Don't know how it happened so fast, but it's our last week before December break! Last week, we looked at the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse - figuring out where the moon needs to be in relation to Earth to create either type. The Sun is the only source of light in the solar system - so if the moon casts a shadow on us, then the sky goes dark in the middle of the day and the stars come out. On April 8th, 2024 this will happen during a total solar eclipse which will start down in Texas then head northeast to cross New England. The next time a total solar eclipse passes over this area, you'll be 65 years old (& I'll be almost 100!), so seize the day! Where do you want to be during the 2024 total solar eclipse to get the full experience? We will also be taking the time to figure out what causes the four seasons. After completing some research, you'll be creating your own lab to recreate the seasons. The point of this is to collect data from the lab as evidence that the seasons actually occur for specific reasons. If you have not taken last week's Gravity, Tides, & Moon Phases Quiz (3 bars), please arrange a time with me outside of class to complete it. These quizzes will be graded and in PowerSchool this week (corrections are a possibility to raise your grade - more details to come). After school help is available Tuesday & Thursday this week (before school help available upon prior request). Stay curious & keep looking for answers! -Mr. Bowles On Friday, we ended the week by comparing a partial lunar eclipse with the first quarter moon phase. They both look the same from Earth - the right half of the moon is bright, the left is dark - but they happen for different reasons. It was your group's job to use the Sun, Earth, & Moon provided to try to figure out why they look the same. This week we'll be looking for similarities & differences between each other's idea, then try to come up with a common model to explain why using your ideas.
On Wednesday there will be a 3 bar quiz on Gravity, Tides, & Moon Phases. This quiz will include everything from the gravity flashcards and the current flashcards on ocean tides & moon phases. Your Tides & Moon Phases Flashcards are due the day of the quiz. Don't forget, using the study strategies I provided to you in the beginning of the year will help you be more efficient with the time you have left before the quiz. Put the time in, use the strategies, & you'll see the benefits. There's 1/2 day on Thursday, during which only blocks 4-7 will be seen. I will be out on both Thursday & Friday for Sources of Strength training. Stay curious & keep looking for answers! -Mr. Bowles Hope you all enjoyed break and got some time to relax. Incredibly, a third of the school year will be over this Wednesday, meaning that the first trimester will be closing that day. There's still some time to complete any missing work or resubmit work with a low grade. If you're willing to put in the work, then I'm willing to raise your grade. Remember that this first trimester is 33% of your total grade for the year - this grade can help or hurt you as we progress through the year. You will also be completing a self-assessment for the end of the trimester based on attendance, positive contributions, & organization, which will help determine 10% of your total grade. See me with any questions. This week you'll be receiving the peer feedback on your tides & moon phases animations and be updating your Thinglink & Google Site with the work you completed last week. This peer feedback is anonymous, so will likely be more honest & critical of your work - a close (not necessarily negative) analysis of your animation. It will be important to use this feedback when reflecting on this assignment. As we near the end of the Astronomy unit, we will be doing labs & creating models to figure out how eclipses & seasons actually happen. After school help is available Monday, Thursday & Friday this week (morning hours upon request). Stay curious and keep looking for answers! -Mr. Bowles |
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March 2020
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