Learning goals - Planetary Profiles

PLANETARY PROFILES	Tick
1.      Recall that the Earth orbits the sun every year.
2.      Understand that the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the seasons
3.      Understand that the rotation of the Earth on its axis creates night and day
4.      Describe how solar & lunar eclipses occur
5.      Understand that planets orbit a star
6.      Know that the sun is a star.
7.      Know the main differences between a star and a planet.
8.      Name the planets in our Solar system.
9.      Describe the structure, landscape, climate of at least two planets.
10.   Explain some of the problems of space travel

Update to Astronomy Project - Comparision of Earth with one other planet

HAND IN DATE - Monday 10th December (marking 9UN's projects), Tuesday 11th - Feedback from 9UN.

In addition to answering LI goals 1-10 with full answers and diagrams.  You are to choose one planet from the list below
MERCURY    VENUS     MARS     JUPITER    SATURN      URANUS     NEPTUNE

Find out the following facts about your planet AND Earth:

·         How far the planets are from the sun

·         Their mass

·         Their diameter

·         What they are made of

·         If they have a moon

·         What the atmosphere is made of

·         If they have water

·         Temperature, can life survive?

You may wish to present this data in diagrams or a table. 

Then COMPARE AND CONTRAST your chosen planet with Earth

You may choose to design your own planet, give it a name and decide on it's conditions (examples above) Where in the solar system would it be found?

Extension Section update - Break down your research area to at least three questions you are answering. Make the questions clear to the reader. 

Planetary Profiles Project

For this last unit you are to maintain a portfolio of your work in your science book.

Your task is to research each of the learning goals 1-10 and answer them using diagrams and paragraph answers which you are to write into your science book.

Extension - You are to investigate one LI in depth and develop your own extension questions. For example you might wish to look at how migrations of animals are linked to seasons, or how technology has developed to assist space travel. 

Choose one of:

LI 2 - Seasons, LI 4 - Eclipses, LI 7 - How are stars/Planets different?, LI9 - Landscapes of 2 different planets, LI10 - Problems in Space travel. 

Presentation - You can present your work either in POSTER form (A3), pamphlet, prezi or powerpoint.

Milestone - check off  your extension question with Miss Meehan at end of lesson 2.

Resources available - Computer labs booked. Box of Astronomy books. Printed handouts.

Due date - tbc.

Chicks genders revealed! (sex linked traits)

Genders revealed......
Sorry Fran you are a male.....now called Frank
Inigo..........luckily we gave you such a manly name!
Benedict and Pingu our two cute soon to be hens!!
Find out more about how sex can be determined in young chicks using secondary sex characteristics in sex linked traits
http://www.ehow.com/how_6101169_tell-barred-rock-baby-chicks.html

The 'cute chicks' in B11

Inigo the 'fourth born' - a real attention seeking and needy chick who is just so cute!

Left to right - Fran (Frank), Inigo (photo bombing!), Pingu, and Benedict

Pingu, Fran (who we think is the most dominant of the chicks at this stage), and the others enjoying their first experience of grass.

Inigo and Benedict (youngest and oldest) snuggle up

Periodic table of Elements

Ever wondered about the building blocks of all matter? Explore the elements in this basic interactive table of elements (test yourself with a quiz on atoms)
If you want to extend your knowledge you can find some interesting facts in the following advanced interactive periodic table.

Can't get the lyrics of "Meet the Elements" out of your brain?? For your listening pleasure.

Making dye from plants

In class we will make our own dye using beetroot and use this to colour wool. You can find other dyes from natural products at this website or elsewhere online. Extension task = Research a dye from your own culture.

2012 ICAS Science Competition

SCIENCE Years 9-13 - entries are open now!! This is a 1 hour written test in June. A great chance to test yourself-too see how you match up to other students here at HVHS, in Wellington and across NZ. The entry fee is $8. You have just 1 week to enter at the Resource Centre. Entries close on Friday 6 May.

Wellington Science Fair 2012

Get involved in the 2012 NIWA Wellington Science and Technology Fair and win great prizes!!! What do you need to do? Pick a science problem that really interests you, talk to your science teacher and plan and carry out your investigation.

You have plenty of time for this, the event is Friday 31st August and Saturday 1st September, however entries close on the 27th July. For more information on the process and what's involved click here. To see 2011 winning ideas click here. You can also pop along to Brainaics (Science Club) in B12 on Wednesday lunctime for help.

Brainiacs

Brainiacs for 2012 is now underway and have three meetings to date. If you are interested in designing science experiments, entering the Wellington Science Fair and further investigating your own ideas in Science then join the Science club Wednesday lunchtime in B12.

Classification - Identifying bugs

The scientists at Landcare Research have put together a website that allows you to identify insects that you find out in the garden or on field trips.

Your task - find 5 insects and identify using the guide below. Remember to keep the insect alive and return to where you found it. It is easier to identify using the actual insect but if you prefer you may take a photo.

In your books draw and name the insect along with any interesting note you may find

What is this bug? Click here for a guide to common invertebrates of New Zealand.

9NA and 9GO field trip

The field trip to Island Bay Marine Reserve scheduled for today will still go ahead, the wet weather plan is to listen to talk by IBMR Educator in Hall, explore the touch tanks in the Bait House and complete a plastic sorting activity to investigate the breakdown of plastic in the environment.  We will all meet at scheduled time of 0845, departing HVHS at 0900.

Island Bay Marine Reserve - Adaptations

Look at the suspension feeding mussels and the herbivore grazeing limpets (consumers), they have unique adaptations that help them to survive on the rocky shore, find out more here

Island Bay Marine Reserve - Adaptations

Look at the structural adaptations of these species of crustaceans (consumers). Find out more about Crab adaptations by clicking here

Island Bay Marine Reserve - Adaptations

Look at these adaptations of Bull Kelp - the honeycomb structure helps this producer to float closer to the surface where there is increased light available. The thick tough outer layer protects it from wave action and some grazers.  Find out more here

Island Bay Marine Reserve - Habitats

Exploring both the sandy shore and rocky coast at Island Bay Marine Reserve

The Ozone - homework

You are to put yourself in the role of a Journalist. 
Your task: to find out about the Ozone layer; damage to this layer and the impact on ecosytems. Start with a catchy introduction and remember to write in a way that a general audience can understand. This means you will need to define the science words used. Use the following questions as a guide:

1) What is the ozone layer - why is it useful?
2) Is there a hole in the ozone layer, where is it above, is it seasonal?
3) Is there a connection between the Greenhouse effect and the ozone hole?
4) What species may be affected by this damage to ozone, what are some flow-on effects? (i.e. will this effect humans?)

Include a diagram or picture. You may write an article, record your presentation as a news item, or report back in class. You may work in pairs.

Due date - Wednesday 4th April

What are marine reserves?

Find out more about where in New Zealand marine reserves are located.  What is the purpose of setting them up?  What are your thoughts on these reserves?

Click here to visit the Department of Conservation website to see maps and find out more.

Click here to watch some videos on Marine Reserves in NZ

Crest Awards - Bronze

CREST is an international awards scheme designed to encourage years 0-13 students to be innovative, creative, and to problem solve in science, technology and environmental studies. The Bronze award generally takes 1-2 terms to complete.

Find out more here. Speak to your Science teacher if you are interested.

Antarctic Food Webs

Compare food webs between Summer and Winter - learn more about the plants and animals that are adapted to this extreme environment.

Click here

Interactive Antarctic food web

Put your knowledge of food webs to practice by exploring this website

Click here

'Our Far South'

Follow the blogs, videos and images as they are updated of a current expedition to Antarctica & the sub-Antarctic Islands. You can get involved in this by becoming a follower or asking questions online.

Click here