Hello. Welcome to Mr. Woodward's World of Science.
I am the new Science Teacher in Leeton, MO. We have gotten off to a pretty good start for the second semester. Each class is progressing, some a little slower than other classes, but we are moving forward. My goal is to excite, encourage and engage the students in Science. We began the semester with me asking the students what hobbies or interests they had. I received many different answers to this question. I then asked them how does this relate to science? I could tell that many of the student's didn't think their likes were related. After we looked at some they realized that just about everything in the world is related to science in some way. It may be biology, physics, chemistry, or even computer science, but everything is related to science in some way.
I am teaching a wide variety of classes here at Leeton High School. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, and Integrated Science II. Each of these courses has it's own challenges, excitements, and doldrums. My goal is to encourage each of the students to find those exciting things, over come the dull things, and meet each challenge head on. I know that with a little effort and hard work that every student can be successful.
We have made it to the first tests in three of the classes, and getting close to the first test in the other two subjects. Overall the student's did well on their tests. The main obstacle they had to overcome was studying the guide I gave them for the test. Those that didn't make an effort to study, didn't do well on the test. Those that did, excelled on the test. I have also begun to add hands on experiments in the classes to raise the excitement of the class, and I also try to give as much individual help as I can for those that have questions. I ask the student's give me the respect that I demand as a teacher, and in turn I will treat them with respect and make science a class in which they can learn many new and exciting things.
The area's that the student's are currently working on in each class varies some what.
In Biology we just finished Chapter 13. it covered DNA, genetically modified organisms, cloning, and how scientists are making advancements with researching DNA, producing genomic libraries of our DNA codes, and discovering cures to illnesses, developing consumer products which give us higher nutrition, grow faster, grow larger, or provide us with vitamins and amino acids our bodies must have to survive. We are now starting on Chapter 14 and 15. This covers evolution, and biodiversity. We will have a mixture of lectures and hands on experiments in class, and the students will also do the reading, and answering the questions found here.
http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/iText/products/0-13-115075-8/text/index.html
If the student completes the questions and turns in the work to me they get points for each correct answer. This will also better prepare them for the tests and the End of Course exam they will have to take this year.
Physics: We just finished chapter 13 which covered gravity and how it is universal. We learned that our solar system, galaxy and even the universe is held together by a constant force of gravity. We discovered how we are affected by gravity here on Earth, and how weightlessness is felt in space where gravities effects are less, or non-existent. We looked at how the tides, volcano's, earthquakes, and the orbit of the moon and the Earth is affected by gravity. This covered how the moon rotates around the Earth, and how the Earth rotates around the Sun. We discovered that different phases of the moon, the time of the year, and rotation of the Earth affect how high or low the tides are. The students also looked how the solar and lunar eclipse are caused, and what affects they have on the Earth and moon. And, we covered over how things of different weights fall at the same rate when they are dropped, and how gravity affects this.
Our next adventure will cover Chapter 14 which discusses orbits, and satellites. If the student takes the time to read the chapter, takes notes of my lectures, participates in the hands on experiments, and reviews my testing hand outs they should do well in the class. We will also do some review of previous material, to make sure they understood it, or covered it. We will look at motion, centrifugal force, and center of gravities while also reviewing some basic physics math processes so that we know how to make the more advanced calculations in the future. This class has been one of my favorites so far and the student's seem to be excited about the things we are doing in class. They really enjoyed the section we covered on Black Holes, and astronomy. I will try to cover more of this very interesting topic in the future as well.
As, it is getting close for school to start today I will continue with the other classes in my next blog. If any parent wishes to know how their student is doing I will be glad to visit at anytime with them. you can email me at jwoodward@leeton.k12.mo.us or through the schools phone service.
I look forward to this new challenge in science and teaching the students many interesting things to spark that fire in them about science.
