Agenda September 28

1 Turn in Density practice Worksheet
2 Test Chapter 1 Measurement

Miniatures - Pirates Tournament starts next week.  However, we may get things rolling today.

I will be going to the Homestead Football game tonight.  They are playing at my daughters' alma mater so go Los Gatos.

Agenda September 27

1 Activity Measuring Temperature Change
2 Chapter 1 Measurement Test tomorrow

Agenda September 26

1 Day 2 Activity Measuring Time Galileo's Marbles
2 WS Density Practice due Friday
3 Day 1 Activity Measuring Temperature Change (the experiment is tomorrow)
Chapter 1 Measurement Test on Friday

Agenda September 25

1 Journal 15 Measuring Time
2 Activity Measuring the time a marble takes to roll down a ramp from different heights or Galileo's Marbles

http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/gal_accn96.htm
or
 http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/galileo/galileoInertia.html

Agenda September 24

1 Finish Measuring Density of Solids Activity
2 Journal 14 Measuring Density of Liquids
3 Activity Measuring Density of Liquids

Agenda September 21 Autumn

1 Activity Day 2 Density of Regular and Irregular Solids Day 2
2 Return Work and discuss

Today has been quite fun.  Very enriching if not academic.  The Space Shuttle Endeavor flew on the back of the 747 Transporter flew through the Bay Area today.  As part of the NASA Ames flyby, the duo flew to the east of our campus.  We had the kids out there for what turned out to be an hour but they were quite well behaved and pretty patient for middleschoolers.  Mrs Kranich, with the able assistance and leg work of Mr. Reynolds, arranged a circle the the students filled in to make a happy face.  This lasted until the shuttle started to go by and the students started running the length of the field to keep up with the flight.
Side note.  My daughter is at a school near our house in the mountains.  She was able to see the flight from their school.  She also estimates that it flew over our house.  I should have stayed home today.

 Sorry about the dirt in the lens.  They are called artifacts and they need to be cleaned out.

Agenda September 20

1 Journal 13 Density
2 Activity Density of Regular and Irregular Solids (finish tomorrow)

Today the weather was quite clear when the Space Shuttle was to have flown over.  The fly over is now set for tomorrow.  I am praying for the same weather.  Maybe I can post a picture.

Agenda September 19

1 Activity Finish Measuring Volume with Beakers and Graduated Cylinders (due today)
2 Journal 12 Measuring Volume of an Irregular Solid
3 Activity Measuring Volume Day 2 Irregular Solids (due today)

Agenda September 18

1 Journal 10 Measuring Volume of Regular Solids
2 Journal 11 Measuring Volume with Beakers and Graduated Cylinders
3 Activity Measuring Volume Day 1 Regular Solids
4 Activity Measuring Volume with Beakers and Graduated Cylinders (finish tomorrow)

We got our youngest move into the Poly Canyon Village (dorm) and hung out with her through Sunday.  Kendra is very bright.  She is a third year senior and is planning on an Information Systems Masters at Cal State Fullerton next year.  Initially I said no way are you going to Fullerton.  I felt it beneath her abilities.  She pointed out the benefits of the program and and how this would be equivalent to a second Bachelors Degree.  Like I said, she is bright.

An editorial comment about Common Core Standards.  I find it amazing that people who are essentially my age have decided that the best way to teach children is this new particular method.  These same people expect that these new students to advance in education as they did.  Unless you subscribe to a conspiracy theory that they are actually teaching children to a lower standard so as to create a class of drones, then I can only imagine that they are "well meaning but misguided".  It seems to me that I will be grading more failing work because the children are not capable of understanding what is required of them or unable to deliver what is required of them.  See this article to get an idea about being incapable.
http://www.childrenshospital.org/dream/summer08/the_teenage_brain.html
The analysis that the children are going to be required to do is physically beyond their present brain development.
All these "educators" seem to forget this.  I think it will be left to us in the classroom to pickup the pieces of this incomplete plan.  And, of course, we will get the blame for it not working.

Agenda September 14

1 Check HW Chapter 1 Directed Reading
2 Check Agenda
3 Activity Triple Beam Balance Day 2 due today
4 Journal 10 Measuring Volume (if time)

Agenda September 13

1 Journal 8 Measuring Distance
2 Journal 9 Measuring Mass
3 Activity Using a Triple Beam Balance Day 1

Agenda September 12

1 "Pink Sheets" for student whose parents couldn't make it last night
2 Video Bill Nye Measurement
3 If you didn't finish the Measurement Activity yesterday then you needed to finish it today and turn it in.

It was great to see all the parents who came to Back to School Night last night.

Miniatures Club - We are playing Pirates on Friday.  I ordered a few more planes from Shapeways and started painting some of the float planes.  I received the game "Cowboys" for later this year.  I have to learn the game (or Mario and Justin and David have to learn the game) so I (they) can teach it to you.

Agenda September 11

1 Metric Measuring Activity (estimates and 1 measurement due today)

I was walking out to my car this morning and I heard a jet flying over and it took me back.  I remember we still had school that day but I remember being ill at ease driving in scanning the skies for I don't know what.  I was proud of our kids here at SMS that day.  They were kids then after all and events were so far removed for them.  They are all grown now.  I wonder what they remember about that today back then?

Agenda September 10

1 Check, Repair, and Turn in the Worksheets about conversion from yesterday
2 Activity Length Lab due today at the end of the period.  This assignment was not finished by many so those of you who did not finish today will need to squeeze it in during tomorrow's Measurement Activity.

I got to go to a good friend's 70th birthday party (great ribs) in Gilroy and then the Stanford Duke Game that evening.  Wearing Duke gear at Stanford Stadium was really interesting.  I saw Drew and Kendra, two former students, the Messners and Mr. Reynolds.  When I got home, I feel asleep going up the stairs to bed.
Sunday at church there was an acknowledgement and praying for teachers.  I will take all the help I can get (especially the divine kind).
Back to School night is tomorrow.  If you can come, it would be great to meet you.  Check the school map in your child's agenda.

Agenda, September 7

1 Check Journal 3 Chapter 1 Pre Reading, Journal 4 Chapter 1 Vocabulary, and Journal 6 Chapter1 Constructing Meaning.
2 WS Metric Mania - Metric Conversions due Monday, Sept 10
3 WS Writing Metric Meters Liters and Grams due Monday, Sept 10

Miniatures Club - We had over 30 kids today.  Thank you to all the high school and experienced middle school students who taught the newcomers.  You all were fantastic.  Please let me know if you can come and play next week and yes you can bring your own fleets.  We need wider tables some how.

Agenda September 6

1 Journal 7 KHDBDCM
2 HW Directed Reading pages 11 through 37 (no target reading skills) due Friday Sept 14 (completeness)

Miniatures Club - If you are a High Schooler and you know whether yo can come or not on Friday (tomorrow) please drop me an email.  I need to get an idea of how many instructors I have.

Agenda September 5

1 Physical Science Diagnostic Test Trade and Grade

Agenda, September 4

1 Physical Science Diagnostic Test (completeness)

Miniatures Club - We appear to be set to start Miniatures Club this Friday.  I will need 10 minutes to introduce the club and then we can start.  I am at the complete mercy of my high school students for teaching our first game, Pirates.

This weekend I discovered a small snake behind me while working in a field.  With a diamond shaped head, it caused me to pause.  If a rattlesnake, it did not have a rattle due to its age.  Young rattlers do not have a rattle until they shed their skin.  It dove down a crack in the dried clay.  I hope not to see it again.
I also went sailing in a small boat on a small lake with, thankfully, a small wind.  Best comment overheard from the canoe with Katharyn and Kim in it was "We can't both sit on one side".  Kendra and I managed to stay dry.   Well, mostly.
 Oh, and Frozen Beverage Dispensers are quite expensive.  We will need to earn a good deal of money to buy one new for the Science workroom.