Thursday and Friday October 8th & 9th, 2015

Today's Quote:

"What is the ultimate truth about ourselves? Various answers suggest themselves. We are a bit of stellar matter gone wrong. We are physical machinery- puppets that strut and talk and laugh and die as the hand of time pulls the strings beneath. But there is one elementary inescapable answer. We are that which asks the question." - Sir Arthur Eddignton

Recap:

We spent most of the period looking at the Design Process Power Point and I lectured more than I have on any other day. (my throat hurts now) I also learned that my first period class is strangely morbid, (which I love); rather than ask if I was OK, they laughed as I choked on a bit of carrot, but I promised them that if I ever came upon them choking I would be sure to return the favor. (joke)

We went over the vocabulary for today's 9 week project lab. Criteria, Constraint, Prototype, Iteration (definition #4).

Today in Class:

Agenda:

FCA #1

Design a Better Bookstand- Students will use the scientific method and design process.

The Problem: (9 week Project)

Oh no! You've come to school excited for another day of learning, but as you step into the classroom you realize you've left your glasses at home on and you need them to see what you're reading! You know there is no way to get the glasses in time for class and you don;t want to sit there like a bump on a carrot, so you quickly open your desk and find the following items inside: 

1. 50 3x5 index cards
2. 50 paperclips
3. 50 rubberbands

You only have 5 minutes before class begins and you decide that it's possible to build a book stand to raise your book up close enough to your face so that you can read. As you think about it, you realize that your book stand has to be sturdy enough to support your textbook and allow you to open it and turn pages without it falling. Through trial and error, you also realize it must be at least 13 centimeters off the desk.

Homework: 

Students will view (or video)  the demonstration of the apparatus and complete the questions at home. (Due Monday) The Mystery Apparatus Video is now up!

Announcements:

1. Students are reminded that their Science Fair Projects are due November 3rd, 2015. By now the research paper should be done and your experiments should be well under way. You have a little less than a month to finish.

In the News:

2 Mile Wide Asteroid will be a Near Miss with Earth On Saturday

Scientists Use Sound to Levitate and Change the Shape of Water

More Photos!