Mrs. DuBose’s Class: AdVeNtUrEs iN ScIeNcE

Hi Super Scientist!

Your job is to go outside and be science investigators or in this instance GEOLOGIST. You are to go out and find examples of weathering, erosion, mass wasting taking place in our surroundings. You may also include examples of crustal change that have occurred. Take pictures of your findings and record the location and type of weathering, erosion, or mass wasting taking place.

DIRECTIONS

1. You will receive 2 point for each correctly identified, labeled photo up to 20 points total.
2. Neatness and effort are included as part of the point total; hence, sloppy or haphazard projects will not be considered for extra credit.
3. PHOTOS MUST BE YOUR OWN!! There are plenty of good examples in the Youngsville/Louisburg/Franklinton area.
4. There are 4 different ways you can display your findings
   1. POSTER: Mount the pictures onto a ridgid background (poster or science fair board) and full label each photo with a brief explanation of what is taking place at that particular location.
   2. POWERPOINT: Past your digital pictures in POWERPOINT and create a SLIDESHOW.
   3. SLIDE.COM: This is for my lovers of the cool gadgets on the Internet. You can upload your digital photos to www.slide.com (must create an account) and then create a cool slideshow that you can add music too, special effects, and borders and MORE!
   4. VIDEO:  If you always wanted to be a music producer, you can use your video camera to record your findings and then EDIT and CREATE a masterpiece that takes us along your VOYAGE.  You can use Window Movie Maker (to edit your video you created) or Windows PhotoStory (to narrate over your digital picture and add cool special effect)
5. To get FREE tutorials on SLIDE, WINDOW MOVIE MAKER, OR PHOTOSTORY..click on your choice

What to look for:

Evidence of weathering:

• plant growth
• ice wedging (freezing and and thawing)
• oxidation (rusting)
• carbonation (carbon dioxide..usually weathering of marble or limestone..Graveyards)
• Living Organism (lichens and moss)

Forms of erosion:

• Deposition of sediments (look for different sediments building up):
• Mass Wasting:  landslides, rock falls, slump, soil creep

THIS WEEK’S ADVENTURES:
This week are learning how Earth’s surface changes due to the dynamic duo: Weathering and Erosion. Weathering is the breakdown of rocks due to mechanical/physical weathering or chemical weathering. Mechanical weathering is rock breaking down but keeping its chemical composition. This can occur through plant growth, abrasion, ice wedging, animal action, and release of pressure. Chemical weathering can occur when rocks are broken down but under go a chemical composition change. This can occur through water, acid rain, oxidation (rusting), living organism, or carbon dioxide. After weathering breaks down the rock, erosion swoops in to carry sediments off through wind, water, or ice. Students will use their knowledge of mechanical and chemical weathering and simulate these processes on our sugar cubes (fake rocks). Students will later in the week use various objects to try conserve their soil.  This activity will help them understand the importance of protecting the soil from erosion.  Check out the dynamic duo below: Weathering an Erosion video and the dire consequences that can happen when we don’t protect the soil–Dust Bowl.

ANIMATIONS:

Last week we learned what a mineral is and the 8 ways they can be identified. This week were are learning how rocks and minerals are related. Minerals are the building rocks for rocks! There are 3 main types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic).

An igneous rocks forms when magma or lava hardens. There are 2 Types: extrusive (forms small crystals because lava cools quickly once it reaches earth’s surface) or intrusive (forms large crystals because magma cools slowly beneath earth’s surface)A sedimentary rock is made from pieces of sediments, rock fragments, animal or plant remains.There are 3 types of sedimentary rocks: clastic (rocks stick together), chemical (formed from solutions), and organic (remains of plants and animals/living things. The last type of rock is a metamorphic rock (morph means to change..think if the POWER Rangers) are rock made from rock that has been put under heat and pressure deep within Earth. There are 2 type foliated (minerals grains have been flattened and aligned) and non-foliated

We will use crayon shaving to take a ride on the rock cycle (thank to scienceclass.net) as we explore how rocks are formed. We will be acting out the Rock Cycle and students will have the opportunity to be creative by  song, rap, poem, or story that goes with the Rock Cycle ! If you are great with video and love music, you may create a music video that incorporates the Rock Cycle. This project would be due by May 29th! Make sure you complete your vocabulary foldables on Rocks and Minerals. These are great review before your Minerals and Rock test this Friday.  If time permits, we may be playing a review game on Thursday

IGNEOUS ——————- SEDIMENTARY————— METAMORPHIC
Check out the Rock Cycle Animation below and Da Rock Cycle to the tune of Webbie’s Independent

• What are the 3 Types of Rocks
• Interactive Rock Cycle
• Rock Cycle Interactive
• Interactive Rock Cycle Animation
• Rocky’s Journey on the Rock Cycle
• Fun Rock Cycle Activities for Home

In class this week we have learned what a minerals is using the mnemonic device: CRINS which stands for Crystal (repeating pattern), Recipe (definite chemical composition), Inorganic (non-living) Naturally formed, and Solid. Next, students learned the 8 ways that geologist can identify minerals: C3DFHLS- Color, Cleavage, Crystal structure, Density, Fracture, Hardness, Luster, and Streak.  Students had quite an enjoyable time applying these properties to figure out the identity of mystery minerals.  Lastly, students learned the 2 ways minerals can form-from evaporating solutions and from the cooling of magma and lava. Students learned that when they drink Kool Aid they are essentially drinking a solution because sugar is dissolved in water.  They also learned that through the process of crystallization crystals are able to grow. Students were quite BEDAZZLED of the large size of crystals from a geode and the size of crystals from obsidian.  I posed the questions as to why do you think the crystals were different sizes and their was always that ONE shining star in each class who correctly guess it had to do something with the temperature of the magma and lava.  The quicker the molten rock cooled, the SMALLER the crystal.  SLOW = BIG CRYSTALS FAST=small crystals

Taking their understanding a step further, I asked them how do you think we could create our own crystals?  Many students quickly grasped that we could create our own solutions and allow the solution to evaporate over several days.  Students had a great learning experience creating their borax solutions and seeing their crystals start to grow.  I used sugar last year and it started to get mold.  This year I used Borax at the recommendation of another science teacher due how quickly crystallization starts.

LEAVE A COMMENT..Share your experience creating your crystal or going on the mineral scavenger hunt

Don’t forget minerals are EVERYWHERE and WE USE THEM EVERYDAY!…To go on a mineral scavenger hunt, click on the picture below

If you are interested in growing your own crystals, try Grow Your Own Crystal Experiment on page 2..  If you want to earn 15 points extra credit to test grade, you must do the LAB REPORT that accompanies it!

We have erupted onto earth’s surface and have started our next unit: Rocks and Minerals. As we know lava erupts and hardens into rock.  Every rock has a story to tell. Rocks hold evidence that helps us figure out how mountains formed, where glaciers once flowed over the United States, or what kinds of plants and animals lived on the Earth. Rocks show us how the Earth has changed and how it’s still changing, even today! They give us important clues about the Earth’s history. You can find rocks almost anywhere. Here’s how you can start your own rock collection.  Click here to go to the website.

In order to earn your 15 points extra credit, you must use your rock collection to anwer the question in your ROCK CHART. You will need ADOBE to download the chart

LEAVE A COMMENT..Share your experience creating your own rock collection??

This week we wrapped up Earthquakes.  We learned that seismic waves are broken into 3 types. The instrument that is used to record the ground movement during an earthquake is called a seismograph.  The first wave to arrive is called the P wave or primary wave.  It arrives first and moves like a slinky for it compresses solids and liquids in a back and forth motion.  The second wave to arrive to called the S wave or secondary wave and it goes through solids only by cutting through rock at right angles (side to side and up and down).  The last wave to arrive is called the surface wave.  It is the most destructive type of wave because it moves along the surface of the land.  With this knowledge, students made a seismogram by shaking their table to create seismic waves for a weak and strong earthquake.  Students observed the the STRONGER the earthquake the BIGGER the wave.

Using their knowledge of P and S waves, students realized that the longer the dead time is between the P and S wave arrival, then the farther the earthquake was from the epicenter (the directly on earth’s surface above the focus or the point underground where the earth originates.  The last part of the puzzle was for students to realize how scientist find the epicenter of an earthquake.  Students realized that using 3 seismographs students can find the epicenter by finding where all 3 seismographs intersect.  Students had a enjoyable time being seismologist on their Earthquake Webquest.

Lastly, we discussed how scientist predict and analyze earthquake strength and damage. The Mercalli Scale (which measures the dollar amount of damage), The Richter Scale which measures the size of the seismic waves), and the Moment Magnitude Scale (which measures the amount of energy an earthquake releases). Also new to students will be the instruments used to monitor faults. We will be discussing Creep Meters (which measure ground movements in opposite directions), Tiltmeters (which show how much the crust is tilting) and GPS satellites. Before our test on Friday, students checked their Volcano and Earthquake packet and  played a Partner Challenge Crossword Puzzle as we reviewed Volcanoes and Earthquakes

As a teacher, we all have come to the aid of a student who has bullied and seen the hurt, stress, and anxiety that this causes. Even after severe disciplinary actions, sometimes the cycle still continues and we are left wondering what is left. After reading and watching “How to Stop a Bully”, I found the principal’s concept was unique and definitely came to the source of the issue-the bully.   The recent school shooting in Germany is a constant reminder of what can go wrong when bullying is not dealt with.  These were the 14-year old shooters last words

I’ve had enough. I’m fed up of this pointless life. Always the same. Everybody laughs at me. No one sees my potential. I’m serious. I have weapons and I will go to my old school in the morning and have a proper barbecue. Maybe I’ll get away. Listen out. You will hear about me tomorrow….

Check out the “How to Stop a Bully” video BELOW. To read the full article “How to Stop A Bully” click here

LEAVE A COMMENT..Share what do you think??

Don’t you just love when what you are teaching just so happens to be in the news!! Well we have TWO volcanoes that have sprung to live.  An undersea volcano has erupting near the island of Tonga, shooting smoke and ash THOUSANDS of feet into the sky above the Pacific Ocean.   “In the short term it is very damaging and will have limited, localized effects,” Bellwood, a marine biologist said, noting that the ash could kill reefs and marine animals alike. “But an underwater explosion is really a wonderful thing, it’s creating new land. This kind of activity helps develop reef systems and helps preserve marine life.”

On the other side of the world, 10, 200 ft Mount Redoubt has erupted so far six times and sent volcanic ash cloud 9.5 miles (50, 000 ft) into the sky, dusting nearby towns, sparking a swarm of earthquakes, and spurring massive mudflows. Based on seismic data, a lava dome appears to be forming in the volcano’s crater, volcanologist Peter Cevelli of the Alaska Volcano Observatory said March 24.  Early data suggest the volcano could continue erupting for days or even months. “I doubt this eruption is over,” Cervelli said. “In fact, it may be just beginning.”

Aren’t Earth’s plates totally AMAZING!!

LEAVE A COMMENT..Share what do you think??

This week students are continuing their ride along Earth’s bumper cars. Students will learn that the Earth is under stress just like HUMANS are. Students can really relate because many of them had stress coming up to present during their VOLCANO projects. The Earth’s crust undergoes Tension, Compression, and Shearing. Stress puts pressure of the Earth’s crust which causes faults. Faults are a break in the Earth’s crust. The three types of faults are a normal fault, a reverse fault and a strike-slip fault. Students have already learned that the 3 types of boundaries are convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries so making the connection to boundaries creating faults should be an easy one. By the end of th week students will make the connection that the stress of compression happens at a convergent boundary which causes a reverse fault. The stress of tension happens at a divergent boundary which causes a normal fault. In these instances the earth’s crust will lift or fall. Shearing happens at a transform boundary and causes a strike-slip fault which causes the Earth’s plates to slide past each other.

Students had an AWESOME time learning about the 3 types of volcanoes and researching their volcanoes! Students were responsible for building a REALISTIC model of their type of volcano they were researching.  Students were assigned FAMOUS volcanoes from all around the world.  Their job was to create a NEWSPAPER AD that described their REAL ESTATE property but all scientitifically described the volcano.  It was quite interesting to see how the students balanced attracting potential REALTORS to getting the SCIENTIFIC information out.

COMING SOON!

• The best NEWSPAPER adds from each block
• Pictures of us ERUPTING volcanoes OUTSIDE (delayed DUE to rainy weather)
• Pictures of Top 10 Teacher’s Choice Volcanoes

LEAVE A COMMENT..Students leave a comment and share your experiences..Teacher questions are welcome too??