Welcome back Week!

Hi Parents,

Its been a busy week.  The students have been completing the Space presentations and are working on their Mars mission as we speak.  The Mars mission is due Monday.

Monday we start our CPT which was introduced today.  The CPT is a week long inclass project that accounts for part of the 30% summative mark.

Space Unit

Hi,

We will be commencing three distinct projects tomorrow;

- Scale of the Solar System
- Space News
- Mars Major Project

Here is a video link that we will be watching tomorrow to help kick start the unit!

Solar System Scale 

Busy week!

Hi Parents,

With our electricity unit wrapping up, and with Space on the horizon, we want to remind everyone of the unit test for electricity on Tuesday.  I also just uploaded the major unit project for space to the students google drive.  This is a big project that we will make sure the students are well set up for prior to the break.  They are encouraged to work on it over the holidays, but don't over do it!

Electricity Presentations

Many students were ready to do their presentations today, unfortunately, not everyone was.  Time management is a very useful skill, and the fact that some students did not work the most efficiently over the class time provided for this project, is a bit disappointing.  Hopefully all projects can get completed asap, and we can move on.  We have a unit test scheduled for early next week, and then we want to start our Space Unit before the holidays!  Merry Christmas!

Electricity flows along....

Hi Parents,

Our electricity unit is flowing along.  Mr. Furgeson is doing a good job covering all the basics and engaging the students in some good hands on activities.  Our electricity math still requires nightly review by students as year after year this content proves to be some of the most challenging in the course.  I've pic'd a photo of the main equations that the students should know.

It's Electrifying!

Our student teacher Mr. Furgeson is flowing with electricity!  The students are well into the unit now and most recently have been working on energy reduction, and in completing a "foldable" outlining major points thus far in the unit.  The Static electricity lab was well done, and we look forward to our current electricity lab!

Pizza Party

Thanks again to all the students and parents who are supporting our exchange fundraiser.  We are having some great pizza today at lunch for a great cause.  Thanks again.  Mr.M.

Static Electricity Lab!

The students are hard at work with their electrifying unit.  Today the students worked through about 1/2 way on the static electricity lab.  As always, students should be reviewing notes at home, and planning ahead.  Ms. Polumbo and I took part in ugly sweater day earlier this week.

Chem, Electricity and Pizza!

The Chem unit is now complete and we have already moved on to Electricity.  Don't forget tomorrow is the last day to prepay for Pizza for this Friday.  It is an important fundraiser for our Yukon Exchange group.  Thanks very much!

Tests and Pizza

Hi Parents,

With the possibility of a snow day tomorrow, I'd like to remind everyone that in Academic Science we don't have classes off.  This doesn't mean you risk yourself in unsafe conditions to get here, but it is a reminder that our students don't take a yellow bus to school, so the expectation is that so long as it's safe, we'll see you tomorrow.

The test is scheduled, but if it's unsafe for many students to get to ND, then we will review and look ahead to our electricity unit.  Also, the students were supplied with some review exercises that were uploaded through Hapara to their OCSB email files.

Now for the fun stuff...

As part of our fundraising efforts for our exciting YMCA ND-Yukon we will be starting some pizza Friday's during lunch in our room 104.  It's pretty simple.  The basic order will be 5$ for two great slices of Gabriel's pizza and a drink.  Please see the attached form for more details.  If your son/daughter has a friend in another homeroom, that they would like to invite, then have them see me asap on Monday for an order form.  Thanks for your support.  Mr.M.

Yukon Feed the Eagles Pizza Fundraiser!

End of Chemistry!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks as we wrap up Chemistry. We have completed a few labs, and the students did an amazing job on the elements project.  The mystery gas lab and the flame test are worth asking your kids about; lots of good science and fun.  Today we are finishing up with a molecular model lab and a review for the big unit test on Monday!

Chem Unit

Today the classes are finishing up their Atoms project.  Many students were done at the start of class and this translates into a level 4 for preparedness.  Well done.  Next up is a review of chemical and physical properties prior to our labs next week.

The Unit is progressing well and we are still on pace to have our unit ending test late next week or early the following week. Everyone should be reviewing nightly!

Atoms, atoms and more atoms

Today we started our Atom's project.  Each student has been assigned an element to research and present.  We will have one more class for research and then we will have very brief presentations. Next up we will have a molecular model lab and before you know it we will be transitioning into electricity!

Molecules

Hi Parents!

It was great to meet many of you last night!  Today we pressed on with atomic structure and learned about covalent and ionic bonding.  These are new concepts and can be very tricky to grasp without nightly review.  Some practice homework was given.  Have a great weekend.

Atomic Structure

The last couple days and for the next few, the students need to be reviewing and completing the daily assignments concerning the ATOM.  This is fundamental to building knowledge in this unit and in chemistry in general.  Many students are doing fine as they are concentrating in class and participating actively in the practice quiz's etc.  However, some kids will soon become frustrated and fall behind if they don't keep up with the sequential learning.  Mr.M.

pH and Bohr-Rutherford Diagrams

The students saw an interesting Demo today showing Nature's natural ability to determine acids and bases.  The famous Red Cabbage Juice pH demo was successful and the students learned the basics of the pH scale.

We continue to work on Atomic Structure.  Today we expanded on our Model of the Atom understanding and got right into drawing Bohr-Rutherford diagrams.  This is a big learning expectation for the unit and students need to be completing all work for homework and reviewing nightly to ensure understanding of these important concepts.  The unit progresses quickly, and we build knowledge into tougher upcoming concepts.

Tomorrow is Take your Grade 9 Kid to work day.  I expect all students to be out there in the real work being inspired.

Next week

The tests are being marked form the Ecosystem Unit.  Well done for the most part.  Tomorrow we will likely go over the tests, and then keep pushing on in Chemistry.  The students have been left with some homework in Basic Chemistry.  Topics such as Particle Theory and the behaviour of Water through temperature changes should be reviewed and understood before we move forward.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Outdoor Club Trip

Don't forget to get your forms and money in asap to be a part of one of the most exciting trips of the year.  We take the first 8 students who are interested, and have their paperwork in order.  This is an excellent trip, one of the highlights of the year! #outdoorclub

Pond Water Lab

Just one of many examples of unique and interesting microscopic life as seen under the microscope during the last couple days!  Don't forget to review for the test on Tuesday!  Have a great weekend!

The Pond Water Lab...

The students had a successful pond water lab today.  We saw some amazing and fascinating microscopic life.  Most groups were able to complete their scientific diagrams for sample A by the end of class.  Tomorrow we will complete the lab.

Next week we will have a review before our Major Unit ending test for Ecosystems.  Up next is Chemistry.