Mrs. DuBose’s Class: AdVeNtUrEs iN ScIeNcE

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!

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

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.

This weeks adventure took on deep within the Earth as we learned all about those MOUNTAINS OF FIRE..VOLCANOES!  Students are now easily getting that plate movement is the culprit to all of this. Students had an awesome time learning the parts of a volcano (magma chamber, pipe, vent, crater, lava flow, pyroclastic flow, ash cloud).

Students then created a volcano foldable on the 3 types of volcanoes: shield, strato/composite, and cinder cone.  Students used modeling clay to create the 3 different type of volcanoes.  As we watched the Mt. Vesuvius eruption, many students of course were only concerned about its awesomeness and the coolness of it but as we watched the video it was amazing to see the transformation.  We talked about the effects that volcanoes can cause: pyroclastic flows, mudflows, floods and ash fall and the enormous effects this can have on people, weather, forest, and buildings.  Next week, students will start their Volcano Research project where partners will research a famous volcano and create a National Geographic Real Estate News Paper Ad and then individually they are to create a model of the volcano that they researched. Enjoy the volcano videos below about catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and a sleeping giant in our mist, our very own Yellowstone National Park

This week we have wrapped up our the Journey to the Center of the Earth.  We thoroughly enjoyed our Journey to the Center of Earth Jeopardy review game for our upcoming test.  We wrapped up the week by going on a webquest that showed us how Earth’s Plate are A Movin’ and Groovin’.  This unit got students really engaged for how plate movement effects, named EARTHQUAKES and VOLCANOES.

This week we have wrapped up our sun, stars, and galaxies unit. Students have been learning about our closest star, the sun. We have created a model of the sun and now we are learning how stars go through a life cycle like humans. We will wrap up our star unit by making a classroom into a planeterium as we get the chance to observe constellations in the classroom. Our next journey will take us back to Earth as we Journey to the Center of the Earth

SPIRAL                                    ELLIPTICAL                       IRREGULAR

This week we wrapped up the Earth-Moon-Sun system by having a Jeopardy style review game for our TEST on THURSDAY. Students had a great time being contestants. The winning groups earned 5 PBS tickets, 5 OREO cookies, and 5 points on their quiz.

• Block 1: Rusty, Michaela, Cole, and Sarah
• Block 2: Stephen, Gabriel, and Doquan
• Block 3: Aaliyah, Caylee, Luke, and Jeremy
• Block 4: Nathaniel, Emma, Mark, and Coatie

To check out the Earth-Moon-Sun Jeopardy review game, click here! Our next mini-unit before we get out for Christmas, is learning about our closest star-the Sun!. In this unit we will be building a model sun, learning that stars go through life cycles like humans, and learn the characteristics of stars. This mini unit promises to be amazing as we see the SUN come alive. Enjoy!

Hi Astronomers

We are going to extend the walls of our classroom by having you share what you have learned about phases, tides, and eclipses.  You can either type what you have learned, call in what you have learned, or share what you have learned through microphone.  It is fun, simple, and gives you a great way to discuss with your classmates.  Remember this is ON-LINE and could be heard by others outside of our school do not give out your phone number or other personal information.  BE SAFE, HAVE FUN, AND DISCUSS!! SHOW ME WHAT YOU KNOW