End of Trimester Survey

After completing your Lab (woohoo!) please complete this anonymous end of trimester survey by clicking here.

PEER EDITING CHECKLIST

1. Open up this link. 

2. Copy it into a NEW google doc.

3. Share it with emily.elpuente@gmail.com and with your peer editing partner. 

RESOURCES FOR FINAL LAB REPORT

Hello Folks, 

In order to complete the rough draft of the final lab report, please use the links below for resources.

1. Formal Lab Report Format Sheet

2. Convection Currents Lab

3. National Geographic Article on Continental Drift

4. Outline for Continental Drift article


After you have completed your rough draft by SATURDAY at NOON, please MAKE SURE that you have shared it with Emily.ElPuente@gmail.com

I hope you have an excellent Thanksgiving!

EXTRA EXTRA!! IS THERE LIFE AT THE MID-OCEAN RIDGES??

A hydrothermal vent found near Antarctica. (source) 

MID-OCEAN RIDGES are located all across the Earth's crust, but majority of them are found deep in the ocean. They are the points where HOT LAVA  is escaping from the mantle, and new crust is slowly being formed. But, the question is, can life be found at these extremely hot, dark points in the earth's oceans?? 

Watch all or some of this TED TALK, and then answer the following questions in the form of a paragraph: 

1. What is a hydrothermal vent and where are they found? 

2. What marine species can be found at the mid-ocean ridges? 

3. Describe the surface of the bottom of earth's oceans. 

share your paragraph with me anytime before the end of the trimester: emily.elpuente@gmail.com 

Class 11/18

Today we began exploring HOW convection currents move in the mantle.

 

What is constantly in motion in this diagram? See if you can identify the variables first, before clicking on the link here and seeing if you are correct! 

Guided Notes from today can be found here. 

Powerpoint can be found here.

TGIF // HOMEWORK DUE MONDAY!!!

The video above  is a VERY cool look inside of the asthenosphere where the convection currents are in constant motion!!

Homework Due Monday is: 
1. Read about the Mechanisms of Plate Motion given out in class. A link to the reading is here and the worksheet is here.
 2. Complete the Outline on Continental Drift. Article and Guided Notes can be found here. 

Where are the Convection Currents Taking us?!?

In which direction is North America headed in? Where will we be in about 50 million years if the earth's tectonic plates are in constant motion?

Use this animation to help you figure out the direction we're headed. 

HOMEWORK DUE TOMORROW 11/13

Complete the Outline on the back of the page with the graphic organizer. If you left the outline in school you can find it here.

If you are missing evidence or vocabulary words, look back in the reading. 

Proving a Theory: Continental Drift

Alfred Wegener had an idea that the Earth's continents were once joined together in one supercontinent he called Pangaea. Today, it is a widely accepted fact. However, Wegener was not able to prove his theory within his lifetime because he could not explain WHAT made the continents move.

Today, we are going to explore the evidence that he did have to prove his theory.

Click on this link: CONTINENTAL DRIFT to begin reading about Wegener's theory.

1. Use your graphic organizer to begin compiling evidence to support the theory of Continental Drift.

2. Identify 5 vocabulary words from the reading that you will use in your outline and are new to you. Write down their definitions by clicking on the word in the reading.

EXTRA CREDIT OPP!!

Who was Andrija Mohorivicic, and how did he discover the Moho Boundary? 

 Why is it important for us to understand what the Moho Boundary is?

Use the links above (or more!) to write a paragraph answering the questions above. When using information from an article, please make sure that you attribute it correctly.

FOR EXAMPLE,

According to the USGS article by Dragotin Skoko, ....................

Responses that are copied and pasted will receive no credit.

Please type up your response, and share it with emily.elpuente@gmail.com

Measurements of Gummy Bears Lab DUE TOMORROW!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE GUMMY BEARS???

 In case you lost the lab, it is attached here. 

HOMEWORK DUE MONDAY 11/4 !!!

Hello All-

On Monday, I will be collecting the Scientist's Toolbox packet, so make sure that each homework section is completed.

I will also be collecting the Pan de Muerto recipe conversion sheet along with the recipe of a family dish.

HAPPY DIA DE LOS MUERTOS !!!

EXTRA EXTRA!

    WHAT IS THE SPEED OF LIGHT?

"It is impossible to travel faster than light, and certainly not desirable, as one's hat keeps blowing off."
Woody Allen, Side Effects

For extra credit, come in with the actual speed of light, measured in the metric system, WITH a conversion into the American system of measurement by THURSDAY. 

CLASS MATERIALS and HOMEWORK MONDAY 10/28

Hello Class-

Today we began our unit on the metric system, and started with converting measurements from the American system of measurement to the metric system.

The powerpoint from today is here. 

The guided notes that we began today are here. 


To start your thinking on WHY scientists use the metric system all over the world, think about this cartoon.... when they say English, think American.

MAKE-UP WORK DUE 10/28

There are 3 assignments that you can make up. Below is a link to the writing assignment. For copies of the 2 labs that can be made up, please see me on Monday or Wednesday before school, or Thursday afterschool.

 Create A Mineral Writing Task 
            -The properties of common minerals chart is a helpful place to start when thinking about the       different characteristics of minerals.

As always, please email me with any questions! emily.elpuente@gmail.com

RESOURCES FOR MIDTERM PROJECT

Hello! Please use the following links to resources that we have already read and discussed in class in case you have lost them.

1. NPR Radio Show on the De Beers cartel and the history of diamond advertising.

2. Article- "Movie Sparks Debate over Diamond Trade" regarding the movie Blood Diamond 

3. Reading Assignment on the Kimberley Process and Conflict Diamonds

HOMEWORK DUE TUESDAY 10/15

With ALL of the information that you have gathered on conflict diamonds, choose one writing prompt and then write an outline for the paragraph. ATTACHED is the reading and the outline that you were given in class.

EXTRA EXTRA!!!

Are conflicts surrounding diamond mining a thing of the past?

For extra credit, read the following article and write a paragraph answering the question. In your response, please use the guiding questions below:

How do the members of the Kimberley Process define this certificate?

What loopholes are still present in the law?

According to the article, how can the Kimberly Process remain relevant in 2013?

Please follow the Schaffer Method format for your paragraph, and email it to emily.elpuente@gmail.com

HAVE A GREAT 3 DAY WEEKEND !!!

Homework Due 10/9

Your homework due Thursday 10/9 is to write a sentence using each of the vocabulary words from the Conflict Diamond Vocabulary Packet. If you are unsure of a meaning of a word, attached is the powerpoint from today's class which contains all of the words.

Conflict Diamonds III

unlike this photo, the homework is not an illusion! 

Attached is the powerpoint from today's class, 10/8.

Your homework for tonight is to read the two paragraphs about how diamonds are related to conflicts and annotate them using the methods we spoke about in class.

Homework due Monday 10/7

Find 1 ad for diamonds and describe WHO the target audience is for the ads, and the message that the company is trying to give off.

Look in the Sunday newspaper, in magazines, or on the internet. Please bring in a copy of the ad. If it is online and you would like me to print it out before class, email it to me before Monday morning. Here are some example ads, what do you think is their message?

Conflict Diamonds II

"MO MONEY MO PROBLEMS?" 


 Attached is the powerpoint from class 10/3

Guided Notes. 

Conflict Diamonds I

Attached is the powerpoint from class on 10/2. 

Guided notes. 

Article for Homework. 

HOMEWORK DUE 9/27

STUDY FOR THE QUIZ TOMORROW!

Powerpoint from today (9/26) is here. 

Email me by 8pm tonight for any questions that you have regarding tomorrow's quiz.

HOMEWORK DUE 9/26

1. Complete the writing portion of the lab. The last page is a bonus question.

2. Complete the Mineral Vocabulary Packet

3. Complete your Mineral Vocabulary Flip Book (extra points for sketches and color!)

Click here for today's powerpoint. 

HOMEWORK DUE 9/24

COMPLETE MINERAL 4 PACKET FOR TOMORROW! 

If you have any questions, please be sure to write it down next to the question. Please do not leave any blank!!!!!! 

EXTRA EXTRA!

Fun Fact: Birthstones are actually not stones at all, but minerals! What's your birth mineral? In what region of the world can it be mined for? What are its physical characteristics? 

Answer these questions and hand it in to me by Friday for 5 points extra credit (= 1 homework assignment) 

Homework Due 9/19

Read the article titled These Gems Make Their Own Way on the back of the guided notes. Click on the link here for the same article online! 

HOMEWORK DUE 9/17

To prepare for tomorrow's lab, please do the
Scientific Method Reading assignment and
complete the worksheet attached to it.

If you are confused about the parts of the
scientific method, check out this
RAP THAT EXPLAINS IT!

DUE MONDAY 9/16:

Create a gmail account that you can use for this class.

Go to gmail.com, then click CREATE AN ACCOUNT. Follow the steps, and make sure that the username you create contains your LAST NAME.

When you have completed registration, email emily.elpuente@gmail.com from that email account.

See you on Monday!

Emily

Homework due 9/10

For Tuesday, please complete the First Day Brainstorm.

For this assignment, think back to middle school, and when you were successful in a class. What made you successful?

Then, think about the teachers you have had in the past that have been helpful, and that you have learned from. What did they do to help you?

This assignment is TBC (to be collected!)

Greetings New Parents!

                                                                                                                    September 2013

Greetings,

My name is Emily Piccone, and I am thrilled to be beginning the year your child at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice.

At El Puente, we are preparing students to be leaders in their community and in the world. Before anyone becomes a leader though, we know that the first step is knowing who you are and where you have come from. Guiding our ninth graders towards a path of understanding who they are, as students, citizens of New York City, and as leaders, is our mission in the 9^th grade.

In the Earth Science classroom, we will be diving into core concepts of understanding how the Earth formed, how we use the resources available to us, and how the Earth is in a constant state of change. In our final unit in Earth Science, we will be exploring the history of the geography of New York City, and understanding why this portion of the country has turned into the metropolitan area that is from a scientific perspective.

My goal for each of my students in this coming trimester is to create good study and organizational habits. High school is a long road, and the best way to guarantee success is by hitting the ground running!

In order to ensure organization, each student will be receiving a binder and a lab folder that will stay in the classroom. The students will also each receive a homework folder that will go home with them. Please do check this homework folder nightly for assignments!

I will be keeping in touch with you regarding your child’s progress throughout the trimester, and I look forward to meeting with you in person as well. Please don’t hesitate to email me at Emily.ElPuente@gmail.com

With Thanks,

Emily Piccone