Today, we are reviewing and compiling our results to our first lab. The question was what are 3 things that affect the speed of a Hot Wheels car. We are also going to do our first Journal/Reflection/Self Assessment today. I am curious to see if they see as much growth as I have.
I am starting to learn who and what all the students are about. I am sensing some scorn about designing, performing, and analyzing on their own. I think of it as a getting to know you lab. I need to know who works at what pace, who can use technology, who can use Excel, etc.
We are still in points mode. Some people were freaking out today because I said it's the last day to work on their experiment from the first week. Some are hesitant to ask me what I think about their data. Some are scared to ask me how to do something. Some are starting to figure out it's okay to talk with me. I know what I have to do on Friday.
To answer my own question no they are not really on their own.
Today we visited Mr. Brooks in the library. We learned how to make a Google site for our e-Portfolios. Mr. Brooks is our district's Mr. Google so I put my favorite Google Doodles on the page.
Today is all about the data. Most people are done gathering data. They are starting to graph it and make sense of what they saw.
As you can tell the class is engaged almost everyone is working on gathering data and improving their setups. The sophistication has grown in a day. It makes me wonder what did I do to get it right? By no means am I complaining. I think it's cool. We have had some creativity to day. Some groups are testing different amounts of water on the track. Another group is doing drag by using sails on the cars. I am still in awe on how well it's going.
Today, we really start playing. We are finding factors that affect the velocity of our hot wheels cars. Here are some setups from my 4th hour class.
Don't mind the electron configuration above the data boards. We open the year by determining the velocity of a hot wheels car. I basically show them the materials and then make them write their data on these boards. What do you see as the day goes on? I see some group think on period 5 & 6. Interestingly, not one class asked me how to calculate speed. Some classes did ask about units. I told them to use whatever they thought was appropriate. I had many classes try miles per hour. Many decided against it. Today, we will talk about the data and how the 10 minute activity from yesterday is the theme for the year.
