Blog Post #3: Extrasolar Planets

Extrasolar planets (sometimes called exoplanets) are planets that are found outside of our Solar System. There are four ways that astronomers can detect extrasolar planets. Use the following links to answer the questions in your blog.

Planet Quest (when you get to this site, click on "4 ways to find a planet" on the right side)
1. What are the four ways scientists can detect planets?
2. Which way makes the most sense to you? Explain it.

The Goldilocks Zone
3. Explain the concept of the "Goldilocks Zone."
4. If Gilese 581c does have life, what do you think it would look like? How would it act? Would it be intelligent?
5. Do you believe in aliens? Why or why not? Give me a solid paragraph.

Webquest and 2 Articles

Ch. 22 Webquest
This week we're going to do the webquest a little differently. You can choose one of two options. If you complete the Ch. 22 Webquest: Celtics Version, you can earn a score of up to 100%. If you complete the Ch. 22 Webquest: Pistons Version, you can earn a score of up to 110%. Both webquests have 20 questions, and require the same amount of writing. Checkout both of them before you decide which one you want to do. Please very clearly identify which one you are doing at the top of the page.

2 Articles
Choose one article from Group A and one article from Group B, then answer the 5 questions about each article that you read on a piece of paper.

Group A
Aliens May Exist
20 Years of Hubble

Group B
Is Time Travel Possible?
Pluto's Dwarf Planet Family Could Get Bigger

Questions
1. What is the title of this article? Who wrote it?
2. Who published this article? When?
3. What are three things you learned?
4. What are two things you found interesting?
5. What is one question you still have?

Blog Post #2: Other Planet Atmospheres

For Blog Post #2, you will include a Google Docs Presentation (similar to a Microsoft PowerPoint), and answer some questions. I will show you how to create the presentation, and what needs to go into it during class.

Questions
1. What is the primary gas in the Jovian atmospheres?
2. What is the primary gas in Mars and Venus?
3. If you had to visit one planet, which would it be? Why? Give me a solid paragraph. (consider many factors such as location, temperature, atmosphere composition, and anything else you you feel is important)

NASA @ Home

As you know, I'm not at school today. Make sure that you're good for the sub! Complete the NASA @ Home assignment. If you need help, ask a classmate. Hand it in before you leave. Have a great weekend!

ACP

Here are the Astronomy Choice Project Guidelines.
Here is the Astronomy Choice Project Rubric.

Blog Post #1: Cool Astronomy Topics

Over the next couple of weeks, you will be working on a research assignment called the Astronomy Choice Project (ACP). Details for the assignment will be given during class on Monday. For today's blog post, you will choose 5 topics that sound interesting, and write a paragraph for each. You are not committed to using any of today's choices for your research assignment. Here's the list of choices:

Black holes
Worm holes
String Theory (check Powers of 10 link, then ask Mr. Dunn for help)
Dark matter
Dark energy
Search for aliens (SETI)
Mars
The Moon
Pluto
Hubble Telescope
Titan (one of Saturn's moons)
Apollo missions
Saturn's rings
Big Bang Theory
Telescopes
Ultimate fate of the universe
International Space Station
Kuiper Belt
Milky Way Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
Asteroid Belt
Dwarf Planets
Red Giants
Binary Planet Systems
Binary Star Systems

**You can also choose another astronomy-related topic if it is approved by Mr. Dunn**

Webquest and Planet Atmospheres

• First do the Solar System Webquest
• Then begin the Planet Atmospheres Assignment

Blog Post #6

1. Which blog was your best this quarter? Why?
2. What topic did you enjoy learning about the most (from chapter 17-20)? Why? Include a picture.
3. What grade do you deserve for your 3rd Quarter Blogs? (Keep in mind some basic math. If you only did 3 out of 6 of them you cannot earn above a 50%.)

Environmental Essay

There are a lot of environmental issues. There are also a lot of myths and exaggerations. Today, you're going to choose any environmental issue, choose any side of the argument, and complete a graphic organizer. Tomorrow, you will use your graphic organizer to write an essay. Use the Persuasion Map to help organize your thoughts.

Blog Post #5

Create a 30-term Wordle using the 30 most important terms from Chapters 17, 18, 19, and 20. Post your Wordle in your blog. If a word is important enough to appear in your Wordle, it is probably important enough to be on tomorrow's Atmosphere Test :)

Make the most important words larger, just like the sample from an English class. Let me know if you need help with this.

Weather Forecast Project

Today you will begin working on the Weather Forecast Project. It is due at the end of class on Tuesday, April 13.

Ch. 19 Quiz and Blog Post #4

First, take the Ch. 19 Quiz.

Blog Post #4

1. Check out Fayetteville's pollen forecast. Which is affecting us the most right now: tree, grass, or weed pollen? Specifically, which trees, grasses, or weeds?
2. "You're Surrounded by Pollen," so read this article. What is needed for a "perfect storm" of pollen?
3. Choose a microscopic image of pollen. Which one looks the best to you? Why? Where is this pollen commonly found? Write a paragraph in your own words explaining this specific type of pollen. Include a cool-looking picture. You may need to use other websites to help you.

3 Practice Quizzes

Take 3 of the 6 "Concept Quizzes" to review for tomorrow (found on the left side of the page).

Ch. 19 Webquest

Today you will begin working on the Ch. 19 Webquest. It is due at the end of class tomorrow.

Blog Post #3

Use the following links to help answer the questions in your blog:

• States of Matter
• Temperature Scales
• Chem4Kids

1. What are the five states of matter?
2. What is needed to change a gas into a plasma?
3. What is the temperature at "absolute zero?" (in Farenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin)
4. What is the temperature in space? (in Kelvin)
5. What do you think plasma would like look/smell/feel/taste? How about Bose-Einstein Condensates? Do some research on other sites, but ultimately come up with your own unique answer :)