Showing posts with label Intro Unit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Intro Unit. Show all posts

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Hypotheses vs. Theories

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza-pies.  When I learned to memorize the planets, my teacher taught me that mnemonic device.  But since Pluto is no longer considered a planet that needs to change.  Read the following article about Pluto.  Is Pluto No Longer a Planet? from National Geographic. 

Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?  What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?  Can you prove a hypothesis?  When does a hypothesis become a theory?

Experimental Design

When conducting a lab experiment, you must have variables and controls.  Read the following article A pepper part that burns fat, by Stephen Ornes. 

What were the independent and dependent variables?  What was the control group?  Why is it important to have a control group?  Write out a proper hypothesis in the "If, And, Then" format.

Making Gemstones and the Scientific Method

Our first unit is almost over... We spent the first part of our unit covering the scientfiic method.  We looked at how to create your own experiment, from observations to hypotheses, and testing your ideas.  In the article, These gems make their own way, by Roberta Kwok, Carrol Chatham tried to make diamonds and ended up making emeralds. 

Describe the scientific processes that Chatham used to create his gems.   What are lab made gems used for?  How similar are they to naturally made gems?

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Enzymes

All living things depend on four macromolecules.  An important type of protein are enzymes.  Read the following article on enzymes:  Enzymes Exposed by Lisa Grossman.  

What are enzymes?  What do they do?  How do they work?  How can scientists use enzymes to help people?

DNA and Ancestry

This week we are looking at the four macromolecules.  One of those is nucleic acids, and DNA is a type of nucleic acid.  Read the following article:  Your inner Neandertal by Stephen Ornes. 

What is DNA?  What does DNA do?  The article says that modern humans share DNA with Neandertal's.  Who were the Neadertal's?  How does DNA help us determine our relationship, when Neandertal's are extinct?

Life on Mars?

Over the last week or two, we have been studying what defines life.  There has always been debate about whether life on Mars has existed or can exist.  Read the following article:  Mars organics get new lease on life by Ron Cowen. 

What are the characteristics of life?  What must all living things be made out of?  What did the scientists discover?  Is life possible on Mars?