We love our pets

Tell me about your pets.

Here is my lovely boy, Manny, taken this week on a walk at Resthills Park in Glenview.

:-)

p.s. I decided to be a good example and start using capitals properly because I have discovered that university students are showing up to study without any apparent idea how to write properly...and it IS important.

So there ;-p

R.I.P. Fluffball

Fluffball was a lovely lively rat who passed away today and left us all feeling very sad at her passing.
Here is your chance to leave a comment to pay your respects to Fluffball...
We will miss her.

science is for everyone - even our rats can do it

Do you think you don't have what it takes to become a scientist? well you're wrong!

read on...

Life lessons in science

What is the one thing everyone should learn about science? Spiked asked 250 scientists - here we bring you some of the most provocative responses

Seth Lloyd Professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You do not have to be a scientist to do science; you can be a child, a computer, or an intelligent rat. As long as you can verify a result, it is part of science.

more here

Antony Hoare Senior researcher at Microsoft Corporation

I would teach the world that scientists start by trying very hard to disprove what they hope is true. When they fail, they have a good reason for believing what they hope is true, and can even convince others of its truth. A scientist always acknowledges the possibility of error, and is less likely to be mistaken than one who always claims to be right.

and specially for Marshall...

Peggy Lemaux Cooperative extension specialist in plant biotechnology at the University of California at Berkeley

I would nominate the basic formula for photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O + sunlight/chlorophyll —> O2 + C6H12O6. Why is this so important? Because without this chemistry, life on earth would not be possible.

and remember this site plus a few others to try...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/

space related stuff:
http://www.teachnet.ie/torourke/2005/
http://www.callunafineflowers.com/memorial_middle_school/arewealone/index.htm

word study lists

please put the most interesting words from this week's word study list as comments on this post with their meanings.

D.A.R.E. - whoops

uh oh - something else i forgot to do was give you the preliminary DARE chat to set you up for your first DARE lesson. Typical...
As a result some of you can't even spell the name of the programme - how shocking.
How was it? What did you learn?
You can make comments here after each lesson.
Constable Jo is very cool, isn't she :-)

[b.t.w. - it's D.A.R.E., not dear, or deer]

[b.t.w. - b.t.w. stands for by the way]

Digital Learning Objects

Hello official research monkeys [that means students in Room5 who used the digital learning objects and were recorded by Annick and Rob] - can you please make statements here about your experience with the cartown digital learning object? I would like to know if it was fun, engaging, whether or not you used it properly, or just rushed through trying to answer things so you could get to the next stage, etc. Did it help you learn anything? Was it useful in relation to your inquiry studies about Hamilton? How did you enjoy working in pairs?
Please be honest so i can learn from your experience.
The more detailed your answer, the better.
regards,
Mr WOody - research monkey manager

p.s. the primate shown is a bonobo. bonobos are a type of chimpanzee and are apes, not monkeys. there is a difference and as scientists we need to be clear about our distinctions between different groups when making classifications. [put your hand up if you understood what i just said]

instructions for reliever

i will be away tomorrow and probably wednesday also.

please politely tell the reliever that i have left you instructions on the blog so you need to see it in class.

please also tell Seb that i won't be in to meet with his mum as planned. [don't worry - saying that won't get him kidnapped or anything]

everyone needs to look at the post about the famous influential people and put together a small presentation on their choice. it can be done anyway you like. perhaps as a fast fact card mobile like the ones hanging above my desk.
it IS compulsory.

name the person. say what their great achievements were. say why you think they are one of the most influential people to have contributed to human knowledge or understanding or technical ability. justify your choice. only a few paragraphs, a picture and some references are required.

info on the famous influential people as listed in the post i made earlier is available online or through our library. ask mrs kneebone if you need to find good reference books.
it is due this friday at 3pm. it doesn't have to be long, but it does have to be top QUALITY.
if you have any questions ask the reliever or a student who gets what i mean.
you can ask questions here also...