 8th grade:
M - Making sure the grades I have are right.
T - Looking at the next part of the experiment, the experimental design
W - Using the cross-canceling method of unit conversion. Check out the Documents page for the
sheet we are using in class to learn this. It might help to have it. You will get a hard copy in school.
Th- looking at lab equipment and making unit conversions (see
http://www.quia.com/mc/65602.html for a matching game)
F - lots of practice with conversions, warm up draw (includes questions from quarter 1 and 2)
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Week 10: October 12 - 15, 2009
Assignments due this week (all grades):
>Notebook (student's choice as to when to turn it in: Mon, Tues, or Wed.)
>Warm Up Final, Thursday (see the Documents page for the sheet that will be handed out, draw
three from the bucket)
> Notecards due (16 cards due with 3 pieces of info each) on Thursday.
7th and 8th grades:
M - W: class time devoted to working on notecards. My books will be available. If you are done with
notecards and your binder, you make take the warm-up final early. I ask kindly that if you are done
with your work, you not distract others from doing their own.
Th: The warm-up final is done in class.
Extra note for those who are interested (7th only): The cloud test was less than spectacular. I can
tell that several people neglected to look over their notes.
In an attempt to help some of you learn this material, I give you this chance to recover some of your
points. You may create a set of notes on the computer that shows a perfect example of each type of
cloud, something new you have learned about this cloud, and a description IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
How you present these are up to you, provided it has a picture, new info you learned and a
description. If this is done before Thursday, I'll bump your test grade to a 20/23. Please include
cumulus, stratus, nimbostratus, cumulonimbus, and cirrus.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
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Week 9: October 5 - 9, 2009
All classes: next part of the project is the notecards. Sixteen note cards are due on October 15. We
will have classtime devoted to this on Monday, October 12 - Wednesday, October 14. If you are
finished at that time, you will need to bring a book to class. If you are a distraction to others, work
will be found for you to do.
8th grade: Key upcoming dates: Cycles final on Friday (see checklist on the documents page),
Notecards done in class M - W of next week, during that time, notebooks collected (students choose
what day). Notecards collected Thursday Oct. 15. Warm up final Thursday October 15, draw 3
questions.
This week:
M - Finish the practice exam in class over the first 30 minutes of class. In the last half, we will
determine the checklist for the binder.
T - How do you study? Taking a look at the successful practices of your classmates, and a few on-
line resources. We'll peruse the web for some study suggestions. A one-minute search brought me
to http://www.wikihow.com/Study-for-a-Test, a pretty good site with suggestions.
W - One class period will be allotted to organizing the science binder. Students who were absent for
class will be given sheets they missed, students who lost sheets will need to recopy them by hand.
This is also a time to review for the drawing on Friday and prep for the warm-up final.
Th - Boys vs. Girls challenge as a review for the final.
F - Draw all of the cycles on a large sheet of paper in class. This is the same thing we did with notes
in class on Friday. Written warm-up draw.
7th grade: Key upcoming dates: Mini-quiz on clouds and weather symbols on Friday. Notecards
done in class M - W of next week, during that time, notebooks collected (students choose what day).
Notecards collected Thursday Oct. 15. Warm up final Thursday October 15, draw 3 questions.
M - First half of class, determining what should be on the checklist for the first binder check next
week (due M, T or W.) Second half of class will be to double check grades and hand back papers.
T - How do you study? Taking a look at the successful practices of your classmates, and a few on-
line resources. We'll peruse the web for some study suggestions. A one-minute search brought me
to http://www.wikihow.com/Study-for-a-Test, a pretty good site with suggestions.
W - Coloring fronts, both isotherms, and isobars. Bring colored pencils. We wll also have 30 minutes
devoted to organizing the binder in class.
Th - Like the BINGO day last week, I will have a slide presentation to review for the test.
F - An easy little test over clouds and weather symbols.
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Week 8: September 28 - October 2, 2009
All classes: next part of the project is the notecards. Sixteen note cards are due on October 15. We
will have class time devoted to this on Monday, October 12 - Wednesday, October 14.
7th grade:
M - Weather symbols notes. These can be found at the website:
http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/dstreme/extras/wxsym2.html
T - Weather symbol practice
W - Coloring a weather map based on isotherm readings or isobar readings.
Th - Clouds drawing and notes on the types of clouds.
F - Cloud bingo. Warm Up draw.
8th grade:
M - Trophic levels (producer, primary consumer, etc.) notes and photosynthesis terms
(http://www.quia.com/jg/942499.html)
T - Notes on symbiosis and life cycle, and coloring energy pyramid. Check the documents page for
an advanced copy.
W - Last year's carbon/photosynthesis test taken in class. Open notes, not open neighbor. A copy of
the test is available on the documents page.
Th - Checklist for the final (next week Thursday... do not wait to study for this, you have been given
a week to prepare.) Bill Nye Life cycle
F- Warm Up draw, cycles review. Deciding what will be on the checklist for the binder check
(checked on Monday, Tuesday or Wed. , the 12th, 13th or 14th, during the time we do notecards in
class.)
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Week 7: September 21 - 24, 2009
All Classes: Bibliographies are due this Thursday. This means that 8
resources will need to be presented in proper format, including no more than
2 internet and 2 encyclopedias. Mr. Willsea will make his library of science
books available for students on Tuesday It is recommended that you save your books, because the
notecards will be collected on October 15.
7th grade:
M - Practice writing bibliographies. A 14-station practice run. Students who missed the exam on
Friday will have to make this up today in class.
T - Students are invited to bring in their books today to write their
bibliographies using class time. Mr.Willsea will make his books available
for use at this time.
W - Bill Nye Atmosphere
Th - Bibliographies collected. Warm Up draw. Thanks for checking in, but there are no freebies this
week. Weather review bingo.
8th grade:
M - Brief review of the process of writing a bibliography. The project bibliography is due Thursday.
Introducing the Oxygen / Carbon dioxide cycle...aka photosynthesis
T - Students will work on writing bibliographies, and Mr. Willsea will make
his book available for students to use in class. Less than 20 minutes will
be allotted for work on the water cycle lesson.
W - Photosynthesis lab. Data check in class for 5 points
Th - Bibliographies collected, warm up draw. Thanks for checking in, but there are no freebie here
this week.
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Week 6:
Week of Sept. 14 - 18, 2009
Everyone: The bibliography is due in two Thursdays. Don't wait until the
last minute. Mom and dad
don't like surprise "emergency" trips to the library.
ALSO: Midterm grades will be handed out by individual teachers on Wednesday.
7th grade:
M - Quiz your neighbor on the 6 elements of weather (a chance to review),
while students discuss
with Mr. W their grades. Types of precipitation handed out.
T - creating review questions and flashcards using the Quia site. The site
address is:
http://www.quia.com/jg/1715015.html
W - Mini-lab for air pressure. Precipitation logic puzzle. Convection
currents lab
Th -Review for the test
F - Quiz over Elements of weather. Warm Up draw.
8th grade:
Everyone: The bibliography is due in two Thursdays. Don't wait until the
last minute. Mom and dad
don't like surprise "emergency" trips to the library.
ALSO: Midterm grades will be handed out by individual teachers on Wednesday.
M - Notes on the Nitrogen cycle.
T - Science NWEA
W - Reviewing the nitrogen cycle with a class challenge. Website for this
activity:
http://www.quia.com/cb/490123.html Hey lucky reader, if you practice
this at home and are able to get every answer correct, you will be able to
earn 10 free points on Friday's quiz. You will still need to take the test,
but by printing off a sheet that shows a score of 7500, you will get up to 10
free points to raise your test score up to 100. If you get 100, I'll add 5
extra credit points.
Th - Review for quiz
F - Nitrogen cycle quiz. Warm up draw.
Week 5:
Week of Sept. 8 - 11, 2009
EVERYONE: Science Project proposal is due this Friday.
7th grade: This week the students will be starting their studies of weather.
T - Powerpoint presentation on the elements of weather. This is available on
the documents page.
W - Studying seeding clouds. Students will be given a list of court cases,
and will need to decide as
a group what their argument will be for each case. Groups will be student
chosen from within the
same half of the alphabet as their last name.
Th - Class time to prepare arguments.
F - The big debate. Students will EACH turn in their court cases and
explanations at the end of
class.
Students will be graded on their participation and how well thought-out their
arguments are.
Warm
up draw and proposals collected today too.
8th grade: This week students will be beginning a unit on the water cycle.
This unit will end with a presentation to the 2nd grade class, where the
students will need to teach
the little ones the main steps of evaporation, condensation, precipitation,
and collection.
T - Powerpoint presentation on the Water cycle. It is available on the
documents page.
Wed and Thurs - Students prepare to teach the second grade students the water
cycle this Friday.
F - The students will have 30 minutes to teach their topic to the second
graders. Warm-up draw
and
proposals done today too.
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Week 4:
7th grade:
M - Last year's climate exam. This will be ungraded, but will will give the
kids a chance to see what
a Willsea test is like. I will have the kids take this for the first 20
minutes of class, then we will
review the answers. Real test on Friday.
T - Climographs will be compared, and students will make their own.
W - Those who had science yesterday, will have NWEA today, but not both.
Th - Bill Nye Climate
F** - Climate exam. This will be similar to last year's, but will not be
identical. Students should know all terms from the notes taken last week
(see document page).
Warm up questions will be drawn during the test (see document page for all
warm ups and
answers).
For the students who read this, you can earn a perfect score on your warm
ups, by writing the
following phrase (exactly) on your test: "Look at me!! I earned full credit
by reading Teacher Web!"
8th grade:
M- What are the major time periods in Earth's formation. The problems for
Friday's quiz are handed
out today, and are on the documents page.
T - Superposition and radioactive decay.
W - Identifying rocks. Making our own dichotomous keys for rocks.
Th** - Stations with a practice exam for Friday
F** - Rock cycle exam. This will include both written parts and
identification parts. The only notes
allowed are your dichotomous keys. Warm up questions will be drawn during
the test (see
document
page for all warm ups and answers). For the students who read this, you can
earn a perfect score on
your warm ups, by writing the following phrase (exactly) on your test: "Look
at me!! I earned full
credit by reading Teacher Web!"
** Mr. Willsea will be absent for these periods, but the expectations are
that you will continue to
work under his normal class expectations.
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____________________
Week 3: August 24 - 28, 2009
7th grade:
M - Students will take notes on 5 major cases of climate
T - Lab on the difference between land and water heating
W - Graphing yesterday's data, graphs collected for 10 points.
Th - Climate quiz (ungraded) with atlases
F - Bill Nye climate!
8th grade:
M - Students will take picture notes on the Rock Cycle.
T - How the Earth was made video
W - Continued
Th -Finishing video.
F - Using Multiple Intelligences to learn the rock cycle
Week 2 - August 17 - 21, 2009
8th grade and 7th grade will be the same for most of the week as we review
lab procedure and lab
write-ups.
M- Introducing how to write a lab (marble ramp experiment reviewed)
T - 7th - Rainbows in milk (quantitative)
T- 8th - Candle flicker lab
W - Introducing Variables, accuracy, precision (pencil drop lab)
Th- Introducing conclusions and end analysis
F- Quiz over labs, First Warm Up draw.
Week 1 - August 12 - 14, 2009
8th grade and 7t grade will be the same this week:
W - Class rules given out. Students will watch a presentation on Multiple
Intelligences. Quiz
tomorrow
on the 8 intelligences, and one way to study using each.
Th - Ten minutes given to take a quiz on Multiple Intelligences, group photos
will be taken outside,
and
the due dates for the science project will be given out. Students must bring
in their planners.
F - Students will take an assessment to measure their understanding of lab
procedure and
experimental
design. Marble ramp experiment. Students given a checklist without
explanation of terms.
