Here's the bubble map for The Science of Life section of the text.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Bubble Map for Foreword
Here's the handout to guide students through completing the bubble map for the book Foreword.
1st 9-weeks assignment list
This is the list of assignments students should have completed by Oct 18, which is the end of the 1st 9-weeks. Any assignment not completed by the 18th will become a zero in the gradebook.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Studying for Friday's test
If you've come here to study for the test on Friday, you can find three separate posts that will help you. Scroll down and read the posts:
Scientific Method study guide
Multitasking study guide
Iceman hypotheses study guide
Scientific Method study guide
Multitasking study guide
Iceman hypotheses study guide
Scientific Method study guide
For the test, you will need to know some basic vocabulary.
independent variable = the variable that is purposely changed by the scientist in order to see if the dependent variable changes with the independent variable; you can also think of this as the difference in your groups.
dependent variable = the variable observed and/or measured during the experiment to find out if it changes with the independent variable
controlled variables = all the things that could change but the scientist keeps the same to prevent them from interfering with the experiment
hypothesis = a prediction of what you will find in your experiment; a predicted answer to your scientific question; a hypothesis is usually stated as an if/then statement.
Important detail: A scientific hypothesis must be testable.
In our class experiment, we had the question, "Do 7th grade DRMS boys have better hand-eye coordination for throwing than 7th grade DRMS girls?"
Our independent variable was the gender of the people--boys vs girls.
Our dependent variable was the number of baskets scored by each person.
Our controlled variables included everyone using the same tennis balls, standing the same distance away, throwing at the same trash can, in the same room, having the same number of tries, etc.
Remember that the independent and dependent variables will be in the hypothesis. The "if" part contains the independent variable, and the "then" part contains the dependent variable. In our experiment, the "if" was comparing boys and girls, and the "then" was the number of baskets scored per person.
independent variable = the variable that is purposely changed by the scientist in order to see if the dependent variable changes with the independent variable; you can also think of this as the difference in your groups.
dependent variable = the variable observed and/or measured during the experiment to find out if it changes with the independent variable
controlled variables = all the things that could change but the scientist keeps the same to prevent them from interfering with the experiment
hypothesis = a prediction of what you will find in your experiment; a predicted answer to your scientific question; a hypothesis is usually stated as an if/then statement.
Important detail: A scientific hypothesis must be testable.
In our class experiment, we had the question, "Do 7th grade DRMS boys have better hand-eye coordination for throwing than 7th grade DRMS girls?"
Our hypothesis was, "If I compare the accuracy of
7th grade DRMS males and females at throwing tennis balls into a
trash can, then it will be found that males are more accurate than
females."
Our independent variable was the gender of the people--boys vs girls.
Our dependent variable was the number of baskets scored by each person.
Our controlled variables included everyone using the same tennis balls, standing the same distance away, throwing at the same trash can, in the same room, having the same number of tries, etc.
Remember that the independent and dependent variables will be in the hypothesis. The "if" part contains the independent variable, and the "then" part contains the dependent variable. In our experiment, the "if" was comparing boys and girls, and the "then" was the number of baskets scored per person.
Multitasking study guide
For the multitasking information on the test, you will need to know:
Multitasking is the ability to think about two things at once. Obviously, people can do two things at once, such as walking and talking. But, people cannot think about two things at once.
When people think they're multitasking, such as listening in class and drawing, their brain is really switching back and forth.
The brain naturally focuses on social information. So, social cues, such as text messages, are very distracting when you're trying to focus on something else.
Multitasking is the ability to think about two things at once. Obviously, people can do two things at once, such as walking and talking. But, people cannot think about two things at once.
When people think they're multitasking, such as listening in class and drawing, their brain is really switching back and forth.
The brain naturally focuses on social information. So, social cues, such as text messages, are very distracting when you're trying to focus on something else.
Iceman hypotheses study guide
Here are some bits of evidence for the various hypotheses about the Iceman. For the test, you should be able to match the evidence with the hypothesis. You will not need to be able to name all the evidence from memory.
Austrian
hiker
Found in the mountains by Austrian
hikers
His body did not seem more than a
few years old
Drowned
Wrinkled skin
Missing epidermis
Muscle decay
Shepherd
Arrow head in back
Entry wound hadn’t healed
Copper ax
Found with dagger in his hand
Area is used by shepherds today
Religious
leader or sacrifice
Warm, well-made clothing
Shoes were not suited for mountain climbing
Entry
wound hadn’t healed
More
than 59 tattoos
Found
near sacred mountain peak
Copper
ax was rare
Tools
were laid out around him
Little
wear on joints and bones
Political
leader
Arrow head in back
Warm, well-made clothing
Shoes were not suited for mountain climbing
Entry wound hadn’t healed
Found with dagger in his hand
Copper ax was rare
Tools were laid out around him
Little
wear on joints and bones
Died in
spring
Pollen from hop-hornbeam, which
blooms in spring
From
Katarinaburgh, Italy
Pollen from hop-hornbeam plant was
27’ into his intestines
Village had been inhabited for
thousands of years
Dogwood arrow shafts
Ash knife handle
Here is the partially-completed bubble map students made to outline these hypotheses.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Charlotte and the Iceman
My 6-year old daughter, Charlotte, likes to ask me about what I teach my students. So, when she heard about the Iceman video I showed students, she asked if she could watch the video. Saturday morning, I decided to look on YouTube and see what I could find. YouTube didn't have the same video students watched, but I did let her watch a different video about the Iceman. She watched the entire video, straight through. She even continued watching the video while eating her breakfast.
Here are a few pictures.
On Tuesday, before her bedtime, I decided to ask her a few questions about the topic. I made a video of that conversation.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Extra Credit
This is an extra credit assignment for those students who would like to improve their grades. The assignment is due on Monday, Sept. 23.
First:
The first part of the assignment is to watch the TED Talk titled, "Apollo Robbins: The art of misdirection."
Second:
Write a 5 paragraph essay explaining how "Frank" is related to what we learned in class about multitasking. Your essay should have:
1) an introduction paragraph
2) three detail paragraphs
a) The first detail paragraph should explain who "Frank" is.
b) The second detail paragraph should explain how Frank relates
to our topic of multitasking.
c) The third detail paragraph should explain how this information
can help you be a better student.
3) a conclusion paragraph
Make sure your essay is well written. Do your best.
Oh, and I know this requires a lot of thinking on your part. That's the point.
If you want to review the information about multitasking, here's a link to the partially completed Bubble Map for the multitasking article. You spent two days in class working on that Bubble Map, so you should have it finished. And here's a link to the multitasking article.
First:
The first part of the assignment is to watch the TED Talk titled, "Apollo Robbins: The art of misdirection."
Second:
Write a 5 paragraph essay explaining how "Frank" is related to what we learned in class about multitasking. Your essay should have:
1) an introduction paragraph
2) three detail paragraphs
a) The first detail paragraph should explain who "Frank" is.
b) The second detail paragraph should explain how Frank relates
to our topic of multitasking.
c) The third detail paragraph should explain how this information
can help you be a better student.
3) a conclusion paragraph
Make sure your essay is well written. Do your best.
Oh, and I know this requires a lot of thinking on your part. That's the point.
If you want to review the information about multitasking, here's a link to the partially completed Bubble Map for the multitasking article. You spent two days in class working on that Bubble Map, so you should have it finished. And here's a link to the multitasking article.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Homework
If you didn't pass the first test on the basics of science, this homework will be a chance for you to learn what you missed in class.
First, go to this website and read about variables.
For each type of variable, write a definition in your own words.
Make sure to read the link about creating a fair test. Then, write one paragraph explaining why a "fair test" is so important in science.
Finally, identify a) the independent variable, b) the dependent variable and c) at least five controlled variables that would be needed for an experiment to test this hypothesis:
Write all this on a sheet of paper and turn it in by this Friday, which is Friday the 13th.
Homework is 10% of your class grade. Plus future tests will also include questions related to the basics of science. You need to understand these basic concepts in order to understand science.
First, go to this website and read about variables.
For each type of variable, write a definition in your own words.
Make sure to read the link about creating a fair test. Then, write one paragraph explaining why a "fair test" is so important in science.
Finally, identify a) the independent variable, b) the dependent variable and c) at least five controlled variables that would be needed for an experiment to test this hypothesis:
"If ants are given the opportunity to eat sugar or bread, then it will be found ants choose sugar more often than they choose bread."
Write all this on a sheet of paper and turn it in by this Friday, which is Friday the 13th.
Homework is 10% of your class grade. Plus future tests will also include questions related to the basics of science. You need to understand these basic concepts in order to understand science.
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