September 14, 2007 (Day 19)

Reflections
In Morning Meeting, we watched CNN Student News, and then we examined Wikipedia and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the site.  It can be quickly updated to reflect new developments and many people contribute to articles and discuss the content.  However, articles can also contain errors and transgressions, and one must use other sources for verification.  We then used part of the morning to study for tests because the night before was a parent/student presentation on organization at USL.  In Spanish, we worked some more on our preparation for our test.  In Humanities, we took our test and introduced our next short story – Poe’s “The Gold Bug.”  During lunch, we partook in one of the traditions of Rosh Hashanah and ate apple slices with honey — for a sweet year. In Science, we reviewed for our quiz on Monday and took turns leading the water loop dances.  Mentor Zach Thames came to USL and spent the afternoon with us, and he was able to join in our exploration of the MRE (meals-ready-to eat) multimedia site (a link to our consumption of an MRE on Wednesday). We were able to trace the contents and packaging of combat rations over America’s history, and we saw the move to plastics and vacuum-sealed technology.

Assignments
Math 
– Mr. Longanecker’s assignment on measurement is due Tuesday, September 18

Spanish
– Friday’s test was shifted to Monday, September 17
– work on Aztecs/Cortes project

Humanities
– read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Gold Bug”

Science
– finish lab report, if not already complete, and email to Mrs. Ewing
– quiz on Monday

Kathy Roberts, educational psychologist, will present a seminar tonight (Thursday, September 13) on organization. This event is for families and students, and it will touch upon strategies for better personal organization in the school setting and in life. The seminar begins at 6 PM at USL.

September 13, 2007 (Day 18)

Reflections
In Morning Meeting, we watched a webcast of CNN’s student news for today.  It included stories about President Bush’s speech tonight, a recap of Gen. Petraeus’s testimony to Congress, soldiers en-route to Iraq, and the earthquake in Indonesia.  In our discussions about these stories, we learned how and why planes land in spirals in Iraq.  In Math, we talked further about measuring (what do we measure and how do we measure it), and this led to a review of the terms we have been studying.  The last part of class was spent looking at the scalability of the metric system.  In Spanish, we worked on our conversational phrases, and this included practicing with partners and with Mrs. Rowland.  We also reviewed for tomorrow’s test.  In Humanities, Mrs. Logan shared an article from the weekend’s New York Times about Luciano Pavarotti’s gift for hitting the tenor high C note and how humans have an instinctual response to hearing it (“High C: The Note that Makes Us Weep,” 9/9/07 — login required at www.nytimes.com). We then watched a 1998 performance of Pavarotti singing “Nessun Dorma” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera  Turandot, and several of us got goose bumps.  We then reviewed for tomorrow’s test.  At lunch, we met with mentor Drew Bennett (graduate of Bishop England and College of Charleston – works at Blackbaud), and we spent the period at the tree by Shem Creek.  In Science, we used several instruments of measurement including centimeter rulers, graduated cylinders, and beakers to demonstrate the composition of water on the earth.  We calculated  70% of the table (to model the fact that 70% of the Earth is water).  We then filled a beaker with 100ml of water  to represent the entire water on earth.  The water was partitioned  into  composition of water on the Earth (97% is salt water, and the rest is fresh water).  77% of the world’s fresh water is frozen in the polar regions.  By the end of the demonstration, less than 1% (about 7 drops) of the 100mL was available to pour onto the 30% of the Earth’s surface that is land.

Assignments
Math
For Tuesday, September 19 for Mr. Longanecker – Measure (in feet and inches):
1) your height; 2) the height of two other people; 3) width and length of your room; 4) the width and length of the door to your room

Spanish
Study for tomorrow’s test.  Write out the translation into Spanish and do the puzzle.  Finish taking notes on the project and organizes them.

Humanities
Study for tomorrow’s test on chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14.  Use your study guide, class notes, and handouts.  Be prepared, as well, to answer questions on the documentary we watched on Tuesday.

Science
Chromatography lab report due

September 12, 2007 (Day 17)

Reflections
This was a “Learning Outside the Classroom” day, and we engaged in a number of activities.  In the morning, we worked on writing our autobiographies (focusing on both personal and academic history).  We then watched a documentary on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and in this we saw the difference between polar and non-polar substances.  We also learned about the impact of humans on water pollution.  After a short debriefing about what we watched, we then got trash bags and collected litter on Hibben’s campus and around the neighboring businesses.  This was tiring, but then we relaxed and enjoyed a special lunch.  Corey brought in several Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs), and we learned about the importance of packaging and shelf-life which are at odds with the concept of a smaller environmental impact.  We also talked about the chemical heater included and how companies seek to include their branded products to make a permanent “relationship” with the soldiers who use them.  In our examination of the packaging, we discovered that several of the MREs were from a factory in Mullins, SC – Mrs. Logan’s home town!  The food was tasty, too!  After lunch, we played kickball.

September 11, 2007 (Day 16)

Reflections
In Math, we talked about finding the number data linked to the Iraq War and 9/11, and then we reviewed the homework involving turning numbers into other bases.  We also made a list of things we measure (ex. temperature) and how we measure them (ex. Celsius thermometer). In Humanities, Adam (power of the printing press) and Anna Grace (Vikings and longships) presented their chapters.  We also watched the PBS video on the fall of the World Trade Center towers (“Why the Towers Fell”), and it explored the engineering and design of the towers and how each one fell (different reasons).  In Spanish, we reviewed our conversational phrases and vocabulary, and then we switched to new books for research.

In Science, we continued our chromatography lab.  We made and tested our hypotheses using various markers (types and colors) in different solutions.

Assignments
Math
1) define the vocabulary words related to measurement (what do they measure – distance, mass, etc.)
2) turn in all of the base sheets
Spanish
Study vocabulary through conversation.  Study for test on Friday.  Continue to take notes for your project.
Humanities 
Pull together chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14 for test on Friday
Science 
Vocabulary: solubility, chromatography, polarity

September 10, 2007 (Day 15)

Reflections
In Morning Meeting, we took interdisciplinary quizzes that touched upon all of our work from the last three weeks. This gave us a chance to review and to see what questions we had and what new insights we could make. In Math, we examined some of the connections of math to 9/11. In Spanish, we worked on our research and our conversational phrases. In Humanities, chapter presentations continued, and then we listened to Christopher Walken’s rendition of “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. In Science, we began our chromatography lab.

Assignments
Math
A) Mr. Longanecker’s assignments (due today)
B) Worksheet (math of 9/11 and Iraq War) from Mr. Kreutner

Spanish
– work on conversation
– keep taking notes on research

Humanities
– chapter presentations continue

Science
– write a hypothesis for a new experiment for ink chromatography