Tides!

Here it is, 7th grade:

Tides Lesson
Questions to answer - before explanations:

1. At which phase (or phases) of the moon is the high tide at the highest point?

2. At which phase (or phases) of the moon is the high tide at its lowest point?

3. If the sun, earth, and moon all pull on each other because of gravity, try to explain why the shape of the tides changes over time.


Questions to answer - after explanations:

1. Why does the height of the tides change as the moon travels around the earth?

2. If it is neap tide, and you are at the beach at low tide, when the sun is in the sky, about what time is it? (go here for a hint about times.)

PhET - Physics Education Technology

For students who have seen the "particles in a box" simulation in class (it requires you to enable Java in your web browser), you can find that and many more at the PhET web site here:

http://phet.colorado.edu/new/index.php

You can also do the "particles in a box" simulation in French language if you download the application from this link:

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/ideal-gas/gas-properties_fr.jnlp

Have fun!

Lunar Phases

Explore the wonderful variations of the moon's face as seen from the earth. Discover your own ability to understand this phenomenon that has been written on by poets and philosophers throughout history.

http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/moon/lunar_phases_main.html

Also, try out this activity to learn about the moon and tides:

http://www.can-do.com/uci/lessons99/moon.html

Amy Lowell - The Crescent Moon

Slipping softly through the sky
Little horned, happy moon,
Can you hear me up so high?
Will you come down soon?
On my nursery window-sill
Will you stay your steady flight?
And then float away with me
Through the summer night?
Brushing over tops of trees,
Playing hide and seek with stars,
Peeping up through shiny clouds
At Jupiter or Mars.
I shall fill my lap with roses
Gathered in the milky way,
All to carry home to mother.
Oh! what will she say!
Little rocking, sailing moon,
Do you hear me shout -- Ahoy!
Just a little nearer, moon,
To please a little boy.

9th Grade: Questions for Solids, Liquids, and Gases

These questions go along with the "Solids, Liquids, and Gases" activity withing Chemical Interactions on the FOSS MS web site.

1. What is the relationship between the kinetic energy of particles and the temperature of the particles?

2. What happens to the shape of the matter as the amount of heat energy increases? How does the energy in the particles cause this?

Foss MS Modules

Fun and interactive science explorations online.

Go here

http://www.fossweb.com/modulesMS/index.html


You can use my user name and password. Just log in as a student, not a teacher:

ch3mboi
w473rd0wn

Have fun!

Seasons Interactive Flash

Hey 7th grade! Go here for an interactive demonstration of how the Earth's seasons depend on the tilt of the earth and our orbit around the sun.

We don't have time for all the activities I'd like us to do in school, but the activity you can find here looks like a lot of fun, and would definitely be worth 2 % extra on your next report card (and maybe even a couple of Jolly Ranchers).