Building Soda Bottle Laboratories

Two of my science classes are building these mini-labs in order to replicate, or simulate, a hydrologic cycle, in nature. Kinda cool project. All it cost me was two 50-pound bags of sand from Lowes.

Bye Zaria
She snuck out, this morning. All her friends gathered at lunch, only to find Zaria was gone. She moved to another part of the state. She is such a sweetie, I will miss her.

Yes, we have school, tomorrow!! It's a snow make-up day. We are off on Monday.

Have a great night, folks.

I Updated My Webpage

Sections 62 and 64 started the hydrology soda bottle project, today. I added a link on my homepage. Then, another link for Sections 63 and 61's projects.
Still think teachers are paid too much? Try following my exploits during these projects. All in-class, and I even have two groups doing daily journal entries that I must read, each night!!
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE IT!!!! I see my munchkins evolving from baby school to responsible middle-schoolers.

Short blog, today, I am itching to get outside with the dog. It is a beautiful day.

Have a great night, folks.

They ain't no Xerox machines - that's fer sure

I gave my cherubs a chapter test, today. It was the same as the study guide we reviewed, yesterday. It even had a word bank attached. Absolutely no reason why the words on the word bank could not be spelled correctly on the test. It was a matter of finding the right answer to the question and copying it word-for-word. I must have given several children that test back, three or four times to correct misspelled words before I graded it. OIY!!!!

Progress Report time
Check out edline.net. The sixth grade teachers will only send out a hard copy of the progress report upon request or if your child has a "D" or lower in that particular subject.

I went to my first middle school basketball game, yesterday
As I stated yesterday, I am not a bball fan. However, I went to cheer on our 7th and 8th grade boys. I actually did enjoy the 7th grade game. The guys played their hearts out against Jersey Shore. Coleman made a phenomenal shot - it was called, half tripping backwards and half tipping the ball off. Hey, it went in!! I stayed for the first period of the 8th grade game. I was more than a little annoyed at the inappropriate language used by some of our boys, and they were called on it. GOOD! You're too young to swear. Hey, who am I kidding, you're never old enough to swear. Where's that bar of soap?

Have ya seen my addition to my website?
Beneath the photo of me, I have a link to a Toby Keith song. Yeah, I know, but folks. I love all genres of music -- 'ceptin' rap - yuck.

Have a great night, folks.

CHAPTER 3 TEST - TOMORROW!!!!!!!

The munchkins will have their first real serious science test, tomorrow. Twenty fill-in the blank questions. My learning support cherubs will get 20 multiple-choice questions. Either way, I've spent a lot of time going over and over the material. I hope they do well.

My name is not, Mr. Glacier
Kiddoes, tell your folks where that came from.

Did 'ya see my webpage?
I added a song beneath my photograph. It lends itself to my life. Let's have a show of hands, guys, who can relate?

Trained on Saturday
A most fascinating day in Lewisburg, as I underwent training to be an OM judge at the Berwick regional competition on March 7.

Are going to the bball game, tonight?
I am not a big basketball fan, but, I am going tonight to cheer-on our middle school boys. Since I am going stag, are there any volunteers to sit with me?

Have a great night, folks.

Chapter 3 test slated for Tuesday

The chapter test for freshwater entails fill-in the blanks or short-answers. I need to get away from multiple-choice.

Goin' to Lewisburg
tomorrow for OM training. Although I am excited about participating in OM, I do not relish spending a Saturday playing student.

Hmmm. What Could Be The Reason
why a couple of 8th grade boys chose to stop and visit with the beautiful Mrs. Rogers, our 7th grade science teacher, after school, rather than me? If you know me, you would understand. LOL.

The sun is shining and the weekend promises to be fantastic. Have a great weekend, folks.

Integrating Math and Science

Sort 'a. Today, we described the words solvent and solution in terms of water. It's when I wrote Solvent, on the whiteboard, that they understood the math phrase, to take apart a math problem. And, when I wrote, Solution, that they understood in science it is to mix substances together to make a new substance, or, to mix numbers together to find the solution to the math problem. Am I amazing, or what?

Have you been keeping up with edline.net?

Have a great night, folks.

I'm attracted to magnets

LOL. Today, we started the study of polarity, using water molecules. Aside from an illustration of a molecule that looked more like the Disney logo, I used a set of floating magnets to illustrate how like charges repel and opposites attract.

We also discussed the definitions of solvent and solution, with a make-believe glass of milk and cocoa powder. Then, we talked about hardwater and softwater. I challenged my cherubs to wash their paws before lunch to determine if our water is soft or hard -- I GOT NO RESPONSES!!??!!!

My first period class asked some really neat questions. First, does hard and softwater freeze at the same rate? I don't know. We placed 50-mL each of hard and soft water into my freezer at 8:50 a.m. - at 11:05 a.m. both specimens were frozen. Okay, the next question was, do they thaw at the same rate? How about evaporation? WOW!!! Great questions. I'm going to Walmart, now, to buy this group a treat for tomorrow.

Have a great night, folks.

Mrs. BB would be so proud of me!

I came in, this morning, and started the most colorful design of an aquifer. Ya, I drew, freehand, the zones of aeration and saturation. I identified permeable and impermeable materials. I explained how the water table is similar to surface runoff and flows downhill. My design even showed an artesian well, and how all water eventually makes it to the ocean. It was a most dramatic lesson, as I quizzed each class to recite the actions of an aquifer. It must have worked. I gave a quiz, afterward, and most of the sixth graders scored a 100%.

Grades are entered. Look on edline.net to see how your kiddo, did.

What did all this have to do with Mrs. BB? She's an art teacher, and whenever she subs for me, I come back to find the most fascinating artwork of the lesson she taught.

MUSEUM NIGHT AT SCHICK!!!
I had the honor of attending Tuesday night's show at the elementary school. Folks, I was literally bedazzled by a first-grader that explained to me, about blood.

Another munchkin that explained the differences between organic and man-made dyes. Or, everything, and then some, you wanted to know about the pyramids of Egypt.

There was even one cherub that did a presentation on the stock market -- I fully understand P/E ratio, now.

I am jealous of Austin, who showed up with what he called, a plasma ball (Van de Graff generator), and he got it at a yard sale for $1! His presentation was on cathode-ray tube - (your television picture tube).

Wanna know more about diamonds, how to battle the affects of aging skin? How about tea at the Governor's mansion at Williamsburg, Va.?

If it wasn't for the fact I had to get down on one knee to look these children in the eyes, I would have sworn they were college-educated adults.

All this was organized by our own, Mrs. Walls. What a fantastic lady! To be able to inspire children to succeed in such a manner-and at such an early age. TERRIFIC!!!

Have a great night, folks.

Well, well

We discussed wells, today. Ya know, the underground puddles o' water that we pump out for drinking, cooking, bathing, flushing potties. Sure, we discovered the zone of saturated is the layer of rock and soil soaked with water and held in place by an impermeable layer of small "pored" soil and rock. When that zone can hold not more water, the extra floats on top and forms a water table. Above that is permeable rock, or the zone of aeration.

Then we got into artesian wells -- ya know, springs. Wells forced to the surface by water pressure. The water that bubbles up from the ground.

Finally, we talked about carbonic acid and caverns. Seems like this lesson gets harder and harder to teach in the prescribed time period. Could it be I talk too much? Naw.

Five question multiple-choice test, tomorrow. I gave out a study guide.

Have a great night, folks.

Ew. Da Blog

I'm back. We are knee deep in the hydrology unit, starting freshwater under the earth, tomorrow.

Steelers won!!!

Have a Terrible Towel night, folks.

How Did You Do On 4-Sight?

So, how did you do on the test? My first period class was with me doing the math part. Tomorrow they move to Mrs. Pulizzi for the writing test.

Have a good night, folks

Thanks For Noticing

Wasteful Americanoes
My kiddoes learned, today, that they are typical Americans willfully and woefully wasteful of water. In a weeklong, take home experiment, my students kept track of water useage. Although several came in with about 200 gallons a week, I did have a few that used 'twix 800 and a 1,000 gallons of water. Average is 325 gallons per person, per week.

4-Sight Tomorrow
First and second period in homerooms.

Have a great night, folks.

A Moving Speech. Was That MLK?

Okay, Mr. Fausnaught and Miss Porter wrote about President Obama. I did not vote for the gentleman, but, I was moved by his speech. I pray he holds true to his words.

Quietest Volleyball Tournament
I've ever attended. The sixth grade tournament during related arts was so quiet I felt our library has more noises and cheers. Have the kiddoes succumbed to the winter blahs? Really, the spectators just sat there.

Water Tally Sheet Due T'marrow
You started the tally on Friday and ended it tonight. Tomorrow, we perform the lesson. Better be ready or you will fail this project. No kidding. No excuses, save for being absent last Thursday, or tomorrow.

Have a warm night, folks

Zero Hour Was 8 Below

The drive to the airport, this morning, seemed so much longer. At 8 below zero, the fan in the car did not work, and so, the defroster was not clearing off the windshield. It took some time, but, finally, we had a fan, defrost, and we were pulling into the airport. My 19-year-old baby was going - as she put it - "home," back to Galveston. She was delayed an hour, here, as they had to de-ice the plane three times. Other than that, the trip to Philadelphia and now to Charlotte, N.C., was uneventful. She leaves Charlotte at 1 p.m. for Houston. Her boyfriend, hopefully, will be there to meet her.
Will update, later.

She made it to Houston about 3:30. However, the boyfriend was not there. Seems his mother took his car shopping and lost track of time. At 4:30, she had to call a friend for a ride. However, that friend lives an hour away. She is having such a long day. She really hasn't eaten since 5:30, this morning.

The boy is on his way out to go ice skating in Lewisburg. Here with a storm coming. Oh well.

Have a safe night, folks.

Excuse Me, While I Panic!!

We are watching live coverage of the US Airways plane crash in the Hudson River, in New York. Yeah, Flight 1549 from New York to Charlotte, NC., went down at 3:26 p.m. today, with 155 people on board. The daughter leaves for Charlotte, Saturday morning, on US Air. Just a couple of days ago a Blackhawk helicopter crashed on the Texas A&M campus. Things happen in threes, so I am now in panic-mode as my daughter prepares to go back to school.

Weekend Homework
My kiddoes have science homework, this weekend. Better get it done. I will not be dissuaded to hand out zeroes to those students that do not complete the assignment.

Have a good weekend, folks.

A Couple 'O' Bucks Worth

Hey, some Dollar Tree Slinky(s), some cotton rope, and a couple of pieces of scrap wood from Mr. Wheeland's wood shop, and I have manipulatives for Earthquakes. Today, some of my munchkins attached a slinky to my classroom door handle to demonstrate a Compression Wave, while the rope served to simulate Shear Waves. The wood? Well, rubbing them together simulates plate tectonics and faults.

I'm Seeing Agendas Getting Signed
Thanks parents. You get to see, daily, what's going on in my classroom.

Did Ya See The Mrs. Fry Photo?
On Mr. Fausnaught's blog, today. She was seen at Monday's bball game, in the bleachers. She stopped by, today, for a quickie visit. She is lookin' good. She is such a phenomenal teacher and I pity the cherubs that did not have her in class the last two years. However, I am enthralled with Miss Porter, Mrs. Fry's substitute. I certainly hope the district finds a place for this talented young lady. Even old dogs, like me, learn from the young talent coming into our schools. Check out Miss Porter's web page and blog -- good stuff.

Mrs. Antonacci Is Tireless
in her duties as sixth grade math teacher and sixth grade team leader. I am using her Buckle Down math series for my BASE classes. Once you get into the swing of it, it is really cool. However, you have to have the stamina of an Olympic athlete to keep up the students, each of whom are working in different parts of the book. You have to check problems and then provide one-on-one help for those having difficulty with a particular skill. It is really cool, but, tiring. Hats off to Mrs. Antonacci. Only a totally dedicated individual would do this everyday, five times a day.

Snow?
Ya gotta be kidding!!!!!!! Possible four inches!!!!!!!! My one kid goes to school in Texas, the other is leaving for the Air Force in Texas. They want me to move there. The PERK? NO SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay warm and safe and have a great night, folks.

It's Da Wolf!

According to native American folklore, tonight's full moon, known as Wolf moon, is roughly 15% larger, at moonrise, than any other part of the year. Too bad I won't be able to get a snapshot of moonrise. This darned storm.

I Can't Win
My bad leg went bad, again. Since I have no feeling in my feet, I was unaware of the infection in my big toe. The result? My large, swollen right leg -- the result of lymphedema from sepsis (blood poisoning) -- is infected, again. I zipped out of school at 3 p.m., yesterday, to get to the doctor's office. So, back on antibiotics. The swollen leg makes it difficult to shovel snow. You work up a sweat falling over everytime you toss a shovelful of snow, and then struggle to get back up.

Have a safe weekend, folks.

Just No 'scapin' It

I felt the cold icy stare of Mother Nature, yesterday, as I broke and scraped ice from the driveway, patio and sidewalk, at home. It was then, I decided, the Christmas decorations had to go. Despite it all, I still have the holiday spirit as I look at my "Mr. Z Rocks" cup, I got from Dalton, for Christmas.

Have a great night, folks.

We Got Slimed!!!

To reinforce the notion that the mantle is a molten, solid rock, that flows like a liquid - we did an experiment in Plasticity. Okay, we made slime. It's a simple third grade experiment that should take a group of five kids about 30 minutes to do. Believe it or not, not all the munchkins made their slime. They ran out of time!?!?!?!

They Have The Recipe
The kiddoes are now armed with the recipe for making slime. All they need is a 4-oz. bottle of Elmer's glue, a smidgen of corn starch or borax, water, and a squirt of liquid hand soap.

Have a great night, folks.

It's My Mom's Birthday

My mother passed away in 2002, but, we still visit her grave on her birthday. I miss my mom. My kids miss their grandmother. Kids, have you hugged your mom, lately?

Welcome to 2009
Time is fleeting. Oh, thanks to those who wished me well on my birthday, and my students that gave me cards and gifts for Christmas.

How Was Christmas and New Year?
Christmas was spent at my dad's house. Most of the Zdun clan assembled for several days. My daughter, Krysia, took command of Christmas Eve dinner (Wigilia), the most solemn time of Christmas in Poland. She cooked, served, and played the hostess as my mother taught her. We all enjoyed the family time. What did you do for Christmas?
For New Year, the fridge konked out about 10 p.m., so I toasted in the new year by defrosting the freezer. I did stop for several minutes at midnight, then, stayed up 'til 2 a.m. - fridge is working well, now. How did you spend New Year's Eve?

Pappa Z Baked
I made, from scratch, pumpkin rolls for Mrs. Antonacci, Mrs. Dincher, Mrs. Phillips, Miss Porter, and Mrs. Pulizzi. They were my Christmas present to the womenfolk. To date, I heard only from Mrs. Antonacci about how much she enjoyed my baking effort. Either I poisoned the others, or, they were too afraid to taste something I made. I keep telling them I can cook and dance, and although I choose not to display my prowess, I do have those skills.

Will We Be Back On Monday?
Weather guys are calling for a nasty storm for Sunday night. I suppose I should make my own prediction, but, I am not yet back in the swing of prognostication.

Plasticity
The ability of a solid to flow like a liquid. Hmmm, Kiddoes. In your Earth Innerds unit have you encountered a substance that is a solid, yet, flows like a liquid? Hopefully, you made the connection, because I am planning on making Monday a day to make our own homemade example of plasticity.

The Core
Saw the movie on FX at 5 p.m., today. Even my daughter saw the connection with what we are doing in science class, right now. You gotta rent the video.

Have a great weekend, folks.