Integers and Heat Transfer

Announcements:

• February is Black History Month and there will be learning opportunities related to this topic throughout the next couple of weeks.
• Heat Stories are due (Friday, February 22nd)
• The Integers Unit Assessment is Monday, February 25th

Today we watched "Hidden Figures," a movie about three African American women who worked for NASA during a time of segregation, to celebrate Black History Month. After the film we reflected on the movie's many themes as well as the changes and growths of the antagonists. We looked at how the three protagonists (Dorothy, Katherine, and Mary) fought for civil rights by consistently working very hard in spite of enduring many hardships. We talked about their strong characters and the challenges of this period (1961) and how this really wasn't that long ago. Students drew or wrote reflections based on the movie and a question that they connected with.

Math:

This week we have focussed on using our understanding of Integers to solve word problems. Students have had many opportunities to practice and refine their problem solving skills. 

When solving word problems they are encouraged to include:

• know/don't know table
• drawing of scenario or number line or thermometer
• equation(s)
• solve
• sentence

Thursday we reviewed modeling integer addition and subtraction, the trick to solving integer addition and subtraction problems mentally, and key concepts in the integers unit. We played Kahoot! as a fun way to review this unit.

Students are encouraged to go to Khan Academy or IXL (10 free questions per day) for extra practice if they did not have a chance to pick up worksheets. 

There is an Integers Assessment on Monday, February 25th. This will include multiple choice questions with integer chips and number lines, modeling and subtracting integers with integer chips and number lines, and word problems.

Science:

Students were given time to complete their heat stories. Their stories were due today, Friday February 22nd, and will be accepted next week if students needed the weekend to complete them. The expectations can be viewed in the heat story attachment. 

We have been learning about the Particle Model of Matter.

Students did the balloon experiment to determine how hot water and cold water would effect a balloon on a pop bottle. They are getting really good at writing hypotheses and conclusions!!! They included scientific concepts like expansion and contraction in their explanations of what happened in this experiment.

We watched Bill Nye "Heat" to learn about the types of heat transfer:

1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Radiation

Eureka videos are also effective sources for learning about heat transfer.

Next week we will discuss the Particle Model of Matter in greater depth and students will have the opportunity to create an "Atomic Comic" Assignment to show their understanding and creativity.

Have a great weekend!!!