Foul Weather Protocal

I know it's a bit early BUT .... I want to get this posted now before it's a "woops" situation. The following is written in both English and Spanish. The time to watch for is 5:15 AM. That is the time when the district will make the decision and have it announced on the posted news channels. To enlarge the picture, simply click on it and it will be large enough to read.

Period Table Quiz

Some time next we will be taking out Periodic Table quiz. Continue memorizing the first twenty elements and their symbol. Remember the pattern for knowing the atomic #, protons, and electrons. Also, use the formula to calculate the number of neutrons. 
(Atomic # - atomic mass= neutrons)

So far, about ten students are able to say all twenty! Excellent!!!

After School Fun!

It's time to get creative!

The after school program is hosting the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest Thursday (21) from 6:00PM - 8:00PM in the commons.

FUN!! FUN!! FUN!!

Robotics Kids~

Make sure you attend Thursday (21) so that you may vote for fund raising items. We'll be hosting fund raisers through out the year that will NOT involve you going door to door. 

See you then!

Memorizing the Elements

You want me to memorize what? 

Yup! The first twenty elements, symbols, protons, neutrons, and electrons. Why? You will be using them through out the year's curriculum and as you progress through school on your way to college. By learning what the symbols stand for, you'll be able to read the ingredients of various things.

You can do it! Just remember the pattern. 

Print out your copy of the chart from the homework section of my web page.

Robotics: OHSU Show

FIRST DAY @ OMSI

Saturday, October 23, 2010
at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry/SE Portland
This is our annual event to show the public what FIRST® is all about. FIRST® Tech Challenge, FIRST ®Robotics Competition, FIRST® LEGO® League and Jr. FIRST® LEGO League will be represented. All of the FIRST® events take place in the FREE areas of OMSI. Also happening that day is the USA Science and Engineering Festival, a national event. OMSI is the satellite site for Oregon. OHSU plans to do demos and have information tables. (not all of the USA Sci/Eng Festival will be in the free areas)
ORTOP encourages teams to attend the event.  We also need 4 – 6 Veteran FIRST LEGO League teams to hold a team meeting in view of the public.  Veteran teams interested in this “share your experiences” opportunity are asked to:
1) Demo at least three/four Body Forward missions that complete or close to being debugged.

2) Continue to work on missions that you haven’t completed.

3) Have team members give a “play by play” account on a microphone explaining what the team is doing, explain the missions, your project….

4) Talk to the public about why your team participates in FIRST LEGO League and answer basic questions about participation.

Available slots: 10:00 – 11:30am / 11:30 am – 1:00 pm / 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm / 2:30 – 4:00 pm. If more than 4 teams want to do this we can make the slots 1 hour long.

We need some ROOKIE FLL team members to volunteer to direct people and hand out flyers.

Atom Models

The first project for the year is an atom model. Select any element #3 - #13 from the Periodic Table. Make sure to use the paper/guide that you were given in class to correctly construct your model. 

Try to spend as little money as possible. Be creative by using THREE different colored things from home: M&M's, eraser heads, ping pong balls, styro foam, clay, etc.

For more ideas, visit the website for pictures of atom models from past years.

Grading criteria:

• Correct # of protons
• Correct # of neutrons
• Correct # of electrons and in the right shell structure.

Rigid Badge Covers

The rigid plastic, ID covers are in! Bring your $.75 to the book keeper to purchase your cover. These won't rip; your ID will not fall out; and you'll be able to use this when you go on to high school.

Robotics Club

WOOHOO! We are off and running this year with over twenty students charged up and ready for robotic fun.

Visit the following sites to start working on the research portion of the competition. After we have put together our proposal for the question we are required solve, THEN we will design our robot.

I am looking for to an excellent year for our two teams #4600 Robotic Huskies and  #9801 Husky Pride.

Chihuly Glass Art - A Nonscience Career

Blown glass is not only an art, it demonstrates science in motion. Dale Chihuly explores the world of glass and brings it to life in exciting ways.

Visit his exhibit in New York City's Botanical Garden. He also has creations at:

• Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Miami, Florida
• Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Garfield Botanical Garden, Chicago, Illinois

His main website also will take you around the world to view his creations.The following pictures are from the internet.

 

http://s3.artknowledgenews.com/files/DaleChihulySunsetBoat.jpg

INB or Interactive Notebooks

We've just completed our second week!

 This year we are including a new approach to classroom learning. Students will be recording their learning in spiral notebooks. The right side is what we learn together in class (input). The left side will demonstrate what the student has learned (output).

On Monday students will be given their user name and  password for the e-book. Our science textbook is available online. It also included handouts, reading check points and many other aids to help your child learn.

By next weekend, students are asked to register as followers for this blog. Being a follower allows for their questions to be sent to me as an email.

First Day of School

Welcome!

It's going to be an excellent year. This is where you will find important information about upcoming projects, in class assignments, and where you may ask questions.

Students need to register as "Followers" so that they may participate in posting comments.

I am looking forward to another great year.

Ms. Spellman



IMPORTANT DATES

SCHOOL PICTURES: Monday (13)

FAMILY DINNER: Thursday (16)

Enrichment Academy~ Day 3

We're nearing the end of our session. Most everyone has either assembled the basic robot or created a robot from the website.

Tomorrow, we are demonstrating for parents what we have been learning over the past three days.

Students are learning the main parts to participating in robotics:
~ team work
~ problem solving
~plus academic skills of reading, mathematics, and science

Enrichment Academy~ August 10 Day 2

By the end of the day, you should have completed the entire workbook. As we discussed, you will then start to create you final project for demonstrations on Thursday (12). After you have completed your design, the next phase is to put together the program for your robot. Remember to keep it simple so that you don't frustrate yourself if it doesn't work.

Two days left!

Enrichment Academy~ August 9 Morning Session

We're off to a great start!

Today, we watched the first couple of videos that demonstrate how to perform simple functions.

Students will be bringing home an academy t-shirt, a handout from me and two surveys that SKEF would like to be returned no later than Thursday (12).

I am looking forward to seeing what robots students create by Thursday for demonstrations. As a reminder to parents, there will be a class demonstration on Thursday at 11:15AM for the morning class and 3:15PM for the afternoon. Please join us.

Ms. Spellman

Day 4~Summer Robotics

It has been a fun week of meeting new people and learning more about Lego NXT Mindstorms.

By the end of today, I will post pictures from the week plus of your final creations. I hope that you have had a good time learning how to improve your problem solving abilities plus working as a team. Those skills will not only make you a better students but they will build you into being an incredible employee.

I hope that you have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you next summer!

Ms. Spellman

Battlebot Videos

Are you ready to watch some fun videos where robots battle it out against each other? Where they have to avoid hazards or obstacles on the floor?

The following videos are from a program called "BattleBots". Anyone could create and enter a robot of their own creation to duke it out with another robot.

West Salem High School has a FTC robotics team that meets afterschool as a club. Here students create robotic devices using sheet metal and other high tech electronics. SUPER COOL! They will travel to various competition and compete against other high schools.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book: Hybrid Brick Sorter

Blade Runner vs The Master

Top 10 Battlebot Moments

Day 2 Summer Robotics

Morning Class~
Today you worked your way through the entire booklet. Congratulations! I am very proud of you!

Now, the team will begin to decide what final project you will build to demonstrate for parents on Thursday. Visit any NXT website for ideas or use a pre-existing design, or try this NXT address.

Remember to use kind words with your team members to encourage team work.

See you tomorrow morning.

Ms. Spellman

Summer Robotics~Morning and Afternoon

We are off to a great start. Thank you for your patience as we work out the kinks. Problem solving is a huge part of what we are learning, besides team work.

Today, we watched the first couple of videos and started building the core robot. You will continue to progress through the book as you complete each new section. Upon completion, you will then be able to build a robot of your own design or go to an NXT website for ideas.

Take time to go back through the videos that we have watched so that you may review material. You'll  be learning A LOT of new techniques, too many to remember.

My class website is found at Houck Middle School. If your parents give you permission, you may sign up as a follower for this blogging page, allowing you to post comments and question.

Tomorrow, you will continue where you left off today.

As a reminder to parents, there will be a class demonstration on Thursday at 11:15AM for the morning class and 3:15PM for the afternoon. Please join us.

The First Week of Summer

How is your summer progressing? Have you gone for a walk? Been to the park? Have you ridden your bike, rode a roller coaster or played at the beach? Every item that I just mentioned is science on a daily basis.

You have used voluntary and involuntary muscles; experienced kinetic and potential energy; and viewed many forms of energy.

Science is all around you.

I hope that you are having a relaxing summer now that the orbital object in the sky (sun) has decided to join us.

School's Out....

...but don't forget what you've learned. It is important that you retain the skills that you learned this year while performing labs and completing class projects like your roller coaster.

I hope that you have a great summer of growth so that next year is a successful time.

Final Phase

We're in the home stretch! Less than a week and students will break for the doors and experience summer.

Here are the final assignments we will be working on:

• 6/8 Crawfish dissections
• 6/9 Plant or animal cell drawing
• 6/10 Last day to turn in work
• 6/11 Cell model due (See reminder pictures)
  
• 6/14 Field Day
• 6/15 WOO HOO!! (School's out)

Remember Those That Serve

Thank you.

Two simple words
that convey so much
and yet at times
doesn't seem to communicate
the depth of eternal gratitude
for the sacrifices made.
You've sacrificed much for many,
those that you know
and those that will never know you.

You have willingly changed your life
for the benefit of the country
so that it may continue flourishing,
as the founding fathers had envisioned.

Know that there isn't a day that goes by
that I am not constantly reminded,
when I see the flag,
when I wake up to decide my own future,
when I vote and voice my opinion ....
that I thank God for those
who have given all and departed this Earth
and for those who live.

There is no way that we can repay you.

May God bless you,
...... thank you.

~Kari Spellman
(C) May 31, 2010

Portland Japanese Garden.... Go See It!

(Portland on Mother's Day 2010)

As we near the last of school, make sure that you start to take care of what needs to be completed.

• Return ALL library books and pay your fines. You will not receive your yearbook or final grades until these fines are rectified.
• Friday (28) is part 1 of 2 Locker Clean Out. Take home as much as you can now. Any stickers or graffiti will be your responsibility to remove and clean.

End of Year Behavior Policy

From this point on, students will not be allowed to participate in the end of the year activities if they receive a REFERRAL or 2 or more CITATIONS between Monday, May 10 and the last day of school.

No exceptions.

Living Wise Unit

We are embarking on a unit that is a culmination of three subjects we have been learning about through out the year: water, energy and the environment.

Each student should have brought home a letter to parents regarding the unit, two workbooks, a survey scantron and one kit.

Each day we will be addressing two to three sections, to which students will have nightly homework. They will be assessing how much energy the old appliances consumed compared to the new adaptations students will be installing. Everything that the students have been given is theirs to keep, including the attachments, Teflon tape and booklets.

Students are to be supervised by a parent or guardian as they perform the various experiment/activities.

There is a website for Living Wise that offers additional information. It is temporarily experiencing difficulties but should be up and running soon.

Parents: Do you feel that this has been a worth while unit?

Last Day of School Change!!

There are now 39 calendar days until the end of school on June 15, not June 17 as the school calendar has printed. Due to the remodeling, students are being released a few days early.

Movie Time!

As a thank you to my students for their good behavior when I have had a substitute, I will be showing a movie next Friday (14) after school from 3:00PM - 4:30PM. Students are encouraged to bring a snack, but will be responsible for cleaning up their mess.

There will be a reminder slip coming home Monday (10). Students are responsible to make the necessary arrangements for getting home.

I will post the movie to be shown later in the week.

~~I am so fortunate to have good students. Thank you. ~~

And so it begins ..

The count down has begun! Including weekends and holidays, there are 67 days until the end of the school year. Make sure that you turn in your assignments on time.

Stay focused on your work sample write up. On Thursday (15) and Friday (16), you will transfer your rough draft material to the final copy.

Woo Hoo! Spring Break!

The roller coasters have been rolling in since yesterday and they look great! I am so proud of my young MacGyvers.

Upon return from Spring Break, students will be giving demonstrations of their roller coasters. Be ready to be asked questions.

After demonstrations are done, as a class, we will work through the write up portion. I can help you with part of it, but then it will be up to you to complete the rest.

I am proud of what you have created! Check out the slide show at the bottom of this page.

On A Roll

Some of the roller coasters have started to roll in! They're looking great!

Remember that they must be in BEFORE I lock up on the 18th at 8PM.

Before long, the counters and tables will be covered. Presentations will begin on Monday (29).

Looking forward to see your completed work.

Lego Robotics

Friday (5) I will be in Portland with the Lego's Club. We will watching and learning lots from other schools about the Robotics First program. We'll also observe how the other teams incorporate team work, engineering and problem solving.

Parent Conferences

Besides your roller coasters being due on Weds (17), Spring conferences also start that evening.

At this point, I will be hosting conferences in my room the evening of the (17) and ALL day the (18) so that you may bring in your roller coasters. I am trying to make arrangements with the janitors so that we can temporarily place part of them in another room, other wise we may be meeting in the hall way until demonstrations are over....lol.

If you have any questions, either post them here or email me.

I am looking forward to seeing what you have engineered!


Wednesday, March 17
7:30-3:30 Regular School Day
3:30-4:30 Dinner/Prep
4:30-7:30 Conferences

Thursday, March 18 (NO SCHOOL)
8:00-11:00 Conferences
11:00-12:30 Lunch/Prep
12:30-4:00 Conferences
4:00-5:00 Dinner/Prep
5:00-8:00 Conferences

Friday, March 19
NO SCHOOL

Volcano Spiders, P Waves and S Waves

Good morning!

Today we discussed three topic regarding plate tectonics: volcano spiders, P waves and S waves.

The U.S. is sending some volcano spiders to Chile for scientist there to aid in monitoring Mt.Chaiten. There could be a link between the recent earthquake and future eruptions. To learn more about Mt. Chaiten visit http://geology.com/volcanoes/chaiten/

The volcano spiders are carried via helicopters and lowered into the caldera of a volcano and/or left around the volcano to record changes.

(P)rimary waves are either longitudinal or plane pressure compressional waves.

(S)econdary waves are transverse or shear waves.

Which do you find most interesting?

Manners, please. Mother, may I?

LOL... .yeah, yeah. Just like the game you played as a kid.

When you post comments to our class page, make sure to remember the following:

* Don't type your entire comment in UPPER CASE or else it will come across as yelling.

* Choose your words wisely.

* Even if you don't agree with what someone has said (posted), be respectful for I will be seeing you in class the next time.

* Remeber the following: "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." ~Mark Twain

Volcano

Today, we discussed three particular volcanos: Paracutin (Mexico), Krakatoa (Indonesia) and Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake, Oregon).

Paractuin in essence was created over night February 20, 1943. It started with a fissure in the ground that opened 2 - 2.5 meters and grewing about 50m (150 ft) within 24 hours.

Students learned that Krakatoa carried 13,000 times the strength of the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. Chunks of pumice were carried by ocean currents to the coast of Madagascar that were the size of 3 meters (about the size of a VW Bug).

Mt. Mazama was far more destructive than Krakatoa, ... and it's in our backyard! We know it as Crater Lake. Scientist estimate that around 5,677 B.C. (+/- 150 years), Mt. Mazama erupted through two vents, causing the center third of the mountain to fall in on itself and down to the magma chamber. This explains the caldera (bowl) that we see today. Over time, the caldera has filled with snow and rain creating Crater Lake.

I plan on hiking here this summer! See you on the trail.


Cool huh?

Write Ups and Procedures

Today was a great day in class.

Students took time to write the procedural steps for how to assemble a S'more. (Yes, ...lol.... this is science.) Thirty-four chocolate bars later, we had supplies to dispose of and students were ever so happy to PROPERLY get rid of them...lol. (Crunch, crunch)

By understanding how to put your thoughts and actions in to words, students will be able to better communicate what they are observing during experiments and while constructing their roller coasters.

Improving on communication skills will also benefit students when they join the work force. Employers want individuals to be able to communicate.

I am so proud of my students!

Roller Coasters!

23 days until your projects are due! How far along are you completing this project? You should have purchased your supplies and built the first two hills of your project. Remember that each hill must be shorter than the preceding hill.

I am looking forward to being able to show off your work to other students and teachers!!

You're awesome!

Ms. Spellman

My New Blog Page

Good evening!

Due to the district site being down for maintenance at times and in an effort to be able to keep my page more regularly updated, I will be using this format.

Sign up so that you may respond to my page, there by allowing me to answer questions.

I'll give this a whirl and see if this is a good idea to keep or recycle.

Ms. Spellman