BUNDLE UP! IT IS ALMOST WINTER!

That's right...it is not officially winter yet despite the frigid temperatures!

THIS WEEK IN GRADE 9 SCIENCE:

• Received our test scores from Space Unit
• Began reading "Matter and Chemical Change"
• Learned about the Physical and Chemical properties of matter
• Explored freezing point of various liquids (coffee, cola, hot water, salt water, regular water)
• Watched a video about the Properties of Matter
• Acted a short skit depicting different phases of matter: solid, liquid and gas
• Discovered that there are different types of mixtures

HAVE A FANTASTIC BREAK! READ AHEAD IN YOUR TEXTBOOK IF YOU WANT EXTRA PREPARATION FOR MATTER AND CHEMICAL CHANGE!

UNIT TEST NEXT WEEK

This is a picture of the meteorite that fell to Earth last week. Scientists found pieces of the meteorite on Thursday in Saskatchewan. A scientist in the USA is offering 10,000 dollars to anyone who recovers a piece!

REMINDER: FORMS AND MONEY FOR JAMES FOWLER TOUR ARE OVERDUE!


November 28:

• We watched a video on Black Holes
• Triangulated a mystery distance; this is the same technique used in conjunction with parallax that astronomers use to calculate the distance to stars!
• Began preparation for our Unit Test next week!

Tips for studying:

• visit: http://www.edquest.ca and use the notes on each section, practice the tests/quizzes for each question
• Re-read the textbook
• Test each other
• Answer the questions in the Unit review at the end of the Unit
• Take next weeks practice tests very seriously!

THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE...

REMINDER: RETURN BLUE FORMS/MONEY FOR FOWLER TOUR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

This picture is a real picture using x-ray photography. You can see some features of our beautiful sun. Remember...without the sun, life on Earth would not be possible!

• We began reading section 3 (page 434-445)...please finish reading section 3
• Learned more about the closest star, the sun!
• Completed several work sheets on astronomy, telescopes, and the sun
• Handed in a poster that depicts the survival systems of space suites, the space station or a shuttle
• Watched a video called Lift Off that covers several of the topics we have been studying

HOMEWORK: ALL WORK SHEETS ARE DUE FOR HOMEWORK CHECK WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY!

For more information on the space station or NASA check out NASA's website: http://www.nasa.gov/

BRRRR....It is getting colder by the day!

WHY? Of course it is because the earth orbits the Sun and because of the Earth's tilt (23.5 degrees) during the winter months, Calgary is pointed away from the direct rays of the sun; in the summer the Sun's rays hit us much more directly, the Earth's surface gains much more heat energy from the Sun, and we in turn have warmer weather!

This week in Science class:

• We wrote a quiz on section 1 of Space Exploration
• Corrected our Solar System model assignment
• Learned about some of the recent astronomy news; Canadians discovering new planets, the space station getting upgrades
• Began section 2 and started designing a space suite/space shuttle, labelling life support systems

For Homework:

• Read section 2 of your textbook!
• Complete your poster/design for a space suit/space shuttle

THIS WEEK IN GRADE 9 SCIENCE

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS ARE THIS WEEK: Parents, please come for an interview! There are no appointments, just drop in anytime on Thursday from 4:30pm-8:00pm or Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm.

This week:

• We began our new unit: Space Exploration
• Learned about the planets and filled out a worksheet on the planets
• Discovered how matter is distributed in our Solar System by experiencing our model Solar System; please check out the cool picture of the planets which is supposedly to scale
• Calculated distances of the planets from the Sun using intensive mathematical calculations
  

*** Distribution of matter in our Solar System homework - DUE NEXT WEEK: Monday for 9h, Tuesday for 9b and 9e ***

THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE

For a more detailed version of this poster click on this link: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/involved/education/poster_0408_e.pdf

• Considered activities in the National Parks and how those activities might be affecting the Grizzly bear (and the environment in general)
• Continued with Section 4 of our biological diversity unit
• Finished check and reflect questions on page 65 and key terms
• Learned about artificial selection and how it is different than natural selection
• Introduced project on species at risk (click on the above poster to learn more about S.A.R.)
• Spoke about your UNIT test which will be: November 3 - 9e/9b and November 4 for 9h

PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION POSTER CREATED BY THE GOVERNMENT, FOR YOU! JUST CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW!
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/docs/pdf/Biodiversityposter08-e.pdf

SPECIES AT RISK PROJECT:

• follow the instructions carefully
• the project is INDIVIDUAL however you could do the same species as someone else and help eachother research (note that if your final reports are the same, the mark will be split between the two of you!)
• stay after school to work on this in Mr. Mang's room or the library if you need ANY help
• Do a great job because that is what we expect of you
  

Here is the link to help you choose your species and to start your research: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/

DUE: OCTOBER 31, no lates!

I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT FALL BREAK!

Before the break:

• We wrote a quiz on section 2 and 3 of our unit
• Began section 4: We learned about genetically modified organisms and held a lively debate to discuss differences in opinion about GMO's
• Read up to page 71 and completed the check and reflect questions on page 65
• Processed data from a wolf study and plotted this data on a chart/graph

WHAT WAS THE HOMEWORK OVER BREAK? Check and reflect page 65, and defintions for all key terms from section 4; due for homework check this week!

YOUR UNIT TEST ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY WILL BE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

9E, 9B : November 3rd, 2008

9H: November 4th, 2008

Report card note:
* Biological diversity is an important unit in grade 9 Science that cannot be rushed. We will not finish the unit before the first report card therefor your term 1 report card mark will be based on quizzes, homework checks, and marks on assignments such as the "Our Ecosystem" project.

QUIZ NEXT WEEK!

BE SURE YOU STUDY! USE YOUR TEXTBOOK, NOTES, KEY TERMS AND TAKE HOME QUIZZES!

***Your quiz is on section 2 and 3 of your textbook. So by the end of the weekend you need to understand the basics of genetics, including DNA!

QUIZ IS MONDAY for 9B and 9E and TUESDAY for 9H

Expect a more difficult quiz than our first quiz, but nothing to bad...it is NOT an exam!

THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE

Where are we in the textbook? You should have read up until the end of section two by the start of this week!!


THIS WEEK:

• We began section 3 on DNA and genetics
• Finished section 2 on reproduction; you should be an expert on reproduction in plants and animals! Okay, maybe not an expert...but close!

HOMEWORK:

• You should already have handed in your final copy of "Our Ecosystem" assignment/lab
• Read page 38-54 in your textbook
• Complete definitions of key words (words in notes)
• Complete open book quiz (due Thursday -9e/9b or Friday 9h
• Study for quiz on section 2-3, which will be Monday or Tuesday depending on your class

OUR ECOSYSTEM:

• Last week we took our learning outside
• We reviewed genetic diversity and species diversity out in a real ecosystem
• our class identified common plant and animal species in the ecosystem
• We recognized examples of interdependence and symbiosis in our ecosystem
• Reproduction was learned about by looking at real organisms

Please view the below video for a history of DNA and a brief overview of this fascinating topic:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/24990-genetics-understanding-dna-video.htm

Please view this video on cellular division:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/17574-understanding-cells-how-cells-reproduce-video.htm

FALL IS OFFICIALLY HERE!

Thats right, fall is officially here! That means every day until December 21st will be shorter! How does the seasonal change affect ecosystems?

This week in Science:

• We finished section 2 of our biological diversity unit; please read all pages up to page 37
• Wrote notes on section 2
• Reproduced a spider plant asexually and began lab to observe how plant will produce roots

Homework: Complete questions on page 36 and 37. Page 36 question 1, 2 and page 37 question 1, 2, 5, 8, 10. Also complete the defenitions for all the key term from the notes!

Key terms you should define: continuous variation, discrete variation, heritable characteristics, non-heritable characteristics, anther, asexual reproduction, binary fission, budding, cleavage, cross-fertilization, cross-pollination, egg cells, embryo, fertilization, gametes, ovary, ovule, pistil, pollen, pollination, sexual reproduction, sperm cells, spores, stamen, stigma, style, vegetative reproduction, zygote

Due Wedsneday for 9E and 9B and Due Thursday for 9H

Last week:

• We finished section 1 and had a quiz on section 1
• Covered important topics such as: variability, symbiosis and natural selection

WELCOME TO GRADE 9!

WHAT HAVE WE STUDIED SO FAR?\

• Reviewed lab safety and WHMIS
• Discussed the meaning of science? What is the scientific process, what is scientific knowledge etc.
• Learned three different types of variables: controlled, manipulated, and responding variables; we talked about how we could best compare an electric car vs a gas car, and completed a table that posed several scientific problems (you had to identify variables)
• Re-introduced food chains and trophic levels; we have begun a food chain activity which is due Wednesday for 9-H and Thursday for 9-E/B
• Read textbook page 4-14
• Wrote notes on Biological Diversity and the classification of life on earth (1-1 in your text) and also began notes on topic 1.2 Interdependence and 1.3 Variation between species

Reminder:

1. Variables sheet was due last week; you need to show me this for marks if you didn't already do so
2. Food chain activity/questions is due for your next class (homework check)
3. Keep up with reading your textbook and writing notes!!!