And so it began (or, FIRST POST!!!!)

We will be discussing topics of a very mature sort. Respect and responsibility are of the upmost importance. If you cannot handle this, you need to make it known now and arrangements can be made. If you can handle this, we will have a lot of fun and a really cool science class.



Parts of the Class

There are three parts to this class:

1) The Physics: we will be discussing and working with the mathematical

and scientific concepts of physics. Mainly the six simple machines and

basic trajectory.

2) The History: you will be learning the history of weapons and warfare

because it is through these battles and people learning the physics that

we have gotten to where we are today. Without the history, you can’t

understand why the physics is important.


3) The Labs: we will be going outside, physically using the simple machines to build tools and explain the concepts. Things like giant slingshots, going to the playground, flinging stuff across long distances, and possibly working with fire to make things explode.


You are required to

Think! There are no specific answers in physics. So talk about it, explain your thoughts, ask questions even if you think they are weird or silly. The best part of physics is that you have to think outside the box, you have to experiment, you have to come up with different ways to look at the world. All great physicists and all great military leaders were renegades! Take Notes! This is less of a requirement and more of a savior for you. We will cover A LOT of information. It will be information you will have to put together yourself to come up with an explanation. Even if you are brilliant you still need to write things down, draw pictures, make connections with swirling lines in between them. These are not boring notes, these are notes so that later you can study them for tests, have them for homework, or use them in discussions in class. Pictures will help, examples will help, timelines will help…but write it down, keep it, and use it. Science classes can be incredibly cool. They can also suck. You get to choose which type this class will be. Listen and Follow Directions. This is especially important during any of the labs or excursions we take. Many of the things we will be doing involve projectiles and working with other people. If you do not listen, pay attention, and follow directions someone could get hurt.

Tentative Weekly Schedule

Monday: History and Strategy

Tuesday: Science

Wednesday: Science

Thursday: Labs, Connections, and Fun Stuff

Friday: Quiz

Quizzes will count for _________ of your grade

Participation will count for___________ of your grade



SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Question> What will happen if?...

Research> What do you know?

Hypothesis> I think…. because…

Procedure> Follow directions!

Data> Take notes

Observation> Make connections

Conclusion> Draw pictures

Any of this sounding familiar?