Bonus Question: Test 12-12-12!!!

Earthsky.com

If mom or dad say its ok.....go outside Thursday night before you go to bed and see if you can see any meteors!   I am hoping to see lots of falling stars aka meteors! I have a lot of wishes I need to make!!
Bonus Question:  What invisible force field protects us from meteors, comets, and other dangerous space objects?  Leave me a comment and only use your initials and color group.  :)

Did You See the Bright Light in the Sky Friday???

Channel 13 News - Houston, Texas

CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT!      http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8911834
What do you think it was?  Leave me a comment.  Use only your initials and color group. 

What do you call a landform created by the wind but instead of sediments this landform is made out of trash!

 - A pile of garbage!!

Discovery News

  According to Discovery News - Biologist Erin Zylstra mapped and added up all the wind-dispersed plastic trash bags and latex balloons in two protected parts of the Saguaro National Park in Arizona. She was surprised to discover that these particular kinds of very mobile trash outnumbered desert tortoises and western diamondback rattlesnakes. Like in the oceans, the bags and balloons pose potential threats to wildlife.

 There is more trash bags and latex balloons in the desert than turtles and rattlesnakes!  What?!!!!
It sounds like one day we will see new features on Earth surface made out of trash - YUCK!!  
Question?  What is plastic made of?  What can we do to stop it?  What would you name the trash landform?
Leave me a comment and use only your initials.  Use scientific words because you are a scientist!

What are the Northern Lights?

Check out this video of the Northern Lights...also called Aurora Borealis!

What causes the Northern Lights?  Leave me a comment.  Remeber to publish anonymously and leave only you initials and color group!  :)

 

Bonus Question 10-5-12 Electricity Test

Some animals can produce electricity!  The Electric eel can produce enough electricity to light up a Christmas tree!  How cool is that!!  Click on the video below to see the eel in action!

I want one to light up my Christmas tree this year!

The bonus question is...what type of energy is the eel?  Complete this statement.  The electric eel is ________ energy that can be turned into electrical energy.  Leave your answer in the comment section below.  Do not use your name, only your initials and color group.  If you need help, look in your electricity notes.  A correct answer is worth 10 points on the electricity test!

Trivia Question for 9-28-12

Saturday,September 22, 2012 was a very special day called the Autumnal Equinox.  

So, what is an Autumnal Equinox?  Type "Autumnal Equinox" into the goggle search box and find out!.  A correct answer will be worth 10 points on the Physical Properties Test!  You can leave your answer in the comment section, only write your initials and color group.  Remember to publish anonymous.  If you have problems leaving a comment just write your answer on paper and turn in during class.  Good Luck!

Trivia question for 9-20-12

National Geographic Kids

What do you think the dog is thinking?  Leave me a comment.  Remember to use only your initials and color group and publish anonymous.  If it does not work for you, write you answer on paper and turn in.   Go here to check out other photo fill in pictures!  Have fun!
 CLICK HERE  http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/photofillins/

Bonus question for 9-14-12

Did you know that scientist have discovered a 4th state of matter.  You probably already know the 3 states; solid, liquid, and gas but do you know the 4th state of matter? Here are some pictures of the 4th state of matter.

Neon Sign

Energy Ball

Nebula is space

Lightening

Bonus Questions:  What is the 4th state of matter?  Leave your answer in the comment section below.  Click on comments, type your answer and use only you initials and color group.  For profile choose anonymous and click publish.  If you have a hard time getting published because it wants you to prove you are not a robot, just copy and paste your response in an email to me at szwahr@brenhamisd.net.  Good luck!

Scientists can do anything! Right?

I would love to say yes but, scientist have not been able to reach absolute zero yet.

Trivia question for this week.  What is absolute zero? If you want to answer the trivia question click on comments and type in your answer. REMEMBER: do not use your name and leave me your initials and color group.  Good luck!
(For profile - choose anonymous)

Bonus Question for 9-7-12 Quiz

The temperature of boiling water using the Fahrenheit scale is 212 degrees.  What is the temperature of boiling water using the Celsius Scale?
Click on the comment tab is you want to answer the question.  Remember - DO NOT USE YOUR NAME - only leave your initials and your color group!  10 points will be rewarded to those students who answer the question correctly.  Good Luck :)

Do you remeber watching Sesame Street?

Check out this video of Cookie Monster!!  When I was little I watched Sesame Street every morning!  Did you have a favorite character on Sesame Street.  I did!  Can you guess my favorite character?  I will give you a clue.... my favorite character did not talk but, made a sound.    If you figure it out, leave the answer in the comment section and type only your initials and color group if you know it.  If you are a 6th grader, tell me you were one of my students from last year and leave you initials.  If you are a smartie and get it correct, you will be rewarded in class.  :)

WELCOME TO THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR!! IT IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!

WOW!!  What an awesome summer!  
In the comment section below, tell me what awesome things you did this summer!  Do not write your name.  Write only your initials!!
(The letters your first and last name start with)

Have you checked out the eaglets lately?

They are getting ready to leave the nest!  It's so exciting!

Click here    http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

Have you ever wondered what happens to you plastic water bottle when you throw it away?

Watch this video about the Great Garbage Patch in the ocean WE created.

Question: What can you do to stop the Great Garbage Patch from growing even bigger?  Only leave your color group and initials.

GO OUTSIDE!! CHECK OUT THESE CONSTELLATIONS!

Now that the weather is warmer at night see if you can find the constellations pictured below. 

Office of Navel Research

If you want to learn more about each constellation check out their website and THEN click on the constellation.  http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/spacesciences/observingsky/constellations6.htm
QUESTION:  Why do we see different constellations in the spring, summer, fall, and winter?  Remember to respond scientifically, because YOU ARE AN AWESOME SCIENTIST!  Leave only your color group and initials!

It's raining fish? WHAT?

listserve.com

Yes, this is a real picture of fish falling from the sky.  It's raining fish!  Fish, frogs, and even tomatoes have fallen from the sky like rain.  Why?
Scientist think it occurs when a strong thunderstorm moves over water and whirlwinds and mini tornadoes form.  The whirlwinds and mini tornadoes can pick up small, light weight organisms and carry them miles away.  When the whirlwinds and mini tornadoes hit land, the wind speeds slow down and the fish, frogs, or tomatoes fall to the ground like rain.
Although this may seem very strange to us, it is not new.  Scientist have found journals that talk about this strange weather phenomena from the first century AD!
Question: Pretend like you are a weather person and tell me what kind of weather the people in the picture above are experiencing.   Include: temperature, chance of rain, clear or cloudy and wind speed.  Leave me a comment and only use your color group and initials.

Check out this new species of snake!

ouramazingplanet.com

Matilida's Horned Viper was discovered in southern Tanzania during a biological survey.  It measures around 60 centimeters and has horn-like scales above its eyes.  The vipers habitat is only a few square miles of a remote forest in Tanzania.  Scientist are not saying its exact location for fear of the snakes safety.
Question:  Why would scientist not want to tell the world exactly where the snakes habitat is? What do you think would happen to the snake population if people knew where it lived?
Leave me a comment and use only your color group and initials.

What glows at night? A mushroom?!

Check out this mushroom that glows in the dark!  I have never seem a glowing mushroom...have you?  Imaging walking through the forest and seeing thousands of glowing mushrooms!  WAY COOL!

by Jennifer Viegas (Discovery News)

It is called the Bitter Oyster mushroom and can be found in Eastern North America.  How does it glow in the dark?  Scientists are not sure yet.  They do know that oxygen has something to do with it.
QUESTION: This question has two parts.  Part 1.  What is the feeding type of this mushroom? herbivore? carnivore? omnivore? producer? decomposer?
 ( This mushroom is a _________ because it _____.)
Part 2 Why do you think the mushroom glows? (Hint: What does a plant need an animal for?  Animals are attracted to the light. ) Leave me a comment.  Use scientific words because YOU ARE A SCIENTIST!! Use only your color group and initials!




A few animals also glow.  Remember this scorpion we talked about in class?

by Jennifer Viegas (Discovery News)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus Question for 3-23 Test: Did Woolly Mammoths ever live in Brenham?

Wikipedia

A few weeks ago when it rained several inches a person my husband works with found a Woolly Mammoth tooth in a creek by his house.  Woolly Mammoths lived during the last ice age and no longer exist - they are extinct.  They are similar to the Indian Elephant but larger and have several adaptations for cold weather.  They had thick shaggy hair to keep them warm and A LOT smaller ears than the Elephant to reduced heat loss.
 This is not a picture of the tooth found in Brenham, but is very similar.   Notice how large this tooth is!  It is a flat molar used for grinding food.

Bonus question: You can look at the teeth of an animal and know what type of food they eat.  What feeding type is a Woolly Mammoth?  A  Carnivore, Herbivore, Omnivore?  Leave me a comment, use only your color group and initials.

What happened to this insect?

This insect spent the night clinging to a few blades of grass.  During the night dew formed on everything, including this insect.  Question:  How did the dew form on this insect. YOU are a scientist so use your scientific vocabulary to explain how it happens. Hint: dew is formed by condensation.

 

What is special about March 20th?

Its a Spring Equinox of course!!  (the first day of spring)
Equinox means equal and a spring equinox means that the hours of day time and hours of night time are close to equal. (not exactly equal but close)
We should enjoy around 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness on March 20th.

Zoomschool.com

Check out this diagram of the seasons.  Question:  Why does the Earth have seasons?  
Why does the Earth have DAY and NIGHT?  Use your scientific vocabulary to answer the questions!  Leave me a comment, use only you color group and initials. 

SPRING BREAK !!

MSN.COM

YEA!! ITS SPRING BREAK!!
Question:  What are your plans for Spring Break? Leave me a comment using only your color group and initials.  HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE!!

Have you ever seen a roll cloud?

Check out this roll cloud!

Discovery Science

Live Science

 Question:  Explain how clouds form using YOUR scientific vocabulary.  You can do it!  Explain it like a Meteorologist!  How do roll clouds form?  Leave me a comment and only use your color group and initials. 

Have you ever seen a Dolphin Stampede?

Check out this video!

 Bonus Question for 3-9-12 Quiz

Why do you think the dolphins are swimming together in such a large group?  Why do you think the dolphins are surfacing in such large numbers?  Tell me your hypothesis.  Leave me a comment and include only your color group and initials.  I can wait to read your hypothesis!  Scientist do not even know why dolphins stampede!  Maybe you will grow up to be an awesome scientist and answer this question!

DO THINK EVERY ANIMAL HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND?

Scientists recently found this LITTLE chameleon on the island of Madagascar.  Madagascar is an island off the southeastern coast of Africa.    Madagascar has a lot of biodiversity (which means it has a lot of DIFFERENT KINDS of animals and plants in one place).  These lizards spend their days in the leaf litter on the forest floor and at night they climb up small branches a few inches off the ground to sleep.  Scientist had never seen this tiny chameleon before and also found 3 other tiny chameleons.  This proves there are more animals out there to discover! He or she is so cute!

Super Science Magazine

Question:  Why do you think the tiny chameleon was not found until recently?  How did it hide from humans for so long?  Tell me your hypothesis!  Leave me a comment, your color group, and initials.

Myth Busters VS Everyday Forces.....who will win?

Question:  What are the forces that keep these two phone books stuck together?  Leave me a comment.  Write only your initials and color group.

What forces make your fingers get trapped?  Do the Chinese finger traps work like the phone books?
Leave me a comment.

What do Scrat , The Ice Age Squirrel and an Old Flower Have in Common? Bonus questions: Quiz 2/24

Remember the squirrel Scrat from Ice Age?  He was always chasing that acorn!  Did he finally bury it?  About 30,000 years ago another squirrel did just that,  he or she buried a bunch of nuts and fruit for the winter.  A  team of Russian scientist found the squirrels burrow filled with nuts and fruit and by using the fruit tissues they were able to grow the plant pictured below.  WOW a 30,000 year old plant lives again!!

QUESTION:  What plant would you want to save for 30,000 years or what plant would you like to see from 30,000 years ago?  Leave me a comment. Include your color group and initials.

Can electricity be produced from walking?

Check out this picture of kinetic energy being turned into electricity! The green tile below lights up when someone steps on it producing electricity.  The street tiles harvest the KINETIC energy of your footstep and turn it into ELECTRICITY! How cool is that!

Discovery News

The street tiles store energy in a battery or can be used to light street lights, crossing lights, speakers, signs and advertising.
QUESTION: Where would be the best place to install the energy tiles in our school?  In the front of the school, in the cafeteria, gym, in the classrooms, hallways? WHY do you think that?  Let me know your hypothesis!  Leave your color group and initials.

Did you know an ELECTRIC eel can produce enough electricity to light a Christmas tree?

Watch this video!
BONUS QUESTION for Electricity quiz 2/9/11: WHAT WOULD YOU TURN THE EELS' ELECTRICITY INTO?  I think we should wrap the school in colorful lights and have eels provide the energy!  Leave me a comment.  REMEMBER to leave only your color group and initials.

DID YOU SEE THE METEOR?

KWHI

According to KWHI residents of Washington County saw a meteor streak across the sky Wednesday night, February 1, 2012.  DID YOU SEE THE METEOR?  Leave me a comment and use only your color group and initials.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow!

Discoverynews.com

February 2 was ground hog day and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow.  If the groundhog sees his shadow, 6 more weeks of winter is predicted.  If he does not see his shadow then spring is around the corner.  So it looks like we will have 6 more weeks of winter.  Winter started in December, but it has not been very cold.  January and February are the coldest months of the year but this January felt a lot like spring. 

QUESTION:  Insects lay their eggs in the top few inches of the soil.  If the weather gets cold enough the first few inches of soil will freeze, killing several of the insects eggs.  Why do you think it is important that some of the insects die?  (Hint:  think about how the insects effect crops.  Grasshopper adults and eggs can die if the temperature drops below freezing.  Fleas will die when it freezes if they are not sheltered on a warm mammal. Do insects eat our crops?  Do insects live on our animals? )
Leave me a comment.  Do not write your name.  Tell me you color group and initials.

Check out this video of Mars surface!

Scientist have not found any liquid water on Mars...so what do you think the blue landforms are?  Leave me a comment - type your color group and only your initials.

Sea Turtles and Light Pollution

One of our AWESOME SCIENTIST in the YELLOW GROUP found an article about SEA TURTLES and light pollution.  According to National Geographic the bright lights from street lights, parking lots, and buildings can disorientate the female sea turtles and they will not lay their eggs.  If the female sea turtles  lays eggs and they hatch, the baby turtles have a hard time finding the ocean because of all the artificial light.  Light pollution is decreasing the sea turtle population!  We must save the turtles!  The Sea Turtle Protection Agency has a plan!  According to the article " A program to darken the coastline of Sarasota County in central Florida, an area with the highest turtle nest density on the Gulf of Mexico, has substantially brightened the prospects for the sea turtle population -- without sacrificing the safety or security of human residents." (National Geographic)  So now at night, they turn off the lights near the beaches!
Question: Could we design an experiment to see if it is helping?  What would we measure?  How could we measure it?  What is your hypothesis? Leave me a comment and remember to only use your initials and color group.

 

 

Dailygreen

Click on the link below to watch a video and learn more about sea turtles at National Geographic
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/leatherback-sea-turtle/

Check out the sky tonight! 1/30/12

YOU CAN SEE JUPITER TONIGHT!
According to Earthsky.org we can view the planet Jupiter TONIGHT.    Step 1: find the moon.  Step 2: look below the moon.  You will find a bright looking star... its really Jupiter!  You can also see Venus if you look near the horizon.  Why can we see the the planets?  Think about how the Earth moves.  Leave me a comment and remember to only type your color group and initials. 

Check out this picture of the Earth at night! - Bonus question for Test 2/1/12

Have you ever heard of light pollution?  Light pollution occurs when people produce a lot of artificial light.  Artificial light is produced when someone turns on a light in their home, street lights at night, and store lights.  Light pollution effects all of us!  Some people may have a hard time falling asleep in a city with many artificial light sources.  Have you every tried to look at the stars in a city with a lot of lights?  It is hard to see them.  I live out in the country and I can see the lights in town.   Some nights the lights from town are so bright I can only see a few stars.  I want to see all of them!

The picture above was taken from space.  It shows how much artificial light we produce during the night. Can you find the big cities?
BONUS QUESTION:    Nocturnal animals are active at night. They hunt and gather food using senses that are adapted to night time.  How do you think light pollution affects nocturnal animals?

Bonus Question 1/27/12 What does a bee see in a flower?

Check out this flower.  We see the flower as yellow because we only see visible light.  Mr. BEE sees the same flower as white with a red center because MR. BEE sees ULTRAVIOLET light.  Seeing ultraviolet light is an adaptation that helps MR. BEE and other insects survive.  How does this adaptation (seeing ultraviolet light) help MR. BEE survive?  Let me know your hypothesis.  Leave me a comment (do not write your name - write your color group and initials only.)  OR  write it on paper and turn in. 

What is black and white and lives in Antarctica? Penguins!

Check out this penguin!

 This blond, albino-like penguin was spotted at the edge of the South Shetland Islands by tourists and naturalist David Stephens.
Why do you think penguins are black and white?  Do you think this blonde one will survive?  Send me a comment and tell me what you think.  (Only use your color group and initials)  Go to lhttp://news.discovery.com/animals/blond-albino-penguin-120113.html to find out more.

BONUS QUESTION FOR 1/13/12

Energy

In class we are learning about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas but, scientist have discovered a 4th state of matter called PLASMA.  Below are pictures of plasma.  Pick the object you think is the most awesome!  You can send me a comment telling me the one you think is the most awesome or you can write it on a small piece of paper and turn in on Friday for 5 extra points on your quiz!

Lightening

Fluorescent lights

The Universe

DID YOU SEE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION GO ACROSS THE SKY??

Did you wave at the astronauts on the International Space Station?  I DID!!
Their mission started in November 2011 and they will return to Earth in late March 2012.

The astronauts are conducting several experiments...Earth and Life Science Experiments!!  Can plants grow in microgravity (very little gravity)?  How as the Earth changed in 2011?  Can spiders build webs in microgravity?
Question::::  HOW CAN  ASTRONAUTS LIVE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WITHOUT FRESH WATER??  WHAT IS YOUR HYPOTHESIS?  LET ME KNOW YOUR ANSWER IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW!
Just think, maybe one day I will wave at you as you pass by on the International Space Station!
 
 

DID YOU SEE THE METEOR SHOWER!!

According to Houston 2 News, you can view an awesome meteor shower tonight!!  Look in the Northeastern sky around 1:30 AM.  You may be able to see 60 meteors an hour!!
The meteor shower occurs every January but, most years we can not see it.  WHY CAN WE SEE THE METEOR SHOWER THIS YEAR?  Let me know your HYPOTHESIS in the comment section.  Everyone who leaves a comment will receive a raffle ticket :-)
(Click on the link below for more details.)
http://www.click2houston.com/news/Houstonians-get-chance-to-see-meteor-shower/-/1735978/7634156/-/q4k4bdz/-/index.html

TO THE MOON!!!

Did you hear the awesome news about the moon?  NASA sent two probes that are now in position just above the moon.  The probes are mapping the moon surface and gravity.  Why is the moon's gravity only 1/6th of Earth's?  Scientist are looking for the answer!  What is your hypothesis?

                                     (Photo credit: CBC.ca. com)
The probes will start sending back data in early March.  Will they find alien footprints?  If an alien left a footprint on the moon would it still be there?  Think about what you learned in class about erosion and weathering on the moon.  Hint:  remember the moon does not have an atmosphere! (Send me a comment about what YOU think the probes will find)