Ms. Dozier's DNStarship: Climb Aboard!

Wow! So much has gone on in the last two weeks, I’ve had little time to give homework or tests! Just kidding, there hasn’t been any, but 7th and 8th grade have been preparing their presentations about earthquakes and 6th grade has been finishing their first Microsoft Excel spreadsheet projects. This week, 6th grade has begun their earthquake simulations as integrated with Mr. Small’s “Forces of Movement” unit. Here are the directions for the project:

Student Directions for Simulating Earthquakes

1. Click the following link to launch the earthquake simulation website:
       http://dsc.discovery.com/guides/planetearth/earthquake/slideshow/slideshow.html

Your group will use this website to discover where and how to create buildings that have better chances of surviving earthquakes. You will keep track of your data in the following Microsoft Excel template:

1. Using the online simulator, your group will simulate 8–10 different earthquakes. Change the locations of the buildings, the earthquake-proofing building constructions, and the magnitudes of the earthquakes. Make sure you keep track of your data in the Excel workbook so that you can use the data to record your conclusions.  (See the attached spreadsheet) 
2. Discuss with your group what you discovered. Did you find that the location of a building makes a difference? Did you notice if certain types of earthquake-proofing construction worked better than others? Did you notice how much the size of the earthquake affected the survival of the building? Record your conclusions in Word and add your data from your Excel file to support your findings.

8TH GRADE WILL PRESENT PROJECTS IN CLASS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009.

With the exception of Lazaro, who is absent, all planners have been signed. Students will need to have parents sign both the test and quiz and then initial the planner. Return these to school on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

…should be signed and returned to school on Thursday, October 22, 2009. All planners have been signed by me and should be signed by parents upon return.     
Side Note: Epic Tales are currently being edited by students, in order for them to be displayed in the classroom.

Nice work, Emmanuel C., Jordan S., and Kevin G! Way to make an extra effort. Stay tuned for your guest blogger entries…

Materials Needed:  Microsoft Excel, TypeOnline WPM and % exercise recordings

Students will determine the best method for designing a spreadsheet which shows their progression from a beginner-typist to an intermediate-typist. They will do this by inputting

onto an Excel spreadsheet,  the word-per-minute scores and accuracy percentages they recorded after completing the ten (10) exercises for Lessons One through Four at http://www.typeonline.co.uk .

This project is due for 8th graders on Thursday, October 22, 2009 by the end of class. 

7th Grade: Due on Tuesday, October 27, 2009

6th Grade: Due on Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Hi, guys! As you learn, so must I! Remember, Docendo Discitur? Well, I hope that our T-shirt designs, our class mixed cds and earthquake simulation projects prove to us all (yes, Magistra, too) that there is more than one way to skin a cat, and not just because Magistra said it. Here, I am learning how to share my posts online. Next, I am going to post a student news video on my blog. This is cool stuff! I hope you never stop learning! I sure won’t!

 Magistra

Click here to see how Justin Heimburg created this unique vocabulary builder!

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