By Stephen Pegler on Monday, January 28, 2008

This week students will continue to work on their activities for waves and sound.  All material is due by February 4.  This unit is designed to be partially homework and partially in class work.  All students must have taken the vocabulary quiz by February 4 as well.  The test for the unit will be the next day.  Six activities are required: three from the first column, two from the second, and one from the last.  Students may do an extra activity in each column for extra credit.  If students do not pass the test or the vocabulary quiz, they will have to retake them.

The DNA project requires that all pedigree charts be turned in by Wednesday of this week.  Any of the extra credit that is on my homework blog is due on Thursday.

By Stephen Pegler on Sunday, January 20, 2008

Here's a link to some summer programs that you might find useful.  Some of these are gifted/talented, others are science, math or engineering based.

CU Boulder

Colorado School of Mines

University of Denver

University of Northern Colorado

 

DNA GENEALOGY OPPORTUNITY FOR NEXT YEAR'S CURRICULUM

Next year we will cover some topics in Biology, including genetics.  One of my main hobbies for nearly thirty year ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, January 14, 2008

A short week this week.  We will do some CSAP review/hints and practice tests.  I will go over a past test with the students to help them understand how to better take those tests.  If time permits they will finish up/work on an assignment from a couple of months ago.

A reminder that EC is available.  The students were introduced to the next unit last week.  Please don't let them work on it this week!!  It's a combination of in class and out of class work that begins next week. 

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, January 07, 2008

Wow!  Another year here and another one behind us.  I hope everyone had a good two weeks off.  Hopefully everyone is also ready to resume their studies!

On Monday the students will finish their presentations for the energy project.  Tomorrow they will briefly present their projects.  On Thursday there will be the final exam for the unit.  Friday we will probably begin the next unit.

Reminders: Homework is due on Thursday.  The students should have been keeping their results in a separate notebook/binder that they will turn in.  Also, there is extra credit for some students who signed up on Thursday after school.  There is EC available for all the students.  Please check out the homework tab.

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, December 17, 2007

It's hard to believe that Christmas and the rest of the holidays are here already!! (I know that Chanukah has already passed.)  I wish you an enjoyable time, and a time of fun, relaxation and extra sleep.

A reminder that students should be working on their home energy audits for homework.  It's due January 10.  Please see my notes from last week.

This week in class we will finish the bulk of the Power Up unit.  Students will take the post unit tests on Thursday and begin the final project on Friday.  I will be taking home the Power Up packets to grade over break, so students need to make sure that they are finished by Friday.  After break they will finish their project, present it and take the final content test.

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, December 10, 2007

This week students will be using solar panels to generate solar energy.  If we have time, we will look at some videos to examine other ways of using the sun as an energy source.  Hopefully we will begin using fuel cells later this week.

Students do have homework.  They should be working on the home energy audit.  They do NOT need to print the entire packet - it's over forty pages long!  They need to keep their results in a separate notebook.  Please check my homework tab for more details.

By Stephen Pegler on Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Students are continuing to explore wind generation.  They will design and test their own blades for their wind generators.  Later in the week we will get to solar cells.

There is an extra credit opportunity  at CU Boulder this Saturday - December 8 in the Engineering Building.  College students are presenting their engineering projects.  It should be pretty cool.  My understanding is that the presentation will last most of the day - say 9 AM through 3 PM or so.  If students go, they should bring back some sort of proof that they went - a program, summary, photos, or a signed note from their driver.  Students should also include how long they were there and write a brief description of three of the projects that they saw.  Up to fifteen points will be awarded in the homework category.

UPDATE from a parent: 

I just spoke to the director of the Eng ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Sunday, November 25, 2007

Greetings!  Today we start a four week unit on alternative energy.  We will have a series of discussion/lecture/films followed by the Power Up unit exercises.  All the work for the unit will be done in class.  There is, however, a homework assignment.  It is described on my homework tab.  Please check it out.  Students will need computer access to do the activities.

For the homework please go to: http://www.energyscience.org/education/images/ESITH%20Student%20Guide%202006-7%20Suncor%20logo.pdf

You will also need to go to:     http://www.ase.org/section/homeenergycheckup/                   for some of the activities.

You do not need to do the color competiti ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, November 19, 2007

There is a test on Monday.  It will be finished on Tuesday.  Please check grades.  There are many students who didn’t turn in their trebuchet labs last weeks.  They have zeros.

By Stephen Pegler on Thursday, November 15, 2007

1. Why should the two balls hit the floor at the same time?

2.  How do the two carts show the conservation of momentum?

3.  How do the two carts show F=m*a?

4.  How did the carts with the red liquid show inertia?

5.  How did the Newton's Rocker show conservation of momentum?

6.  How did it show inertia?

7.  Why do the balls with the Newton's Rocker eventually stop moving?

8.  How did the two carts show Newton's Third Law: For every action  . . . ?