Thanksgiving Party...

Here's a reminder to make sure you bring your dish to school tomorrow for our Thanksgiving party. All dishes can be placed in the kitchen on the back table by the stove reserved for the jr. high and high school. We'll begin our party at second hour with our dinner starting at 10:50. Looking forward to all the fun and festivities...complete with our log cabin photo booth!! We have some great props for pictures! Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

Country Dish Details...

This is just a reminder that your dish for your country is due on Wednesday, November 25th. If you are going to be out of town on Wednesday, you must bring it Tuesday, November 24th, so that it can be set out with our meal on that Wednesday. ALSO: Do not forget that you must label your dish with a sign that gives the name of the dish and the country of origin. If you do not bring your dish you will receive a 0% for this portion of your International Country Project. If the sign is missing from your dish grading will begin at a 91%. This is a TEST GRADE! Make sure to follow all guidelines according to the syllabus handed out on this project. I'm certainly looking forward to a delicious Thanksgiving party!!

Country Project Board Workday...

Since we are ahead in our World Geography studies on North America, I am making a workday on Monday, November 23rd, for your Country Board Projects. I am excited to see how they are progressing and look forward to seeing the finished products! Come ready to work during class on Monday!

Can You Find...

Our Thanksgiving break is almost here and I am certainly looking forward to our party on Wednesday, November 25th, and then filling up on turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving! But before we go, we have one week full of quizzes and tests to take and get out of the way. Time for a new bonus! Can you find the picture above? Hope so! It will mean bonus points on your next quiz! Ready? Set! Go!

UPDATE: 8th Grade Math...

Friday we spent some much needed time reviewing over concepts of basic algebraic operations in our 8th Grade Pre-Algebra class. Because of this we did not make it to the scheduled lesson for that day. Therefore the assignment that was scheduled for Friday, November 13th, has been moved to Monday, November 16th. Please check the updated Weekly Assignments under the 8th Grade Pre-Algebra heading to get the correct assignment schedule.

A Christmas Care-Package...

Mrs. Smith’s 7th-12th grade classes are putting together a Christmas care package to send over to Alex Stojadinovic, son of Martha Cook, who is stationed in Afghanistan. For the next three weeks we will be collecting items from the following list to include in the box:

• Hand Sanitizer
• Good n Plenty
• Chapstick
• Trail Mix
• Boxes of Sugar Candy (Like Sour Patch Kids)
• Jerky
• Individual Powdered drink mixes (to add to bottled water)

All donations will be accepted through Monday, December 14th. Thank you so much for your part in being a blessing to Alex while he’s stationed overseas.

Physics Assignments Posted...

Be sure to check out the Weekly Assignments link under PHYSICS to get Chapter 8's assignments. This chapter will lead us into the Thanksgiving Holiday with our test scheduled for Tuesday, November 24th. On Wednesday, November 25th, we will not have class due to our Thanksgiving Party! Let me know if you have any questions!!

Can You Find...

In honor of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11th, our bonus picture this week will be the above American flag hidden somewhere on this blog. Correctly identifying where it's located in the blog will ensure you get five extra bonus points on one of your quizzes this week! Wait...to see if anyone from the 11th and 12th grade or 9th and 10th is reading this post and can find where the picture is I will give the five points on your Physics test on Thursday and five points on the US History test on Friday.

Hello? Are you there? Hope so! Now go find that flag and earn yourself five extra bonus points!

Updated Math Schedule...

The assignments for 7th and 8th Grade Math have been updated due to the fact we will not be having class on Wednesday, November 11th. The Veterans Day Parade, museum, and picnic will be an awesome field trip! We will resume with the updated assignments on Thursday. There has also been a change from the homework assigned for Wednesday, November 25th. Again we will not be having class due to our Thanksgiving Meal of dishes from the colonial period and around the world. I am SO excited to taste all these delicious creations!! Please correct your assignment pads with the new schedule!

World Geography Workday...

On Tuesday, November 10th, students will be given a worksheet to fill out and then the remainder of the time may be spent working on their Country Project Boards. Please work quietly as Mrs. Allison will be your substitute teacher. The quiz scheduled for Wednesday, November 11th, over the political and physical map of Australia will go on as scheduled.

Change in US History Quiz...

Due to the illness of one of my children I will not be at school Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, the US History class will be completing a worksheet during class that will be a review over chapter 8.  The answer key will be provided so that answers may be checked. This is a good study guide for both the quizzes and test this week. The quiz over p. 153-162 that was scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th, will be moved to Wednesday, November 11th. All other homework assignments will remain the same for the rest of the week.

Answers for Our Physic Contradiction....

While studying Kepler's three laws of planetary motion we encountered what appeared to be a contradiction in our physics book. After some in-depth studying into Kepler's constant what I discovered was that Equation 7.14 on the bottom of p. 153 of our text is the equation to which the statement "This equation is good only for planets, comets, asteroids, etc., orbiting the sun. It cannot be used for any planetary satellite or moon." is referring to. This statement does NOT refer to the ratio of the square of the orbital period (T) to the cube of the semi-major axis (R), found in Equation 7.13 on p. 153. Equation 7.14 is referring to finding the orbital period of a planet that is orbiting the sun. By using the time it takes for the earth to orbit the sun as well as the astronomical units (ua) [the mean distance from the earth to the sun], one can solve for the orbital period of any other planet orbiting the sun. This is a derivative of Kepler's constant given in Equation 7.13. Kepler's constant in Equation 7.13 can be applied to all heavenly bodies contained in the same system.

Each orbital system in the universe has it's own K, or Kepler's constant. Jupiter and it's moons, for example, have a different K than say, the Earth and her moon. That also means that all three of Kepler's laws apply to moons, asteroids, comets, satellites, etc. and are related proportionally to a planet, moon, asteroid, comet, or satellite that is contained in that same system. If a satellite is orbiting the earth it will orbit faster when closer to the earth, following Kepler's second law.

Now to the practice problem we worked on the board Friday during class time. We new the semi-major axis and orbital period of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, and also the semi-major axis of Io, another of Jupiter's moons. We were then asked to calculate Io's orbital period. Simply place the ratio of Io's semi-major axis and it's period (WATCH THE EXPONENTS!!) equal to the ratio of Europa's semi-major axis and it's orbital period (Again, WATCH THE EXPONENTS!!). Solve for the unknown of the proportion using cross-multiplication and then division.

This video below will give a practice problem using the example of the moon and a satellite orbiting around the earth (both in the same system). 

This means that both the true and false questions that seemed to contradict the statement in the book and this problem involving the moons of Jupiter WILL BE INCLUDED in Wednesday's test. If you have any questions, be ready to ask them Thursday morning before I hand out the tests.

Change in World Geography Schedule...

This is a reminder that there will be a quiz tomorrow, Friday, November 6th, in the 11th and 12th World Geography class over p. 166-174. I originally did not have this on the schedule but have since added it in since I showed the assignments on Monday in class. Thank you for all your hard work!!

Can You Find...

The Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice coffee bag has been up for a while now and it's time for a brand new bonus for this next week. Many of you asked me what I was going to use that box of pinecones in my classroom for. The idea of throwing them at each other didn't quite go over very well...JUST JOKING!! In fact I had the idea of making turkey's out of them with leaves as the tail feathers.  So here's what we will be making the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, courtesy of Susan B. Anderson...

Now you're job is to find just where these little turkeys are hidden on this blog. Check everywhere! On your mark! Get set! Go!

Donated Pumpkins...

NO PUMPKIN NEEDED FOR MONDAY!!

I had seven medium pumpkins donated to our World History and Geography class after the Fall Festival last night. If you do not have a pumpkin yet, no need to worry. I have one for you already. If you bought yours already, then by all means bring it in tomorrow, November 2nd. Can't wait to see what you've come up with to paint your new pumpkin!!