Testing, testing, 123

Last week we took a blue book test annotating our core book. For anyone who may have been nervous about a test...we are all alive and well still:-) Keep that in mind and come this Thursday prepared to be serious and thoughtful and use your time well.

This week we are having the end of semester math test. You must bring the math test from your math packet or the math test from whatever math you've been doing OR make up your own math test that shows what you have learned this semester. This test is required to show your progress and earn your prism for first semester. What can you do so you remember to bring it?
Please leave your toys and distractions at home, although you could bring a notebook to doodle in when you are finished.

How is your Science/Math  Project/Experiment coming along for Thursday evening? Hopefully you are well along or done:-) This is going to be fun to explore what you all bring!

Since we are studying georgics next semester, I thought I'd let you know we processed our first goat today! A tad different than chickens! Glad I had help and glad we all had a good/embrace failure attitude...surprisingly enough we ended up having fun together and we learned alot!

Prisms, Prisms, everywhere!

Have you earned your Prism???   2 more weeks of first semester left and we'll be presenting Prisms at Parent Night on the 15th. 

Sister Ottosen and I will be talking with you, to double check that you have everything completed (there are a few items not on our giant checklist).  Some of the biggies...

• Memorizing the characteristics of a scientist
• Reading all the books
• Keeping your Log book
• 4 Science Experiments
• Science Fair Project (presented at Parent Night)

Also, Thursday (the 8th) is our Inteligro Math book discussion, and a blue book exam on Core Book Studies.  ***Please bring your Core Book to class with you!*** This isn't a scary exam at all, in fact this is what my binder says about it, "Have students bring their Core book to class and take a one hour exam annotating a chapter of their choice for truth, equations, patterns, and lines of logic.  Use annotations, not essay, unless students choose to do so."  Since you've been studying your Core Book and annotating all semester, this is a piece of cake!

Next week (the 15th), is the Math exam.  If you have been doing the Geometry or Pre-Algebra packets that accompany Pyramid Project, the final exam at the end of the packet is what you'll bring to class and work on.  If you are doing something else for math, please bring an exam that you or your parent have written.  Yep, you can write the exam and then take it in class.  The point of this is for your own growth and understanding, and to show you that your goals have served you well.  There may well be food and time for a bit of a party! 

Adam and Trey, I believe you both still have a presentation to do.  Please be ready on Thursday.  If there's time, we may have them both.  If not, we'll move one of you out to next week.

I'm super excited to see all of your science projects, and to see you earn your Prism!

Gifted Hands

Did you love the movie?  I've seen it numerous times and every single time I'm inspired!  (And, shh... every time I watch it, I cry.)  I love Mrs. Carson and how hard she worked, inspiring her children to greatness, despite her lack of education.  I love that she worked to better herself, and didn't settle.  I love that Dr. Carson repeatedly turned to Heavenly Father in prayer, when he knew he didn't have the answers... personally and professionally.

Have you memorized the Characteristics of a Scientist (one of the requirements for earning your Prism)?  I asked you yesterday to pick which one was your favorite to see Dr. Carson exemplify. Make sure you respond to the blog and tell me which one and why!  Here, I'll help you out :)
1. Notice Patterns
2. Wonder
3. Challenge Assumptions
4. Ask the Right Question
5. Have the Heart of a Scientist
6. Embrace Failure and learn from it
7. Read Original Works
8. Whole, not just specialized
9. Make Judgement based on reason, historical & personal experience and revelation (a-ha moments!)

I hope you all have a great Christmas, and enjoy your (almost) month off from Pyramid Project. But remember that January 8th is our next class, book discussion on Inteligro Math, and presentations by Trey, Eric and Adam (?).   *PLEASE NOTE*: One thing we didn't get a chance to talk about because of the shorter schedule this week is that in addition to the book discussion and presentations is that we'll be having a Core Book Exam.  Please bring your Core Book to class to take a one hour exam annotating a chapter of your choice for truth, equations, patterns and lines of logic.

The last day of the semester, final exam (and final day for EVERYTHING due to earn your Prism) is Jan 15th.  That evening is our Parent night/Science Fair.  During class that day, we'll have a math test.  But here's the kicker... you get to write the test.  Each of you is doing math at your own level.  If you're using a program with exams as part of a text book, you could bring that.  But a better option is to write the test ahead of time and bring it with you.  That sounds a little funny, but writing a test can actually be a really great way to learn and review what you've been studying.  You can also bring food to share... and ease any stress of taking a math exam in class.  This exam is more about reaching the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year.  Review those and see if you can meet those by next month.

Merry Christmas!  See you in January!

Check out this cool video, and all her "I wonders!"  http://www.sun-gazing.com/physics-girl-unique-crazy-pool-vortex/ I love learning new things like this!

Did you enjoy our field trip?  Did it inspire you to do something different?  Ask new questions?  Did you notice any patterns?

How are you coming with your Prism requirements?  Just a few more weeks until they need to all be done.  Have you done some fun experiments recently (everyone needs to have done at least 4)?  Why don't you respond to this post and tell us about some of them?  Please take a few minutes and look through all the requirements listed in your Pyramid binder, then get going on any that you still need to finish up.

January 15th is our Parent Night/Science Fair.  What will you be sharing with us?  Get crackin'!

Seriously guys, I love this class!  I love learning these things and having all of you in class with Sis. Ottosen and I.  I know that some of the things we talk about or ask of you are a little out of your comfort zone.  But you are great, and I'm excited to see you all earn your prism and share a little of what you've learned this year.

The Heart of a Scientist

Hey Fabulous scholars,
we have an extra week before our next class, lets jump right on things and do any catch-up we should do or <gasp> get ahead. Take some time to analyze what you've done, and figure out what still needs to be done and your plan for doing it. I'm already starting to think of next semester, and it is very exciting!

Flatland related comment: we are NOT STUCK seeing things as we've always seen them. Or being how we've always been. If we do not naturally have the perseverance/heart of a scientist to keep trying things over and over, changing something to see if that has an effect and then going back to the drawing board as necessary, or any other Habit of a Scientist, we can develop it when we understand the principle and conscientiously apply it in our lives.

links to the Chladni figure videos that we watched in class
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tliBfYdddhU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yaqUI4b974

Assignments:

A. Habits: Core book studies, math lesson, write daily in log book

B. Read Inteligro Math & do exercises therein, due Jan 8

C. Permission slip for field trip: completed and signed by a parent

D. Skill Focus: Care/Grow your own Heart of a Scientist. We practiced visualizing who and what we most care about that might help us have the Heart of a scientist. You could continue to ponder this and/or write them down. What are you passionate about?

E. Presentations: Trey & Jared if we have time

I noticed a pattern yesterday: everyone has been here every day of class! And now we will all be absent next week...awww. Have a wonderful, warm, loving, full of gratitude Thanksgiving:-)

Physical Creation

I checked and indeed, the rabies vaccine was made from weakened virus. The rabies was weakened by drying out infected tissue.

RE: Pyramid Project 1st and second semester rewards: You were right, you guys/gal are already awesome! I am so impressed with each one of you...your character, personality, skills and talents, knowledge and eagerness to learn more and to BECOME more, and general awesomeness:-)
What I really meant was that although you are definitely above the general cut for your age; in the immortal words of Mufasa "You are more than what you have become". You ARE wonderful, AND have the potential to be even more. 2nd semester you have the opportunity to work harder and become more, not because of a really cool sparkly carrot, but purely for the joy and self-satisfaction of Becoming More (the internal really cool sparkly carrot;-). We'll get there, but first lets grab hold of what 1st semester has to offer!

Assignments:
the growth inspiring habits that you have hopefully formed and/or are cementing in:
-Core book study
-math lessons
-daily log book entries

Presentations:
at bat this week: Eric

on deck for the following week: Jared

Challenge
set the timer and spend 15 minutes in quiet contemplation/mediation on a problem in your life that you'd like solved...And then ACT on it (you didn't really want to hang on to those problems, right?!) Physically create the systems or actions that will help you solve the problem.

act on SayGoBeDo's that you get (we'd love to hear about them, so feel free to write them down)

Spiritual Creation

First off, in case there's some confusion, our next book is Flatland by Edwin Abbott.  It's readily available at the library and on Amazon.  Here it is for just $2.70 with Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.com/Flatland-Romance-Dimensions-Thrift-Editions/dp/048627263X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415043135&sr=1-1&keywords=flatland

Our discussion on The Phantom Tollbooth was interesting.  I think some of you didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did.  But remember, being playful and looking at the world in a different way than you've always done, can yield some wonderful results!

Are you getting all your requirements for the Prism done?  I've looked over the poster and see some holes for some of you.  They're all in the front of your binders.  PLEASE look them over and see where you're at and what you need to do.  How many lecture notes, I Wonders, Patterns, experiments, books and so forth are you finished with?  We're 2/3 of the way through this semester, and I really don't want time to get away from you.

So, that brings us to spiritual creation.  Everything we make or do, was created first in our minds.  We can be efficient and purposeful by really thinking through our plans and writing them down.  We draft blueprints before building a house, we sketch out a pattern before creating a quilt, and adding structure to our days by actively using a planner can help us keep on top of what we want to learn and accomplish.  Do you use a planner?  Have you thought about (and written) what your goals are, for Pyramid Project, for the school year, for the next five years, and more? 

I sure love this class!  I hope you feel a little more like a scientist each week... even if it's in something traditionally considered un-scientific, like creating art, composing music or writing a story.