GPS Contest 2013

That was pretty fun wasn't it? I enjoyed watching each team in action on Friday. 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 2013 GPS Contest: GPS Final Standings 2013
Period 3: The Super Trendy Diapers narrowly edged out the Oreos to claim victory.
Period 4: Great People got the top spot, followed by the Jolly Space Ranchers.
Period 6: The Steampunks ran away with the contest, beating TMEK by 6 points.
Period 8: MAKS was victorious, but MG wasn't too far behind. Both teams had impressive point totals.

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?

Crushing Cans

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?

SSoCC Evaluation and Reflection

Well, the Socratic Seminar on Climate Change came and went. I had a good time listening. 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 Research

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. In between now and then, 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.

The list of questions that may be discussed is on your paper packet, and they are also posted here: Google Doc; Word Document). Feel free to write notes on it as you research. You may use these notes during the discussion.

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)
Larry Ferlazzo's Best Sites about Climate Change

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
Climate Interactive
Global Warming Stopped?
Permafrost Climate Change Effects
Astronauts Chime In
Warming Slowdown

Human Density Lab on Video

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 Exit Slip