Audrey Perry

Go Science!

7th Grade Science & Study Skills

What's Happening in Science? (As of 10/15/09)

Atoms and Molecules.  We've been working on atomic structure (including the Bohr Model of the atom versus the more accurate but less useful Electron Cloud Model) and how to interpret the Periodic Table of Elements.  There is a quiz on Monday to see how well students can use a periodic table to find the number of protons, neutrons, electrons, energy levels, and valence electrons of a given element.  Our next big project (homework) will be for each student to assemble a model atom for a given element in the Bohr structure.

We've been talking about the importance of valence electrons in chemistry, and next week students will be making the connection between valence electrons and molecular bonding.  Given a molecular formula (such as H2O or CH4), students will be able to predict how the atoms come toegether to make molecules simply by using what they know about valence electrons!

After we're done with molecules, we'll be moving into states of matter (solid, liquid, gas, plasma).  This starts October 28th!

Upcoming Due Dates:

1. Quiz: Atom Basics. 10/19. 20pts. This quiz will test students' ability to interpret the periodic table (provided -- don't bother memorizing!) to find how many protons, neutrons, electrons, energy levels and valence electrons an element has.

2. Atom Model Homework, due 10/22, 20pts. Download a copy of the grading rubric here.

3. Quiz: Bohr Model. 10/26. Students will need to be able to draw the Bohr Model electron configuration for several different elements, using only a periodic table.

Handouts: Email me if you need these in a different format.  

1. Atom Model Homework due 10/22 (.doc)

2. Layer Liquids Homework due 10/2 (.doc)

Other Websites:

  • Periodictable.com: This site has an interactive Periodic Table of the Elements on it. This site has updated information on all the known elements (there are
    117 of them last time I checked), including the new names of some of the new elements, uses, dates of discovery, and other weird trivia. You can buy great posters here, too!

  • PeriodicVideos.com: This site contains many videos for chemistry enthusiasts.  It has videos relating to specific elements on the periodic table; if you
    want to see how Potassium reacts in water, or what you can do with Mendeleevium, this is the site for you!

  • Fantastic Contraption: A really addictive game that has you building "contraptions" using wheels and sticks to try and move a ball from the "start"
    to the "goal". Great for teaching physics and engineering! I made it to Level 13, but after that I'm totally stuck. Try it out and help me!

  • Carbon Footprint Calculator: This site features a relatively simple carbon footprint calculator that you can use to find out how many tons of Carbon Dioxide you generate each year. There are more complex calculators you can find that are more precise, but they require a lot of information most 7th graders probably don't know. This calculator gives a good approximation without asking for really small details, and provides a lot of background education to help students understand the purpose of each question, and how to answer accurately. Compare your carbon emissions to the rest of the country, and the world!

  • Thinkgeek.com: This is where I buy all my favorite science toys. If you like nerdy toys, then this is the site for you. :)

Wish List:

  • -Old Tools (Hammers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, pliers, etc)
  • -Film Canisters
  • -Baby Food Jars
  • -2-Liter Soda Bottles
  • -Batteries (9V, AA, D)
  • -White Christmas Lights
  • -Small DC Motors
  • -Frequently Used "Science Chemicals" (vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, iodine, sugar, baking soda, salt...)
  • Thanks for helping to keep us stocked up! :)

 

Teacher's Contact Information:

email: aperry@osd.wednet.edu

Voicemail: (360) 596-3016

Direct: (360) 596-3042

Teacher's Schedule:

8:00-8:57am       1st Pd.     Science

9:00-9:57am       2nd Pd.    Science

10:00-10:57am   3rd Pd.     Science

11:00-12:00n      4th Pd.     Science

12:00-12:30pm         Lunch

12:33-1:30pm     5th Pd.     Planning

1:33-2:32pm      6th Pd.      Study Skills

About Mrs. Perry:

Audrey Perry hails from the SF Bay Area in California, and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2001 with a Bachelor's degree in Genetics. She also studied German there, being of German ancestry and generally an enthusiast of all things German. She received her Masters in Teaching from Evergreen in 2005 and has been working at Washington Middle School ever since.

For fun, she plays the clarinet and drumset, can play some other instruments too (though not as well), enjoys soccer, and plays video games in her spare time. She likes movies, cartoons (especially anime), and comics. She has volunteered at the Berkeley Free Clinic in California as a counselor around the risks/prevention of hepatitis, and collected blood samples and administered vaccines in that capacity. These days, she volunteers for the Thurston County Coroner's Office as a Deputy Reserve. She is always interested in learning more about her students, so if you want to chat it up about anything, drop by after school!

Mission For The Class:

To encourage students to continually ask questions about their environment and how things work, and to give students the means and enthusiasm to seek out the
answers, either through information-gathering or hands-on experimentation. Don't take your world for granted!

 

Science is fun! Don't believe me? Ask last year's TA:

Old Science Web site