Friday, September 23, 2016

October Eureka!

October 6 Eureka

Apprentice:


Study/Learn

1. Let's start by {possibly} creating a Eureka moment :


Answer these questions:

Exactly how old are you?

Calendars have been in use for thousand of years.  
In our current calendar, how many days are in a year?

Prove it! 

Calculate how many days you have been alive.

Calculate how many days you will have been alive on your next birthday.

Let us all know how old you really are on October 6 in class.


2.  What do we think about the abacus?  Let's give it some time and learn how to move the beads.

Some tips:

*Remember, I know these small problems are EASY to do in your head.
*You are learning to see how the beads work and creating a muscle memory for your fingers.
*If you get really good at these easy problems, later ones will be easier.


If you did not (or even if you did) get a worksheet, here is one you can download and print.  Work for a few minutes each day, and you will learn fast!  Either do one row of the worksheet, OR have someone quiz you.  Remember, all we are doing right now are numbers that add (or subtract) to less than 10.

http://mmtplonline.com/uservideo/1st%20Level%20Practice%20Sheet.pdf

3.  Most of you seem pretty confident with the multiplication we briefly touched in class.  But practice is always good!  Choose which multiplication tables you need to work on the most out of 0s, 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s.  Go here to create your own personalized flashcard experience.  Spend 5 min/day practicing times tables.

http://www.mathusee.com/e-learning/drills/

4. Read from the Story of Science chapters 4, 8 and 9.

5. Read from Mathematicians are People, Too Volume 1 Chapters 1 and 2 (Thales and Pythagoras)

6. Create cards from the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy for:
     Hieroglyphics
     Rosetta stone
     Pyramids


Know/Understand

1. Be prepared to answer: What's Ionia?

2. Thales and Pythagoras discovered some of today's foundational principles of math.  Your reading will teach you a lot about them.

Choose 1 of these interesting men to teach us about in class.  BUT, I just want 1 aspect (or part) of that man's life.  It could be a story about his life, or a principle he discovered.  You can pull from your reading, or other sources.  Each of you will have 3-5 minutes to teach or demonstrate. You can work together with a sibling!

Some ideas you could use are:

Dress up as one of them, and tell a story as if you were him.
Share a Eureka moment about understanding a principle.
Teach Thales propositions on pg 39 of your science book.
Teach about the concepts on pg 42-43 of your science book.
Teach about magic numbers on pg 67 of your science book.
Teach about the concepts on pg 70-71 of your science book.
Teach about the pythagorean theorem on page 79 of your science book.
Teach the principles from page 81, 82-83, or 84-85

Or Choose your own idea.

Have fun with it!

Become/Serve

It's exciting to learn new things, and make our brains stretch around new ideas. But (especially in the the field of science) some of those ideas don't always jive with our belief system.  And we might wonder...."Why is this even important for me to know?"  Good question!  What do you think?

1. Read this article, and be prepared to answer:

Do Science and Religion Conflict?

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2016/07/science-and-our-search-for-truth?lang=eng

2. The ability to think through problems is innate, but if we do not practice, that ability weakens.  Be grateful that you can THINK!  I invite you to take time in your prayers this week to thank Heavenly Father for your ability to think and solve problems!


Journeyman:

“This afternoon I labored on the Egyptian alphabet, in company with Brothers Oliver Cowdery and W. W. Phelps, and during the research, the principles of astronomy as understood by Father Abraham and the ancients unfolded to our understanding.”  ----Joseph Smith

1.  Check out This Week's Sky at a Glance!  By the time you read this, this week may be over.

Simply go to SkyandTelescope.com and find the new This week's Sky at a glance.  Go outside after dark at least once this week and see what you can find in the sky based on what you learn.

We are jumping ahead for this month, and will get to the planets starting next month.

2.  Read Chapter 13 in your Astronomy Book.  There are so many fascinating ways a conversation could go.  I want YOU to drive it.  Choose a sub section of this chapter to learn more about in depth, and be prepared to present it in class.  3-5 minutes.

Many people have found meaning in the stars throughout the ages.  Not only an important navigational tool, the stars have held, and still hold great religious significance.  (Including astrology, which we will talk about in class briefly).  Pictures in the stars have meaning.  Some people even believe the gospel in is the stars.  Why not?

3.  Anyway, please choose ANY constellation in the earth's sky to learn more about, and share with the class (doest't have to be long)......

......It's picture, meaning, and any important stars within it.



Masters:

1.  String, Straight Edge and Shadow is our book this month.  Skip the first 47 pages (you're welcome!)  The rest of the book will be some review of things we've been doing, and go into more depth.  We will play with some of the concepts in class.


2.  Read the next 3 Stories in Penrose the Mathematical Cat, pages 26, 28 and 32.

3. Much like last time, teach any concept from your reading.  Find one that interests you the most.


Happy Learning!


Saturday, August 27, 2016

September 2016 Eureka

Welcome to a new year of EUREKA!

Let the Discovery Begin


Apprentice:

Study/Learn

What does Eureka even mean, and where did it come from?

 I have a couple short videos that will help:

 If you like legos, watch this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEvtahSn_ms"


If you don't care about legos, watch this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijj58xD5fDI


From The Story of Science peruse through the first 2 chapters.

 Come prepared to share how you believe the world came into existence.

 Read chapter 3, which is full of fascinating information.

 Come prepared to share the single most interesting fact in your opinion from that chapter.

 On another note.... We are going to learn how to use an abacus this year, an ancient counting tool, which is still used today in many parts of the world. If you get really good at using it, your math skills can become SUPER fast! So please Bring your Abacus!

 If you'd like a head start on how to use it, check this little video out


From the Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, please make these notecards:

Archimedes

Stonehenge

Mesopotamia

Know/Understand

 What Eureka moments have you had in your life? Come prepared to share a eureka moment. (This doesn't have to be a brand new discovery, just your personal discovery. Anything!

 How do you believe the world came into existence? (Mentioned above) This would be a good question to discuss with your parents.

 What is the single most fascinating fact in chapter 3? (Mentioned above)

 Become

Watch this video:  How can you relate this to Vanguard?




Journeyman:

Read Lesson Two in Apologia


Bring a magnifying glass to class if you have one!

Listen to this song by Jason Mraz and answer these questions:

How far is earth from the sun (about)?
How far is earth from the sun? (exactly…from chapter 2 in Apologia)
How far is earth from the moon?

Look through some pictures here: 
And find a cool picture of the sun with an interesting fact that you are prepared to share.


Master:

Read in “The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat”

*The first 8 stories….on pages 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 22.

Which concept interests you the most?

*Be prepared to TEACH one of these mathematical principles to the rest of the class.  Find a way to make it interesting and HANDS ON!


*If you are interested in teaching a certain topic, but don’t know how to make it interesting or hands on, please contact me, and I will help you figure it out!

Jennah Martin: 719-494-7522, or  jendave24@gmail.com

I'm excited that you are joining me on this AMAZING journey of discovery.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

April Eureka

Last Eureka Class

Vanguardians come prepared to show off what you have learned.  Multiplication, Cards  and Geography.  Work hard and review.  This Eureka we will not be splitting into different levels.  Be prepared to stay all day. In the afternoon we will be inviting your families to join us for a  Cultural Fair and after that the Mad Scientists projects.

Multiplication- Keep going if you need this. 10 minutes a day. At least 1 hour total.

Cards- No new cards.  I want you to spend time reviewing the cards you have.  Be ready to SHINE!  Go through them, take them with you, enjoy them, and the information they hold. Bring them to class so you can use them (hint, hint).

Geography- Learn South America.  Review the other continents


MOVIE
Your group will have 1 hour to work together.

CULTURAL FAIR
Invite your families 12:30 to 2:30 at the church.  More to come... there will be food assigned out so this will be our lunch


MAD SCIENTIST - 2:30 back to Halleys

Come prepared with your Mad Scientist Project.  Be ready to demonstrate your project over and over, if possible.  If it is a one time experiment that is okay also.  Make sure to invite your families.  Your siblings will be our audience.  Make this fun.  DON'T BORE THEM!!!  I would love to see some lab coats, Einstein Hair, or some nerd glasses.  MAKE THIS FUN! Yes, that is an order.


It has been a pleasure to be with you this year.  You are a fabulous group and I expect great things out of your future!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

March Eureka

Write out the terms and definitions from The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy on your notecards.

    • lisImage result for meteorites
    • Atmospheric cycle
    • air quality index
    • atmosphere
    • atmospheric pressure
    • aurora borealis
    • barometer
    • cell
    • climate
    • front
    • global warming
    • greenhouse effect
    • inversion, layer
    • ionosphere
    • jet stream
    • land breeze
    • lithosphere
    • meteor
    • meteorites
    • meteorology
    • microclimate
    • ozone hole
    • prevailing westerlies
    • rainbow
    • relative humidity
    • renewable resources
    • sea breeze
    • smog
    • solar energy
    • stratosphere
    • troposphere
    • Van Allen Belt
    • weather
    • weather map
  • Play a game of checkers
  • Play a game of chess
  • Write out your Mad Scientist Pan
    • We talked about this in class.  I want you to come up with an experiment.  Using the Scientific Method write down what you experiment will be.  Bring me your plan.
  • Get to stage 3 of how to solve the Rubix Cube
  • Master your Multiplication! I want you to do 5 drills for 5 days.  If you started late, just get caught up. multiplication drills   Click start than select multiplication and whichever numbers you are still working on or select all the numbers. 

Geography- Africa and Northern Asia
  • Memorize where the countries are now.  There are many fun ways to do this.  You Tube has songs, there are many apps.  Share what you find with the others.  Help each other to make this enjoyable.  

Journeyman

  • Read Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe  the first half of Chapter 5.  This is a really long chapter.  We will do the last half next month   I do not expect you to read everything.  I would like you to spend  at least an hour in this half of the  chapter.  Do the art and bring it.  I want to see it.  Get out your paper, pencil, straightedge, and compass.  Create the shapes you will be learning about.  I want this to broaden your mind, to help you see the world a little differently.  Think of this as art not just reading.

  • Solve this Sudoku puzzle


Masters

  • Read  4 different Essays in Asimov on Numbers.  Choose the ones that interest you.  
  • Read the first half of Mathmaticians Are People Too.
  • Come ready to present what is in your favorite Asimov essay or  more about a  Mathematician you read about.  Make these interesting!  DON'T BORE ME!





    Friday, November 6, 2015

    Volcanos and Earthquakes

    Apprentice
    • Continue with the note cards and add the new terms from The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy.
    • Volcano 2801

      • basalt
      • continental divide
      • continental drift
      • continental shelf
      • continents
      • earthquake
      • fault
      • geologic cycle
      • geology
      • geothermal energy
      • granite
      • hot spot
      • igneous rock
      • lava
      • limestone
      • magma
      • Marianas Trench
      • metamorphic rock
      • Pangaea
      • plate tectonics
      • Richter scale
      • San Andreas fault
      • sea floor spreading
      • sedimentary rock
      • seismic waves
      • seismology
      • shale
      • silicates
      • soil
      • stalactites
      • stalagmites
      • stratification
      • tectonic plates
      • volcano


    • Make a Volcano.  Bring it with you to erupt it in class --a bottle of coke and a pack of mentos does not equal a volcano:)  Get creative!
    • DRESS WARM!  We are going to the park to explode them.

    Geography
    • Memorize the countries of North Asia.  Remember to share sites that you find helpful.
    Math
    •  Learn the rest of the multiplication tables- 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's, 7's, 8's, 12's.  Remember a lot of these you already know!
    •  I want you to do 5 drills for each of these numbers. multiplication drills   Click start than select multiplication and whichever number you are working on. 
    • Next challenge yourself and do the drills for all the numbers 5 times.  We will be competing, so come ready to race!

      Journeyman

      • Read Chapt 4 in The Beginners Guide to Constructing the Universe.  Read for an hour in the chapter.  Skip around. Do the art and bring it to show us.
      • We will be talking about the first 4 chapters.  Bring all your art if you still have it.  Be ready to share what has been intriguing to you?  Write down 5 cool thoughts you have had while reading this book.  Bring them with you.


      Master
      My Side of the Mountain/On the Far Side of the Mountain
      • Read My Side of the Mountain

      • Complete a project that was done in the book.  Have fun with this and bring it to class.  Even if the project fails the fact that you tried something new is great.


      Tuesday, October 27, 2015

      Earth Science Nov 2015

      Earth Science


      If you have been working ahead- I am so proud of you! Keep up the great work.  I have changed the homework to help fit in the field trip to the Hare Krishna Temple.  If you already started on the old terms they will be for January.  Sorry to switch things up a bit.

      Apprentice



      • Read each of the links on this page Hare Krishna is Who??  in preparation for the field trip. As you read, write down anything that is similar to what you believe; much is different but there are some commonalities.


      •  Write out and memorize terms from The Dictionary of Cultural  Literacy- keep working on past  cards
        • Alvarez hypothesis
        • barrier island
        • carbon 14 dating
        • catastrophism
        • coral reef
        • core
        • cosmic rays
        • crust
        • earth
        • earth, evolution of
        • erosion
        • estuary
        • extinction
        • fossil
        • fossil fuel
        • fossil record
        • geophysics
        • gradualism
        • Hutton, James
        • Lyell, Charles
        • magnetic field of earth
        • magnetic field reversals
        • magnetic north
        • magnetic pole
        • mantle
        • mass extinction
        • mineral
        • oil sands
        • ore
        • paleontology
        • Pangaea
        • plate techtonics
        • radioactive dating
        • tides
        • topsoil
        • tundra
        • watertable
        • weathering

      • Multiplication- You will need to have these mastered by February.  Start working on the 0's, 1's, 2's, 5's, 9's, 10's, 11's.  Don't stress out and put up a block.  I know you can do this. I want you to do 5 drills for each of these numbers. multiplication drills   Click start than select multiplication and whichever number you are working on. 
        • O's- Zero is King! Anything Times 0 is 0!
        • 1's- One is a mirror.  Whatever the number is, is the reflection it sees back. 1x4=4
        • 5's- Think of a clock. 5x6=30 Just like when the minute hand is pointing to the 6 it is 30 minutes after the hour. Pointing to the 9 makes it 45. Pointing at the 3 makes it 15 and so on.


      Geography
        • Map of North America- Memorize countries and the states of the U.S.  Rember to share sites that you find helpful.
      Journeyman
      • Read Chapt 3 in The Beginners Guide to Constructing the Universe.  Read for an hour in the chapter.  Skip around. Do the art and bring it to show us.

      • Do a Scientist Study.  Pick a scientist and learn about them.  Come ready to show us who they were.  Bonus points for dressing up.  Remember- DON'T BORE ME!
      Masters

      • Read Journey to the Center of the Earth- this book is a slow start but hang in there.  This book helped start the genre of Science Fiction.

      Geography!! It's FIELD TRIP TIME!!

      Hello Vanguardians,
      The region we are studying this month is U.S.A. (yahoo!) and Canada.  Now we love North America, we do, but we would like to spend a bit more time on India.  We had a brief and wonderful presentation by Luke and Sister Cloward, but the culture is diverse in that area of the world.  I propose we go to the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork!  I know you are curious about that building on the hill that sticks out like a sore thumb (as beautiful as it is :)

      We will see the grounds, animals, tour the inside of the temple, hear their beliefs, listen to them play music and chant, and maybe even try out the instruments ourselves.  Leave your PBJ at home as they are preparing lunch for you!  It is all vegetarian and authentic. They grow most of their food, interestingly enough, and have blessed it in their way to make it "kosher" for their beliefs. Fascinating.

      Please BRING $6.00 with you that day.  This pays for your tour and lunch.  Don't forget! If your family is like ours you may want to get the money and put it in your bag now so that you don't starve that day. (Now usually Vanguard dues pay for this sort of thing but if we consider how much Vanguard has done already this semester it will not surprise you that there is no money left.  Your fabulous mentors did amazing things with the funds.  Thanks you guys!)

      Details:
      9:00 a.m. Meet at the Halley's as usual for opening, english, and a bit of math.
      10:45 Drive to the temple.
      11:00 Tour begins
      1:00 Lunch
      2:00 Return to the Halley's
           Vanguardians who only did apprentice can be picked up at this time.
           Journeyman and Master Class will begin.  They are combined this month.  So, work like crazy and      come enjoy the whole day!
      4:00 Finished

      I am looking so forward to it!
      Love, Sister Pulley

      P.S.  You will still want to memorize the 50 States, and Canadian Provinces. Hopefully you know your continent.  If not, now is the time!

      You will also want to read each of the links on this page Hare Krishna is Who??  in preparation for the field trip. As you read, write down anything that is similar to what you believe; much is different but there are some commonalities.