Tuesday, March 31, 2020

03.31.2020 - Tuesday - (left side of science notebooks)

03.31.2020 - Tuesday -
Science notes and assignment (left side of notebook)

YouTube:  I’ve tried to post a few, quick, YouTube videos. They’re not, exactly, professional science videos :-) but, they are meant to remind us of some of the subjects we’ve studies this school year. The most recent was on local tie-ins. (Montara Mountain, seasons, etc.)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZBrRi_fbWc
The quick video on pitch, or frequency, will relate to notes later this week about how plants use only certain frequencies of light for PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

  1. Current Events:  Check out CNN 10 today as they talk about the Olympics being postponed and also about the city of Lisbon.  https://www.cnn.com/cnn10
II.  Notes: NITROGEN CYCLE and life.
A.  We, currently recognize SIX KINGDOMS of life.  Not long ago, we recognized five.  The BACTERIA kingdom was divided into two, separate, kingdoms; archaebacteria and bacteria. The archaebacteria are bacteria that have been found in “extreme” environments like hot springs and hydrothermal vents in our oceans. These are places where scientists thought life could not exist and it means that we can look for life beyond Earth (extra-terrestrial life) in more harsh environments that we originally thought.
B.  The kingdoms are:
1.  Archaebacteria
2.  Bacteria
3.  Plants
4,  Procaryotes
5.  Animals
6.  Fungi

C.  You’ll, probably, see procaryotes (one-celled, organisms that have a nucleus) further subdivided into different kingdoms in the next few years. 

III.  For PLANTS to be able to survive on land they had to be able to use NITROGEN for growth and to use in CHEMICAL REACTIONS. Most of our atmosphere is NITROGEN, (about 80 percent!) so we might think that obtaining nitrogen wouldn’t be a problem. However, plants can’t use the Nitrogen in the atmosphere directly. The Nitrogen in the atmosphere travels around in pairs (N2).  So … how do plants get the Nitrogen they need?
A.  This is where BACTERIA come in. There are special bacteria in the soil that take the nitrogen that falls with the rain and combines it with oxygen and, basically, rearranges the nitrogen so that it can be taken up and used by the roots of plants.

IV.  Class tie-in. Remember “The Martian” again!  Mark Watney was studying DIRT on Mars. When he became stranded on Mars, and had to farm potatoes to survive, he added the human waste from the crew with Martian dirt in an attempt to make SOIL. SOIL is alive! Dirt is not.

Monday, March 30, 2020

03.30.2020 Science work today.

03.30.2020 - Monday - 
    Hi class.  Last Monday you were asked to calculate how long it would take for a radio signal to go between Earth and Mars when they are at both their closest and their furthest in their orbits. Remember from way back when we watched "The Martian," Matt Damon's character, " Mark Watney was communication with Earth and his ship, The Hermes. We mentioned how they would have to edit out the time delay in the communication because it's not almost instantaneous like it seems here on Earth when we're talking on the phone with a friend.
    This lesson is not only meant to be a math connection in science but, as we'll dive into more deeply this week, radio waves are just another type of light in the electromagnetic spectrum.  Plants use only certain colors of light to perform PHOTOSYNTHESIS.  Light travels a CONSTANT speed (186,000 miles per second or 300,000 km per second.) It's amazing that, even at 300,000 kilometers per second, it would still take more than twenty minutes for a radio signal to reach Mars from Earth during certain times in our orbit. Your job ... calculate how long it would take the radio signal to travel when we are at our CLOSEST with Mars. (About 55 million kilometers - see Monday's notes.)

(Place the following in in your notes)

03.30.2020 - Monday -

Science / Math / STEM - 03.30.2020 - Monday - 

     Good morning! In the core classes of science and math we are moving forward with the lessons. In science, today, I’ll post a recap of what should be in our third trimester science notebooks.  

     On a personal note; this stay-at-home time isn’t like any time before when we’ve been away from school for air quality issues or bad weather. Today happens to be the birthday of our own sixth grader and , as I watch him and help him with his own assignments from school, I’m mindful that students need to move forward with their studies while balancing the realities that this virus has brought to our community. The science and math lessons are moving ahead with the curriculum while not overloading students at a time that can be stressful. We’ve certainly experienced the strange, new reality of masks, social distancing, and trying to keep in touch with friends and family who need support and connection.

    In science we’re using the McGraw / Hill curriculum but adapted so that students can check things out from home. This week we’ll be looking at flowers! It’s Spring and flowers should be out in abundance and - as we study the cycles that make life possible here on Earth - we can use flowers as a way to talk about traits, life’s adaptations to land, evolution, and how all of this related to what is happening right now in our world.

     A few links and a check in for the day.

  1. Here’s the link for attendance.



II.  Link for “One min science” - Videos that recap and introduce some of our class concepts.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOaIbKmeQwE

III.  Link for current events - CNN 10 - https://www.cnn.com/cnn10

IV.  Link for Google Blog - http://www.pacificascience.org/

S. Forbes

03.30.2020 - Monday - Plan for this week -

03.30.2020 
Plan for week 31 - H4 - Math /Science / STEM - S. Forbes
One minute science videos (based on our curriculum) uploaded at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOaIbKmeQwE

Google Blog mirroring the content in the Google Classrooms at.   http://www.pacificascience.org/

  1. Monday:
    1. Math:  Unit 6, Lesson 5a (first half) plus notes.
    2. Science:  Nitrogen Cycle - Notes (Reminders and re-out to students who still have to turn in Carbon Cycle assignment and tree picture.)
    3. STEM:  Programming - Symbols
II.  Tuesday:
A.  Math:  Unit 6, Lesson 5b (second half) plus notes
B.  Science: Life adapting to land - Case study: Flowers
C.  STEM:  Programming - Flowcharts

III.  Wednesday:
A,  Math:  Kahn Academy and “Review / Preview.” Focus
B.  Science:  Adapted from McGraw / Hill - Flowers, traits, and DNA.
C.  STEM:  Computers - Essential parts of computers.

IV.  Thursday:
A.  Math:  Self-correcting Unit 6 lessons and begin lesson 6
B.  Science:  Punnett square review.
C,  STEM:  Computers - Virus’ and hacking

V.  Friday:
A.  Math:  Write-in Unit 6 - Mid Unit assessment.
B.  Science:  Write-in - Science Assessment. Notes on the ecosystem. Natural vs. Artificial selection.
C.  Computers and tech - Artificial intelligence. (AI.) 

Friday, March 27, 2020

03.27.2020 - Friday - Science Notes -

03.27.2020 - Friday - 
Science Notes and reading - Left side of science notebooks -
  1. Current Events:  Two notes on Nicaragua.  
    1. (link to CNN 10)  https://www.cnn.com/cnn10
II.  Today’s “One minute science” video from home.
       A.  (link).      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtd4-R7vnFo

III.  Life and the carbon and rock cycles:
A.  We’ve seen that the rocks and carbon cycle interact to make an environment on this planet that can support life.  When we had a unit on ENERGY we learned about heat transfer.
1.  Conduction:  Heat transfer when things are in contact.
2.  Convection:  Circular flow in a liquid that transfers heat. Hot fluid rises while relatively cold fluid sinks.
3.  Radiation:  Electromagnetic waves.  We studied how, even though our sun in almost 100 million miles away the energy from hydrogen fusion reacher Earth by RADIATION. 

IV.  On yesterday’s “One minute science” we tapped glasses with a fork and noticed there was a different pitch to each glass. The glasses were the same size but were filled with varying amounts of water.  The different frequencies of sound are a little like the different frequencies of light that reach Earth.  There are many more frequencies than our human eyes can actually see! 
A.  Plants use colors other than green when carrying out PHOTOSYNTHESIS.  The light energy helps plants, and other photosynthesizing organisms, convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen.

V.  If it wasn’t for the ROCK CYCLE, powered by CONVECTION CURRENTS inside our planet, there’s would be no new land for plants, animals, fungi, or bacteria to  inhabit. But, as we’ve seen by checking out pictures of places like Yosemite, bare rock can be made habitable by lichens and other processes that break down the rock and make soil.

VI.  Early life that photosynthesized didn’t have to “worry” too much about water as they were living in an ocean or lake. As life moved on land, however, obtaining water became a problem.

VII.  Based on your observations of the tree (you sketched) and the celery stalk (from today’s One-minute science video) how do you think life ADAPTED to land? 
A.  In other words, how to trees and plants get - and hold on to - WATER?
1…

03.27.2020 - Friday - Daily note and YouTube link

Science / Math / STEM - 03.27.2020 - Friday - 

     Good morning!  The answer key has been scanned an uploaded to Google Classroom for math: Unit 6, lesson1. Unit 6, lessons 2 through 4 answer keys will follow today as they are scanned. The math assignment, today, is self-correcting through lesson 4 and begin the first half of lesson 5. Remember to visit Kahn academy each day using the class code.

     In science, students are to send me a paragraph (four to six sentences) on describing the ROCK CYCLE.  It may be typed into the body of an email or hand-written (send a picture of the hand-written paragraph.)

     STEAM - Assignment: Choose a simple activity like making a sandwich or properly kicking a soccer ball. Write between five and eleven STEPS on HOW to accomplish this task. Write as if you were distance-teaching this to a friend. We’re using this as our “jumping off” point for understanding computer instructions needed for self-driving cars.

   One-Minute science:  As the internet is quite slow because of all the people working from home I’ve reduced my video upload to ONE minute.  (It’s a work in progress …. Check out the link below - Youtube - which will have a tie-in with today’s science lesson.


  1. Here’s the link for attendance.

II.  Here’s the link for current events - CNN 10 - https://www.cnn.com/cnn10

III.  The link to a google blog for notes:  www.pacificascience.org

IV. The Kahn Academy class code for math:  77R2HNBX

V.  The Google Classroom links:
 1.  Math.      o5jdv6r

 2.  Science.     xxhaswm

 3.  STEM.       yox77qa.       

VI.  For math we’re heading into Unit 6, Lesson 4

     
Thanks and have a great day everyone!  

Scott Forbes

Thursday, March 26, 2020

03.26.2020 - Thursday -

Science / Math / STEM - 03.26.2020 - Thursday - 

     Good morning!  I went by H4 and saw that most of the math workbooks were picked up. I picked up my books and will spend some quality time with the scanner today posting units and answers keys so we can self-correct units 1-4.  For today, in math, please spend about a half hour with Kahn Academy and I’ll post the science notes update asap today.
     On a personal note, I’m scheduled to pick up some supplies for the family this morning around 9:00 so I’ll get the notes out there to the blog and google classroom. 
     Thank you for heading to Kahn Academy and I’ve received many of your wonderful tree pictures / sketches.  We are doing those to explore the way life adapted to land. Especially photosynthesizing organisms.

  1. Here’s the link for attendance.

II.  Here’s the link for current events - CNN 10 - https://www.cnn.com/cnn10

III.  The link to a google blog for notes:  www.pacificascience.org

IV. The Kahn Academy class code for math:  77R2HNBX

V.  The Google Classroom links:
1.  Math.      o5jdv6r

2.  Science.     xxhaswm

3.  STEM.       yox77qa.       

VI.  For math we’re heading into Unit 6, Lesson 4

     
Thanks and have a great day everyone!  

Scott Forbes

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

03.25.2020 - Wednesday - Left side of science notes -

03.25.2020 – Wednesday –
Left side of today’s science notebook.
“Cycles in nature and LIFE!”
(Remember, as always, to define any CAPITALIZED terms or phrases with which you are unfamiliar.)

I. Current Events:  Three (3) notes on the Hawaii https://www.cnn.com/cnn10
            A.
            B.
            C.

II.  There are three notes today because we’ve been studying the ROCK CYCLE and there’s a good illustration of part of the cycle showing lava in Hawaii that solidifies into IGNEOUS ROCK.
            A.  If you notice pictures of Hawaii (or have visited Hawaii) you notice life growing everywhere. But, seeds can’t take root in hard, igneous rock. It’s like in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when you hike along smooth GRANITE and see that there are not many places for seeds to GERMINATE; yet there are forests and plants in the high Sierra. How do plants and trees get established in such a harsh environment?
           
III.  The WATER CYCLE, powered by our sun, causes water to EVAPORATE from the oceans and rain (which is slightly ACIDIC) helps break down rock.
            A.  Freezing water also breaks down rock because water EXPANDS as it freezes and helps push apart large rocks, making smaller rocks.
            B.  LICHENS are a PIONEER SPECIES.  Lichens are found on rocks even around our school campus. Many people hardly notice them. They look like little “splotches” on rock, concrete, and tree trunks.  They are actually a combination of ALGAE or BACTERIA and they are living in SYMBIOSIS with FUNGI.  They live together for mutual benefit and they release an ACID that breaks down rock and helps make soil. This is why they are called a PIONEER SPECIES: they are often the first life to “move into” and area after a GLACIER has moved through or LAVA has solidified.

IV.  Once LICHENS and rain/ice have broken down the hard rocks that were left by the volcano or glacier, small plants can get established and, as they grow, their roots will further break down the rock until larger trees and forests gain a foothold and become established.


V.  On the right side of today’s notes – brainstorm all the ways life may have reached the Hawaiian Islands. Think about how they are, geographically, the most remote island chain in the world. How did they become a green haven for life?

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

03.24.2020 - Tuesday - Left side of science notebook -

03.24.2020 – Tuesday –
Science Notes – Left side of our science notebook –
I…(Personal note to parents and students.) You’re encouraged to re-write these notes on your own words. Of course, you’re working form home so I can’t, exactly, go desk-to-desk to check this – but when we paraphrase a reading our brains work on the meaning, and we remember it, better than simply reading it and then setting it aside. This information is adapted from our regular curriculum. Our in-class curriculum lends itself to guided, whole-class instruction both teacher-led, computer-assisted, and group-facilitated.  I hope you’re doing well and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone together again – in person – soon! – S.  Forbes.

II.  Current Events:  Two (2) notes on the aurora! A very cool piece on CNN 10 today! https://www.cnn.com/cnn10
            A.
            B.

III.  Notes:  The Carbon Cycle:  Of the four (4) cycles we’re currently exploring in nature the Carbon Cycle might be the most complicated here on Earth because there’s a blending of living and non-living processes that come together to cycle Carbon through our environment.
            A.  Remember, Carbon is one of “the big four.” (Carbon – Hydrogen – Oxygen – Nitrogen)  The four ELEMENTS critical for life. 
            B.  There is an entire branch of CHEMISTRY devoted to carbon called “organic” chemistry.
            C.  Carbon has an amazing ability to make COMPOUNDS. It can combine with itself, to make long chains, and combine with other atoms to make all the complex MOLECULES used by life!

IV.  It’s difficult to say what the “most important” CHEMICAL REACTION is, here on Earth, but – for those of us into the whole “breathing” thing – you’d be hard-pressed to find something more important than PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

V.  Most of Mar’s atmosphere is composed of Carbon Dioxide.
VI. Here, on Earth, photosynthesis has been happening for over three billion years! This put Oxygen into our atmosphere – in a form that animals can use – and it has “stored” carbon in the form of coal, oil, and natural gas in sedimentary layers of rock.


VI.  By burning coal, oil, and gas for fuel humans are changing the balance of the Carbon Cycle by increasing the amount of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere.

(Remember to define CAPITALIZED terms if you're unfamiliar with them! :-) 

03.24.2020 - Tuesday - Today's note to parents / students

 Good morning! A few links and a check in for the day. Tuesday, March 24th - 2020
Hi parents and students. The goal is to have the daily message home posted by 9:00 each day. 
  1. Here’s the link for attendance.
II.  Here’s the link for current events - CNN 10 - https://www.cnn.com/cnn10
III.  The link to a google blog for notes:  www.pacificascience.org.
VI.  The Google Classroom links:
    1.  Math.      o5jdv6r
    2.  Science.     xxhaswm
    3.  STEM.       yox77qa.   
In math class we’re working through the second half of lesson 3, Unit 6.  In science there will be our usual LEFT and RIGHT side of notes. The left side today is notes about the Carbon Cycle. Also, in science, please send me a scan or picture of the tree you sketched.  Email assessment will be assigned for Friday. 

     Kahn Academy was used, previously, for extra credit in math. Now it’s assigned as practice and credit. The Kahhn Academy login and site is …

     The code to join Mr. Forbes’ classroom is   77R2HNBX

     I miss seeing you in person each day! I'll post more to the blog in about an hour. I hope the scans are clear enough. I was getting good feedback from some of you and I'll begin calls home to check in.  Have a wonderful Tuesday ...

S. Forbes

Monday, March 23, 2020

03.23.2020 - Monday - Right side of science notebook -


03.23.2020 - Science Notes (Left side of today's notebook.)

03.23.2020 - Monday - Science - 
Notes and reading - Left side of the notebook -
(remember to define any CAPITALIZED terms with which you are unfamiliar.)

  1. Current events: Check out the CNN 10 link:  https://www.cnn.com/cnn10
    1. Please record two facts from today on ANY topic this time. 

II.  With our McGraw / Hill science curriculum we spent some time, already, looking at Punnet squares and genetics and the way PROBABILITY affects some of our characteristics, like eye color and if we have “floppy” or “attached” ear lobes.  Part of our assignment, today, will be to recall and review some of Inspire Science units from earlier in the school year.
A.  We also did a “mini-unit” (one week) using the movie “The Martian” to illustrate some of the science concepts from our text (microbes, water, plants, Mars and Earth, etc.) We’ll recall and review some of our “Martian” unit as we move forward with cycles and the human impact on our environment.

III.  Today, we’re going to think about the four cycles we’ve mentioned (Water, Carbon, Rock, and Nitrogen.) and how they interact with each other.
A.  The water cycle is an important part of the rock cycle.
B.  Recall … what are the three types of rock in the rock cycle?
1.
2.
3.

C.  Water wears down rocks and carries SEDIMENT to lakes and oceans. Eventually, that sediment can be compacted and turned into sedimentary rock.
D.  Water has an important characteristic: it EXPANDS as it freezes. (Most substances CONTRACT as they freeze.)
E.  Recall when we studied a bit about Yosemite and Mt. Everest. One of the ways water breaks down rock is when liquid water enters small cracks in the rock and then freezes. As the water expands when it turns to ICE it pushes the rock apart.

III.  Chemistry tie in:  Water EXPANDS as it freezes partly because of those POSITIVE (+) AND NEGATIVE (-) charges. The POLARITY (Positive and negative sides) of a water MOLECULE cause the water molecules to arrange themselves in a CRYSTAL. They “line up” as water freezes and this takes up more space than the LIQUID form of water.