8th Grade Science
WELCOME PACKET
Dr. Minerley, Room 201
email: rminerley@spfk12.org
Congratulations to all of you for making it to the 8th Grade!
You are now at the top of your game - you are more knowledgeable, more skilled, and more insightful than ever before.
It's time to put those talents to use!
In 8th Grade Science class, more than ever, you have to rely on your own reasoning, research, industry, experimentation, and collaboration to arrive at answers - you can’t always get answers by asking your teacher!
Call it "Inquiry based", "student directed", "hands-on" learning, or the "Socratic Method", the bottom line is that YOU, quite often, have to come up with solutions - sometimes with the help of a partner, small team, or the whole class.
In 8th Grade Science class, using Scientific Methods and the Metric System (SI system), we may investigate many of the following topics:
- The factors that make up a high quality experiment.
- Physical and Chemical Changes, phases of matter and phase changes.
- Elements, Mixtures, and Compounds.
- Atomic Structure and the Atomic Model of Matter.
- The Classification of Elements- the Periodic Table (arrangement of the elements, design of
the periodic table, chemical families, and periodic properties of the elements)
- Chemical bonding - ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding.
- Motion - speed, velocity, acceleration, and momentum.
- Forces - Newton's 3 Laws of Motion, and Law of Universal Gravitation.
- Work, Power, and Simple Machines.
- Energy: forms and changes - Kinetic vs. Potential energy, energy conversions.
- Heat and Thermal Energy - Specific Heat and caloric content of foods.
- Electricity and magnetism
This year you will need (or learn) many skills, including:
Presenting, communicating, defending, and critiquing conclusions and ideas
Graphing Writing lab reports
Critically reading texts Writing concise, usable notes
Collaborating Speculating
Hypothesizing Experimenting
Self-assessment Self-advocacy
Diligence and Persistence Responsibility and Accountability
That's quite a list! But with practice, you CAN do it. You WILL get better at this!
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To be prepared for science class, bring:
1. a (RED) COMPOSITION note book
2. a (RED) pocket folder
3. Two pens or 0.7 mm MECHANICAL pencils
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Your grades are based on:
- notebook (D3aT Boxes, WIL statements, your Homework Record sheet, and your appendices)
- homework
- lab reports
- tests (often open notebook! So taking clear notes is a very good idea)
- quizzes (sometimes surprise quizzes - sometimes open notebook)
- extra credit projects, posters, and exemplary performance or dedication
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Because so many times you will depend on your fellow classmates for solutions, it is vital that you actually listen to each other!
When a classmate is speaking, give him or her SPAC3 E:
S _____________________
P _____________________
A _____________________
C3 _____________________ ____________________ __________________
E _____________________
Answer Bank:
Accept the speaker's opinion and point of view without ridicule.
You owe the speaker your Silence.
Be able to Comment on the speaker’s statement.
Be able to Paraphrase the speaker's statement.
Be able to Critique the speaker's statement
You should Empathize with the speaker's position (understand why the speaker holds this opinion)
Compare the speaker's position to your own.
To succeed in this class, remember our class motto:
ACT like a P2IRANHA2
As assertive, active learners, we are Learning Piranhas!
- Prepared - come to class on time and bring ______________ , ________________ , ________________
- Participate - take an active part in class discussions and lab activities
- Be a driver - not a _________________
- Don't let other students do your ______________ for you
- Improved - with time and practice, you will become _______skillful, _______ knowledgeable, ______
competent. (Never think you are incapable of learning and improving!)
- Resourceful - often the answer will not be apparent. You’ll have to ___________ for the solution and look
beyond the obvious. You may need to consult your classmates and other resources.
With practice, you WILL get better at this!
- Attention - pay attention in class; listen to instructions (and to each other)
- Stay ____________
- Notes - take complete, readable notes!
- The Hand Teaches the _______________
- Write It Down ________________
(You can use your notebook and handouts on many tests and quizzes!)
- Homework - bring your homework with you to class
- It’s HERE or it’s __________________
- If it ain't in WRITING - it ____________ (no “Thought” Homework!)
- Keep it LEIN (Last Entry In Notebook) (or Red Pocket Folder)
(this prevent the “It’s Here Somewhere Syndrome”)
- When reporting homework, Honor the Honor System - Keep it _________
- Record your homework status on your Homework Record Sheet
- Accurate - in science class, we depend on your accuracy. So tell the ___________
- Keep it ______________
- Appropriate - This one is obvious!
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Some Don'ts:
Yo W: Yell Out or Whine
BIKA: "But I Know the Answer"
(While YOU may know the answer, you are in a classroom with other students.
Let others wrestle with the question – play nice with the other children and give them a turn!)
TWIS: "That's What I Said"
When asking questions, stay off the F I LY Rail Road:
Frivolous, Inappropriate, Low Yield, Repetitive and Redundant
Projects and activities you may look forward to:
Choosing selectees for your Fall Out Shelter
Speed Lab - Calculating your walking and running speeds
Speed trap - timing and calculating the speeds of cars on Park Ave
Calculating your reaction time when catching a falling meterstick
Solving the Alien Periodic Table
Designing a project for the Science Fair
Investigating a homemade Lie Detector
Apollo 13
Building and testing your model Skyscraper
Building earthquake resistant structures
Getting the mysterious Ice Guy off the ice
The Lost in Space dilemma - will your classmate get back to the Space Station?
Rendezvous with a Space Station - how long to reach the Space Station?
Calculating your Horsepower - are you as powerful as a horse?
Building Solar Ovens
Projectile motion
Building Medieval Catapults
Wiring electric Circuits
SURVIVAL GUIDE
(Actual advice to current 8th graders from former students)
To Dr. Minerley's Future 8th Graders - a little advice so you will SURVIVE:
Congrats on making it this far! Good luck getting through the next year.
Don't worry, it's not that bad - just memorize these few simple survival tips for getting through Doc's class:
Take a buttload of notes. Seriously - anything that goes on the board is like gold.
Be prepared to learn a lot!
Sit where you won't be distracted.
Come prepared with your Red Notebook, Red Folder, and pencils.
Dr. Minerley's class is much different than others:
Don't expect to ask questions directly to Doctor - he won't answer them if you can figure it out yourself.
You will usually have to figure out your answers with the class.
You won't get answers because of his use of the Socratic Method - so don't ask.
Don't expect any answers! You will usually have to derive answers for yourself.
Listen! (So important) Information can just pass by without you knowing.
Science notebook = lifeline.
Seriously, as an 8th grader, take notes and pay attention or else you have to catch up later on.
Take GOOD and NEAT notes. It'll help you so much for tests.
Always take notes no matter what.
Take advantage of what's on the board and write everything down.
Make WIL Statements.
The signs are there for a reason - Read them!
If a sign says not to do something - don't do it.
Listen to the signs - they give good advice.
Make signs. He needs the signs and you need the points.
Do your homework - I learned the hard way!
Don't call out.
Contribute to the class discussions.
Pay attention and have fun. Not listening is a sure-fire way to fail.
Be active and participate.
Don't give up.
Whatever you do, "write it down anyway" (and never cheat on tests)
Don't be afraid to state your opinion during class.
DHIG - Don't Hand In Garbage
Pay close attention to everything.
Believe me, I know that if you don't pay attention - you will have to come to “Catch up Friday”.
You can listen and learn and still have fun.
Don't fall behind - always ask for help!
Never ask:
"Do we write this?" - (the answer is always - YES)
"So, what's the Answer?" - (this means you weren't paying attention)
"What was the Homework?" - (it's on the whiteboard or Google Classroom)
"What did I miss?" - (ask your classmates. Look on Google Classroom)
Honor the Honor System.
Don't lie about HW because Dr. M uses the honor system and you don't want to break it.
Don't dishonor the Honor System.
Don't mess with the Honor System.
Suck it up - take one for the team! Work Hard!
If you are a baby, don't come to this class.
Be optimistic - you'll have much more fun!
Watch out for the Lie Detector.
State the Obvious.
D. M is really nice, just don't whine.
Don't play dumb.
Be a Leader.
Don't agree with someone if you don't know for sure that they are right – don’t be a “Bobble Head.”
He may seem weird at first, but it gets better.
He will never tell you the answer - so don't get frustrated – just ask your classmates!
I know there are tons of acronyms, but try to know as many as possible.
Nothing ever "moves" - it "accelerates."
"Energy" is worse than any 4-letter word.
P.S. He will never tell you the answers and tricks you a lot. Keep thinking!
If you don't understand the material, come after school to "Catch-up" Friday.
A lot of the experiments are interesting and fun (not to sound like a geek)
Always Stay Current.
Write it Down Anyway.
Don't BE smart - DO smart.
Do Not ask, "What are we doing today?”
No whining.
Take good notes and bring them for tests - they really do help.
If you can't understand something, ask for extra help.
Stay in the moment – don’t ask what are we doing next month!
ASK QUESTIONS.
Study for the tests - don't wait till the last minute.
If you follow the above advice, you will do fine.
We guarantee it!
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Some responses to the End of Year Questionnaire
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CLASS:
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You never knew what was coming.
New challenges and information came everyday and it was fun to explore them.
The class was free-form and unlike any other.
The way we had to find the answers and argue the point and you never told us the answers - it made us learn.
I liked that you had trust in us when it came to checking homework, your HW system worked perfectly.
How everyone could express their ideas.
The "solve-it-yourself" mentality.
The way you taught - how you made us figure out answers for ourselves instead of telling us answers- I learned better from this.
I liked how we were involved in every activity.
The way you taught where we have to find the answer ourselves.
Your signs around the room, The visual learning. How we took it slow.
You let us answer our questions and do stuff on our own - it helped us be more responsible, mature, and independent.
How we learned and how you kept questioning our logic to find the answer.
The way you taught was exciting. How you pushed us to find the right answer.
How we can teach our fellow classmates.
The way you made us figure out our own answers - it helped me learn a lot.
You taught us a ton without the class being boring.
Learning about catapults and making them
You made us learn on our own by questioning the things we said
I liked how we had to do experiments and all the arguments between every person.
How you made us "write it down anyway", This class is very creative.
It was very "hands-on" and everyone got to participate,
How easy this class is. Also notes for the tests.
We used the honor system - it shows that you trust us.
How you made us teach ourselves.
All the sayings.
I learned to think logically, to use your resources, to believe in myself, and
if you ever have a vision - fight for it.
I liked the fun and energy in the class with all the activities and experiments.
We got to use notes on tests - which helped a lot and made you take better notes.
Using notes while taking tests taught us how to take good notes in a small space.
For me personally, I learned to speak up more and to work with other people.
You had to find out answers to your questions - he doesn't just tell you the answers.
When we did the wrist roller and running up the stairs and the lie detector.
The real life examples.
All the conversations and the weird assignments.
That I had to really consider all the possible answers before agreeing or disagreeing with the class.
Letting us figure things out for ourselves.
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WHAT WAS MEMORABLE?
Building catapults and Catapult Day
Your notes - they were awesome
The Socratic method
EVERYTHING! Dr Minerley's sayings, flammable fish, no donut holes, the crazy
experiments, as well as the drawings
When you hammered the weight on top of your hand
October Sky
The car experiment
The “Genius of the Day” award
Running up the stairs and the flag thing with the cars
The class was memorable and marvelous
All the different sayings
The Skyscraper Project - it taught us a lot.
The Space Station.
The dedication Dr. M put into teaching every day - that is a teacher worth remembering.
The fire thing and you chopping wood.
The many "Atomic Singles Bar" skits and your many posters and catchphrases
Measuring speed of cars
Burning wood and sawdust.
The most memorable thing was when I won the wrist roller with a 3.75 sec time
Making the Snapple can crush
The lie detector was fun
Building Skyscrapers with the Rutgers University professors
All the crazy role-plays with atoms, the Fallout Shelter, and the Stories with Holes
Your acronyms
Burning candy
The teaching method - I've never been taught with so much demonstration and drawings
Getting a B+ on a test
Walkie-talkies during Speed Trap
Making trebuchets
Every class was fun and exciting and I always learned something new
All the projects were weird and all the hands on activities
Picket signs
The times he asked me if I was current and did I write it down
The machine to indicate if someone was lying
Everything
All the drawings
All the laughter
WHAT I LEARNED:
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To study like crazy
A lot about the periodic table - way too much
The fact that you taught us all equally
When you posed a comment, (even though we complained sometimes) we always reasoned it out and taught ourselves.
How to design buildings.
I learned that students can teach themselves.
How to speak out when something seems wrong - being responsible is important for success.
To be more active in class.
I learned that you should always write it down anyway, never BE smart, but DO smart and leave a paper trail long the way, thanks for a great year!
Rocket science
To read the signs on the wall – they helped a lot!
Engineering skills
I learned to always try to do your best in class
A lot, I learned to balance chemical equations
To always try the hardest and to believe in myself, and that I can be smart if I try hard
I learned to care more about homework
How to construct a catapult
I practically absorbed everything you taught
I learned not just science but the importance of organization
To solve formulas - Many things to be honest
I learned leadership skills - I learned to stand up for what I thought
I learned about atoms, ions, electricity, and a whole lot more
Everything - tons of stuff.
How to make a soda can burst
I learned not to "twis". Never say that you have IDUI
Chemistry
I learned the Periodic Table of Elements, which I never thought I would be able to comprehend
Stuff about motion & friction - too much to name
It pays to be honest
I'm going to keep a notebook as a chemist!
I learned to always stay in the moment, write it down anyway, and everything else that was taught
A lot about chemical equations
How circuits function.
What key features help builders create stable structures
I learned not to give up.
Science, tons and tons of stuff - everything we went over
a = F/M and stuff with all that rocket science stuff
Friction, displacement, catapults, parabolic, and more stuff I probably can't pronounce
I learned physics
That donut holes are not real
Easy is NOT an option.
Everything - atoms, elements, work, machines
That the tests are good for me
V = (4/3) pi r3
Everything you taught I remembered
How levers are classified and how to wire circuits
To ask questions when needed and air pressure and everyone's personalities
The formulas - lots and lots of formulas
I learned about bonding chemicals
I learned that the book isn't always right.
Science can be easy and fun
Crazy people can be geniuses.
That sometimes we just have to accept things
Don't lie
Don't doubt yourself
To raise my hand
To speak out a little more
To be myself
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Doc,
… I entered your class with the expectation of it being the greatest class ever, yet somehow (as per usual) you surpassed my expectations.
There was never a dull moment. We were always doing something. Hearing something. Learning something.
The things that stuck with me the most had nothing to do with science, but life. The lessons that you teach are far too valuable, and we will all look back and thank you for them.
E 6/18
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Dear Dr. Minerley,
Over the course of the year in science class you taught me everything from how to calculate acceleration, to how to be W.I.S.E, to how to be a better person.
I learned that you're only going to get what you want if you put everything that you've got into reaching that goal.
I know for a fact that I'll never again have a science teacher as inspiring, knowledgeable, innovative, and enthusiastic as you.
Of course there's a lot more to say, but I'm just going to rip off Star Trek and say that you have been - and always shall be - the best science teacher ever.
Sincerely wishing for you to live long and prosper,
A 6/14
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Dear Dr. Minerley,
I just wanted to say thank you for teaching me so much. You've taught me to use my brain because I know more than I think. You also taught me to have fun when learning and to "empty my cup" in order to learn and understand more.
Dr. Minerley, you have helped mold me into the student I am today. I've become more independent and can problem solve. This will help me so much later in life. You've helped me discover who I am as a student. You are one of the greatest teachers ever. Thank you so much!
S 6/13
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“When I read all this stuff in the Welcome Packet, I thought, "How can this be true?" - then suddenly, it clicked and it all made sense!”
E 9/12
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Dear Dr. Minerley,
You have inspired me so much to actually learn in school, to admit that I'm wrong sometimes, and to fix my mistakes on my own. You taught me to be independent and to reach my goals.
Most of all, I've learned to be a leader and take charge of any situation.
We'll all miss you!
D 6/08
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Dear Dr. Minerley,
Your science class has been one of the best classes I have ever taken.
It was fun and challenging. I like how you make us find the answer because it wasn't boring.
With you, we make use of our knowledge often enough that it was easy to remember.
I like how your class is based on teamwork. We had lots of fun in your class. I loved when we burned the wood and when we tested our horsepower. My favorite was probably Speed Trap. We all worked together and we were a great team.
It has never been that "hands on" in any other class. We tapped our knowledge more often, did more experiments, and thought and reasoned more often than in any other class. You have inspired me very much. I want to be a chemist when I grow up because you showed me how fun it was in your class. Thank you so much for the best science class ever.
A 6/07
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I thank all the amazing students who contributed their thoughts, memories, and kind words.
Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance remain an inspiration.
Dr. R. Minerley 6/18
