Mr. K's Science Blog

1/23/12 NEW

2012-01-23T16:26:00.001-05:00

INCOMING CME: Big sunspot 1402 erupted on Jan. 23rd, producing a strong M9-class solar flare and a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME). Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say the CME should reach Earth on Jan. 24th at 14:18 UT (+/- 7 hr) and Mars a little more than a day later. Strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud reaches Earth. Our magnetic field is still reverberating from a CME impact on Jan. 22nd, so another blow could spark impressive auroras at high latitudes. Sky watchers in northern Europe, Canada, Alaska, and northern-tier US states such as the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin should be alert for Northern Lights.

1/23/12

2012-01-23T11:43:00.000-05:00

7th and 8th grades are getting ready for portfolio conferences. Working on goals and identifying examples to show you.

7th grade has begun looking at the Earth as a magnet and magnetic fields, while 8th grade has finished our lab on heating of soil, air and water. They will now look at convection currents in relation to the movement of air (wind)

1/9/12

2012-01-09T08:04:00.001-05:00

Working on NECAP inquiry practice in both grades. It involves a group experiment and data collection, individual written responses, and grading. This will let the students know what to expect and how they will be graded by the state. After that 8th grade will experimenting with differential heating and 7th grade will begin to study cells. On going projects include the coastal studies in 8th and electricity in 7th.

meteor shower

2012-01-03T14:13:00.001-05:00

FIRST METEOR SHOWER OF 2012: The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Wednesday morning, Jan. 4th, when Earth passes through a narrow stream of debris from a comet thought to have broken apart some 500 years ago. The shower is expected to be strong (as many as 100 meteors per hour), but elusive, with a peak that lasts no longer than a couple of hours. The shower's radiant near Polaris favors observers in the northern hemisphere. Images, live audio from a meteor radar, and more information are available on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

Our creek visit today

2011-12-22T14:40:00.000-05:00

Leave me a comment about the trip to the creek today (8-3) or turn in a written response tomorrow.
Include the normal items plus: compared to, and when we are done with the job we are doing....

Week of 12/19

2011-12-19T11:54:00.002-05:00

This week seventh grade is continuing to work on the percent moisture lab. Today we found the amount of water lost since last week and calculated the group and class percentages. Wed. we will graph and begin the conclusion. It will be turned in on Friday.
Eighth grade is working on the weather unit. Beginning the lab comparing the heating of soil, air and water. Check out this awesome pic of clouds, coolest thing I've ever seen!

http://www.alabamawx.com/?p=55225

more cool clouds
http://t.co/W3mh2GGK
This week is the week of the Winter Solstice. It occurs on Dec 22.

week of 12/12

2011-12-13T07:56:00.001-05:00

Meteor shower tonight! see below for details

7th - beginning our first formal lab report "Percent moisture in Soil". This will be broken down into small parts in class and typed up each night, adding to the previous nights work. Keep an eye on the HW blog.

8th - Weather unit still in progress next up is "wind". Shoe boxes and paper towel tubes are needed. We may also begin talks on plate tectonics

GEMINID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is passing through a stream of debris from near-Earth asteroid 3200 Phaethon, source of the annual Geminid meteor shower. Forecasters expect meteor rates to reach 20-to-40 per hour when the shower peaks in bright moonlight on the night of Dec.13/14. The best time to look, no matter where you live, is between 10 pm local time on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and sunrise on Wednesday, Dec. 14th. Check http://spaceweather.com for more information and live audio from a meteor radar.

BIG SUNDIVING COMET: A comet nearly as wide as two football fields (200m) is plunging toward the sun where it will most likely be destroyed in a spectacular light show on Dec. 15/16. Solar glare will hide the event from human eyes, but NASA and ESA spacecraft should have a grand view. Check http://spaceweather.com for full coverage.

week of 12/5

2011-12-05T14:09:00.001-05:00

7th grade performed the soil profile today and will finish in class on Wed. We will then begin the % water in soil lab.

8th Grade is making clouds in bottles.

Week of 11/28

2011-11-28T11:51:00.001-05:00

8th grade is working on our weather unit. Today we wrapped up the reflection about weather words and forecast components. I won't see classes again until Friday due to the field trip. We will then discuss clouds

7th grade is working on soil experiments. We have completed the % composition activity and will perform the modified percolation test tomorrow. We have 3 science days in a row!

Thank You!

2011-11-11T18:44:00.001-05:00

Thank you to all our military families! You make great sacrifices for our country. It is my pleasure to get to know you.

10/11

2011-10-11T11:53:00.002-04:00

8th grade is working on SI (aka metric system). Learning units, relationships, and estimations. Ongoing data collection at the creek for the Coastal Studies unit.

7th grade is working on Woodland studies unit - identifying producers, consumers, and decomposers, making them into food chains and webs. They are also using dichotomous keys to ID trees.

9/19

2011-09-19T14:48:00.003-04:00

Open house Wed 7-8 looking forward to seeing/meeting you all

8th grade is starting the creek water simulation lab: notes today, data collection Wed, drawings and graph on Friday, conclusion next Tuesday

7th grade is getting started on the Woodland study: finding consumers, producers, and decomposers, beginning taxonomy with tree ID

9/7

2011-09-07T13:53:00.002-04:00

This week in 7th grade we are going over lab safety, lab equipment and setting up our binders. 8th grade organized binders and will be learning about our coastal studies year-long project.

Welcome Back

2011-09-01T07:35:00.003-04:00

Welcome back everyone.

This week we are starting with 60 sec science and lab safety this week. Seventh grade will also be getting to know the room and class procedures. Science notebooks stay in the room.

graduation 2011

2011-06-22T14:55:00.001-04:00

5/17

2011-05-17T08:51:00.002-04:00

First Day of science NECAP for 8th grade. Element presentations in class. URI Bay Campus field trip on Thursday after lunch. Permission slip goes home Tuesday.

No science classes for 7th grade this week. Still need one or two parents for our Museum of Science sleepover.

4/28

2011-04-28T08:07:00.001-04:00

7th grade is finishing cell reproduction and will have test next week. 8th grade is working on learning the periodic table and making element brochures. 8th grade science NECAP coming in a few weeks.

Also:

Mark your calendar. On May 6th, Earth will pass through a stream of debris from Halley's comet, producing a mild but beautiful meteor shower known as the "eta Aquarids."

Balloon Competition Top 9

2011-03-21T13:59:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Caleb for the top flight time this year!

1 Caleb 124.6 sec
2 Finn 98.6 sec
3 Ryan 93.5 sec
4 Emily K 60 sec
5 Shelby 54 sec
6 Brie 49 sec
7 Zach 44 sec
8 Ian A 37 sec
9 Brad 30 sec

3/14

2011-03-14T15:02:00.002-04:00

day 4
7th grade
Discussion of earthquakes and tsunamis, plate tectonics, edible cells in last class, "cellabration" at lunch, Finish SAMS lesson 5 (making compasses)

3/3

2011-03-03T11:41:00.002-05:00

Day 3
8th grade
advisory schedule

Handed out Balloon Project rubric today and went over requirements and extra credit opportunities. Finished ppt notes. Will design balloons Monday and build on Wed.

Homework for the next few weeks will be to keep balloon papers organized, complete various components not finished in class, and work on extra credit

2/28

2011-02-28T14:50:00.001-05:00

Day 6
7th grade
review material to be covered on cell test (see HW blog), review game, viewing and drawing of prepared cell slides

2/14

2011-02-14T13:59:00.002-05:00

8th grade
60 sec science, density notes, explain density bottle HW, pass back metric quiz (make up Wed during HW help if test is corrected and signed by parent), Anatomically correct valentines in afternoon class.

1/26

2011-01-26T14:08:00.002-05:00

Day 6, seventh grade
60sec science (oysters remove pollution), review water cycle including transpiration and respiration, location of Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, NationalGrid presentation discussion and What is a magnet?notes in the afternoon,

Test on Friday

1/19

2011-01-19T14:04:00.001-05:00

Day 1, 8th grade
60 sec. science, review use of graduated cylinders and gram -mL relationship for pure water, find volume of geometric objects with displacement and measuring, no HW

1/18

2011-01-18T12:15:00.002-05:00

1/18, 7th grade, Day 6
Morning classes review microscope notes, 60 sec science, no HW, started virtual cell worksheet
Afternoon - SAMS special speaker,Mr Pratt from National Grid, presentation about electricity and smart grid

1/5

2011-01-05T08:04:00.001-05:00

Day 4, 7th grade
Peer edit lab (turn in on Friday), microscope self test, microscope notes
Microscope parts test Friday

1/4

2011-01-05T08:01:00.000-05:00

Day 3, 8th grade
Metric system notes in class.
8-2 went to creek in the afternoon

1/3

2011-01-05T07:58:00.002-05:00

day 2, seventh grade
soil moisture lab due Wed., reviewed what to turn in and order. Filled in diagram of microscope labeling parts qz on Friday.

12/22

2010-12-22T14:29:00.002-05:00

Day 6
Seventh grade
Reviewed our graphs (checked for common problems), had class discussion about conclusion guide questions and took notes, also discussed the solstice and eclipse with a demo showing seasons and day length in each hemisphere

12/21

2010-12-21T11:50:00.002-05:00

Day 5
8th grade
Quick discussion about solstice and lunar eclipse. SAMS lesson 7 "what causes the seasons?". Used SEM boards,globes, and mag lights to investigate the changing seasons and the axis of Earth to explain seasons/equinoxes/solstices and length of day/night

No HW

12/20

2010-12-20T11:54:00.003-05:00

Lunar eclipse Monday night, set your alarm! It may be cloudy but worth a shot (only one visible from here this year)

Day4,
7th grade, chorus trip second half of day
More work on % moisture in soil experiment.
checked hw(lab report hypothesis, materials, procedures), combined group data in table form, calculated class #'s, made or started making graph in class finish for hw

12/17

2010-12-17T11:50:00.002-05:00

Day 3, 8th grade
progress reports, reviewed and scored NECAP written response using released answers, continued with metric estimations of length and mass, went to creek to collect data

Check it out!!!!

2010-10-20T14:07:00.000-04:00

ORIONID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is passing through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet, and this is causing the annual Orionid meteor shower. Bright moonlight is reducing the number of visible meteors; nevertheless, sky watchers are reporting some bright Orionids. The best time to look is during the hours before local dawn on Thursday, Oct. 21st, and again on Friday, Oct. 22nd. Check http://spaceweather.com for a sky map and more information.

Check out the fireball in NM

2010-09-24T12:08:00.001-04:00

SOUTHWESTERN FIREBALL RIVALS THE HARVEST MOON: Last night, sky watchers in the southwestern United States witnessed a brilliant fireball. It was almost as bright as the full Harvest Moon and caused a loud sonic boom over parts of New Mexico. A movie of the event is highlighted on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com. Type Sept 22 in the archive box on righthand side of the page

Student oil spill responses

2010-07-10T07:16:00.003-04:00

Hit comment below and leave your thoughts (first name and grade only)

Wild Weather73

2010-04-05T15:59:00.003-04:00

Shifting the world?

2010-03-12T06:03:00.000-05:00

"Widespread press reports have noted that February's Chilean earthquake might have shortened Earth's day by a small amount. Today's story from Science@NASA explores a more significant effect---how the quake might have shifted Earth's axis.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/11mar_figureaxis.htm?list24871"

School Weather Station Up and Running

2010-01-26T05:58:00.002-05:00

Our weather station has been installed and is up and running. We will be collecting data to use in class and for our SAMS units. Here is one of the links

http://weather.weatherbug.com/RI/Jamestown-weather/local-observations.html?zcode=z6286

Creek Question -8th grade

2010-01-14T16:23:00.004-05:00

Post a comment below about your trip to the creek today. What did you notice? How was it the same, how was it different, was it fun, were you cold,what did you see, was there anything unusual, what job did you do, what were the results, etc.?

Meteor Shower Anyone?

2009-12-09T20:02:00.000-05:00

The annual Geminid meteor shower has been intensifying, and researchers say 2009 could be the best year yet. This year's display peaks on Dec. 13th and 14th.FULL STORY athttp://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/08dec_geminids.htm?list24871

Chicken Little Was RIght!!

2009-11-18T19:02:00.000-05:00

FIREBALLS AND METEORS: As forecasters predicted, the Leonid meteor shower peaked during the late hours of Nov. 17th, favoring sky watchers in Asia with an outburst of 100+ meteors per hour. Just as the outburst was dying down, an even bigger event took place over the western USA. Something hit Earth's atmosphere and exploded with an energy equivalent of 0.5 to 1 kiloton of TNT. Witnesses in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and elsewhere say the fireball "turned night into day" and "shook the ground" when it exploded just after midnight Mountain Standard Time. Researchers who are analyzing infrasound recordings of the blast say the fireball was not a Leonid. It was probably a small asteroid, now scattered in fragments across the countryside. Efforts are underway to measure the trajectory of the asteroid and guide meteorite recovery efforts.

WOW!

2009-11-01T20:16:00.001-05:00

INDONESIAN ASTEROID: Earlier this month, with no warning, a ~10-meter wide asteroid hit Earth's atmosphere above Indonesia and exploded. The break-up was so powerful, it triggered nuclear test ban sensors thousands of kilometers away. A just-released analysis of infrasound data shows that the asteroid detonated with an energy equivalent of about 50 kton of TNT, similar to a small atomic bomb. This significant impact has received relatively little attention in Western press. Details are available today on http://spaceweather.com.

New Ring on Saturn Discovered!

2009-10-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

Just when you thought every big thing in the Solar System had already been discovered, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found an extraordinary new "supersized" ring around Saturn. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/07oct_giantring.htm?list24871

Back on the moon

2009-10-06T20:34:00.001-04:00

LUNAR IMPACT: This Friday morning, Oct 9th, at approximately 4:30 am PDT, NASA's LCROSS spacecraft and its Centaur booster rocket will plunge one after another into a shadowed crater near the Moon's south pole. The spectacular double-impact will be shown live on NASA TV from the point of view of the LCROSS spacecraft. Meanwhile, impact debris plumes emerging from the crater may be visible through backyard telescopes. North American sky watchers west of the Mississippi river are favored with darkness and good views of the Moon at the time of impact. Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and full coverage.

Sunspots on the increase

2009-09-23T05:18:00.000-04:00

NEW SUNSPOTS: In a year when the sun has been utterly blank 80% of the time, the sudden emergence of two large sunspots in a single day is a noteworthy event. Today is such a day. NASA satellites and amateur astronomers are monitoring a pair of growing sunspots, both apparently members of long-overdue Solar Cycle 24. The emergence of these active regions is not enough to end the deepest solar minimum in nearly a hundred years, but they do represent a significant uptick in solar activity. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

Welcome Parents!

2009-09-16T17:17:00.000-04:00

Summer Extra Credit 4 Comments

2009-08-16T15:13:00.002-04:00

Questions on the HW blog. Answer and put a fact or two here with your first name and grade.

Be on the look out!

2009-07-31T13:10:00.001-04:00

Look to the night sky this month and see the meteors.

Earth is entering a stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, setting the stage for the 2009 Perseid meteor shower.

FULL STORY athttp://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/31jul_perseids2009.htm?list24871

New assignment posted

2009-07-20T07:25:00.002-04:00

http://kaczynskihomework.blogspot.com/

How has science been part of your summer?

2009-07-06T06:04:00.002-04:00

Write a comment about how science entered your life this summer. Include your first name only and grade. For example, I went to a ranger program while camping, watched a cool show about planets, ect..

Summer Exrta credit posted

2009-06-27T07:29:00.001-04:00

Follow this link to my homework blog to see assignment http://kaczynskihomework.blogspot.com/

Space Station Flares

2009-05-27T05:51:00.000-04:00

SPACE STATION FLARES: Lately, a growing number of observers are reporting intense "flares" coming from the International Space Station (ISS). During some nighttime flybys, the luminosity of the space station surges 10-fold or more. Some people have witnessed flares of magnitude -8 or twenty-five times brighter than Venus. A movie featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com shows what is happening: sunlight glints from the station's recently expanded solar arrays in a shadow-casting flash. Currently, the flares are unpredictable. You watch a flyby not knowing if one will happen or how bright it might be. That's what makes the hunt for "ISS flares" so much fun.Sky watchers in North America should be alert for flares this week. The ISS is making a series of evening passes over many US and Canadian towns and cities. Flyby times are available from the Simple Satellite Tracker: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

Visible Satellite Crash Debris

2009-05-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

SATELLITE DEBRIS: On Feb. 10, 2009, Iridium 33 crashed into Cosmos 2251 and the two satellites were shattered. Since then, US Strategic Command has catalogued nearly a thousand pieces of debris. Today's edition of http://spaceweather.com presents 3D maps showing where the fragments are located on the three-month anniversary of the unprecedented collision. One large piece of Iridium 33 wreckage is visible to the naked eye as it tumbles through the night sky flashing every 4.7 seconds. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker for flyby times: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

Meteors on Wednesday!

2009-05-05T06:07:00.000-04:00

METEOR SHOWER: Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Halley's Comet, the source of the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Wednesday, May 6th, with as many as 85 meteors per hour over the southern hemisphere. Rates in the northern hemisphere will be less, 20 to 30 per hour. The best time to look is during the dark hour before local sunrise on Wednesday morning. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and details.

Cool Interactive Periodic Tables

2009-04-03T06:06:00.002-04:00

Check out these periodic tables. Use them to start to get info on your element. Leave a comment if you see something cool for class.

Table that shows videos http://www.periodicvideos.com/

Interactive table http://www.dayah.com/periodic/

Earth Hour!

2009-03-27T08:29:00.002-04:00

Earth Hour - Show the world you care! Turn off your lights from 8:30 - 9:30 on 3/28 (Saturday night). http://www.earthhour.org/

Spring is coming!

2009-03-19T06:34:00.003-04:00

Spring comes tomorrow (Friday) morning. What is the name of this day? What happens on this day?

Up Up in the Sky...It's a ......

2009-03-18T20:08:00.002-04:00

ASTEROID BUZZES EARTH: Newly-discovered asteroid 2009 FH is flying past Earth tonight only 85,000 km (0.00057 AU) away. That's a little more than twice the height of a geosynchronous communications satellite. Experienced amateur astronomers in North America can photograph the 20-meter-wide space rock racing through the constellation Gemini after sunset on March 17th. It should be about as bright as a 14th magnitude star. Please visit http://spaceweather.com for an ephemeris and updates.

This is the second time in March that an asteroid has flown so close to Earth. On March 2nd, 2009 DD45 passed by only 72,000 km away. Measuring some tens of meters in diameter, 2009 DD45 and 2009 FH are approximately Tunguska-class objects, meaning they pose no global threat but could cause local damage if they actually hit Earth. In years past, asteroids of this size often passed unnoticed, but recent improvements in asteroid surveys have resulted in growing numbers of space rocks caught in the act of near-Earth flybys.

The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling!

2009-03-12T06:31:00.002-04:00

Check out this story and web site. Let me know what you think and if you see any pieces!

SATELLITE DEBRIS UPDATE: The first catalogued fragments of shattered satellite Cosmos 2251 are about to reenter Earth's atmosphere. According to US Strategic Command tracking data, reentries will occur on March 12th, 28th and 30th, followed by more in April. Radar cross sections are not available for all of the reentering pieces; they are probably centimeter-class fragments that pose no threat to people on the ground. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information.

Check out the videos of the fireballs!

2009-02-17T06:03:00.002-05:00

Awesome! Follow this link and check out these videos of fireballs in Texas and Italy then send me a comment

http://spaceweather.com/

Race Week is coming!

2009-02-15T07:29:00.002-05:00

Here is the web site we will be using in science. Check it out, tell me some cool things you find out! http://www.volvooceanrace.org/

Comet Approaching!

2009-02-04T18:12:00.000-05:00

NASA Science News for February 4, 2009

A green comet of rare beauty is approaching Earth and may become visible to the naked eye later this month.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm?list24871