In the News

Pick a story - tell me what you think!

US Spy Satellite to "De-orbit" and Fall to Earth

Builders of the Pyramids Lived Short, Brutal Lives

Are You an "Owl" or a "Lark?" Your Genes May Make the Choice!

Where Should Science Draw the Line?

Recently I read two stories that disturbed me. The first was about the FDA allowing meat and milk from cloned animals to be sold as food. The second is that a man genetically engineered a rabbit with jelly-fish genes so that it glowed in the dark.

From the AJC's article about the FDA: "Meat and milk from cattle, swine and goat clones are as safe as food we eat every day," said Dr. Stephen Sundloff, FDA's food safety chief.

I say, are we sure? These things haven't been around that long, and we haven't been eating them.

As far as the ethics of creating genetically altered creatures, the Supreme Court has said it is ok for any living thing except humans.

Part of me is naturally wowed by what science can do, but another part of me is a little creeped out about the thought of a glowing bunny or eating a burger from a cloned cow.

My daughter used to have a poster in her room that said, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." I sort of feel that way about these two things.

What do you think? Are these experiments pushing science forward in a good way? A bad way? Would you own a glowing pet? Would you drink milk from a cloned cow? Any other thoughts?

It's Pleo!

What is Pleo? From the Pleoworld website: "Pleo is an autonomous robotic life form modeled on a one-week-old Camarasaurus dinosaur. Pleo is designed to mimic life which means Pleo thinks and acts independently, just like a real animal."

It is also completely adorable! The operating system and mechanics are similar to, but more sophisticated than, the ones used in STEM class, but the principals are the same. If you go to the Pleoworld website, there is some interesting information on the "insides."

A few weeks ago we talked about technology and its changes, and someone mentioned having robots for pets. Pleo is available from The Sharper Image for about $350 - the same as many dogs, but without the food or vet bills. I am half-charmed and half-alarmed by Pleo and its popularity. Reading the forums, I am struck by how devoted many owners are to the creature.

What do you think? Good or bad? Scary or sad? Cute or disturbing? Would you own one?

Neuroscience For Kids

This is the website we used in class for the brain activities. It has a lot of information and activities for you to learn more about your brain and how it works. The memory and learning activities are here.

Which was your favorite? Did you learn anything new? Are you going to change any habits because of the activities?

Challenge Day - Can You Be the Change?

Although I was disappointed that 8th grade didn't get to participate in Challenge Day, I was very happy that the Foundation was able to bring to program to our school. ECMS is unique; we have an amazingly diverse population. This is a strength but it also presents problems - that is why Challenge Day was so important.

For those of you curious about what your classmates experienced, you can read more about Challenge Day here.

Challenge Day also brought some positive publicity to our school: the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Marietta Daily Journal, and WXIA, Channell 11, all covered the event. Be sure to click on the links to read the stories.

Challenge Day isn't meant to be a single day event - it's meant to be extended. The Be the Change program is a way of extending the lessons of Challenge Day.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you think this will make a difference? Did any of your younger friends or siblings get to participate? What did they say? What's something you could do to "be the change?"

Computer Lab - 12/18

Complete the chemical equation balancing activities at http://www.funbasedlearning.com/ - be sure to put your answers on your worksheet.

Activity 1 - Classic Chembalancer
Activity 2 - Review Chembalancer
Activity 3(AC) - Brain Boggle Chembalancer (only AC classes have to complete the worksheet, but everyone is invited to try!).

Finished? Make sure both sets of balancing worksheets are complete and have your name on them.

Things to do when you are done:

1. Element Quiz at http://www.funbasedlearning.com/
2. Element Games at Jefferson Labs - try Hangman!
3. Science Review Games at BBC Schools
4. Interactive Chemistry at BBC Schools

Write a comment about today's activities. What did you enjoy? What did you learn?

Computer Lab - 12/17

Today, the first thing to do is finish your computer work for your project. Make sure you have your:

1. Excel pie chart (showing proteins, carbs, and fat)
2. Excel bar graph (showing Vit A, Vit C, calcium, and iron)
3. The atomic structure of TWO elements (http://www.chemicalelements.com/)
4. The molecular structure of TWO compounds (google image search for the "molecular structure of ______)

Forgot the directions? Click here, scroll to the bottom, open, and save to your lunch number.

Done? Try the BBC Schools Science site for some extra help.

"Influenza Di Freddo"

Influenza di freddo is Italian for "influence of the cold," which some historians say is the origin of the name influenza, or the flu. Doctors and scientists have long wondered why flu season was typically in the winter - some ideas include everyone being inside and spreading germs or not getting enough Vitamin D to strengthen the immune system.

Now a scientist has found what may be the reason - the flu virus likes the cold, dry air of winter better. Read more here.

Despite the new research, flying to a tropical location is out of reach for most of us to avoid the flu - most doctors recommend getting a flu shot. At the very least, minimize exposure, take care of yourself, and wash your hands!

How do you keep yourself healthy during flu season? What do you do if you do get sick?

What'chu know about math?

LOL - this just makes me laugh...enjoy!

We Are The Web

For most of you, life without the computer or the internet is unthinkable. Your generation is the tech-connect generation - you think first of the internet in terms of getting and sharing information - MySpace, Facebook, Photobucket, YouTube.

I look back at how the computer has changed in my lifetime and my life. When I was in junior high I got to learn some BASIC - the programming language "of the future" - we don't use it anymore. By my second run at college in the early 90s, word processing was a wonder and a timesaver - as was the computerized card catalogue (you guys have NO idea...ask your folks about the old version of that). I couldn't believe how much easier writing papers was.

Now I have a computer in my home, and I use the internet everyday - e-mail, IM, Napster - shopping, reading, playing.

Watch the video - what do you think? Where do you think technology will be in 30 years, when you are about the same age I am now? What will YOUR kids understand that you don't?

Online Quizzes

Click here or here to access some online quizzes. Want some CRCT practice? Try here. After submitting your answers, you can e-mail the results to me for credit. Need some math practice? Try these.

Good luck!

Tom Dickson Is My Homeboy

This one is my favorite!

Everest - Because It's There!

I am completely fascinated by Mt. Everest. The mystique it holds for me is far beyond the mere fact that it is the tallest peak on our planet. The fact that it straddles the borders of Nepal and Tibet, places of exotic beauty and wildness, is part of it. The fact that the very thing we need to survive - oxygen - is in rare, even deadly, availability is a thought that thrills and chills me. The fact that reaching the summit is something few have accomplished and that was only first done last century is mind-boggling. Finally, the fact that the mountain can KILL - that people trying to reach it's mystical peak have DIED in the attempt, opens up windows in my imagination.

I have long given up my dreams of climbing the mountain; it is far too dangerous, and I no longer have the time or inclination to learn extreme mountaineering (although I hold out hope of being able to go to the base camp some day). I still indulge in my fascination through reading, TV, and movies. Two of my favorite books about the mountain are Into Thin Air by John Krakauer and Ghosts of Everest by Larry Johnson (see my earlier post about these books). I loved the IMAX movie Everest, which was recently re-released and played at the IMAX at Fernbank.

Lately I have been enthralled by the Discovery Channel series Everest: Beyond the Limit, which follows a group of climbers in their attempts to reach the peak. The Discovery Channel website has a lot of cool interactive stuff - puzzles - even a game.

After exploring some of the links, tell me what you think - is climbing Everest something you would ever consider?

Packed With Planets?

Astronomers recently discovered a fifth planet around another star. This find is significant because it opens up the possibility of there being solar systems like ours with eight planets. It also increases the possiblity of being able to find some kind of life on another planet. This fifth planet is at a distance where water might be able to exist as a liquid, a factor most scientists agree is critical to life.

Read more here.

What do you think the chances are that we find another Earth-like planet in your lifetime?

What do you think the chances are that we will find life on another planets?

What do you think that life will be like?

It's Official! Pluto No Longer a Planet!

An oldy, but a goodie - this was big news about this time last year, and it recently came up in conversation, so I thought this year's class might want to express their opinion.

Is Pluto a planet?

The International Astronomers Union (or IAU) voted today to re-classify Pluto as a "dwarf planet" instead of a a full-fledged "planet," and included in this new classification are Ceres and 2003 UB313, but not Pluto's moon, Charon.

Read the MSNBC story here.

In class, we've talked about theories and other understandings in science changing as a result of new technologies and new discoveries. This is something that drives people, who don't understand science, crazy - "What's up with scientists not being able to make up their minds?" is what they often ask.

This is a perfect example of how new discoveries and new technologies force us to re-evaluate. When Pluto was first discovered in 1930, it was thought to be much bigger. When its moon Charon was discovered in 1978, we realized that is was much smaller than believed. Now we have the Hubble telescope, with its abilities to see much more than before, and it forces us to look at our solar system, and the objects in it, in a new way.

What do you think? Should Pluto still be a planet? Is the new classification a good one? What will my very educated mother serve us nine of now?

Water, Water, Everywhere?

The southeastern United States is in the midst of a record drought - some call it a 100-year drought. While it's true that rainfall in the last few years has been lower than average, the reasons for the severity of the drought are varied - some blame nature, and others blame too much growth and mismanagement of our current water supply. It looks like little relief is in sight, due to predicted low winter rainfall because of La Nina conditions.

How do we decide whether we are in a drought? A group of experts froma variety of agencies look at the following factors:

*groundwater levels,
*streamflows,
*reservoir levels,
*rainfall in the past 3, 6, and 9 months,
*expected rainfall in the next 90 days, and
*water use patterns across the state.

There are a variety of simple changes you can make around your house to help conserve water. A simple one is not letting the water run while you are brushing your teeth. For more ideas, click here. What are some things you might try?

Physics is Fun! Interactive Extra Help is Here!

Forces in Action: Try this activity exploring mass, friction, and motion: link.

Friction: Try this friction activity: link

Racing Ball Activity - which ball will win the race?

Reaction Time - How fast can you react? How fast can you stop?

Momentum - adjust the mass and speed of the two vehicles and watch what happens.

Leaning Tower of Pisa - drop things off the tower, just like Gallileo

Collisions - change the mass and velocity of two balls and watch what happens

Crash Test Dummies - always entertaining!


Websites with a variety of activities - look for activities that relate to the topics covered in class (force, motion, work, inertia, speed, velocity, acceleration, etc.).

Fear of Physics - lots of good activities here

Physics Lessons - more things to try - go to "i-physics" and then "1-19 Mechanics" on the drop-down menu

Amusement Park Physics - design your own amusement park rides

PhysLab.net - more activities to try

More... more to try

Alkali Metals & H2O

Sodium & Chlorine

Flaming Gummy Bear