Valentina's Reflection Post

I think that I have improved as a blogger because now, I know how to add videos and photos, and how to add hyperlinks. Writing blogs is easier now, because the writing comes more fluently. The blog has also helped me as a writer, because I make less spelling and grammar mistakes. I feel I have also improved because I am more responsible, meaning that I remember that I have to make a post or a comment, and I keep track of when I should do it, when it's due, and to who I have to do it, or about what.
I feel blogs contribute to the class leaning, because you can go on the blog whenever you want, study, take notes, and remember what we have done in class if it was hard to understand or if you were sick. It also helps if you need to study, because it contains all the information one might need and it helps them go through the main highlights of the day, with extra information (if needed).
The blog could be used for many different things, to groups of people that have the same idea, as well as for discussions on different items. As a school project, the blog is used well and efficiently the way it is, but another way one may use it is by posting something they made, to then know (by other people's comments) what he or she should improve and what he or she did wrong. Also, it could be used to go over the important facts of the school day, or the questions that could have risen throughout the day, about something the teacher had said. One last way it could be used as a school project could be if it is used to study tests or quizzes together and to do homework or discuss it, in case of any questions or misunderstandings.
Blogging helped my overall writing because if I did a grammatical or spelling error, someone else would notify me immediately, and I wouldn't do it the time after that. Also, I learned how to express my ideas and write information, and a better way of writing blogs. I also learned how to make writing more interesting and how to catch the reader's attention.

Blogging helped me write comments to others about their writing because I learned how to see and understand other people's errors so that I could tell them. Also, I learned how to explain to them how they could improve it, as well as what they should keep the same. I learned how to balance the compliments and critics so that I wasn't overdoing in and category, as well as I learned how to write all their errors, in a non-offensive and embarrassing way as much as possible.

I think that the most important thing I learned from blogging is that to be able to write an interesting blog, you have to have a mix of many different things, from a good and legible font, to an interesting title and a variety of colors, and even important details or nice pictures. And that even if you have the best writing ever, if you don't also include the other things and some cool links, it will be a lot harder to focus, and way more boring to all the people reading it.

Valentina's Reflection Post

Hi to everybody,

This quarter my blog post was better than last year, but I still had ways I could have improved.

Here are the things that I should have improved in this blog post and who wrote them;

• I should have added more pictures at the end of the post (Viktor),
• Add a date of the Science class in my title (Viktor),
• My grammar (especially in the Japan section) was a bit off (Ms.D and Sophie),
• My hyperlinks were a bit too old or complicated to understand (Ms.D),
• I had trouble with explaining the nuclear reactor problem (Ms.D),
• My fuel rods explanation was not completely correct (MS.D),
• I mistook nuclear reactors for atomic ones (Sophie and Tamara),
• I should have explained what the different simple machines were (Sophie and Courtney),
• I should have organized the information I gave in a better way, for example by using bullets (Sophie),
• I should have made the hyperlinks stand out more so they were clearer (Courtney),
• I should have split up the paragraphs (Gio),
• I had some grammar and spelling mistakes (Gio),
• I could have highlighted key words (Gio),
• I could have concentrated more on the simple machines we were working on rather than the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan (Gio),
• My pictures were badly organized (Davide),
• The captions weren't clear (Davide),
• I could have added more excitement in the second part (Davide),
• Should have added a video to explain the problem in Japan (Davide),
• I made a mistake with the one of the groups and omitted Davide (Davide).

I was also told that I improved from last year in some different ways as well as I did some good things in my blog post, which are the following, with who wrote the comments;

• My diagrams were good (Viktor),
• My spelling and punctuation were okay (Ms.D),
• My labels look good (Ms.D),
• My hyperlinks were very good (Ms.D, Viktor, Gio, Davide, and Sophie),
• People also like that I had a picture for each one of the Simple Machines (Ms.D, Davide, Gio, Sophie, Viktor and Courtney),
• I covered the fuel rods and how they were used (Ms.D),
• I followed all the requirements on the rubric (Ms.D),
• My post was clear and easy to read (Sophie),
• I talked about everything we did in class (Courtney),
• The readers liked that I included the explosion in Japan (Tamara),
• I also gave a very accurate description of the class (Gio),
• I went pretty far with the science (Gio),
• I covered what we did in class (Gio),
• It was good that I at least gave a general background of who was working with who for the simple machines presentation (Davide),
• People also liked that I included the temperature at which the nuclear bars had to be put/ used.(Davide).

That was mostly it with the different comments and things that I did well or should have improved!
I like the idea of blogging because it keeps people up to date with what is happening, and if they had some problems, missed class or did not understand something that had happened they can always go to the blog and read a simpler explanation that contains the main events of that science class. I also like that we had to write less posts because one didn't feel as blocked and I thought it let people put more effort in the ones they did because there were less to have to do. Although I did not find it fair that some people were judged on the color that their blog was when it was actually the blogger program itself that didn't post the colors as the author had wanted to have them! Also the grammar check highlighted three quarters of the words even when they were really right! One last thing I didn't like was that, on my computer for example, the virus blocker wouldn't let me post the comment many times, and would (as Courtney said) erase everything because apparently the site contained a high risk of viruses.

Overall thought it is a good method to share ideas, learn more and discuss the events that happened in that particular science class!

Simple Machines and Japan!

Hello to everybody!

I am going to talk about Friday's and Tuesday's Science classes! On Tuesday our main topic was based on Simple Machines, we were each working in partners to do a presentation on one of the following simple machines;

• Pulley-
• Wheel and Axel-
• Lever-
• Inclined Plane-
• Screw-
• Wedge-

So as I was saying before, we each picked one of these simple machines, and the groups were the following, in case you forgot;

• Pulley- Ben and Valentina
• Wheel and Axel- Nathan and Jakub
• Lever- Karin and Ghazaleh
• Plane- Emilija and Chiara
• Screw- Tamara and Courtney
• Wedge- David and Ben

We read the direction sheet, which you can find on moodle here. We then went to the computer lab to find more information on each of our topics. Karin and Gahzaleh have to remember that they have to do 3 levers because they have to be sure to explain each one, as do Ben and Valentina, being there 3 types of Pulleys. We than had to make a visual presentation which could be; Power Point, Poster or Prezi. You can find the link to prezi's login page here. Ms.D also told us to be sure to REMEBER to include in our presentations the mechanical advantage of each simple machine. If some of the groups have not yet been able to find a good resource accept for the book, here are some website links;

• Pulley
• Wheel and Axel
• Lever
• Plane- and some exercises
• Screw
• Wedge
• All the Simple Machines and Work

The class then ended and we went to our next class.

Tuesday's class was a bit different our class was based around to the events that happened in Japan. Ms.D had had a lot of visits coming in throughout the days, and had decided to discuss about it. We spoke about the Atomic power plants that where in the water and the effects of the tsunami and earthquake on them.

We learned that the three water containers that kept one of the atomic power plants steady all broke down and stopped functioning because they were shut down or the power stopped making them work. The scientist found a way to keep on adding water to the atomic plant by using the sea as the water source, because if the temperature there isn't about 250 degrees Celsius they containers of the atomic steam would explode. If all the atomic capsules break, and the container cracks, there would be a consequence as if an atomic bomb had hit Japan. Unfortunately, the water level and temperature are for now not enough to sustain the atomic fuel rods, and one exploded at the start. Ms.D then showed an elaborate diagram of the inside situation, and explained that the second fuel rod had been opened the tiniest bit to let some radiation out, but giving some power also. The third fuel rod was luckily still in place, but it would be trouble if something else happened.

We then went to the computer lab to begin finishing the simple machinse presentations and other tried playing with audacity to see what to do in the real commercial. Audacity is the program that we will use to make our anti- smoking commercials.

When we were finished we all packed up and went to the science room, were a sad surprise was awaiting us. The third fuel rod had exploded, letting out a lot of radiation into the atomic power plant, and the power plant might have had a crack. Ms.D then explained to us that if the power plant had a crack, the radiation might go into the soil underneath and the earth, and all the soil would be contaminated and would cause a lot of deaths due to the water and soil pollution that the humans or animals would then eat, killing them. The atomic power plant might also give out to the water some radiation, which would then evaporate into the sea, were fish and other sea creatures would eat it, as well as on top of all the cities the wind brought the atomic clouds to. Japan is in serious trouble, and the worst is, that unless the fuel rods finish and no more radiation can be given, this fight against the atomic radiation will continue, and Japan does not want to give up Atomic power plants, therefore, this occasion might occur again and again, until they decide that they will stop atomic radiation, and therefore the fuel rods' use will be the last. Unfortunately, the fuel rods are known to last over a hundred years each, and by the time the Japanese will have decided to give up, the fuel rods might need to last a lot longer than the Japanese will.

Here is a website to know more about the earthquake in Japan.

The class was then dismissed and proceeded in continuing the daily activity.

I hope you enjoyed my blog post, and the next scribe is........ Courtney!!!

Balloon Rocket Challenge and Newton's 1st, 2nd & 3rd Laws of Motion

Hello to everyone!

Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th were busy classes for us!

Thursday began with Ms.D checking our homework which was to take notes about Newton's 2nd and 3rd Laws. When she was done checking she put on the board a word document with all the notes that should have been taken, and we all went over them, adding what we didn't have because we will later take a test, and we should know these things. In case you didn't know or weren't there, here are the notes;

Newton's First Law of Motion-

• An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion at a constant velocity (speed + direction) will stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
• It tells us that force is needed for acceleration.
• It is friction that causes moving objects to stop, not the removal of force.
• Examples:
• - When you are in a moving car and it stops suddenly you fall backwards.
• - When you are in a moving car and you go around a sharp turn quickly, you bump into the side of the car.
• Newton's First law of Motion is mostly Inertia.

Ms. D also said to be sure to have the definition of Inertia written down.

Inertia-

• Inertia- The tendency for objects at rest to stay at rest.
• The more mass an object has, the more inertia it has, and the more force required to move it is needed.

Newton's second Law of Motion-

• The main concept is- Mass * Acceleration. (F= ma)
• Explains how force and acceleration are related.
• More force = more acceleration for any given object.
• If you push something harder, it will go faster. ( example- if you push a grocery cart harder, it will move faster.)
• The objects with more mass (or more inertia) require more force applied to move them. (example- a cart with more groceries will require more force).
• The unit used for force is Newton
• - 1N= 1 kg (mass) * 1 m/s/s (acceleration)
• - 1N is how much force is needed to accelerate 1kg at a rate of 1 m/s/s.

Ms.D suggests you write the examples down or remember them. She also wrote that you need to be able to use the formula F=ma to perform calculations and explain everyday situations. She then WARNED that the next challenge is going to need and use MASS.

Newton's Third law of Motion

• For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• In other words forces come in pairs (push-pull)
• All objects exert forces (even if it doesn't seem like it)
• Example;
• - When you are standing on the floor, you exert a force back on you (remember, only balanced forces result in no movement).

When we were done taking notes, Ms. D made us find 4 groups, with every group having 3 people in it, for our lab.

When that was done and Ms.D agreed, these where the groups that came out;

• Jakub, Ghazaleh, and Maria Chiara.
• Davide, Courtney, and Karin.
• Nathan, Ben, and David.
• Tamara, Valentina, and Emilija.

Ms.D then went further into explaining that out lab, or challenge, is that we have to make a Rocket Balloon with the following things;

• 2 straws,
• a piece of string,
• 2 Big Balloons,
• Tape.

This is a model of what can be made out of these objects.

She then told us that if we wanted to add any other objects to the testing we first had to ask her.

We will have a race on February 10th, were we will test our balloons depending on the race we choose our Balloons to run for.

These were the choices;

• The Balloon that went the furthest.
• The Balloon that went the fastest.
• The Balloon that went Up and back down, turned.

She then gave us black balloons to work and begin testing our labs. Unfortunately the black balloons didn't work well, but we still began.

On Friday we continued with the testing, but Ms.D brought bigger Balloons that stretched farther. She then gave a suggestion which was to measure the Balloon's circumference once it reached the right form that you wanted, and make all of them the same to make the science more correct.

She also began telling us some CVs and UVs, which are the following;

CVs-

• The length of the string for the fastest and farthest, (which is 15m) and the length of the string for the changing direction (4m)
• Only 2 Balloons are used.
• Only 2 straws are used.
• The Balloons have the same diameter each time.
• The same person from the group measures distance.
• The same person from the group uses stop watch and times the speed.
• The same person from the group lets the balloon go.
• The same straws and balloons are used during the testing unless something occurs to prevent that.

UVs-

• If the balloon stretches.
• If the straw bends.
• If the string bends or the knot loosens.

These aren't the only ones, but they are the only ones we discussed in class. That was it for the two days, and no homework was given except to think of what the balloon's shape could be, and what we could change or add to the rockets to improve them!

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog and the next scriber is....DRUM ROLL......GHAZALEH!

Karin and davide attaching the balloon to the

straws.

Tamara moving the string to the opposite

side when the testing was finished.

Davide and karin preparing for the testing, Karin blowing the ballooon up and davide taking out the string.

Valentina's Reflection Post for Second Quarter

Hello to everyone,

During this Quarter the 7th grade class has made a blog, and each of the students in the class was able to be the scriber for the blog. During my blog post, I made many errors, and recieved many ideas of what I could have added, what I should have improved, and what I had done well.
Some of these things were the following:

Thing I should have improved-

• 
  One of the biggest errors I made was that I forgot to put the lables at the end.
• I accidentaly posted my first blog on last year's sixth grade blog.
• The writing turned out to have come in different fonts, and I should havemade a preview to make sure that didn't happen.
• One picture of some astronauts in space was incorrect with the subject and the lable.
• I also wrote that the TBB was measured in Newtons, while it was measured in mass in grams.
• I should have added other links.
• People didn't like that I wrote "YOUR CHOICE" on the lab answers.
• I should have been more clear with my paragraph.
• Some of my grammar wa incorrect.
• I could have separated more the paragraphs that didn't match to make it look neater.
• I should have added more color to the blog
• There was no date of when tha class had been.
• There was no real title.
• The title that I included was wrong because it said "Thursday's class" when I should have written the main topic of the class.
• I could have included more scientific words and vocabulary.\
• I forgot to put periods.

Things that I did well-

• 
  The reader liked most of the pictures because it helped the reader understand.
• There was a link to moodle.
• I gave the definitions of the words we studied in class.
• People liked that I added that mass does not equal weight.
• I included the directions of the lab and what we part we had already done with the answers.
• People liked that I included the purpose question.
• I added well the important information.
• I explained what we did in class.
• The post was long and easy to read.
• I explained well mass, gravity, The law of Gravitation, and weight.
• My science was explain and wrote well.
• People enjoyed how I put all the notes we were supposed to take in class so they could go over them.
• The blog was detailed and thoroght.
• The pictures (mostly) matched the meaning.

I want to improve my scribe post for the next quarter by spending more time on it, and checking that all of the font, pictures, spelling and colors come out how they are supposed to look like. I also want to improve the science and I want to ask a friend to ceck it and tell me if it understandable. Also, I think that I could add some videos that explain what we did in class. I also want to take pictures during the class, and I want to add more detail of the day. I also want to improve by scribe post by doing it before time, ans changing it eventually if I did major mistakes. I will for sure add lables and I will put a better title. I want to make the blog more interesting by finidng people's results if we have a lab, or asking people their oppininon on the class. Finally, and most of all, I want to put a lot more effort in it.

This blog has had some very good points and some worse points. The main problem was that some of the comments were too harsh, without compliments, and I think that another problem was that the comments didn't seem realistic because they were only based on the instructions and what we were supposed to do, so they seemed unrealistic. But there were also many good affects of this blog. For example, I liked the fact that the whole class was involved, because the students were able to add something the blogger might have forgotten. Also, it made the blog a meeting place, were it became a weekly hbitude, and when someone was sick, the blog always told exactly what had happned and what could have been improved.

Overall I really enjoyed doing this blog and comment because they were interesting and helped anyone with science and with improving whatever they needed!!