HAPPY HOLIDAYS GRADE NINES!

Students and families, I hope that each and every one of you has a happy holiday! We will continue our learning after the winter break. Also, congratulations on being done Mater and Chemical Change (at least until the Provincial Achievement Test in Spring)!

Sincerely,
Mr. Mang

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO EMAIL UNTIL JANUARY 8TH

For your interest, the day I'm posting this message is the shortest day of the year (December 21st) a day called the winter solstice. What does this mean scientifically? It means because of the earths tilt (23.5) degrees and where the earth is in its orbit around the sun, the suns' rays actually hit earth most directly at 23.5 degrees South Latitude on this day; that is why we have summer in the Southern Hemisphere right now and winter in the Northern Hemisphere. As the winter progresses, the day will actually lengthen (in terms of hours of light vs hours of dark) and the suns rays will gradually hit the norther hemisphere more directly. On March 21, the suns rays will hit the equator most directly and humans will experience 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness in almost every habitable place on our planet; that is why we call this day the equinox (more specifically the vernal equinox). The day keeps getting longer until the first official day of summer (June 21) when the suns rays hit 23.5 degrees North latitude most directly (the tropic of Cancer). If you read this paragraph and understood it... well done!

As the snow falls and the days continue to get shorter (until Dec. 21), we rapidly approach our Unit Final which will be on Tuesday, December 15th. Please begin to prepare for this important evaluation of your learning! Just a quick learning moment: on Dec. 21 our winter will officially begin (yes its actually still fall or autumn) and from that day onwards to June 21, the day length will be increasing gradually. After June 21 the day length gradually decreases again...

This week:

1. Finished our unit (read it again if you already have done so)
2. Began our Unit Review booklet; reminder if you do the section review and 1 check and reflect you can earn bonus marks; all review work is due on Tuesday, December 15th
3. Learned more about Climate Change and the Copenhagen Climate Conference
4. Wrote two quizzes: one on periodic table skills and one on basic chemistry knowledge

STUDY TIPS:

1. Re read the textbook
2. Complete all assigned review work...and more if you want a bonus mark
3. Try www.edquest.ca for practice quizzes, notes and more!
4. Review the "naming/formula writing" cheat sheet and other work we have completed
5. Work with a partner and test each other on basic chemistry knowledge
6. Ensure you know how to calculate the number of neutrons from the mass number and atomic number

COMPOUNDS...A COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS BONDED TOGHETHER THROUGH CHEMICAL BONDS

The diagram above shows Sodium Chloride being formed by the exchange of one electron. Notice that once the chlorine and sodium ions bond, the net charge becomes 0. What is a chemical bond? It is the bond formed between different elements share or exhange electrons which essentially "bonds" them together!

* This week we learned the important concept that compounds are formed when chemical reactions occur. We also learned that when chemical reactions occur, electrons are exchanged (ionic compound) or are shared (molecular compounds) between the elements in a compound. We also reviewed the idea that in a mixture, there is no chemical bonds between the different substances.

WORK THIS WEEK:

Reading: Be sure you have read up to the end of section 3.0!

Questions: Complete check and reflect questions on page 149 and 153 (all questions) and also the Assess your Learning (section review) questions, 1-12 only

Vocab: Complete the new vocabulary #8

WORK DUE THURSDAY: All check and reflect questions (pg 149/153) and Assess your Learning #1-12 page 154/155.

ALMOST DONE SECTION 2.0!

We are almost done learning about the material in Section 2.0. You should have read up to page 129 in your textbook by now; if not you are behind!

THIS WEEK:

• Continue to learn about the structure of the atom
• Completed work relating to chemical properties, the periodic table, etc.
• Review assigned work, going over answers
• Learning how to calculate how many neutrons are in an element using atomic number and mass number (see example below)

Example: How many neutrons does Carbon -14 have? Carbon -14 has a mass number of 14. You can determine how many neutrons Carbon 14 has because the mass number is the total of protons and neutrons and the atomic number is the amount of protons. So what we do is take the mass number (14) and subtract the atomic number (6) which leaves us with 8, the number of neutrons in carbon 14. This is a skill you need to have!

ASSIGNED WORK:

• Reading the rest of secti0n 2.0
• Complete new vocabulary (Vocabulary #7)
• Review questions to ensure we have learned the contents of section 2.0: check and reflect page 121 (1-11), page 125 (1-7), page 134 (1-8) and Assess your learning (1-6 only) are Due Monday, November 23th.

WELCOME BACK

I hope that the break from school was replenishing! With no Science homework over the break, you will be ready to again focus on learning more about Science. Done Biological Diversity (although we need to continue reviewing and understanding the material for the PAT) we are now starting the unit "Matter and Chemical Change" which is basically a unit on Chemistry. Remember if you have not handed in your SAR project, it is very late at this point.

WORK FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK:

1. Reading to the end of section 1 (up to page 111)
2. new vocabulary (#6)
3. Work sheet on matter, physical properties, etc
4. Reviewing your Biological Diversity unit finals

UNIT TEST - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

STUDY TIPS:

1. Review the textbook; re-read any sections you do not understand
2. Complete all assigned vocabulary and assigned questions from your textbook
3. Review notes for each section of the unit on www.edquest.ca
4. Visit www.edquest.ca and practice quizzes/tests for the unit
5. Working with a partner/parent/guardian/brother/sister, test each other on main concepts
6. Need a video to remind you of a concept? Look up the topic on www.howstuffworks.com

* The test is approximately 35 questions long, mainly multiple choice

HAND IN YOUR PROJECT YET? You are losing marks each day that you fail to hand in this important project! Better late than never...

SAR PROJECTS DUE MONDAY - PLEASE READ THIS POST!

Tips:

1. follow the directions closely...if you include ALL REQUIRED information you will likely learn a lot about your SAR and will also earn a fine mark relfecting your learning.
2. Short and sweet is better than long and boring...remember you really only need the required information.
3. Ensure you do a great job of your references/bibliography. If you want to practice for University/College/High School you should reference pictures/maps/diagrams you use on each slide or page of your report. I won't dock marks for not doing this but like I say, it is awesome to be prepared for the future, now!
4. Action projects: this is an important componant to your project. The idea is to take some form of action that may help promote saving your species from exctinction. Some people are simply gluing their written report to an informational poster - that's fine. Others are making brochures in publisher. There are a few of you that are working on radio broadcasts (simply record an message about your SAR and how to help save it using a computer and microphone - this can be done using various programs). and TV commercials. Letters to government officials, newspapers, or magazines are also a great idea.

Here are some places you could send a letter:

• Alberta sustainable resource and development: http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/
• Canadian Geographic magazine: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/
• Calgary Herald or another paper in the area that your SAR inhabits (you must have your parents give permission for your letter to be printed in the newspaper): http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/letters/submit.html

There are many many places you can send a letter! Be sure to make a copy of your letter (especially if you submit it electronically) so you can get your mark for your action!

Want to save paper? Hand in your project digitally! By saving paper we might actually help save some of our species indirectly...nice! Save your project like this:

class_yourfirstinitialandlastname_nameofproject

Example: 9c_tmang_sar

Open up the "assignments folder"and also open up your H or Home folder. Drag the file you are handing in, into the submissions folder. Mr. Mang will test and ensure this is working properly on Monday.

GOOD WORK SO FAR ON YOUR PROJECTS! REMEMBER NO HOMEWORK OVER THE BREAK SO WORK HARD!!!

YELLOW LEAVES MEAN AN END TO SUMMER

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

1. Species At Risk Project is Due October 5th (next Monday)
2. Unit Test will be Wednesday, October 7th
3. New Vocab and reading
4. It is offically autumn now; this means the day length will get shorter and shorter until December 21st, then it will get longer each day until the next equinox (March 21)

* A reminder to all grade nines that your marks in term 1-2 will affect your placement in highschool. I know this is extra stress, but take as another reason to try hard in Science this year! Of upir average is below 60% you will be placed in Science 14 instead of Science 10.

SEPTEMBER 17

THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE

• Continued studying biological diversity through an analysis of the schoolyard ecosystem
• Our Ecosystem assignment is due Thursday
• Began our "Species at Risk Project" by looking at what species are at risk in Canada
• Reviewed River watch photos and discussed learning that occured on trip

ASSIGNED WORK

• Read up to page 36 in our textbooks...do not get behind!!
• New defintions (vocab #4)
• Check and reflect questions page 29 (1-5), page 36 (1-4 only),

ALL WORK IS DUE ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21st FOR HOMEWORK CHECK

WELCOME TO YOUR FINAL YEAR OF JUNIOR HIGH SCIENCE!

RIVER WATCH TRIP FOR 9E IS FRIDAY!

WHAT HAVE WE DONE SO FAR?

1. Lab safety
2. Introduction to Environmental Chemistry (Riverwatch)
3. Began Biological Diversity

WHAT WORK HAS BE DONE ALREADY? Yes you should be done all of this...

• Benchmark task - a benchmark of your current understanding of topics in grade 9 Science
• read page 92-96, Check and reflect pg 96 (1-9)
• Read page 183-195
• Various lab safety videos and worksheets
• Riverwatch pre trip work online including survey
• Learned about Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation initiative (see poster in class)
• vocabulary from different sections (see list of words below; remember keep vocab in your duotang as a record of your learning

TODAYS WORK:

1. Vocabulary: interspecies competition, niche, resource partitioning, variablity, natural selection
2. Reading: pages 1-25
3. Questions: Check and Reflect, page 15 (1-7 only)

UPCOMING PROJECTS: Species at Risk Action Project, Our Ecosystem task, Wildlife What am I task

THE FINAL MONTH OF GRADE 9!

Mang's message: You are finally near the end of your Junior High School education! Finish off strong! Remember if your mark falls below 60% in Science, your High School might change your Science program for the 2009/2010 school year. This means you must study hard for your Provincial Achievement Test. Be sure to utilize the online resources (see below) as a part of your studying. It has been a pleasure working with each and everyone one of you. It is my hope that you will take skills developed and knowledge gained from Grade 9 Science, into your high school programs, making positive contributions to your new school. Each and everyone one of you is capable in life and if you put effort into your own development (at school for example), you will one day be a success full adult; and you might even thank me for encouraging you to invest in your future by taking schooling seriously. Good luck!

How should you study?
1. Review your textbook (online once you lose it)
2. Review notes/assignments
3. Print notes from www.edquest.ca and review them
4. Study unit reviews from edquest
5. Practice tests (see below for web sites)
6. Test each other; studying with a friend or friends is more fun anyways!

FINAL EXAM PRACTICE TESTS ARE AVAILABLE AT: be sure to use the login and password!
1) www.exambank.com login: tfox password: trackers
2) www.edquest.ca
3) www.albertalearning.ca login: LA06 password: 1260

What have we done lately?

• finished Environmental Chemistry and picked up where we left off with Electrical Principles and Technologies
• Watched "Who Killed the Electric Car"
• Wrote a quiz
• Learned about volts, amperes, watts
• Discovered alternating current and direct current (see www.howstuffworks.com for more)
• Watched Jay Leno test out the Tessla roadster (search tessla roadster on youtube if you missed this great video)
• Received unit review for Electrical Principles

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY UNIT IS ALMOST DONE!

THIS WEEK:

* Remember our fieldtrips start next week: 9H - May 20, 9E May 21, and 9B May 27

• Handed in our field trip forms and money; deadline is technically past
• We had our first LA PAT exam on Wednesday
• Created a 50 year plan for Alberta's electricity generation
• Finished up the Environmental Chemistry unit
• Began a work book that reviews the unit

YOUR UNIT TESTS WILL BE: May 21 for 9B, May 22 for 9H and May 25 for 9E

Study tips:

• Complete the review booklet using your textbook for help and the edquest notes
• Review the textbook; re-read any sections you do not understand
• Review notes for each section of the unit on www.edquest.ca
• Visit www.edquest.ca and practice quizzes/tests for the unit
• Practice calculating parts per million; practice with a friend!
• Need a video to remind you of a concept? Look up the topic on www.howstuffworks.com

WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK:

• Finished reading section 3.0 of the enviro chem unit
• Created 1 part per million using food colouring and practiced caluclating parts per million
• Graphed CO2 emissions per year and also per month and answered questions relating to the data

THIS WEEK IN GRADE 9 SCIENCE

LAST WEEK:

• We completed our electrical principals and technologies crate - great work!
• Continued reading about Environmental Chemistry
• This week we will evaluate your work done on the electricity crate and we will continue with Environmental chemistry

ASSIGNED WORK THIS WEEK:

1. Read section 2.0 (212-234)
2. Define the following terms: ozone layer, monitoring, biological indicator, invertebrates, parts per million, spring acid shock, pesticides, toxins, LD50, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, the ozone layer, greenhouse gases, enhanced greenhouse effect, global warming
3. Complete the check and reflect page 233 (#1-8) and the section review pg 235 (#1-11) but don't do #9 because you did a similar question on the check and reflect

THIS ASSIGNED WORK IS DUE WEDSNEDAY FOR 9E and 9B and Thursday for 9H

PLEASE PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEKS EVALUATION

Please prepare for next weeks evaluation by:

1. Reading the textbook. You should have read the entire unit by now including section 4 which was assigned for homework earlier this week
2. Complete all practice material: Ionic and Molecular naming/formula practice booklet, periodic table practice, and the previously completed ionic/molecular practice assignment
3. Re-read your section 2 quiz and practice with a friend (the tricky fill in the blank quiz)
4. Ensure you have practiced the questions assigned on page 149, 153 and 154 (specific questions to practice are listed on your naming cheat sheet)
5. Complete questions 1-26 on page 176-177
6. Visit: www.edquest.ca and practice the quizzes/tests for matter and chemical change

GET READY FOR ANOTHER BLIZZARD!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCMENTS:

• MATTER AND CHEMICAL CHANGE UNIT TEST: Monday, March 2nd for 9H and Tuesday March 3rd for 9E and 9B

This week in Science:

• Continuing to learn about ionic and molecular compounds


• Learn more about chemical reactions by learning specifically about how sodium and chlorine form sodium chloride


• Learn strategies for writing formulas for ionic compounds


• Develop skills necessary to write the chemical names of ionic and molecular compounds using the formula


• Finish reading our Unit - if not done in class this week, please read section 4 of your Unit; this is assigned for home reading


• Begin preparation for your Unit evaluation (unit test) next week

FEBRUARY 2009

Hello grade nines! I hope you are all recharged after your time off. We are rapidly progressing through our unit, "Matter and Chemical Change"; be prepared to work hard in the next month (and for the rest of the year for that matter)!

Where are we in the textbook?

• You should have read all of section 1 and 2 and up to page 149 in section 3

What work should I have done?

• Finished check and reflect questions (1-4) on page 143 and page 149 (1-8)

I look forward to learning more about chemistry after the short break!

-Mr. Mang

This week in Science...

* We have now read to the end of section 2 of the unit Matter and Chemical Change; that means you should have read right up to page 134 in your textbook! You also have some homework due for next class!

• All matter in the universe is either a pure substance or a mixture (see picture)

HOMEWORK DUE: Complete the check and reflect questions (1-8 only) on page 134

Due: Wednesday for 9E and 9B and next Tuesday, Feb 3 for 9H

Remember: James Fowler tour is Thursday, January 29 and Friday you are off because teachers have a professional development day

WELCOME BACK!

I hope that everyone had a replenishing holiday! I am excited to teach you in the new year. Please tell me about your holiday some time, I would love to hear about it! We are of course studying "Matter and Chemical Change" at the moment and we will be studying this right into February. Be sure to keep up with the work, as this unit will challenge you! We will begin our studies after the break by examining how avalanches are caused by the unique, and diverse physical properties of water (frozen water); If you would like to learn more about avalanches, please visit: http://www.avalanche.ca/ for online courses, bulletins and more!

• You should have read the first section of the Unit (page 90-109)
• Completed check and reflect on page 96
• Define the key terms and complete check and reflects on page 104 and 109 - see key terms below

HOMEWORK FOR MONDAY (9e/9b) AND TUESDAY (9h)

• Define the key terms: matter, states of matter, melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation, sublimation, deposition, physical poperties of matter, melting point, boiling point, hardness, mallebility, ductility, crystal shape, solubility, density, conductivity
• Complete all check and reflect questions for the section (pg. 96, 104, and 109)

* This work will be due for a homework check next week

* You will have a quiz on the definitions next week...study them!