Lesson 1 - Monday, Jan 12
Housekeeping: Upon our return from the Winter Vacation, students were asked to temporarily suspend their focus on the model of the Earth we developed over the past months. That model represented processes both below the Earth’s surface (including deep below the surface) AND above the Earth’s surface in what we called the “the atmosphere.” In our new model, we will put some distance between the Earth and our Earth-bound perspective–zooming out or away, as some might say–and view the Earth from afar, i.e., from the Moon, for example, or from ‘outer’ space (much like Carl Sagan did when writing a portion of his well-known book, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space).
The first task Dr. M asked students to do in this new unit was create a new model on A3 paper that shows (in drawings) and explains (in words) how we experience DAY and NIGHT on Earth.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight.
Lesson 2 - Tue, Jan 13 (B) & Wed, Jan 14 (H)
Housekeeping: After completing their initial DAY/NIGHT models, Dr. M then asked students to create an additional model on A3 paper. This time, students were asked to show (in drawings) and explain (in words) how we experience the different SEASONS on Earth (i.e., Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall/Autumn). To help students make their initial model, Dr. M provided Suns (lamps!) and Earths (styrofoam balls mounted on wooden sticks!) so that they could experiment with the movement(s) of the Earth relative to a Sun.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight, but all Grade 7 students were told during today’s lesson that any “Odysseus The Grain” science essay revisions are due by–at the latest–MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER.
Lesson 3 - Wed, Jan 14 (B) & Thu, Jan 15 (H)
Housekeeping: We began planning for INV#6 – SEASONAL LIGHT INTENSITY by creating a new entry in our Science Notebooks. The plan is to begin collecting data in our next lesson. H period completed their preparation, but B period still needs additional time and will begin collecting data on Monday.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight, but all Grade 7 students were told during today’s lesson that any “Odysseus The Grain” science essay revisions are due by–at the latest–MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER.
Lesson 4 - Thu, Jan 15 (B) & Fri, Jan 16 (H)
Housekeeping: B period finished planning for INV#6 – SEASONAL LIGHT INTENSITY and will begin collecting data in Monday’s lesson. H period collected data for Trial 2, which is the situation in which our model Earth is titled towards the model Sun at an angle of approx. 23 degrees.
Homework: As per the TASIS MS school homework policy, there is no weekend science homework (due on Monday).
Announcements...
The DRIVING QUESTION of our current unit is: How do the motion and scale of objects in our solar system create the cycles we experience every day, from a day to a year?
B period homework collection days: Tuesday & Thursday.
H period homework collection days: Wednesday & Friday.
Including this week, there are 2 weeks of school before the end of the Fall Semester.