Graphing for lab report

Students - I have received some requests for directions on how to do the computer based graph.  Please remember that I went over how to do this IN DETAIL in class, and that this is also for extra points.  Please understand that it is YOUR responsibility to pay attention when it comes to extra credit.  I will always post things that are necessary for your success in class, but you must also put in effort when in comes to extra credit.

I will not be posting step by step instructions on how to graph on the computer.  You may also turn in a hand-drawn graph, google directions, or ask a friend that WAS paying attention when I explained this in class :)

Sample Lab Report

Sample Lab Report

Fun review websites

Some favorites of mine:
Study Jams
BrainPop user name: richardsms1_teacher                  password: richardsms1


Some other sites I found thanks to google!
http://sciencereviewgames.com/srg/subjects/geol.php
http://sciencereviewgames.com/srg/subjects/es.php
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/games/
http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/Science_Games/
http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/Science_Games/
http://reviewearthscience.com/pages/review-games.php
http://www.engagingscience.org/games/

Parents, do you sew?

Are you willing to donate a little time to the team for a sewing project?  And by sewing, I only mean straight lines :)  No couture ball gowns any time soon!  Please send me an email and let me know!  ashley_shaver@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Half-Life lab analysis questions and conclusion

Analysis:
1. Approximately what fraction of chips was removed from the shoe box after each set of 5 shakes (half-life)?

2. How many times did you shake the box before only one chip remained?

3. If someone stopped you and counted only 12 chips remaining, could he or she have calculated the time (in # of shakes) you started the experiment?  Explain!

4. Imagine that the shoe box is a fossilized bone that contains 24 pug (picomicrogram) of Carbon-14.  When it was buried, it contained 100 pug of Carbon-14.  If the half-life of Carbon-14 is 5730 years, how old is the bone?  Show your work.

5. Based on what you learned in question 4, how many pug of Nitrogen-14 is in the bone?  How much did the bone start with?

Conclusion:

Was the hypothesis correct? 

How could you change this experiment to ensure more accurate results?

COMING SOON: Science Fair!

Starting Tuesday, we are going to dive deep into our preparation for science fair.  All students in the 6th grade are required to participate - which I think is great!  Science Fair is a great time for us to practice scientific inquiry and exercise our brains with weights like the scientific method!

We will spend Tuesday in the media center researching and getting ideas for projects.  The most important thing RIGHT NOW is that students go ahead and purchase composition books (for research) and display boards.  

• The school will be selling composition books for 50 cents!  I think the current going rate for a composition book in stores is around 79 cents to a dollar, so this is a deal!  
• The school will be selling display boards for the low low price of $3.00!  Based on my research, the same board is for sale at Office Depot for nearly $10!  Talk about a STEAL!
• You are welcome to purchase your own, but please be sure that your display board meets the following requirements:
• White (no other color - we are going for a professional look)
• size 36" x 48"

Please send cash only, and exact change is preferred :) More information about science fair will be sent home next week!  As always, let me know if you have questions!

For the week of October 3...

Today and tomorrow students are being released early from school to make time for parent conferences.  You should have received a letter either stating we would like you to come in due to concern, or to invite you to the munch and mingle.

Students are attending 1st and 2nd period today, and 3rd and 4th tomorrow.  Interim exams (midterms) are taking place Wednesday and Thursday and students will be on a block schedule those days.  The only homework this week in science is to STUDY for midterms.  The class with the greatest number of As on the midterm will receive a surprise from Ms. Shaver!

Thanks to ALL who came Saturday for the garden clean up.  It is BEAUTIFUL!