Mr. Lazarus 8th Grade Science

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Revised 11-29-09

This week, we will be finishing the launching of bottle rockets.
We will begin the next unit on the organization of the priodic table.
On Thursday, students will write a two page paper relating to the bottle 
rocket launches as it relates to Netwons Three Laws.

PLEASE VIEW THE HOMEWORK PAGE FOR COMPLTE RUBRIC INFORMATION ON THE SCIENCE 
FAIR>  DUE DECEMBER 15th.

Revised 11-7-09

This week, teams are constructing bottle rockets (Newton's Laws of Motion #1-
3).  Students wuill begin launching on Friday.  Students need to turn in 
evidence of their materials and procedures list for science fair.  Suggestion 
is that students finish their science fair between the 1st and the 7th, and 
ask for the teacher to view the project before the official turn in date.

Please remember that Wednesday, there is no school for Veteran's Day.

Progress reports will go home Thursday.

Revised 11-1

Students should be well under way with their science fair experiments.  I 
will be staying after school on Monday for any students who need help.

We will be testing our Junyard Wars boats on Monday.  Students will write an 
essay regarding the designing , building , and testing of the boats on 
Tuesday.  We begin our bottle rocket design and construction , this week for 
testing next week.

Progress reports are sent every Wednesday.

Revised 10-26

This week, students will compete in "Junkyard Wars".  They will work in teams 
of theee to design , build, and , test a prototype that must work under its 
own power.

Students should well be under way with their science fair.  Students should 
be completed by December 7th.  This way, they can show their science fair 
project to the teacher, so the teacher can give feedback for any 
modifications.

Revised 10-11-09

This week , we begin discussios on Newton's Laws of Motion.  We will finish 
with the develop of "stories" regarding position-time graphing.  Report cards 
are scheduled to go home on Friday.

Any student who needs help for their science fair may ask for help at any 
time.  There is a special hour for questions answer session regarding science 
fair from 3:00-4:00 on Monday.

Revised 10-4

We will be working on worksheets regarding the comparing of the speeds of 
different boats.  We will also be discussing position-time graphs ( position 
will help determine velocity (the speed and direction of objects).

Please remember that this Wednesday is a full day.  Progress reports will be 
handed out on Wednesday.  The end of the first qusrter is Friday.  Friday is 
a half a day.

On October 5th and 12th, I will be remaining after school for any student 
needing help on the science fair.

On October 12, students swill need to show at least three pages of research 
done on their science fair topic. (75 points)

REVISED 9-27

This week, we will be graph race results in a distance time graph and then
analyze the results.

Please remember that Wednesday is a half day release at 11:34 a.m.

I am still in the process of reviewing students' question/purpose for the 
science fair project. I am writing individual nnotes onn many of the students'
science fair pproposal sheet.  Please note that unless I have checked off 
a "yes" to their question/purpose, students should not begin the hypothesis 
or procedure steps.  Some students will have to decide upon a different 
question/puurpose, if I do not appprove the science fair questtion.

I plan on an after school science fair session on Monday, October 5th and on 
Monday , October 12th for any students who might need help with their science 
fair.  Please remember that you can always call to ask any questions on the 
science fair.

REVISED 9-19

We continue this week with measuring time and distance to determine speeds of 
cars on downward slopes and then graphing the results.  We will be having a 
mid-summative exam after the completion of Investigation 2.   We will then  
start to compare speeds in Investigation 3.

Students are to have turned in to the teacher a question and purpose for the 
science fair (75 points). The science fair is scheduled for December 15th.

Please remember that every Wednesday, an updated progress report is being 
sent home.

There is early dismissal at 11:34 a.m. on Wednesday.

Revised 9-13

Students need to return their  mid term  progress reports, signed by their 
patent or guardian that were given to them on Friday.  Students will be 
receiving a weekly progress beginning Wednesday.

This week, we continue to work on problems regarding distance, speed, and 
velocity. By the end of the week, we will be using model cars to determine 
average velocity and graphing distance time results.

Students will have homework both Tuesday and Wednesday.

At this point in time, students should have discussed the science fair 
packets with parents/guardians.   STUDENTS MUST HAVE A COMPLETED QUESTION AND 
PURPOSE LISTED SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 18th (40 pts and approved by both 
parents and myself).  Students received a science fair form that the question 
mmust be written on and signed by parent.  The Science Fair date is set for 
December 15th.

Revised 9-7  Revised 9-8***

This week, we continue to study distance x(f)-x(i), and learn how the 
variable of time can help us determine speed  and velocity of an object 
v=change in distance/ change in time.  We are working on several activities 
working with solving problems relating to these concepts.

At this point in time, students should have discussed the science fair 
packets with parents/guardians.   STUDENTS MUST HAVE A COMPLETED QUESTION AND 
PURPOSE LISTED SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 18th (40 pts).  We are waiting to hear 
back on an official date for the science fair; however, it will be in mid 
December, before Winter Break.

This week,students may have homework related to the distance and velocity 
worksheets.  Students should write all homework assignments in the planner.

Please note:  I update the homework on Monday for the week; however, students 
are responsible for any homework given in class that was added during the 
week.

Finally, students will be receiving a progress report for their classes 
starting Friday****.  Please sign the initial progress report that you will 
receive this week and return it.

Revised 8-30

On Thursday and Friday of last week, the classes went over a new version of 
the science fair packet.  This includes important information on the steps 
to completing a successful science fair project. Please note, this is the 
official science fair packet that I am asking the students and parents to 
read and discuss. A link to these pages will be added to the link page on 
this website on Monday. The science fair packet on the class documents page 
is not the official packet, but can be used as a resource.  The science fair 
project will be worth between 350-400 points, and we are looking at a 
December date.  An official date will be announced by the end of this week. 
Students need to bring in a parent signature on Tuesday stating that they 
read over the packet with their parent/guardian (30 points).

This week we begin our force and motion unit, beginning with using an "air 
trolley" system to learn about position, time, distance, and speed.  
Worksheets will be complted in class.  If students do not complete, they will 
have homework.

Revised 8-23

This week, students are conducting experiments regarding Basil seeds that were
flown on the shuttle and Basil seeds that were not.  The other experiment is 
regarding the density of hot and cold water.  By the end of the week, 
students will be going over the science fair packet.

Revised 8-11

Welcome back!

This school year will full of exploration and excitement, as we learn about 
how a rocket launches to new worlds, as we create chemical reactions, and as 
we organize and build a periodic table.  We will compete in "Junkyard Wars", 
in which we will build a working model boat that must travel on its own 
power.  We will also develop experiments to solve many real-life scientific 
questions throughout the year, including a science fair project.

This year, technology will play an integral part within the classroom. We are 
in the process of working on a classroom blog, in which students will be able 
to ask questions and give feedback of science topics and the science fair.  
Any postings must go through the teacher first for official posting.  There 
will also be a site that parents will be able to view of science work related 
material for the class. This will be under the control of the teacher.  There 
will be school time to have students work on blog assignments.

One exciting idea that may happen is a "long distance "  classroom visit with 
another science classroom on the east coast.  This "long distance" visit will 
allow students in our class to teach other students about Newton's Laws and 
how to build and launch rockets.

We also look forward to having several guest speakers visit throughout the 
year.

All science concepts taught in eighth grade are based on the Arizona Science 
Standards. Although the time line may change, the scope and sequence of 
science concepts  will include:

What is Science? Inquiry Process- One month
Force and Motion-Physical Science-(speed, velocity, acceleration,Newton's 
Laws) 2.5 months 
Chemical Interactions-Physical Science-3 months(periodic Table, Particles-
atoms, elements, molecules, compounds substances, mixtures, ph value, 
chemical reactions )
Heredity-Life Science- 1.5 months
Diversity and Adaptation-1.5 months

Within this time line, students will complete objectives regarding  History 
and 
Nature of Science and Science in Personal and Social Perspectives. The two 
main curriculum units that we use along with great supplemental material, 
include Foss Science Program and the Glencoe Program.

We welcome all parents to visit us at Back to School Night on August 20, 
2009, beginning at 6:00.

Sincerely,

Rob Lazarus
(602) 664-7138
rlazarus@msd38.org
http://teacherweb.com/AZ/Madison1/LazarusScienceGrade8/

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Mr. Lazarus 8th Grade Science

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