Locate the Epicenter

Problem: Where is the earthquake’s epicenter, and when did it happen?
Information: P Waves travel an average of 5000 m/s through North America. S Waves travel an average of 3000 m/s. You also have a record of earthquake activity from five different seismograph stations throughout the United States. The seismograms are visible on this map. (Open these seismograms in a new tab in order to get a good look. You will have to right-click on the seismogram to do this.)
View Locate the Earthquake in a larger map

After you figure out how far each station is away from the epicenter, use this mapping tool. It will allow you to draw measured circles around different locations to pinpoint this earthquake’s epicenter. Good luck!

In your comment below, answer these simple questions:

1. Where did this earthquake happen? (Where was the epicenter?)
2. When did this earthquake happen? (answer to the nearest second)
3. How did you figure it out?

Prizes for figuring out the answers to this problem include the following:

• 3 Bonus points on your Earthquakes Standard Check
• Mike & Ike's with Mr. Hoegh
• One game of H-O-R-S-E with Mr. Hoegh
• A Homemade Christmas Card from Mr. Hoegh's daughters
• One game of catch (football, baseball, softball, or frisbee) with Mr. Hoegh
• 15 Minutes of Pepper (volleyball) with Mr. Hoegh
• 2 Karaoke Songs by (or with) Mr. Hoegh

Earthquake Sampler

Earthquakes have had quite an impact on our society in the past, and they will continue to have that Earth-shattering (literally!) impact in the future. It is highly unlikely that any of us have physically experienced one of these natural disasters, and I hope that none of us ever will. What do you think it would be like to experience a Great Quake? What would you do? How would you feel about the total loss of control in the situation? You will learn about some of the Great Quakes in history. Through first-hand accounts of people who were fortunate to live through a large earthquake, you will get a chance to learn about what it was like to experience one of these historical natural disasters. The details for today's activity are found HERE.

In your blog response, remember to answer TWO of the three choices. As always, I look forward to reading what is written!

a. What was the most memorable story, image, or fact about the earthquake you researched? Why?
b. What do you think it was like to live through the earthquake you researched?
c. Have you ever experienced another natural disaster, such as a tornado, hurricane, severe thunderstorm, or flood? Create your own personal recollection of living through the destruction that event caused.

Identifying Minerals

In the past few days in science, your view of minerals has likely changed. You've discovered that there are many different classes/types of minerals -- each with a unique set of properties that allows us to identify one mineral from another.
In your comment, completely answer the following questions. If you don't want your comment to be published, that is fine! Just let me know in the comment you leave.

1. Minerals are identified by their properties. What are some of the properties you used to distinguish one mineral from another? Why is it best to use more than just one or two of these properties?
   
2. Did some of the properties "work" better than others? Which ones were the most effective? Which were the least effective? Explain.
   
3. What was the most difficult part of identifying minerals?
4. How many minerals (of the 17) did you identify correctly?
   

What are Minerals?

After watching the vodcast on minerals, answer the following questions in a comment.
What are the 4 Things a Mineral Must Be?
What are the 2 main classes of minerals?
What is 1 tough concept having to do with minerals?

Life Story of a Grain of Sand

Respond to the following writing prompt, and write your story in the comment section of this post.

Purpose: To review the rock cycle process.
Directions: Pretend a grain of sand or rock could come to life and tell its story of changing from one type of rock to another during the rock cycle. Write a creative story or poem describing what "Rocky" would experience as he/she goes through the Rock Cycle. Make sure that you describe how this piece of sediment could become part of 3 different types of rock, and how it could become magma.
Resources: The Rock Cycle Prezi (in the blog post below); Pages 92-93 and Chapter 4-1 in the Red Book; Those Rock Cycle Interactives; Prior Knowledge/Creativity

Rock Cycle Prezi

Rocks.... on Prezi

Geology of the Black Hills

Image Courtesy of Beth Steinhauer, Black Hills National Forest
(Forest Service of US Department of Agriculture) under Public Domain

Many of you have been out to the Black Hills. If you haven't (or if you can't remember what it is like), visualize the following scenario:
As you drive west from Rapid City, you notice a jagged stretch of sandstone peaks called the Hogback Ridge. After a short descent from those sandtone peaks, you come to an area comprised of another sedimentary rock, red shale, which makes a "Racetrack" around the Black Hills. If you keep driving west, there is a gradual incline made of limestone. This limestone formed 100-500 million years ago, from the shells of ancient marine animals. (Yes, we are still in the Black Hills of South Dakota.) Keep driving still, past this limestone plateau, and you will see the Central Crystalline Core of the Black Hills. This area is made of schist (a metamorphic rock) and granite (an intrusive igneous rock) that have aged for up to 2.5 billion years. The apparent color of this Central Core and the groves of Ponderosa Pine gave this area its name, the Black Hills. You might want to get out of the car and take a hike up to Harney Peak, the highest peak in between the Rocky Mountains and the Alps of Switzerland.
What are the events that led to the formation of these Black Hills? Why does it look the way it does? Like geologists, we will explore these questions today.

1. Write a summary of how the Black Hills formed. What are the events that led to their formation?
2. Would the Badlands exist if weathering/erosion had not taken place? Why/Why not?
3. The major uplift of the Black Hills occurred 70 million years ago. What do you think that area of South Dakota looked like 40 million years ago? What do you think the Black Hills and Badlands will look like in another 40 million years?

Time Lapse of Yosemite

This quarter we will begin to learn about Geology; mainly how the Earth has changed in the past, and about the forces that continue to change our planet's landscape. The video below is one of my favorites. Check it out. A bunch of questions pop into my head as I watch it. Do you have any? As you watch the Yosemite National Park video, leave any questions/comments that you have in a blog comment.
Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

As Bright as your Future

1. What happened?
2. Why?

Distillation Demo

After making observations of the Distillation demo, write a description of how it works. Use terms like vaporization, condensation, condensing tube, distillate, and thermometer to aid your recollection of what happens during the distillation process.

Static Electricity

Below is a picture of Clara (about 4 years ago). She briefly turned her soccer goal into a fort/tent with a blanket on top, and (as you can see) some serious static electricity was produced!




After watching the demos AND contemplating some of your own experiences with static electricity, answer the following questions in a comment on this blog post:

1. What was your favorite static electricity demo? Why?
2. What time of the year do you get "shocked" the most often? Why is that?
3. What is needed to produce static electricity? What is it caused by?
4. What does static electricity have to do with chemistry, atoms, and an atom's structure?

States of Matter

Well hello, Crazy 8's. See how much you know about states of matter in the form below.

Defining "Atom"

Answer the following question in your comment below:
An atom is the smallest particle into which an element can be divided and still be that element. Now that scientists have learned that an atom is made up of even smaller particles (like protons, neutrons, and electrons), is this definition still accurate? Why or why not?

Upon the completion of this blog response, go to Ediscio and complete the "Atoms" cardbox. That way, you shall ace the standard check on Atoms.

2012 Chem Games

I am challenging all of you (and other Earthlings that have access to our blog) to achieve greatness in the 4th Annual Chem Games. Use the following links to earn (as many points possible) and learn (about the individual elements and their chemical symbols, subatomic particles, and placement on the periodic table). These websites can help reinforce your knowledge of atoms and the periodic table, concepts that we have started (and will continue) to learn about during our quarter of chemistry.

Here are the links:
Element Flash Cards (set up the game so that it tests you on the 33 elements you are supposed to know) Non-Crazy 8 visitors can view this link to find out what those elements are.
Periodic Table Activities - This one doesn't work on the Chromebooks.... bummer. You could try it on the SmartBoard, though.
Setting the Periodic Table
Element Matching Game
Fun Brain Periodic Table

Feel free to share your high scores, along with the game and its conditions, in the comments section of this post. Post your scores with honesty and integrity. As always, these are virtues required of Crazy 8s and others that visit our blog. Gold medals in the 2012 Chem Games are at stake! Good luck!

Grouping the Elements Project

Day Two: Research uses for the elements in your element group and start your Prezi.

1. Go on the internet and do a search for some or all of the elements in your group.
2. List 4 everyday uses for at least 5 of the elements in your group.

Here is a list of websites that you may choose to use:
Web Elements: Click on the element from your group that you want to research. This will take you to a page that provides essential information on the element. Read this. Scroll down the page and you will find the "Uses" link. This page should have the info you need.
It's Elemental
Chemical Elements
Interactive Periodic Table
PTable
3. You should get a start to your group's Prezi. Be sure to include the following:

• Title
• At least 5 Characteristics
• Simile/Metaphor
• Everyday Uses
• ***don't just limit yourself to the above things. If you find something really cool and can find a way to include it in your presentation, do it. Help us learn about your group.

If you are nearing the completion of your Prezi, see if there's anything else that can make dynamic and creative. Be sure to set the path, and develop a plan with your group for how you will present.

Periodic Table Preparation

3, 2, 1, Go.

It was a pleasure to meet you all yesterday, by the way. It was a good first day. I am glad to have that speech done, but it was honestly really fun to speak to that many young people at one time. Thanks for listening!

3-2-1 Activity: Please share your thoughts in a comment below. As it will always be, if you do not want your comment to be published just say so. Type "Please don't publish" or "PDP" at the end of your comment. Otherwise, I'll assume that it's okay to post what you write. I like showing off what my students can do!

• State 3 things you've learned about Mr. Hoegh or your classmates. 
• Name 2 traits about this class. If you need to, use the "Mastery Learning Prezi" (embedded below) to spur your memory.
• Name 1 thing that makes you excited/nervous about the upcoming school year. 

Mastery Learning

What is "Mastery Learning"? on Prezi

Dear Crazy 8 Class of 2016,

Just now it is starting to hit me that school will be done for the year tomorrow. Holy cow. Maybe it was seeing many of you at the awards ceremony tonight. I saw a group of young people that had grown (mentally, emotionally, physically), not only throughout this 8th grade year, but all three of your years at Memorial.
Time goes really fast, in case you were not aware of that. Time to reflect is valuable, and we'll get to do that tomorrow, but it won't be long at all before your next challenges are here. It will be awesome to see you all meet those challenges, whatever they might be. Work hard. Have fun. Be a good friend. Be nice to your parents (Gasp!). Oh, and don't pretend that you're too cool to say "hi" to me when you see me around.
Sincerely, Mr. Hoegh

PS. When Clara, Elsie, and I were at awards night eating cookies outside, we found the missing film canister from our GPS contest. It was hidden by the time capsule in a bush. I'm about to figure out if the results will change. Oh, the suspense!

Essay and End-of-the-Year Form

The essay: Choose one activity from this year and identify the steps of the scientific method that were included in the activity. Be sure to include an activity that involved all of the steps.
Answer this in a comment, and you won't have to complete the same science essay tomorrow.

GPS Contest 2012

That was pretty fun wasn't it? I enjoyed watching each team in action on Thursday. The weather was awesome. So many of the groups did very well, and every one of the film canisters was found...... eventually. I commend all the teams for their hard work. Here are the results from the 2012 GPS Contest: GPS Final Standings 2012
Period 3: We had a tie at the top. Congratulations go to the Polka-dotted Penguins and the Lumpin' Llamas.
Period 4: The Gavinators narrowly edged Team Commando by one point. Bravo, Gavinators.
Period 6: Team Awesome took down the rest of period six. The name fits, I guess.
Period 8: Pie and Waffle Bosses were victorious. The closest competitor, J3, was only two points behind.
Feel free to leave comments that you have about the GPS contest. How was your experience? Were there any waypoints that you just couldn't seem to find? What was the best strategy? If you had to do the contest again, what would you change?

Severe Weather Form and Review

We will take the Quarter 4 Post-test next Monday. The rest of today will be reviewing for it. Here are some ways in which you can do this:

1. Ediscio: Sign in and go through the cardboxes having to do with meteorology and oceanography. Those include “Fronts and Air Masses”, “Greenhouse Effect”, “Humidity”, “Layers of the Atmosphere”, “Ocean Currents”, “Pressure”, and “Wind”.
2. Weather Jeopardy: Go to the student shared folder -- “8th Grade Science”. Open up the “Weather Jeopardy” powerpoint and try your best to become victorious.

Severe Weather Project

Severe weather can be fascinating. But what causes each form of severe weather? What makes it so fascinating? What can people do to protect themselves? It will be your job to figure out the answers to these questions, and then present on this in the form of a VoiceThread, Prezi, Fakebook page, Google Presentation, Easel.ly Infographic, or SlideRocket. With your group, you will be researching your specific type of severe weather. By the end of Wednesday you will have prepared your presentation. Here is a list of websites where you might possibly find information on severe weather. I'm sure you could find others as well.

ALL: Atmospheric Science Resources
Ask the Experts
NOAA Education Resources 
How Stuff Works
Natural Disaster Sites

Blizzards: Blizzard of Oz sites

Floods: Floods before and after

Tornadoes: Best Tornado sites Severe Weather Slideshow from April 17
Airplanes and Weather: USA Today: Airplanes and Weather What Causes Turbulence? Hurricane Pilots Planes and Ice Aviation Weather

Rain Shadow of the Himalayas

The picture above is a satellite view of the Tibetan plateau, found north of the Himalayas. The green land to the south of the Himalayan mountains is India, which receives enough precipitation to support a tropical rainforest. North of the mountain range you can see a great plains region and the Gobi Desert; areas that receive very little rainfall. How can we account for such a change in the amount of precipitation each place receives? The short answer is "rain shadow", and it happens in the United States as well. It is largely the reason that Western South Dakota receives approximately 5 less inches of rain per year than we do here in Sioux Falls.
In your response on Classmarker (it will be on the Fronts and Air Masses Standard Check), explain what happens to the air mass that initially forms over the Indian Ocean as it travels north. Why does this process leave so much precipitation on the south (windward) side of the Himalayas, and hardly any to the north of them?
Note: You should answer this question on Classmarker. It will be worth 4 points.

Relative Humidity Data Results

View Relative Humidity Lab - Spring 2012 in a larger map Click on each placemark to find the average relative humidities from all of the data samples taken on Monday. Are there any patterns? Compare the inside locations to the outside locations -- that's one pattern I saw. In fact, the four highest relative humidity values were from inside the school. What might have caused this? There could be many factors that would influence our numbers. Please explain. Don't run away from the struggle.

Humidity Questions

Here are the essay questions about humidity that you can complete when you're ready on Classmarker.

1. Suppose it is summer (YES!!) and you plan to have a glass of iced lemonade outside. You notice that water drops begin form on outside of the glass. Why does this happen? Where does this water come from? (2 points)
2. A person's body tends to sweat more on a humid day than it does on a dry one, even if the outdoor temperature is exactly the same. Why does it happen this way? (Hint: Your answer should include how evaporation changes the temperature of the air.) How does this relate to how we measure relative humidity? (Hint #2: Would a large difference between dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures signify dry weather or humid weather?) (4 points)

Relative Humidity Lab Form

Pressure in a Bottle

Crushing Cans with Air

This is what I do. Here's the procedure:

• Place 8-10 ml of water in an empty pop can.


• Place the pop can onto the heat source and wait for the water to boil. After you see steam escape, continue to boil for one minute.


• Use the tongs to remove the can from the heat. Quickly turn it upside-down and place it into a saucer with water (which was close-by).

In your blog response, explain what happened in this experiment step-by-step. Justify the result that you saw? What happened inside the can as it was being heated up? What does the air do? How about when it was placed in the water? Why was it crushed? Did a ghost do it?

After completing these questions in your comment, check out some "Pressure" flash cards on Ediscio, or look at the following pressure websites. Otto von Guericke makes a vacuum Toricelli's Barometer video Air Pressure Balloon Animation Storm System Animation

Power of Air Pressure

Air Pressure is the Best Around from Owen Hoegh on Vimeo.
Air pressure on top of a newspaper provides enough leverage to sever a piece of wood. Who would've thought that? Not me!

Partner Evaluation and Reflection

Well, the Socratic Seminar on Climate Change came and went. Hopefully you were able to share your knowledge and point-of-view on this subject with your classmates. I say this because your opinion/knowledge matters. A lot.
Below is a link to your partner evaluation and your own reflection on the discussion we just had (and the research that led to it). Please include anything you might have wanted to say, but did not get the chance to. Show me what you know about Climate Change. Thanks.

Partner Eval and Reflection Form

Socratic Seminar on Climate Change

Is "global warming" actually happening? If so, are humans causing it? Or, is climate change occurring because of natural fluctuations in the system? We will be discussing these questions and more in our Socratic Seminar on Climate Change, which will occur during class on Wednesday. Today, you will be preparing yourself to contribute (intelligently!) to that discussion. I will give you a list of questions that will be addressed, and you may use the links provided to research the issue of climate change. Remember to have an open mind, so that your arguments will be well-informed.

Here is the list of questions that may be discussed: Google Doc; Word Document). Open up the Google Doc if you have an account/Chromebook and "make a copy" to write on. If you don't have Google Docs, open up the Word document and save it to your home folder. Feel free to write notes on it as you research. You may use these notes during the discussion on Thursday.

Here is the list of links:

EPA for Kids (click on the "Climate Change -- what it is" and "Can we change the climate?")

Icecap Facts and Myths

American Policy Roundtable

Global Warming: Natural or Manmade?

Global Warming 101 (Roy Spencer)

Environmental Protection Agency

USA Today Interactive

Global Warming: Did We Cause It?

Global Warming Effects

AMNH's Climate Change

Temperature Anomalies
Climate Timeline
Bias in Scientific Research
ClimateGate Article

Riding the Booster Video

I know we learned about Astronomy during our 3rd quarter, but I found this video to be fascinating enough to put in the blog now. They hooked cameras up to a booster rocket (basically a metal cylinder filled with rocket fuel), and filmed what happens from launch to splash-down. It's pretty crazy.

"Thanks, Atmosphere" RAFT

Whether we are conscious of it or not, we owe a lot to our atmosphere. It protects us from harm, and provides us with what we need to live. I would like you to write to the atmosphere detailing how it is able to accomplish these things for us. This is your topic, but you may choose your "role", "audience", and "format". For ideas and instructions, click here (they are also in your packet):

Atmosphere RAFT Instructions

After reading the directions you can begin to write your letter, advice column, series of text messages, journal entry, or whatever it is you choose to write. Once you have made the necessary revisions and corrections, copy and paste your creation into a comment on this post.

Good luck to all of you. Let the creative juices flow.

The World's Deepest Ocean Trenches

Check out this link that helps you explore ocean trenches. What's the most interesting thing that you saw? Would you want to be the next person to go down to the Mariana Trench? Why? Why not?
Ocean Trench: Take a dive 11,000 m down

If you have the time, also check out these videos from National Geographic about plans to once again go to the Mariana Trench.

Density: Coke vs. Diet Coke

Crazy 8s: Don't let the title of this post fool you. This is not a taste test . Instead, we will test these objects' densities. Please follow the directions that are given below the slideshow.
Coke vs. Diet Coke Density

• Click on "comments". Like always, this will open up a new window where you may type your blog response.
• Advance to the next slide by clicking on the right portion of the slideshow. You can also click on the left portion if you want to go back to the previous slide.
• In your blog response, answer all questions that appear on the purple-ish slides.
• Do not advance to the next slide until you have completely answered the questions that appeared on the purple-ish slides.

Density and other stuff Form

Doppler Effect Hunt

Medicam sequens links. Et ad disponat laborum. Quondam illic, vos can refero questions in justo. Gratias.

For those of you who don't know Latin, that previous statement reads like this:

Please click on the following links. They direct you to a new site. Once there, you can answer questions in a comment. Thank you.

Origins of the Theory
Doppler Effect Video
Big Bang Article
Star Spectrum Animation

Earth, Moon, and Sun Questions

Recently, we learned about what causes high and low tides, and the difference between spring and neap tides. Do you remember the tides? We've also learned about planetary motion, the cause of seasons (generally how it's been so cold lately!), and the phenomena of moon phases and eclipses (both solar and lunar). Phew! That's a lot of stuff. The audience of this blog must be imparted with this knowledge as well. Give it to them, Crazies.
The following scenarios and questions are actually part of your standard check of these concepts. This is the short answer/essay portion. You may think about them, prepare for them, and actually answer them if you'd like to type out your answer in a comment. (Otherwise, you will write your answers out in class on Monday.)
Scenario 1:
Using these pictures and the following info, attempt to answer the numbered questions.

• Both pictures were taken from the same exact spot (The zoom for both snapshots was the same, too). The picture on the left was taken at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The picture on the right was taken 5 1/2 hours later, at 7:30 pm.
• The moon phase on this particular day was a "New Moon".

Question 1: What causes high tides and low tides? On the day the picture was taken, was there a Spring or Neap tide? If so, which one?

Scenario 2: The moon is closer to the Earth than it actually is. Normally the moon is approximately 240,000 miles away. In this scenario, the moon is only 160,000 miles away.

Question 2: What would happen to the length of time it takes our moon to progress through all of its phases (from new moon back to another new moon)? Would the length of our month be longer, shorter, or the same? Why? (Hint: Use your knowledge of Kepler's Laws to answer this one.)

Scenario 3: The Earth's axis is not tilted. It normally tilts at a 23.5 degree angle. In this scenario, there is no tilt (0 degrees).

Question 3: Would we experience a change of seasons if Earth’s axis was not tilted? In your answer, be sure to include at least two factors that cause winter temperatures to be colder than summer temps, and why this seasonal change in temperature would or would not be felt if Earth's axis was not tilted.

To Be An Astronaut

Photo by rchappo2002, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

NASA's accomplished missions are considered one of the crowning achievements in the history of mankind, and rightly so. The United States sent a man to outer space on the top of a jet missile, and then got him back to Earth. Twelve men walked on the surface of the moon, and they came back to Earth to tell us about it. As we begin to learn about our Moon and its effects, please answer the following questions by yourself or with a partner.

1. What would it have been like to be one of the first astronauts? Describe the positives and negatives to being one of the first people in space. Would you have wanted to be in Alan Shephard's space shoes?


2. Would you have been nervous/scared/excited/etc.? Explain. Do you have any life experiences where you have felt the kind of emotions that astronauts felt before launching?


3. Could just anyone become an astronaut? What are some of the challenges to becoming one? Which qualities are the most important?

Explaining Astronomy

Suppose that you need to explain the concepts of a year, a month, and a day to a small child such as Clara. Could you do this? First, you should know a couple of things about Clara:

1. She is extremely smart for just turning five years old (I know that you're thinking, "Hmm..... she must get her intellect from her mother." Well, you're right.) Clara will follow your line of thought quite well.
2. If you use the terms rotation, revolution, orbit, or any other term used specifically for astronomy, she might not know exactly what it means (Many adults wouldn't know what the terms mean either.) Be sure to explain these things as you go.


3. It would help if you related these concepts to things a 5-year-old would know about -- like Disney movies (especially Rapunzel from Tangled and, of course, Cinderella), Elmo from Sesame Street, Legos, Clifford the big red dog, Super Why, Angelina Ballerina, etc.
   

For each concept (year, month, and day) describe the motion of the Earth, the moon, and the sun. Good luck.

Planet Presentations 2012

Comment: I eagerly await the chance to become an expert on each of the planets of our solar system.
Question: Who is going to give me that opportunity?
Answer: The Crazy 8s
Another Question: How?
Another Answer: This week they will be researching a specific planet, collaborating in groups, and developing a PREZI that will blow away (in a good way) anyone who is fortunate to be in attendance.

Below is a link for some useful planet research sites.

Planet Presentation Links and Instructions

Welcome to Astronomy

Mr. Hoegh goes to Pluto .... and back from Memorial Science on Vimeo.

OK. He doesn't really go there. But he does if you shrink the scale down by a lot.