Friday, March 23rd
Today in science: We continued our review about matter, atoms, and molecules. To guide this review, we looked at a couple of interesting animated films about the size of atoms. This TED Ed animation, in particular, generated a lot of conversation amongst the students today.
Homework: There is no science homework over the two-week spring vacation.
Thursday, March 22nd
Today in science: We continued our review about matter, atoms, and molecules. To guide this review, we finished watching Bill Nye the Science Guy’s “Atoms in my Life” (S05, E08). We then looked at a somewhat recent development in physics, in which a team of scientists working at IBM (in Switzerland!) managed to manipulate individual atoms and molecules to make a movie about a boy–named Adam, of course–and his developing friendship with a single atom. You can watch this short film again below:
We then watched how this amazing ‘atomic’ film was made, which led to an interesting discussion as to how atoms (or molecules)–much like pulses or bursts of sound or light–might be used to encode, send, and receive letters (A, B, C…), words, and even sentences…in other words, students were shown how just two different ‘stacks’ of individual atoms–a stack of one atom and a stack of two atoms–can contain information.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight.
Wednesday, March 21st
Today in science: We used today to do a little bit of review about matter, atoms, and molecules. To guide this review, we watched a portion of Bill Nye the Science Guy’s “Atoms in my Life” (S05, E08). Among other key ideas, this episode emphasized the size and structure of atoms, the empty space inside of atoms, and how atoms relate to molecules.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight.
Tuesday, March 20th
Today in science: H period science does not meet on Tuesdays.
Homework: —
Monday, March 19th
Today in science: Dr. Merritt collected the homework (a paper copy of the Trial 2 line graphs) at the start of the lesson. Up at the white board, students worked with Dr. M to not only describe the results of each of the line graphs for Trials 1 & 2, but also to identify similarities and differences among all of the student graphs. Some discussion was also given to some explanations for the graphs that showed the mass of the cola increasing over time. At the end of the class period, Dr. M handed back the “States of Water” brochures, which were evaluated according to this grading rubric.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight.
