Everyday

1. Review your notes from class, highlight important information and re-write sections as needed.
   
   
2. Complete the left side of your Interactive Notebook. Identify interactions of Earth's spheres; make connections to prior science learning; write a 2-3 sentence reflection (your thoughts and opinions) concerning today's topic or activity; and plan for your chapter challenge. Make them colorful and creative using pictures, graphic organizers, prose, etc.
   
   
3. Check the Home Page, read recent posts and following any links.
   
   
4. Use the study resources listed on the side bar to delve further into today's topic.
   
   
5. Check the Science News Page to see what is going on in your world.

Keep Studying for Your Tests

Monday all class will be taking the last test of this marking period.

Period 6 Honors: your test will cover just chapter 24 with more focus on sections 1 and 3. Here's the class review presentation.

All others: your test covers all astronomy topics covered so far. This will be open notebook so be sure you have today's review notes (diagram of the moon phases) and the review notes on terrestrial and gas giant planets. Click here for the class notes on planets.

Period 6

Read and take notes on Chapter 24.3. You should have already done 24.1 and 24.2.

You will have a test on chapter 24 on Monday. This will be the last grade for this marking period.

Have you been tracking the setting sun?

Periods 1, 3, 4, and 5

Please remember to get your grade reports signed and turn them in by this Friday to earn 10 points of extra credit!!

Test coming up on Monday. This will be a comprehensive test on astronomy (covers all the material so far): Nebular theory, phases of the moon, tides, earth's rotation/revolution, seasons, terrestrial and jovian planets, and other planetary bodies.

It will be an open notebook test. Do well this is the last grade for this marking period.

Period 6 Honors

Read Chapter 24.1 be sure to take notes on the Key Concepts and vocabulary. Can you answer the Reading Checkpoints and Section Assessment questions? If not, re-read the section.

Be sure you are monitoring the location of sunset to determine how it changes over time.

Periods 1,3,4,5, Test Thursday

This thursday you'll be having a test on the planets and other solar system objects. We've been reviewing this in class for the past couple of days and I decided to do a quick online review as well. Click here to see the review.

Today's Homework

All Classes:

Complete left side. Fill in lunar observations (due tomorrow).

Periods 1,3,4

Work on your planet foldable.

Period 6

Study for your test.

Planet Foldable

Periods 1, 3 and 4. Today you began your planet foldable, these will be due on Friday 2/29. Use the "Earth Science online textbook" link on the right hand sidebar to find the information you need. Look in chapter 23.

Honors Test

This Friday you'll be having a test on chapter 23, the solar system. As we discussed in class, be sure to review the key concepts and vocabulary for each of the sections. The reading checkpoints will help as well. At the end of the chapter is a study guide and self assessments.

Lunar Observations

Remember your Lunar Observations are due this Friday (2/29). We began the daily observations on Tuesday January 29th and the last day of observations will be Thursday February 28th. Each day you were to draw the moon as you saw it and record the time of observation. For any day that you did not actually see the moon simply put an "X" where the time would go and draw what you should have seen.

During this cycle you should have watched the moon go from last quarter through the rest of the phases and back to last quarter (waning to new moon, to waxing to full moon, and back to waning again). Many of you noted how the time the moon is visible changes as we move through the phases. This is a very predictable cycle and for the past couple of weeks I've been putting those times on the board for you. Sometimes the moon is visible during the day and during other phases it's visible at night, but for any day it is only visible for about 11 hours.

Of course during this month we had a special treat seeing a lunar eclipse! Lunar eclipse can only happen during the full moon phase where the earth is between the moon and sun, and the moon is crossing the plane of the ecliptic.

Astronomy Test

A last minute reminder to review for your astronomy test tomorrow, oh and also do your lunar observation (tonight is the lunar eclipse). The total eclipse should be visible between 10pm and 10:45pm.

Periods 1,3,4,5

Some of you I'm sure will be asking "what's the test on". Well since its on astronomy go back in your notes to the first activity we did --- that would have been where you listed the things you thought were in our solar system and then drew the solar system. That was back on January 22nd.

Next we tried to create a scale model of the solar system. You should know the names and order of the planets (terrestrial and gas giants), what an astronomical unit is and a light year. Also be able to briefly explain the nebular theory (how the solar system was formed). Look for your Geo Words and Check Your Understanding questions.

The Moon-Earth System is important as well. This began with our exercise using the styrofoam ball and the lamps; you had to illustrate and label the phases of the moon. Also look for Geo Words with this section; know how the moon affects tides (neap and spring) and rotation of the Earth.

(Period 5 you also have an astronomy worksheet and notes you did on moon phases, tides and seasons)

Period 6

This will cover chapter 22, the same material that was on your previous test.

Having Trouble Finding the Moon?

Remember I said look for the moon from the time you get up until the time you go to bed. What time did I observe the moon on Tuesday? (10:30 am) Sometimes (like now) you can see the moon during the day. Look for it in the morning when you get up.

All Classes

Please answer questions 14 and 15 in your FCAT Sample booklet. Also complete the Lunar Observation Chart for today.

Remember tomorrow is notebook check.

All Classes

Answer questions # 7-13 in your FCAT Sample booklet. Also complete your lunar observation chart.

All Classes

Due Wednesday 01/30/2008:

Answer FCAT sample question number 6. The question in on the answer sheet at the back of the booklet

Daily until the end of February:

Lunar Observation Chart. Each day observe the moon, write the time of day you observed it including am or pm. Draw a picture of the moon in the box provided. The Lunar Chart should be placed in your notebook. I will check it each week as part of the notebook check.

Period 6

Read Chapter 22.2 on pages 622 - 629. We'll review this in class Friday. As you go through the reading make sure you understand the key concepts. It would not be a bad idea to make some notes and complete the reviewing concepts questions at the end of the section.

Periods 1, 3, 4, 5

Complete Investigate #2 and 3 which you were working on in class.

#2. Use a scale of 1 m = 3,000,000 km. Create another data table to show the dimensions for this model. You will divide each of the actual distances from the sun and diameters by 3,000,000. Look at the results and determine the drawbacks of using this scale for your model.

#3. Now that you have some experience at scales, you are to make models of the sun and planets.

• Each of the planets and the sun are to be drawn on a different sheet of paper or if you want them larger tape sheets together.
• You must use the same scale for all the planets, however you may use a different scale for the sun. Your scale should be expressed as 1 inch = (some number) km.
• You may color or decorate your model.
• On the back of the model write your name, the planet's name, and the scale used.
  

Hint: Start with the largest diameter planet. What scale would you need to use to make that fit on a single sheet of paper 8.5 inches wide? Use this scale for the rest of the planets.

Honors Period 6

Read chapter 22 section 1 on pages 612-621.

Periods 1,3,4,5

Using the data table copied into your notes, complete Investigate number 1. In this activity you are trying to determine what scale to use for your model of the solar system. First try a scale of 1m = 150,000,000 km. To do this divide each number in the original data table by 150,000,000. Record your answers in a new table.

If you have completed this you may try the second scale 1m = 3,000,000 km. Repeat the process and record your answers in a separate data table.