|
School Year 2007-2008
______________________________________________
>> Colorado Science from the Department of Education: http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoscience/index.htm
>> Good news in (science) education: http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=54174
Yes, Virginia, there really are success stories in American education.
Earth Science
For the next two weeks, we'll be covering weather and climate and the final week will be astronomy. I encourage all students to download my powerpoints from my computer using a memory stick or thumb drive.
   
This is THE on-line resource for use with the textbook:
http://www.agiweb.org/earthcomm/index2.html?State=CO
Visit the site often, as it is loaded with many valuable resources and extensions.
For a free mind map software program click here: http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/ 
Announcements/Reminders
>>Week of 04/28/08: Weather basics
Black day classes: Weather basics
White day classes: Weather basics
Man pays nearly a grand for prehistoric poop
I told you! Here's the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24410108/
Tips for the successful Earth Science student------------
>Staple multiple pages of work before you turn it in--I have seen too many pages get lost or out of order with the result of the student losing points.
>Make sure you have read AND understand ALL directions before you begin a lab or reading.
>If you do not really know how to spell a word, do not turn in your work. I am considering taking off points for poor grammar and spelling. There are at least two dictionaries in my room. There is no excuse for turning in work where earth science words are mispelled--especially when those words are in your textbook.
>Turn off and put away all electronic devices--this should be a no-brainer but sadly, no!
>Check my webpage often for more tips.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Astronomy
Here is the sky map for December, 2007: decmap
For a free mind map software program click here: http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/
Announcements/Reminders
__________________________________________________________________
> Week of April 27, 2008: The exam is Wednesday, here is your review:
1. Taking a Star’s Temperature and Other Vitals from Afar<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
a. The Spectroscopic Rosetta Stone<o:p></o:p>
b. Reading Stellar Spectra<o:p></o:p>
Lab: Spectroscope<o:p></o:p>
A. Starbirth<o:p></o:p>
1. Overall, it is a 10 step program:<o:p></o:p>
2. a. Clouds of gas form within galaxies. <o:p></o:p>
3. Formation of structure within the gas clouds, due to "turbulence" and activity of new stars. <o:p></o:p>
4. Random turbulent processes lead to regions dense enough to collapse under their own weight, in spite of a hostile environment. <o:p></o:p>
5. As blob collapses, a disk forms, with growing "protostar" at the center. <o:p></o:p>
6. At the same time, bipolar outflows from forming star/disk system begin. <o:p></o:p>
7. Material is processed, moving in from the blob to the disk. What is not lost in the outflow builds up on the protostar. <o:p></o:p>
8. When the protostar begins to undergo fusion, it becomes a real star. <o:p></o:p>
9. Once the outflow ceases and the "accretion" phase that lead to the buildup of the star ends, a disk of "leftover" material is left around the star. <o:p></o:p>
10. At or near the end of the star-formation process, the remaining material in the "circumstellar disk" (a.k.a. "protoplanetary disk") forms a variety of planets. <o:p></o:p>
11. Eventually, all that is left behind is a new star, perhaps some planets, and a disk of left-over ground-up solids, visible as a "Debris Disk" around stars other than the Sun, and known as the "Zodaical Dust Disk" around the Sun. <o:p></o:p>
B. The Lives of Stars<o:p></o:p>
1. Inside a Star: Our Sun<o:p></o:p>
Labxx: Telescopic Solar Observation<o:p></o:p>
2. The H-R Diagram and here is a good link: http://www.bramboroson.com/astro/apr3.html<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
3. Of Mass and Fate<o:p></o:p>
C. Stellar Death<o:p></o:p>
1. Stellar Corpses<o:p></o:p>
a. Neutron Stars/Pulsars<o:p></o:p>
b. Black Holes<o:p></o:p>
AstroNews
  
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Environmental
Science
Course Description: AP Environmental Science is the study of the relationship between abiotic, or nonliving components and the biotic, or living components on the sustainability of ecosystems. The combination of abiotic and biotic components determine the flow of energy between and within ecosystems. Sustainable ecosystems are able to perpetuate themselves not only now but also in the future. Of great interest is the human impact on abiotic sources, particularly nutrient availability, such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur of ecosystems. Other major components of sustainability of ecosystems are direct and indirect alteration of ecosystems such as sprawl engulfing land which comprised an ecosystem or alteration of water flow when water availability is usually the forcing function of ecosystems.
In the news...
Map shows how oceans suffer in graphic detail
41 percent of seas heavily affected by human activity, researchers report:
Assignments: For Monday 04/14, Read
Chapter 12 in Miller Text. Exam next Thursday,
4/17.
__________________________________________________________________
Educational Resources
http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap4.htm
  
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mr Miller is a member of the MSCD Symphony Orchestra. He and his viola can next be heard on Sunday, March 9, at 730 pm. Grieg Piano Concerto and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony!
Metro State Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Alejandro Rivas (father of DSA student Ilyich Rivas)
King Center Concert Hall
|
