9th Grade: Week of May 18-22

Hello,
This is our last full week of school. After tomorrow's debate, we will be finishing up Chapter 3, with the chapter test being on Wednesday. Other than studying for the test, there will likely be no homework for the week,

-Mr. Pfiester

7th and 8th Grade: Week of May 18-22

Hello,

This is our last full week of school. We will continue with our study of motion and Newton's Three Laws of Motion. Homework is assigned only once this week. It is as follows:

DUE Wednesday, May 20: In complete sentences, answer the following:

1. There is a legend that Isaac Newton made a significant discovery about gravity after being hit on the head by an apple while sitting under an apple tree. Conduct Internet research and find out whether there is any truth to this legend.
   
2. Refer to your Section 3 packet. How is mass related to inertia?
   
3. You are pushing a loaded shopping cart at the store and want to accelerate. What the two ways to increase the acceleration of the cart?
   

Have a great week,
-Mr. Pfiester

7th-8th Grade: Week of May 11-15

Hello,
As mentioned last week, I will be absent this Wednesday and Thursday (Mr. Westermann will be your substitute teacher). We will continue with our study of motion this week. The homework and DUE dates are as follows:

Tuesday, May 12: Explain the following in complete sentences:

1. Explain the difference between dependent and independent variables in an experiment.
   
2. Why should an experiment only change one independent variable at a time from trial to trial?
3. Describe an imaginary experiment conducted in a good way and in a bad way.
   

Also, the Xavier Bicycle Safety Day is on Saturday, May 16 from 9 am -11:40 am at school. See me if you are interested in participating.

Have a great week,
-Mr. Pfiester

9th Grade: Week of May 11-15

Hello,
As mentioned last week, I will be absent this Wednesday and Thursday (Mr. Westermann will be your substitute teacher). We will conduct one debate a day, Monday through Wednesday. The homework and DUE dates are as follows.

Thursday, May 14: Section Assessment 3-3 Questions 1-6 (p. 80).

Also, the Xavier Bicycle Safety Day is on Saturday, May 16 from 9 am -11:40 am at school. See me if you are interested in participating.

Have a great week,
-Mr. Pfiester

9th Grade: Week of May 4-8

Hello,
I hope you had a good weekend. As mentioned previously, on Friday the Mystery Classes will finally reveal their locations. Everybody did a great job on this project. While I will be in the building, I will be busy with administrative responsibilities on Monday. Mrs. Corpron will substitute. This week will be dedicated to preparing for the spring debates. Unlike the fall debates, ALL students will speak. There will actually be three debates (each composed of six students). So, the debate schedule is as follows:
Groups and debate topics will be determined on Monday.
Debate format and viewing of a sample debate will be on Tuesday.
Research will be conducted on Wednesday-Friday.
Actual debates will be next week (Monday-Wednesday).

Have a great week,
-Mr. Pfiester

7th and 8th Grade: Week of May 4-8

Hello,
I hope you had a good weekend. As mentioned previously, on Friday the Mystery Classes will finally reveal their locations. Everybody did a great job on this project. While I will be in the building, I will be busy with administrative responsibilities on Monday for periods 2-3. Mr. Krause will substitute. We will spend several days this week experimenting with the motion of pendulums and the variables that affect their periods. At this point, there is only one homework assigned for this week as seen below:


DUE Thursday, May 7: As you've probably studied before, gravity varies from planet to planet. Answer these questions in complete sentences:

1. Here is a question: What effect does gravity have on the period of a pendulum? In other words, does increasing gravity speed up or slow down a pendulum?
2. Let's assume you transport the same pendulum from planet to planet. Make a list of all nine planets (yes, Pluto we are including you) in order by fastest period (=#1) to slowest period (=#9).
3. On which planet would a playground swing the fastest? The slowest?

Have a great week,
-Mr. Pfiester