Here is what is going on in class:

FORENSICS

This week in class we have been doing activities and reading articles about fingerprinting.  On Monday we worked on a worksheet where students had to identify fingerprints by the three main patterns: arches, loops, and whorls.  Students then read an article together about famous fingerprinting cases and wrote a short essay together describing the cases they found most interesting and why.  Today students went online and worked on an interactive fingerprinting activity where they had to identify prints and go through tutorials about how professionals fingerprint people/how they are assessed. Tomorrow and Thursday we will do lab activities in class in which we take our own fingerprints and see if the class matches worldwide fingerprint pattern statistics.

Homework

NONE


INTEGRATED SCIENCE

This week in integrated science we have been working on a writing assignment comparing and contrasting ionic and covalent bonds and also reviewing for a test on these concepts.  The paper and test are both due/on THURSDAY 3/28 (Classes C,E,G).  Yesterday we reviewed concepts and ionic compounds in our group classwork activity (multiple choice/fill-in packet & chemical formula sheet) & today we went over vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.  Students also had some time to work on their paper today on the laptops as well.  Tomorrow we will continue to review and specifically go over covalent binds and electronegativity (polar & nonpolar).  We will then play a review game that goes over all concepts.

Homework

Work on paper/Study for Test

** G Class - paper is due TUES 04/02 & test date TBA

REMINDERS
Term 3 ends of FRIDAY APRIL 5th - you need to have all make-up assignments in by THURS 4/4
Homework Club = Tuesdays in Room 218 for extra help !
Late Buses = Tuesdays & Thursdays

Here is what is going on in class

FORENSICS

Yesterday students took a test on handwriting analysis & chromatography.  Those grades are on Aspen and we will go over the test in class tomorrow.  Today we started our unit on fingerprint analysis.  We watched a quick video about fingerprint comparison and general patterns.  Students then read an article about the history of fingerprinting and answered article questions.  These could have been passed in today but also could be finished for homework.  Tomorrow we will continue on with notes about fingerprinting

Homework

Finish fingerprinting history article questions

INTEGRATED SCIENCE

Yesterday in class students completed a lab that demonstrates ionic & covalent compound characteristics.  In this lab we specifically investigated conductivity & solubility of the compounds to determine their bonds.  The lab questions that correspond to the experiment are due in class on Friday 3/22. Today in class we applied this information to comparing and contrasting ionic & covalent compounds.  Students received information about a 3rd term writing assignment on this very concept.  We discussed the essay specifications in class and what to include in the paper.  Students should utilize the direction sheet, rubric, and essay checklists to make sure they are completing the paper completely.  In class students used the laptops to start typing their essay which is due next Thursday 3/28.  Tomorrow in class we will work on the papers again. Period G has been learning about electronegativity and practicing this concept.  Period G will complete the ionic/covalent lab tomorrow afternoon.

Reminders
C,D,E: Late work from before 3/15 is due by TOMORROW MARCH 22 or it will receive no credit
 Ionic vs. Covalent Essay = DUE THURSDAY 3/28
Test on Ionic & Covalent Bonds = THURSDAY 3/28

G: Late work from before 3/15 is due by MONDAY MARCH 25 or it will receive no credit


Homework

C,D,E: Finish lab questions & start writing your ionic vs. covalent paper
G: Electronegativity worksheet

Here is what went on today:

FORENSICS

Monday and today students have been reviewing for a test on handwriting analysis and chromatography on Wednesday (tomorrow).  Yesterday we first finished up the crime scene basics analysis of the Amanda Knox murder trial.  We then went over a detailed study guide for the test on Wednesday which is on Handwriting Analysis, Chromatography, and Case Studies (Lindbergh & Jon Benet).  Students then completed a review crossword.  The Amanda Knox trial questions and the crossword should have been stapled together and handed in for credit by the end of class yesterday.  Today we went over a review question worksheet and played Bingo to review for the test.  The test will have multiple choice, fill-ins, and short answer questions.  On Thursday we will begin our unit on Fingerprinting.

Homework

Study for Test tomorrow


INTEGRATED SCIENCE

We have been continuing on with our unit on chemical bonding.  Students learned how to name covalent bonds on Monday in class and did a lot of practice with this.  We had a stations activity in which students analyzed compounds posted around the room and decided whether or not they were covalent or ionic based on the characteristics of the elements bonded together.  Today we continued practicing this and also learned how to decide whether or not a covalent bond is polar or covalent based on the electronegative value difference of the elements involved.  Each student also received a progress report of their grades for term 3.  This report showed what they are missing and the point value of each assignment.  Students were reminded that they need to make up all late and make-up work from this progress report  by this Friday 3/22.  Any work from this week and next week that is missed can be turned in by the end of the term however I would like the work from the progress reports by Friday.  Tomorrow we will conduct a lab in which we look at characteristics of ionic and covalent bonds and classify certain compounds

Homework

C,D,E: Electronegativity Practice Worksheet
G: Naming covalent compounds wkst

REMINDERS
*** Late work from progress reports (so anything from 3/15 and before) = Due this Friday 3.22
No more food in class !

Have a nice day ! :)

Here is everything we have been doing in class:

FORENSICS

On Thursday we completed the chromatography lab.  In this lab students used the technique of paper chromatography to distinguish if a check had been forged or not.  The looked at the ink separation of different markers and took samples from the check to see if the same marker was used to write the entire check or if something was added to it.  In class today students finished the questions that go along with the lab and should have handed those in for credit.  We then watched a documentary about Amanda Knox, a US college student accused of murdering her roommate while studying abroad in Italy.  Students worked on a crime scene case study that corresponded with this documentary.  We will finish the last 10m minutes of the documentary on Monday and then review for a handwriting analysis & chromatography assessment next week

Homework

None

INTEGRATED SCIENCE

After completing a quiz on Ionic bonds on Wednesday, students have started the next section on covalent bonds.  On Thursday we watched a few video clips & animations about covalent bonding and then started notes with a presentation.  Students were given fill-in notes that go along with the PowerPoint i presented in class.  Today we continued with these notes and also discussed how to name covalent compounds (handout).   Students then worked on a worksheet in class which they should finish for homework if they did not hand it in by the end of class.  This worksheet was a review of the covalent notes and how to name covalent compounds.  Block G is taking their Ionic Quiz today and then will read over the section on covalent bonds but we will start those notes on Monday.

Homework

C,D,E - Finish covalent worksheet if you did not finish it in class
G - None

Have a GREAT weekend ! :)

Hi Everyone. Here is what has been going on this week !

FORENSICS

This week in forensics we finished up our handwriting analysis section and started chromatography.   On Monday we finished the JonBenet Ramsey case study and completed a review packet (crossword & questions) for the handwriting analysis quiz on Tuesday.  You should have handed in both of these assignments for classwork credit.  On Tuesday we had a handwriting analysis quiz.  The quiz was worth 44 points and the format was fill-ins.  The quiz grades are up on Aspen however I have not returned the quizzes yet because several students still need to take it.  If you are one of those students please come see me ASAP so we can plan a time for you to take the quiz soon (I am here most days after school & in my room during the K block except on Thursdays).  After the quiz you should have completed a handwriting analysis on your own writing and handed in that sheet for classwork credit as well.  Today we began talking about chromatography which relates to the handwriting unit as we can use this technique to discover forgeries if information is added in with a different type of ink.  We took notes on this section and read a short article about how chromatography can be used.  Tomorrow we will complete a lab using chromatography to discover a forgery.

HOMEWORK

None

INTEGRATED SCIENCE

This week in science we have been finishing up our section on ionic bonds.  On Monday we did an activity were students partnered up and created "ion cards" where one student made cards for metals and one students made cards for nonmetals.  Students then picked one from each pile to create an ionic compound between a metal and nonmetal.  You should have written down 5 pairs and created compounds from these pairs.  I collected your written out compounds as well as the station activity from the end of last week on Monday.  On Tuesday we reviewed ionic bonding and compounds information for a quiz on Wednesday (today).  In class we worked on a review packet consisting of a crossword and chemical formula questions which i checked off for completion at the end of class.  We also went through a study guide detailing what was on the quiz Wed.  Students took the quiz in class today and then read through the next section on covalent bonding and completed a summary sheet (book wkst) with the reading. The quiz for Block G is on Friday and we will continue to review for it tomorrow. 

HOMEWORK

None

REMINDERS
Homework Club - Tuesdays in Room 218 (homework help !)
Late Buses - Tuesdays & Thursdays (take advantage of this to take part in clubs and get extra help)

HAVE A NICE DAY :)

FORENSICS

Today in class we watched a documentary about the JonBenet Ramsey murder case.  This case study ties in to our handwriting analysis unit as a ransom note left at the scene was specifically scrutinized for any clues that would lead detectives to a suspect/the killer.  Students should have answered questions on a worksheet that goes along with this documentary.  We did not finish the documentary completely and will resume tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will also discuss the topics and concepts for a small handwriting analysis quiz on Monday and review for that accordingly.

Homework

None

INTEGRATED SCIENCE

Students continue to work on our ionic bonding and ionic compounds section.  Today we went over homework detailing how we go about considering where to move electrons in an ionic bond and how the charge of the atom will be affected.  Students then participated in a station activity in which they wrote different chemical formulas for different ionic compounds.  Students travelled around the room doing different examples.  I collected the station activity work from block D but students from blocks C & E should have held on to their work for me to look at tomorrow.  I think everyone seems to be getting a much better handle on how to create ionic compounds from the excellent work done today!  Tomorrow we will do some more practice :)

Homework

C, D, & E - None
G - Worksheet

Have a great day !

Here is what went on today:

FORENSICS

Today class discussed the Lindbergh kidnapping which ties into our Handwriting Analysis unit.  The Lindbergh baby, the child of famous pilot Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped and supposedly murdered in 1932 after he was taken from his bedroom and a ransom note was left behind.  We read an article on this case yesterday and today watched a documentary presenting evidence and facts in the case.  There is much speculation as to whether or not the man convicted, Bruno Hauptmann, actually killed the child as the evidence against him was very controversial and circumstantial.  Students watched the video presenting both sides of the story (the defense & prosecution) and wrote a 2 paragraph response at the end of class giving their opinion of the case using evidence to back up their perspective.  Tomorrow we will continue on with the handwriting analysis unit and delve into more case studies that have utilized this aspect of forensic science in crime analysis.

Homework

NONE

INTEGRATED SCIENCE

This week we have started our new unit on Chemical Bonding.  Yesterday we discussed electron dot diagrams and several students came up to the board and drew examples after watching a video.  Today we finished our notes on this section and also discussed oxidation numbers and how to balance ionic chemical formulas.  This section can be somewhat difficult to grasp at first so we will do a lot of practice this week! We also did a few examples in class of ionic bonding and students had several minutes to begin their homework which applied today's lesson.  Tomorrow we will continue with this section

Homework

C, D, E - Section 6.1 Review Questions Worksheet (double -sided)
G - Electron dot diagram worksheet

REMINDERS
Homework Club - Tuesdays in Rm 218 ! Homework help & quiet place to get things done
Late Buses - Tuesdays & Thursdays (leaves at 4:15)

Have a great day & be kind to one another :)