Local river basin- Lumber River Basin

May 28, 2007 by jmmblake.

Objective 3.02
Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including:

Water distribution on earth.
Local river basin.
Local water availability.

Lumber River Basin Information
The Lumber River Basin is located in southeastern North Carolina, along the North / South Carolina border. This basin extends about 150 miles from the Sandhills region to the Atlantic Ocean, with a land area of 3,336 square miles. There are 2,232 stream miles in this basin.

Streams & Rivers in the Lumber River Basin are tributaries of the Pee Dee River, and most flow into South Carolina. Much of the main-stem of the Lumber River has been designated a state Natural & Scenic River and also a National Wild & Scenic River.

All or parts of nine counties lie within the Lumber River Basin. These counties include Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, and Richmond.

Posted in Middle School Science | Print | No Comments »

Podcasting to Teach Science in the Summer

May 28, 2007 by jmmblake.

During the coming summer break, I would like to take time to create some podcasts about various concepts. 8th Grade science will be tested next year, so this will be a good starting point for podcast topics.

North Carolina Standard Course of Study

Science — Grade 8

All questions and comments about this curriculum should be directed to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Goal 1
The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.

Objective 1.01
Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.

Objective 1.02
Develop appropriate experimental procedures for:
Given questions.
Student generated questions.

Objective 1.03
Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and in field studies:

Recognize potential hazards.
Safely manipulate materials and equipment.
Conduct appropriate procedures.

Objective 1.04
Analyze variables in scientific investigations:

Identify dependent and independent.
Use of a control.
Manipulate.
Describe relationships between.
Define operationally.

Objective 1.05
Analyze evidence to:

explain observations.
make inferences and predictions.
develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.

Objective 1.06
Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:

Measurement.
Analysis of data.
Graphing.
Prediction models.

Objective 1.07
Prepare models and/or computer simulations to:

Test hypotheses.
Evaluate how data fit.

Objective 1.08
Use oral and written language to:

Communicate findings.
Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
Describe strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, and/or data.

Objective 1.09
Use technologies and information systems to:

Research.
Gather and analyze data.
Visualize data.
Disseminate findings to others.

Objective 1.10
Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:

Scientific text.
Articles.
Events in the popular press.

Goal 2
The learner will demonstrate an understanding of technological design.

Objective 2.01
Explore evidence that “technology” has many definitions.

Artifact or hardware.
Methodology or technique.
System of production.
Social-technical system.

Objective 2.02
Use information systems to:

Identify scientific needs, human needs, or problems that are subject to technological solution.
Locate resources to obtain and test ideas.

Objective 2.03
Evaluate technological designs for:

Application of scientific principles.
Risks and benefits.
Constraints of design.
Consistent testing protocols.

Objective 2.04
Apply tenets of technological design to make informed consumer decisions about:

Products.
Processes.
Systems.

Goal 3
The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the hydrosphere.

Objective 3.01
Analyze the unique properties of water including:

Universal solvent.
Cohesion and adhesion.
Polarity.
Density and buoyancy.
Specific heat.

Objective 3.02
Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including:

Water distribution on earth.
Local river basin.
Local water availability.

Objective 3.03
Evaluate evidence that Earth’s oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:

Estuaries.
Marine ecosystems.
Upwelling.
Behavior of gases in the marine environment.
Value and sustainability of marine resources.
Deep ocean technology and understandings gained.

Objective 3.04
Describe how terrestrial and aquatic food webs are interconnected.

Objective 3.05
Analyze hydrospheric data over time to predict the health of a water system including:

Temperature.
Dissolved oxygen.
pH.
Nitrates.
Turbidity.
Bio-indicators.

Objective 3.06
Evaluate technologies and information systems used to monitor the hydrosphere.

Objective 3.07
Describe how humans affect the quality of water:

Point and non-point sources of water pollution in North Carolina.
Possible effects of excess nutrients in North Carolina waters.
Economic trade-offs.
Local water issues.

Objective 3.08
Recognize that the good health of environments and organisms requires:

Monitoring of the hydrosphere.
Water quality standards.
Methods of water treatment.
Maintaining safe water quality.
Stewardship.

Goal 4
The learner will conduct investigations and utilize technology and information systems to build an understanding of chemistry.

Objective 4.01
Understand that both naturally occurring and synthetic substances are chemicals.

Objective 4.02
Evaluate evidence that elements combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds that account for all living and nonliving substances.

Objective 4.03
Explain how the periodic table is a model for:

Classifying elements.
Identifying the properties of elements.

Objective 4.04
Describe the suitability of materials for use in technological design:

Electrical Conductivity.
Density.
Magnetism.
Solubility.
Malleability.

Objective 4.05
Identify substances based on characteristic physical properties:

Density.
Boiling/Melting points.
Solubility.
Chemical reactivity.
Specific heat.

Objective 4.06
Describe and measure quantities related to chemical/physical changes within a system:

Temperature.
Volume.
Mass.
Precipitate.
Gas production.

Objective 4.07
Identify evidence supporting the law of conservation of matter.

During an ordinary chemical reaction matter cannot be created or destroyed.
In a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.

Objective 4.08
Identify evidence that some chemicals may contribute to human health conditions including:

Cancer.
Autoimmune disease.
Birth defects.
Heart disease.
Diabetes.
Learning and behavioral disorders.
Kidney disease.
Asthma.

Objective 4.09
Describe factors that determine the effects a chemical has on a living organism including:

Exposure.
Potency.
Dose and the resultant concentration of chemical in the organism.
Individual susceptibility.
Possible means to eliminate or reduce effects.

Objective 4.10
Describe risks and benefits of chemicals including:

Medicines.
Food preservatives.
Crop yield.
Sanitation.

Goal 5
The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of evidence of evolution in organisms and landforms.

Objective 5.01
Interpret ways in which rocks, fossils, and ice cores record Earth’s geologic history and the evolution of life including:

Geologic Time Scale.
Index Fossils.
Law of Superposition.
Unconformity.
Evidence for climate change.
Extinction of species.
Catastrophic events.

Objective 5.02
Correlate evolutionary theories and processes:

Biological.
Geological.
Technological.

Objective 5.03
Examine evidence that the geologic evolution has had significant global impact including:

Distribution of living things.
Major geological events.
Mechanical and chemical weathering.

Objective 5.04
Analyze satellite imagery as a method to monitor Earth from space:

Spectral analysis.
Reflectance curves.

Objective 5.05
Use maps, ground truthing and remote sensing to make predictions regarding:

Changes over time.
Land use.
Urban sprawl.
Resource management.

Goal 6
The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of cell theory.

Objective 6.01
Describe cell theory:

All living things are composed of cells.
Cells provide structure and carry on major functions to sustain life.
Some organisms are single cell; other organisms, including humans, are multi-cellular.
Cell function is similar in all living things.

Objective 6.02
Analyze structures, functions, and processes within animal cells for:

Capture and release of energy.
Feedback information.
Dispose of wastes.
Reproduction.
Movement.
Specialized needs.

Objective 6.03
Compare life functions of protists:

Euglena.
Amoeba.
Paramecium.
Volvox.

Objective 6.04
Conclude that animal cells carry on complex chemical processes to balance the needs of the organism.

Cells grow and divide to produce more cells.
Cells take in nutrients to make the energy for the work cells do.
Cells take in materials that a cell or an organism needs.

Goal 7
The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of microbiology.

Objective 7.01
Compare and contrast microbes:

Size, shape, structure.
Whether they are living cells.

Objective 7.02
Describe diseases caused by microscopic biological hazards including:

Viruses.
Bacteria.
Parasites.
Contagions.
Mutagens.

Objective 7.03
Analyze data to determine trends or patterns to determine how an infectious disease may spread including:

Carriers.
Vectors.
Conditions conducive to disease.
Calculate reproductive potential of bacteria.

Objective 7.04
Evaluate the human attempt to reduce the risk of and treatments for microbial infections including:

Solutions with anti-microbial properties.
Antibiotic treatment.
Research.

Objective 7.05
Investigate aspects of biotechnology including:

Specific genetic information available.
Careers.
Economic benefits to North Carolina.
Ethical issues.
Impact for agriculture.

Posted in Podcast, Middle School Science | Print | No Comments »

May 5, 2007 by jmmblake.

Posted in Editorial | Print | No Comments »

North Carolina Strawberry Festival, Chadbourn, NC

May 5, 2007 by jmmblake.

My daughters are home for this year’s festival.  It is hard to believe it is time already for the parade.  The weather this year is much cooler than average.  Last year, it was too hot.  I just read the weather forecast I subscribe to from WECT-TV.

It has been a few years since we have had rain on the parade, but unless George Elliott is way off, we will be fine for the parade.  Just carry your wind-breaker, baseball cap, and an umbrella.

I will post photos later today.
<blockquote>Greetings from George Elliott at WECT-TV! Here’s my outlook…

We need the rain, and although it looks like a weekend event, we’ll have to take what we get. Showers will increase across the area today and especially tonight, and most likely linger into the first part of Sunday. Some spots could see an easy half inch, with isolated higher amounts if an isolated t’shower passes overhead.

A complex storm system to the west will transfer energy along the Carolina coast tonight through Sunday, and this will develop a potent offshore low pressure area. In the process, showery weather will spread across the area, and winds will pick up Sunday into Monday as the storm system offshore intensifies and high pressure from the Northeast builds down the eastern seaboard.

Precipitation should end as the storm system moves (but stalls) east of us by late Sunday into early next week. Eventually, the storm center to our east will weaken and will move farther out to sea.

Mostly cloudy with patchy showers developing today; high lower 70’s. Northerly wind becoming easterly 4-16 mph.

Cloudy with showers likely tonight; low around 60. Easterly wind 4-16 mph.

</blockquote>

Powered by ScribeFire.

Posted in Editorial | Print | No Comments »