I'm Late Posting, Today

I took photos of the kids launching paper helicopters but the camera battery died. It is still recharging. Pictures tomorrow, promise.

Have a good night, folks.

Thrust without Drag results in an airplane that gushes rather than flows

The kiddoes, today, discovered their Foamie Flyer airplanes are worthless without a rear stabilizer, either horizontal or vertical, or both. Their planes went the distance, but, if I were a passenger on the 6th grade airlines, I would be using the bag that comes with the plane's passenger seat. That project is due, tomorrow.

Gravity
It holds me in place, but how does it affect an object in flight? The cherubs will find out tomorrow, as they build, launch and test paper helicopters.

Mrs. Pulizzi has become a computer geek
Yep, she has the kids in the computer lab writing Haiku-style poetry on Google.docs. Mrs. P has always been leery of the 'puter until Mr. Fausnaught, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Johnson, introduced the middle school staff to the simplistic version of Microsoft office. It is not as intimidating as office. In fact, Mrs. Pulizzi is taking the forefront of the sixth grade teachers in implementing this computer program. Way to go, Cheryl!

We got another visit from Mrs. Fry, today
It was a special visit. One of our boys, I won't say who because it would ruin his macho image, approached Mrs. Fry and gave her a big hug and told her how he missed her. My jaw just dropped. I have always liked this kid, but, his behavior has always been an issue. To actually succumb to the moment and react as he did to Mrs. Fry, made me smile and think, this kid is gonna be okay.

Progress reports went out, today
Summer ain't here, yet. The number of failing or near failing science grades has me a bit shaken. I hope this serves as a wake-up call and you kiddoes get back to work. We have a couple of neat projects to complete before the end of the year. PARENTS: these are progress reports, not report cards. Don't get too excited about the low science grade. Just double-check my homework page and ensure the munchkins are getting the work done. Click the link to go to my homework page. http://www.ltsd.k12.pa.us/4979_3814173829/Blog/browse.asp?a=398&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=51715

Have a great night, folks.

Young Jedi Learn The Ways of the FORCE

Pause a moment for momentum

For homework over the weekend, the cherubs were to "look-up" the definition of momentum and apply it to the balloon-powered race car project. Few of the munchkins did that, and so, few understood the concept of momentum.

Well, I took 'em outside and had them run downhill shouting for them to stop at certain points. Funny, none were able to stop. The momentum of their run caused them to take a step or two or five as they tried to stop.

Earth Day
I feel so bad. Tomorrow is Earth Day and I'm having the kiddoes build Styrofoam airplanes, called, Foamie Flyers. Styrofoam and Earth Day do not mix. However, to understand one of the four forces of flight -- thrust -- this mini-project is neccessary. If it helps, I spent the weekend transplanting rhododendrums, a juniper, and several blooming daffodil clusters. Excuse me, I gotta hug a tree.

Have a great night, folks.

Balloon-Powered Race Cars Tested, Then Trashed

Click here to see my powerpoint of photos I took of the races

Have a great weekend, folks.

Racing Outside, Tomorrow

Sorry, the hallway racing is now over. No, I am not granting BASE or classtime to race in the hallway. I have been generous. Tomorrow, we are moving outside to race the cars on asphalt.

The Balloon-powered race car packet is due on Monday- that includes the questions.

Have a good night, folks.

Mrs. Antonacci Is Making Us Work!!

A full slate of parents coming in today to discuss their child's risk of failing sixth grade. I'm sorry to see so many children in that position, but, I'm glad to see parents are taking an active role in helping to ensure their child is graduated from sixth to seventh grade.

The title of today's blog comes from Mrs. Antonacci is the interim sixth grade team leader. She took it upon herself to organize the parent conferences today and tomorrow. I never really tell her how much I appreciate the extra work she does for this team. Perhaps, you could let her know her efforst really are appreciated -- even though PappaZ get annoyed sometimes. I guess we all do, when someone gives us commands and we just "don't wanna do it." Thanks, Wanita. You know I still luv ya, despite my grumbling -- but, then again, I'm an old man and we do that.

Get them race cars finished
Tomorrow we race in the hallway and Friday we are outside on the driveway. Which reminds me. How in the world do 100 kids go through 45 sticks of hot glue gun glue?

Have a great night, folks.

Building Race Cars

Building race cars in class to test friction and momentum. They kept me hopping, today.

Okay, I am beat. Have a great night, folks.

Hey! Z!! This ain't no 'ritin' class!

Okay, you conducted an experiment with friction. Now, I wanna know how you know water reduces friction. In other words, if you are going to answer such questions, be prepared to show evidence or support to what you are claiming. Gee, I feel like I'm teaching a class in language arts.

Outside for BASE
Well, I've been taking the cherubs outside during BASE and they just don't seem to appreciate it. We asked them to wipe off their shoes before entering the building. Mr. Bubb even went so far as to place a rug at the door. Still, a handful of kiddoes refuse to abide by our wishes and track mud throughout the hallways and classrooms. Then, when we call them in, several boys insist on continue playing until we are hoarse shouting them in. Perhaps, the children should earn the right to go outside? I know I am not too keen on doing that for a while.

Have a great night, folks.

Mr. Nike! My Sneaks Slide Too Easily!!!!

My cherubs, today, elevated a laminate board, placed a sneaker on the board and tilted it until gravity overcame friction. Then, they applied a layer of water between the shoe and board and found the lubricate decreased friction, permitting gravity to pull easier on the wearing apparel. Needless to say, a whole bunch of deodorizer was used in the room. Whew!

Have a great weekend, folks -- I gotta work, tomorrow.

Lee Lee's Brain Burped

Ah, Lee Lee, talk about a bad hair day. But, thanks for the entertainment. I hope we had fun with your ditsy math display in class. I know I enjoyed an otherwise boring math problem. Poor Lee Lee was trying to show that a 100-gallon bottle of water contains 21 gallons of oxygen, using the constant of 21%. A bit of algebra confused her. In fact, now that I think about it. That was the type of equation that confused you when it was a math homework assignment several weeks ago. Oh well, all better, now.

I Dig Archaeology
Hey, check out my website! I am adding more about archaeology. It's a dirty little subject few discuss.

Have a great night, folks.

Inquiry-based Learnin' Goin' On

Okay, so, you determined that a 59-mL test tube holds about 14-mL of oxygen. Great. Although you did not get 21% oxygen in the atmosphere, you were close. So, today, I asked, "How come, y'all did not get 21%?" Well, answers varied and it was great. Also, I asked, what if we used a 200-mL test tube, or a larger candle? Of course, the volume of oxygen would change, but, prove that it would still be proportional to the total volume of the test tube. Made for some great intra-group discussions.

The Bionic Website
The district has revamped the appearance of our websites. In turn, I am rebuilding my website. Streamlining and organizing all units. It's gonna be so cool, when I'm done.

Archaeology Society Meetin' Tonight
The local society, in conjunction with the Muncy Historical Society are gearing-up for the opening day of the Pennsylvania Canal Lock excavation at Muncy, on Thursday, April 26. The site is open to the public. If you want to learn more about local history, play in the dirt, or just understand the meaning of archaeology, I urge you to go the dig site, off Pepper Street, in Muncy. Here is the link to the Muncy Historical Society webpage. Just click-on the link. http://www.muncyhistoricalsociety.org/dig/index.html Also, the local society is looking for new members. We meet tonight, at 7 p.m., in the Thomas Taber Museum. Use the parking lot entrance. Robin Van Auken has a neat presentation planned for tonight. Hope to see you there. Getting to know our local history is a great teaching tool for our children.

Have a great night, folks.

Using Microsoft Excel to Make Bar Graphs

It was a crash course in using Microsoft Excel to convert the oxygen volume data from last week, into a digitized data table and bar graph. Nifty tool, instead of a sheet of graph paper, ruler and colored-pencils.

Have a great night, folks.

Back To Teaching

PSSAs are over!! YES!!!!! And, the afternoon fun and games, also, are over. OH, YEAH!!!!!!!! I hate that part. However, the Brain Show on Friday was really good.

Doin' Mathematics In Science
All that data we collected on Monday to find the Percentage of Oxygen in the Atmosphere, was organized, today.

Without going into particulars. Click this link to see the project. The Atmosphere: What Is It?

So, we determined the average volume of oxygen, per group, and calculated the measurements into decimal form. Mrs. Antonacci will be proud of me, I had the munchkins read the numbers as zero decimal point blah, blah, blah. She hates when I don't use that word decimal.

We finished today's lesson with all the equations and data tables filled-in and labeled, correctly. On Monday, we learn to use Microsoft Excel to create a bar graph.

New Social Studies Group
Well, I've got the last of the sixth graders in my social studies class. We do the Bill of Right and map skills. The only nice part is that with nice weather, we will go outside to learn about orienteering. Don't know orienteering? It's a primative version of GPS.

Student Achievers
Today, we awarded our student achiever awards for marking period 3. Felicity got mine for social studies. She really got into volunteering to read, pass out papers and materials, etc. Her enthusiasm in my class was inspirational. Thanks, Felicity. My science achiever is Anisha. Doggone it, she has not received an award, all year. I guess since a kid can only get one award per year, the other teachers must have been holding off for the final marking period. That is why I snatched her up for the third marking period. Anisha could teach my science. I should be able to sit in the back of the room drinking coffee and eating donuts and let her teach her class. I've got some really sharp kids, this year. I don't care what their PSSA scores show, this sixth grade can think and reason and will do fine in the outside world.

Hug your kid - NOW! Have a great weekend, folks.

Big Fire, Little Candle

The cherubs were engrossed in performing an experiment that will eventually lead to finding the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere. To do this, kiddoes substituted water for air and measured the volume of a test tube. Then, they placed the test tube over a lit candle, resting in a dish of water. The result, fire goes out and the expelled oxygen is replaced by water sucked-up into the test tube. All very melo-dramatic.

A Glowing Anniversary

It was 29 years ago, today, that Three Mile Island nuclear powerplant, near Harrisburg, BURPED! I was an electrical engineering student at Penn State's Capital campus, at the time. I lived about a mile from the plant. I could see it from my door. One of my roommates was a water resources management student and interning at Three Mile Island. I went home for Spring Break, that weekend, and turned an interesting shade of pale as news broke of the radiation leak. I pictured glowing cows at night, mutated plants, etc. Needless to say, I never went back. I later transferred to Lycoming College and changed majors.

Let's Sing!
In science, we are conducting an experiment to determine the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere. First, however, we had to learn how to click on a lighter, light a birthday candle, and lower a test tube over the candle to extinguish the flame and measure the volume of oxygen, used. I told several students it was a good time to sing Happy Birthday to anybody.

Social Studies
Plot the location of 10 volcanoes on a grid. They did great. Yesterday, those that understood the concept, taught those that still did not grasp the process. Today, all were well informed and ready for the activity.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Atmospheric Layers Riddles Test

I protect the earth from ultraviolet rays given off by the sun. Who am I?_______________________________ Since this is a layers of the atmosphere test question, you would probably say, Stratosphere.

But, wait, the Thermosphere has a UV protection layer of nitrogen and oxygen, so, Thermosphere, could also be correct.

But, wait!!! Most of the protection from UV rays comes from the ozone layer, found in the Stratosphere. Well, that's correct, as well.

Oh, and, I asked five questions pertaining to the ionosphere and exosphere, but, ran out of time in reviewing them as part of our layers of the atmosphere review. So, I kinda gave them away as free answers (no credit, no penalty).

I suppose I should be tickled the cherubs know we live in the Troposphere, the Jet Streams are in the Stratosphere; the Mesosphere is known as the meteoroid catcher, and you can't measure the temperature of the Thermosphere with a bulb-thermometer.

The pH of water
I nailed my BASE group. I gave them a sample of tap water, distilled water, bottled water, and well water, and asked them to distinguish the water pH using 0-13 pH paper. "But, Mr. Z, they all came out as neutral!?!?! How are we supposed to know which one is which? " Neutral is 'twix 6.5 and 7.5. All those water samples fall within that range.

Ain't I a stinker?

Have a good night, folks.

Have You Hugged Mr. Fausnaught, Lately?

Our beloved principal is still sick. I think he is trying to break all records on length of time for being sick. He loves the children of this building, so much, I believe if enough of you stopped to hug him, his health will improve.

Smells Like a Locker Room
I've been hearing that all day. My BASE kids are learning about pH and one of the samples they are testing is bleach. I put the samples from yesterday in my refrigerator and today, the odor of bleach has permeated the entire room. Kind of a nice change from the usual coffee smell.

Told 'tya So!
My social studies class grimaced when I told them we were going to study map skills. Mostly, they complained about its simplicity. Ha ha. Yesterday, they got a chance to plot latitude and longitudinal points on a grid -- ya know; north or south latitude, and east or west longitude. It got confusing, but, I think we have everyone on the same page. Today, they were given 10 actual cities to plot on a grid.

Layers of the Atmosphere
All science sections, save section 64, reviewed the layers of the atmosphere, today. They even learned the differences between a meteor, meteoroid, and meterite. You don't know? Ask your kid. He/she don't know? You better email me, tonight. They are being quizzed, tomorrow.
Section 64 is just learning about our present atmosphere. I went into a dissertation about the power of veggies, when it comes to introducting nitrogen into our bodies, which aides in producing proteins, which aid in building skin and muscles. Go ahead, ask your section 64 kid why mama always tells us to eat our veggies?

Have a great night, folks.

I, Smiled, Today!

Yes, its true. A Kodak moment, if you will. I returned from the sixth grade team meeting to find a 2.75-oz chocolate Easter bunny resting on my computer monitor. Thanks, Racquel. There was no one around to see the pearly-whites, but, believe me, the cracks in my face were evident the remainder of the day.

Then, MRS. FRY!!!! came in to visit about 3:15. Guys, she looks great!!! We hugged and chatted a short-while. It was wonderful to see Mama Fry.

Problem-Solving
The cherubs worked in groups on an ozone-damaging prediction graph. I gave them a few questions to answer and the majority of students worked well in solving the problem. You wanna talk about infuriating. They still can only deal in black/white, and when I refused to answer questions and directed them back to their groups, they grumbled and griped, but, lo-and-behold, the worked on the problem. It felt great to see their independence.

BASE Played with pH
I poured out some bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, vinegar, liquid soap, coffee, lemon juice and some other do-dads, and set the BASE students off on investigating bases and acids. I burned the daylights out of my fingers handling the toilet bowl cleaner, but, the kids had no reason to touch that material. I'm not quite certain of the reaction on their part. I thought it was a neat lesson. Oh well, I will repeat the lesson for tomorrow's group.

Have a great night, folks.

Post-Easter Depression

Where, oh where, is my chocolate Easter bunny? I asked for one in my blog, and no one brought me a bunny. Hrrrmmpphh!

Talk About Zombies!
Attack of the walking dead. The munchkins were totally zoned-out. Yeah, teaching is easy. Despite all that, I trudged on. Today, sections 62,63, and 61, started layers of the atmosphere, while section 64, learned a bit about the three main features of the Earth. Everyone has homework.