Ms. Newburn's Math & Science Blog

Green Guide to Back-to-School

Rebecca Newburn — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:32:26 +0000

Yesterday I went to Hall Middle School to start getting my new classroom ready and I thought about all of you, and figured you’d be soon heading to the store to start getting school supplies. Stop and read this before you do and make sure to share it with your parents too.

I was inspired to make two websites in the last 24 hours. One is called a Green Guide to Back-to-School. It has helpful ideas on what to avoid and things to be mindful about. Make sure to look over this PDF from the Sidwell Friends School on buying school supplies with the Earth in mind. I’ll be sure to put links to some of the materials on the site so you can find them if your local store doesn’t carry them. I also created a blog called The Green School that will have ideas about how to make your school and classroom environment more green. Be sure to share it with your teachers. I’ll eventually add activities and highlight some successful projects, such as Mrs. Buono’s classes’ water education program and the subsequent installation of a water refill station. Very cool!

Have a great year and keep the planet cool buy wise choices.

Blessings,
Ms. Newburn

Italian Street Painting Fair

Rebecca Newburn — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:35:49 +0000

This weekend the Italian Street Painting Fair is happening on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am -7 pm. It’s a wonderful fair and relates nicely to the enlargement the 7th graders are doing.

This weekend is also the RoboGames, an international robotics competition. MVMS is having a team going. We will be competing between 12-3 and 6-8. The competition is at Fort Mason in Building F.

A Penny’s Worth of Hydrogen Lab

Rebecca Newburn — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:58:55 +0000

Here are some fun facts from the US Mint about the changes in the composition of the penny over the years. What was the percent of zinc in your penny? If there was a difference, what accounted for that difference?

Super Exponents Site

Rebecca Newburn — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:25:21 +0000

Here is an excellent site about multiplying and dividing monomials. 7th graders if you need a little more help I recommend watching some of the videos. 8th graders, this site is good review from last year. All the videos are hosted on YouTube so you’ll have to access it from home.

You may recognize the video author on some of the examples.

Multiplying and Dividing Monomials

Rebecca Newburn — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:05:35 +0000

7th graders will be learning about how to multiply monomials, ex. (3x^2)(2x^4). You’ll also learn how to simplify division problems with monomials too. Below are some helpful videos to help you if you need extra help.

8th graders you can watch the videos too and take an extra credit quiz on Quia. Offer available this week only! So do it while the offer lasts.

For mini lessons on multiplying and dividing monomials, check out these videos:

1. Writing Exponents in Expanded Form

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Q4Ie6dgwU]

2. Multiplying & Dividing Monomials… and common mistakes to avoid

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6T1BtXKZbs]

The Story of Stuff – a New Video for a New Paradigm

Rebecca Newburn — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:07:59 +0000

I hope you enjoyed watching The Story of Stuff video today. Feel free to watch it again. If you were absent be sure to watch it. Also click on some of the different topics and explore the resources and organizations working to make the shift.

Check out this website I made called Ecological Footprint. If you haven’t taken an ecological footprint quiz, I highly recommend it. It’ll show you how many planets we’d need if there were 6.5 billion people consuming like you do. It’s shocking! Also read the post about the holidays and how to make them greener. I think you’ll like some of the suggestions from my family.

Creating a sustainable system is a complex process and we all can make changes to support a green system. Tell me what you are interested in doing.

Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit

Rebecca Newburn — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:47:02 +0000

There is an exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci at the Metreon. There are numerous reproductions of da Vinci’s work from his drawings. Some are interactive pieces. There are also some unimpressive reproductions of his artwork too. If you’re unfamiliar with his artwork or inventions, it’s a nice introduction to the extensive collection of contributions this genius made to society. I liked the digital representation of Vitruvian Man, that’s the picture with the man embeded in a circle.

The exhibit goes through December 31, 2007. The cost is $15.50 for students and $19.50 for adults. If you go, let post a comment and let us know what you learned and what liked about the exhibit.

Making Slime

Rebecca Newburn — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:23:46 +0000

Here is the video about how to make slime. It’s on a website by Steve Spangler. Check out his website. Enjoy!

Reading Measurements & Unit Conversions Practice

Rebecca Newburn — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:48:48 +0000

The retake for the test on reading measurements and unit conversions will be, November 13th (Tuesday) and 14th (Wednesday) at lunch. You need to do the practice on this page and make a comment on this post indicating that you’ve done the exercises.

Reading Measurements:
1. Reading graduated cylinders
2. Meniscus Madness

Unit Conversion Practice:
1. Practice on equivalents (ex. 1 m has how many mm?)
2. Practice on Length
3. Practice on Mass

Remember to leave a comment if you practiced and you need to retake the test. Tell me which sites you went on and if they helped.

Scientific Slime

Rebecca Newburn — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:07:39 +0000

The fun, but messy, experiment we did today can be found on Steve Spengler’s Science site. It’s the video called “Elmer’s Glue Slime.” Check out some of the other videos. Fun! Fun! Fun!