Utz Rocks

Solstice vs. Equinox

Ms. Utz — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:12:14 +0000

Classwork: What in the world is an equinox or a solstice? That’s what you found out today in class. Simply put, it’s the day a season changes. It has to do with the angle of the sun’s rays. We conducted an experiment in which we measured the temperature on a thermometer with a heatlamp shining directly on it and with the light shining at angles. This showed the way the sun’s rays hit Earth. After that, you read pp. 518-520 and then made a foldable about the summer and winter solstice and the spring and fall equinox. Also, warmups were checked and taken up. To find the video clip I showed in class, go to your online book, Ch. 17, e-activities, and then click on “Seasons and Latitudes.”

Warmup: Gasoline is produced from A) coal, B) wood, C) oil, or D) natural gas.

Homework: Finish your foldable if you didn’t finish it in class and complete drawing the rest of the lab sheet we started in class.

Geocentric vs. Heliocentric theories

Ms. Utz — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:03:29 +0000

Classwork: Today we played a review game to help you be prepared for the CRCT. We also looked at the differences in theories about how the universe is laid out, going back in time to the ancient Greek up to today.

Warmup: Which is a renewable energy source? A) oil, B) coal, C) wood, or D) natural gas

Homework: Complete warmups so they are ready to turn in on Friday.

Meteorology posttest and Astronomy pretest

Ms. Utz — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:39:49 +0000

Classwork: Today you took the final test in meteorology and the pretest for astronomy. We start the unit on astronomy tomorrow, along with a quick-paced review game.

Warmup: None because of tests

Homework: If you work on the usatestprep.com or the myskillstutor.com and bring me the results, I’ll give you Maverick Money for each test you take. Here are the user names and passwords: http://usatestprep.com Username is mccluremsga. Password: newton66 https://www.myskillstutor Username: firstnamelastname Password: student ID (Lunch number) Site ID: mcclure01

Picture money is now past due.

Several of you have asked for me to put the “Twelve Words” on my blog. Here is the powerpoint presentation. twelve_words

Storm Tracking, Day 2

Ms. Utz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:06:21 +0000

Classwork: Today some of you took the USA Testprep test on the computers while the rest of you coordinated your facts about your type of storm. Then you became the “expert” on your storm and taught about it to the other two groups who investigated different storms as they taught you about their storms.

Warmup: The collision of two continental plates can produce A) volcanic islands, B) a mountain range, C) a single mountain, or D) a trench.

Homework: Spend time using the study guide to prepare for tomorrow’s test.

Picture money is past due now.

Storm Chasing

Ms. Utz — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:56:00 +0000

Classwork: Today you spent some of class time working on USA Test Prep and the rest of class searching for information about your particular type of storm. If you want to complete your investigation about your storm, use the list of websites provided in class to continue your search.

Warmup: Two questions: MM 3 15 10

Homework: Continue your search of websites for information about your type of storm. You will have about 5-10 minutes at the beginning of class tomorrow to get all sheets in your group completed before we move on to sharing the work with other groups. Remember to study for the meteorology test which will be on Friday. Keep in mind that any time you do a usatest prep test or a my skills tutor test, and you bring me a copy or email me your results, you’ll get Maverick Money.

Finishing weather forecasting

Ms. Utz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:04:37 +0000

Classwork: Today you spent about 15 minutes finishing yesterday’s map activity on weather stations. After that, you completed an anticipation guide on storms and a sheet about isobars.

Warmup: Which is closest to the process of evaporation? A) Boiling, B) Freezing, C) Condensing, or D) Melting.

Homework: Use the study guide to help you prepare for the test on Wednesday, 3/17.

Picture money and field trip money is due on Monday, 3.15.

Measuring Weather

Ms. Utz — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:17:54 +0000

Classwork: Today you read pp. 504-507 in your textbook and answered a worksheet about weather instruments. After that, you worked the worksheet on weather stations.

Warmup: What causes changes in weather? A) Air masses move and meet, B) The air gets more humid, C) Water evaporates, or D) Clouds form.

Homework: Use the study guide handed out yesterday in class to study for next week’s quiz.

More about Fronts

Ms. Utz — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:03:18 +0000

Classwork: Today you continued to work on weather fronts. You read pp. 494-495 in your text, and you were given a study guide for next week’s test so you could start getting the answers for that.

Warmup: What kind of weather would an occluded front likely bring? A) sunny and warm, B) much precipitation, C) thunderstorms, or D) cold and dry.

Homework: Work on the study guide you received today. It will help you prepare for next week’s science test on meteorology.

Please remember to return either the picture money or the pictures themselves as soon as possible.

Please see attached note to explain the “Why?” behind the t-shirt sale going on here at McClure. The t-shirts are on sale for $10.00. This is such a worthy cause, especially since it benefits some of our seriously ill students at McClure. Please consider supporting this sale. Thanks in advance. got hope

Weather Fronts

Ms. Utz — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:20:36 +0000

Classwork: Today you learned two more of the 12 important words for CRCT: evaluate (judge, what’s good, what’s bad) and formulate (plan, come up with a plan, build, construct). Remember, if you use any of these words in a sentence in class or to answer a question on your warmups, you will get a Maverick dollar. After that, you took a quiz on weather symbols. This is the last grade for this grading period. Then we continued learning about air masses (similar to giant balloons) and how they move. The edges of air masses are called fronts, and you started a flip book about the four types of fronts.

Warmup: None

Homework: Complete the flip book on the four types of fronts. All information is on pp. 492-493 in your textbook. On the front flap, you should have the name of the front at the bottom and above that you should put a colored drawing of each type of front, using arrows to show the air movement. On the inside you should write a description of each front and then at the bottom of each flap write the type of weather each front brings.

You received a packet of pictures today during homeroom. Please be sure to return them if you don’t want them or return the money if you like the pictures (or if your parents like them!).

Air Masses

Ms. Utz — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:03:46 +0000

Classwork: Today you started with the warmup which was like last week’s. You looked at a graph of monthly high and low temperatures, and you had to figure out which city would probably have had those temperatures. Then we read pp. 486-491 about clouds, precipitation, and air masses.

Warmup: MM 3 8 10 Copies are available to borrow if you can’t get this to come up on your computer.

Homework: Study for test. Your unit test will probably be early next week.

If you have not already returned your money for the Medieval Times field trip, it must be in by Mar. 15.