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Twinkie Science      posted 12-02-2009
The following links deal with science and the humble twinkie:

Lots of Twinkie Experiments --http://www.twinkiesproject.com/
Twinkies in Space -- http://www.galactic-guide.com/articles/8R17.html

Great Twinkie Hitory and stuff -- http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/twinkie.htm/printable

Official Hostess Twinkie Site -- http://www.hostesscakes.com/twinkies.asp






Mobius Strip Lab      posted 11-02-2009
Video of Mobius Lab
Mobius Strip Lab

Materials

Adding machine paper
Scissors
Meter stick
8cm transparent tape
Pencil
Felt marker


Question: How many sides does a Mobius strip have?

Hypothesis: If a Mobius strip is made of a piece of paper, then the Mobius strip will have ___________ side(s).

Procedure:
1. Measure and mark 75cm on the adding machine paper.
2. Cut the adding machine paper at the mark.
3. Throw away left over scraps of paper.
4. Bring the two ends of the paper strip together to make a smooth, simple loop.
5. Flip one end of the paper strip upside-down to make one twist in the loop.
6. Wrap 8cm strip of transparent tape around the two ends of paper to fasten them together.

Experiment:
7. Use the felt marker to draw a dot in the middle of the Mobius strip.
8. Rest one section of the paper over the corner of the table dot-side-up.
9. Press the marker lightly on the dot and pull the entire paper strip under the pen to create a line. Do not lift the pen from the paper.
10. Continue drawing the line until it reaches the point at which it began.

Analyze Results:
Review your hypothesis. Is it correct or incorrect? How do you know?

Extension:
Using scissors poke a hole at the dot and cut along the line. What will the results be?

Mobius in the News:
www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/1979384.htm





Cookie Crumbles Experiment      posted 12-01-2008
Another Cookie Experiment
The Cookie Crumbles
A comparison of the average weight per unit of chocolate chips in three different cookie brands.

Materials:
  3 brown paper bags labeled gBrand X", gBrand Y", Brand Z"
  3 cookies representing 3 different brands of per group
  1 plastic spoon per person
  3 paper plates per group
  1 sharpie marker per group (8) total
  3 10cm x 10cm pieces of waxed paper per group
  1 electronic scale

Procedure:
1. Use sharpie to label plates gBrand X", gBrand Y", Brand Z".
2. Use sharpie to label waxed paper gBrand X", gBrand Y", Brand Z".
3. (Weigh empty paper plates)*
4. Collect and place cookies on appropriate plates.
5. Weigh cookies and plates X, Y, and Z. Record weights in table.
6. Calculate weight of each cookie. Show work. Record weight in table.
7. Use plastic spoons (both ends)and fingers to edissectf each cook to remove chocolate chips.
8. Place chocolate chips on corresponding labeled waxed paper.
9. Weigh and record weight of chips and waxed paper for each cookie Brand. Record weight in table.
10. Calculate the weight of the chocolate chips only. Show work. Record weight in table.
11. Figure out weight of chocolate chips per gram of cookie. (Example: .13grams chocolate chips/1 gram of cookie)

Question:
Which brand of chocolate chip cookie has the most chocolate chips per unit weight?

Background Information (From teacher and class schema):



Hypothesis (Given the background information, what do you think the answer to the question is? Remember to rephrase the question in the answer! Think gifcthenh!):




Data: (Show calculations work on a separate piece of paper.)
Brand X Brand Y Brand Z
Weight of cookie and plate (measure)
Weight of paper plate only (given)
Weight of cookie only (calculate)
Weight of chocolate chips and waxed paper (measure)
Weight of waxed paper only (given)
Weight of chocolate chips only (calculate)
Grams of chips per 1 gram of cookie (calculate)

Conclusion: (First sentence repeats the hypothesis, second states where the supporting data comes from, third makes suggestions for changes in future experiments like this.)



Perilous Procedures      posted 11-09-2008
The Work Sheet

Part 1: In the space below write a set of directions for cooking something (a recipe), for getting somewhere (directions), for building something (plans), or for playing a game (procedures), for tying a shoe lace, for making a paper airplane, for making a balloon animal… Sound easy? How do you do it?!

Part 2: Without any preamble (no discussion, demonstration or explaination) give the above instructions to someone and have them DO whatever it is you've described. THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.

Part 3: Now, rewrite your set of directions following the tips in the Power Point presentation. A reminder: you must have a materials list and the steps must be written in sequential order.



The Notes

Procedures

MAKE A MATERIALS LIST! The list includes the quantity, size and description of each item needed. Example of Materials List:
• 3 pieces of 4cm long x 1.9cm wide transparent tape (Scotch or other brand)
• 1 unsharpened #2 pencil

The words FIRST and STEP must be replaced by numerical order. For example:
1.
2.
3.

DON’T use YOU or any other personal pronoun (I, we, they, us, them…). Instead, make a declarative sentence that starts with a verb.

Choose and use verbs correctly.
• “Walk east on Grier Road…:
• “Travel west on Grier Road…”



Writing Procedures: Alka Seltzer Rocket      posted 11-08-2008
Alka-Rocket Demonstration Videos
Instructions: Watch 3 video clips featuring Alka-Seltzer Rockets (see link above for the first one). Compile a materials list and a set of sequential procedures for this experiment. Follow the rules for writing procedures:
* No personal Pronouns (I, we, he, it she, they...)
* Sequential, Numerical Order ( 1. 2. 3.)
* Careful Noun Selection (NOT "Put", "Pour"!)
* Declarative Sentences ("Feed the hamster.")
* Make a Materials List!

A Student Demonstration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyTL5UBr3nk&feature=related

A Mad Science Demonstration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiiS3dBnRs

Note: Only students who submit a complete and correct list of materials and procedures will get to participate in the rocket launch!






Creating Procedures: How to Make Balloon Animals      posted 11-08-2008
Procedures for Making a Ballon Dog
How do you learn how to DO something NEW? We all process new material in different ways and that is OK. The trick is figuring out how you learn best, then learning strategies for coping with other kinds of directions.

In Science, procedures are really important. They are what allow scientists to REPLICATE one another's work, thereby supplying more EVIDENCE to support or refute a hypothesis.

Although Balloon Animals are not "science", creating them is "procedure intensive". That's why we're doing this very fun and silly activity.

Other Animals

Hummingbird and Bumble Bee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ajDROSAAEU





Coke Float Lab      posted 11-02-2008
Coke Float Explained

See the link above. Can you explain why this happens?






Tales From the Crypt      posted 10-26-2008
Temperature and the change in Gas Volume
During Halloween week you will observe a candle and jar demonstration. This demo is about the ingredients of fire. Prior to the demo you heard the song "Fire!" by the Bungee Jumping Cows. You can hear part of this song again by going to this link (it's an MP3 file):

http://www.moo-boing.com/mp3/Foundations/Fire.mp3

Or see the words again at this link:

http://moo-boing.com/tag/fire

Regarding the demo itself, as you know, the oxygen within the jar is used up by the burning of the candle fire. You need to understand that when the oxygen is used up, it is replaced by CO2 (among other things) so the volume of matter inside the jar does not change. There is a neat extension demo above that talks about this. Maybe give it a try at home with adult supervision!

Young Frankenstein and the Scientific Method      posted 10-26-2008
I am MAN!: The Experiment (6 minutes)
***Note: There are a couple of "bad words" in the movie clips from "Young Frankenstein". The original movie has a rating of PG. For more parental guidance on the entire movie (not represented here) see the following link:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072431/parentalguide#certification


Some clips to support the Lab (at least to make it FUN and Scarey!!)

The Experiment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qil3iFpgWdM
Yummy Sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0izPsLSm-zM&NR=1
Mamma's Little Angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu1DMSqTLyk&NR=1
Puttin' on the Ritz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH2nQHPs4aA

Just too funny to pass up:
Bride of Frankenstein: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNnqRfNcRgE




Caddyshack - True or False? A delicious Density Lab      posted 10-23-2008
Clip of Doodie!

Caddyshack - True or False? Part II A delicious Density Lab      posted 10-23-2008
Clip -- It's no big Deal!

Movies in Science: Madame Curie      posted 08-18-2008
Teach with Movies Guide
Madame Curie
This is an oldie but a goodie - a terrific insight into the first scientist to ever win TWO Nobel Prizes.

Clips from this movie will be used for our lesson on the fields of science and scientists. This will also be refered to in the "Fandango" assignment.






Science in Movies: San Francisco      posted 10-13-2007
USGS and REAL Earthquake Info
The best of the Earthquake movies for my money - and Clark Gable to boot! You'll be whistling the song before this early thrill film is over. BTW - Mrs. Sheppard's grandfather would have been among the survivors camped out in the park...

Ask the Scientist: How to Write a Hypothesis      posted 10-03-2007
Dear Student:

This is the hypothesis you've sent me:

If the rocks give their minerals to the sea water in the sea,then where do the rocks get their minerals?

Here is the grammar correction:
If rocks leach salt into sea water, then where does the salt originally come from?

Here is a correction of your concept of a hypothesis:

The formal scientific process begins with the hypothesis. However, the hypothesis is a result of observation and questioning, which are NOT considered part of the formal scientific process. Here is what I perceive you are thinking:

1) You observe that sea water is salty.
2) You ask yourself "Why is sea water salty?"
3) You observe that objects found in the sea, like rocks, taste salty (yes, I have tasted rocks from the sea:-)
4) You ask yourself "Which makes the salt, the water or the rocks?
5) You think that the rocks create the salt.

NOW you are ready to write a hypothesis.

If the presence of rocks is related to the salt content of water, then water containing sea rocks will have a higher salt content than water with no rocks.

IF and THEN are required in all hypotheses. (By the way, the plural form of hypothesis is hypotheses.)

The independent variable is found in the the "If" section of the hypothesis. The independent variable in this hypothesis is "presence of rocks".
The dependent variable is also in the "If" section of the hypothesis. The dependent variable in this hypothesis is "salt content".
The measurement is in the "then" section of the hypothesis. The measurement in this hypothesis is "salt content".



The Best Year-Start Word List 2007      posted 08-14-2007
Key #0220116 - Page 1
Words for Beginning Science
Words for Beginning Science
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
Find each of the following words.

VOLUME
PREVIEWING
JOURNAL
HIGHLIGHTER
SCIENTIFIC
MEASURE
QUANTIFY
TEXT
RESPONSIBILITY
MASS
OBSERVE
APPENDIX
SCHEMA
RULES
LINEAR
LENGTH
READING
PROCEDURE
QUESTION
LITER
R.F.U.
METRIC
UNITS
GRAM
METER

EIRUPROCEDUREERQEMRPCTORAC
REEVOLUMEBEGROLOEGRNASEIRE
IRGRESPONSIBILITYFENA.SEVI
EERUULUNITSIRRRONCTOPULIEG
ETALNSAAMOSMDIHAIIHGP.OSNR
IEPLNUANGUUICTMFUFGOEFNFOM
RMIREREERSCLTEXTCIIRN.UAIT
GEEEEEMEMUITHUYRETLVDRLRTT
OMIRLVUEPTOCHTTRENHEIPERS.
UBRUIPIEOUSJESCETEGNXAPAEI
ERSENMEEQUANTIFYEIIEDLELUE
SUPETSICWITQGRAMICHIUUCCQT
LLSQRINIVIMASSAAUSNLRULESX
EMILXVLCIENLENGTHGLINEARRR
PONCYFENCONGAREIXTETEYCPNM
IISMSOTBBUEJOASDMIEAXRURRR


 

Key #0220116 - Page 2
Words for Beginning Science
Words for Beginning Science
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
2524
19
21
2223
2012
10
184
1336
9
71
118142
175
15
16

 

Down
1.  Interpret something that is written or printed.  
2.  To notice and visually examine something. 
3.  To find out the size, weight, and capacity of something.
4.  A ledger in which transactions have been recorded as they occurred.  
5.  Based on the meter as a standard of measurement.  
6.  The previous knowledge or experience the reader has that helps them identify with the text.
7.  a unit of weight in the metric system
8.  A set of skills used for reading comprehension; reading for understanding.
9.  Conforming with the principles or methods used in science.  
10.  The basic unit of length adopted under the System International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards).  
11.  Supplementary material that is collected and appended at the back of a book.  
12.  A physical property that is a measure of the distance from one end of something to the other.
13.  A guide for how we should behave. These help us keep order when we have a group of people.
Across
14.  The amount of space that an object occupies.
15.  A metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of 1 kilogram of pure water at 4 degrees centigrade and 760 mm of mercury (or approximately 1.76 pints).  
16.  Any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange.  
17.  The property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field.  
18.  Express as a number or measure or quantity.  
19.  A form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct.  
20.  An instance of questioning.  
21.  A particular course of action intended to achieve a results.  
22.  The process of making predictions about text content by analyzing visual cues in a reading.
23.  Of or in or along or relating to a line; involving a single dimension.  
24.  A pen or marker that is used by the reader to add emphasis to key words and new concepts in the text.
25.  The words of something written.  


 

Key #0220116 - Page 3
Words for Beginning Science
Words for Beginning Science
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
Complete each sentence using the correct word.

Word List
R.F.U.
appendix
gram
highlighter
journal
length
linear
liter
mass
measure
meter
metric
observe
previewing
procedure
quantify
question
reading
responsibility
rules
schema
scientific
text
units
volume
 
 


1.   The data was shown in a straight line or ___ pattern on the graph.

_______________________
2.   There are one thousand millimeters in a ___ .

_______________________
3.   Please use the centimeter side of your ruler to ___ this line segment.

_______________________
4.   The basic unit of ___ is meter.

_______________________
5.   Please make a prediction about the passage, after ___ the title.

_______________________
6.   Mom is deciding whose ___ it will be to feed the dog.

_______________________
7.   I hope I will be able to ___ the phenomenon known as Northern Lights.

_______________________
8.   Please hand me the 50 ___ stand mass weight.

_______________________
9.   A diary or ___ can be considered documentary evidence.

_______________________
10.   In the field of science, the ___ system is used universally to measure.

_______________________
11.   We use a graduated cylinder to measure ___ .

_______________________
12.   When scientists have to measure, they use metric ___ .

_______________________
13.   A single ___ of sea water may contain millions of diatoms of various kinds.

_______________________
14.   Scientists make specific observations when they ___ measurements.

_______________________
15.   While reading the science worksheet, she marked the key words with a ___ .

_______________________
16.   Your ___ does not change when you fly to the moon.

_______________________
17.   You will formulate a hyposthesis as part of the ___ Method.

_______________________
18.   It is very important to follow all the ___ of safety so someone doesn't get hurt.

_______________________
19.   Did you evaluate that new ___ book to see if it was interesting?

_______________________
20.   His ___ for astronomy includes a previous trip to the planetarium.

_______________________
21.   I used the ___ at the end of the book to find additional material for my report.

_______________________
22.   Mr. Johnson asked a ___ about plants.

_______________________


Perilous Procedures Paper      posted 10-15-2006
7th Grade Science Name
Mrs. Sheppard Date
Scientific Method Period
Perilous Procedures

In the space below write a set of directions for cooking something (a recipe), for getting somewhere (directions), for building something (plans), or for playing a game (procedures), for tying a shoe lace, for making a paper airplane, for making a balloon animal… Sound easy? How do you do it?!




























Metric Measurement      posted 08-16-2006
Great Background on Metrics!