NewsFlash

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
----- William Butler Yeats
 
Parents-please periodically log into snapgrades and check the grades.

Bring in materials discussed with your group members, for the Newton's race car project.


DuPont Challenge© Science Essay Competition

The 24th annual DuPont Challenge© Science Essay Competition is underway

and is accepting entries now through January 31, 2010. Designed to inspire

young people to excel in scientific writing, the competition invites

students in 7th through 12th grade to research and write a 700- to

1,000-word essay about a scientific discovery, theory, event or

technological application that has captured their interest. Essays are

judged on mechanics and conventions; ideas and content; organization;

style and creativity; and voice. Winners receive savings bonds up to

$5,000 and an expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World and the Kennedy

Space Center. For more information on classroom use

and the competition, visit the DuPont Challenge website

http://thechallenge.dupont.com/

How the Essays are Judged:

Mechanics & Conventions (25%)

Ideas & Content (25%)

Organization (20%)

Style & Creativity (20%)

Voice (10%)

Last Year’s Junior Division winning essays:

http://thechallenge.dupont.com/winningessays.html

Rules: All participants must be 13 years or older!!

  • Write an original 700- to 1000-word essay created exclusively for The 2010 DuPont Challenge©.
  • Write only about a science-related topic. No matter how well-written and researched, essays submitted on non-science topics are disqualified.
  • Your essay must be written in English.
  • Essays should be written using your word processor of choice.
  • Do not put your name, school name or any other personal information on your essay. Enter your name and other personal information on the Official Entry Form only.
  • Your essay title must appear in the Entry Form box called “Title of Essay.” Do not include the title of your essay in the Essay Box.
  • Include the word count at the end of your essay.
  • Attribute all ideas that are not your own and any quotes in the body of the essay. Do not use footnotes or endnotes.
  • Your essay must include a bibliography of your source material on a separate page at the end of your essay. Do not include the bibliography in your word count.
  • Avoid plagiarism. Essays are carefully reviewed by multiple judges and checked for plagiarism.
  • Proofread your essay carefully. Your essay will be judged not only on the science, but also on creativity, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
  • Do not include illustrations, graphics, or diagrams.
  • Fill out the entry form completely. Incomplete entry forms will not be accepted.

Physics is everywhere. Below is a list of some ideas for you to explore science beyond the classroom. In each case its important to explain the physics that you have learned.

Watch a 1-Hour Video and Report on It(extra credit 5 points)
NOVA on PBS (Channel 13)
MYTHBUSTERS on Discovery Channnel
How It's Made on Science Channel
MODERN MARVELS on History Channel

Stay current with science--
NASA's next Mars rover, a super-capable robot named "Curiosity," will push Mars exploration to a new level.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/30oct_curiosity.htm?list1358235
 
NASA Mission to Study the Moon's Fragile Atmosphere
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/23oct_ladee.htm?list1358235

Go to http://www.sciam.com/podcast/ and listen to 60 second science as well as science talk or watch a science show and share with your parents what you learned.
 


Always come prepared for class.
Review your notes daily.