MAC Grants

From Canonsburg Middle School's Website:

McDonald's MAC Grants: Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were the proud recipients of two McDonald's MAC Grants totaling nearly a $1,000 to support lessons in literacy and science throughout the school year.  A special thanks to our Canonsburg McDonalds and McDonalds Inc. for supporting Canonsburg Middle School and public education through such wonderful grant opportunities.

Basketball Champions!

Congratulations to the Supernova  basketball team for winning this year's CMS Winter Classic basketball tournament.  

Students of the Month: December

The Supernova teachers would like to congratulate the following Supernovas for earning student of the month honors for the month of December.

English: River I.
Science: Lauren N.
Social Studies: Jessie A.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Baili W.

ADV Extended Vocab #7

I am posting the link before I leave to the Extended Vocabulary List #7. The definitions and sentences will be due to the Substitute on Tuesday, December 17th at the start of class. The quiz for these terms will take place on Thursday, December 19th at the beginning of the class period. I will grade the tests upon my return.

Penn State Weather Camp (June 22-27, 2014)

Click on the following link to view information about Penn State's Weather Camp.

www.outreach.psu.edu/weather-camp

ADV: Extended Vocabulary List #6

Here is the link to the Quizlet for the Extended Vocabulary List #6. The definitions will be due on Tuesday, December 10th. The test will be on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12th, 2013 instead of Friday due to the "Flowers for Algernon" test that day. Any questions, please see me.

Advanced Extended Vocabulary #5

Here is the link to the Quizlet for Extended Vocabulary List #5. The test on these vocabulary terms will take place on Friday, December 6, 2013.

Energy Research Debate General Information

Energy Research Debate (Digital Copy)
Energy Research and Presentation Notes (Digital Copy)

Google Presentation Due Date: December 16, 2013

• Create in Google Drive
• Share with Mr. Wolf: wolfp@cmsd.k12.pa.us
• Power Companies: Share with your group members
• Power Companies: Make sure your group members have permission to edit
• How to Name Your Google Presentation:
• Power Companies: classperiod_energyresource
• Example: 4-5_hydropower
• This would be the name of the file for the power company researching hydropower in my period 4-5 class.
• Panel Members: classperiod_energyresource_panel
• Example: 6-7_fossilfuels_panel
• This would be the name of the file for the panel member researching fossil fuels in my period 6-7 class.

Energy Pathfinder

Please use the following pathfinder to help you get started with your research.  The pathfinder can also be accessed from the library's website.

http://cmspathfinders.wikispaces.com/Energy

Energy Resource Quiz (15 Points) - December 19th, 2013

"Flowers for Algernon" Vocabulary

This it the link to the "Flowers for Algernon" vocabulary. The vocabulary worksheet and definitions will be due on Thursday, December 5, 2013. These vocabulary terms will come up within the reading of the story, as well as on the final test. 

2013 Dodgeball Tournament Champions!

Congratulations to Mr. Wolf's homebase for winning the dodgeball tournament. 

Students of the Month: November

The Supernova teachers would like to congratulate the following Supernovas for earning student of the month honors for the month of November.

Social Studies: Chris K.
Science: Ryan H.
English: Alyssa L. 

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Samantha S.

Egg Drop Awards: 2013-2014

Mr. Wolf's 8th grade science class conducted an egg drop activity as one of the final projects for the physical science portion of the school year. The objective of the activity was to utilize physics concepts learned in class to design and construct a capsule that will protect a raw egg (from breaking) as it is dropped from an elevated position.

Rube Goldberg Videos

Assessment Anchor - S8.C.3: Principles of Motion and Force

Below is a link to Canonsburg Middle School's SchoolTube channel.  All the Rube Goldberg videos have been posted to our school's channel.

CMS SchoolTube Channel

While working on the project, the students experienced forces such as gravity and friction. They also utilized simple machines to make their work easier by changing the size and/or direction of the applied force.  The students had the option to create a video or make a poster.  The project packet is shown below.

Rube Goldberg Project 

Kinetic and Potential Energy Lab (2013-2014)

Below are some images of the Supernova students conducting a lab in science class. They had to take measurements and calculate the kinetic and gravitational potential energy of various objects.

Science Class: 11/11/13

Please read all of the following items before beginning your assignment.  If you owe any late work, such as the Rube Goldberg Project, please give your work to the teacher.  If you were absent Friday, get the following handouts from the teacher:

• Problems on Energy
• Pendulum and Roller Coaster Online Lab
• Egg Drop Activity

A. Examine the answer key from Friday's homework: "Problems on Energy"

• Check to see if you were using the proper formula and processes.
• Ensure that you showed your work for each question.
• Check to see if you have the right answer with the proper units
• Remember that 1 Newton-Meter is equal to 1 Joule 

B. Complete the "Pendulum and Roller Coaster Online Lab" that was given to you on Friday.

• Your username and password is listed at the top of the lab. 
• Any letter of the alphabet will work for the last part of the username/password as long as you use that same letter for both the username and password.
• The "Energy of a Pendulum" portion of the lab, 1st page (front and back), will be graded for completion. 
• The "Roller Coaster Physics" portion of the lab, 2nd page, will be counted as bonus points if it is completed. 
• The due date for the lab is Friday, November 15th.

C. If you still need to improve your "Chapter 8: Work and Machines" Quia score:

• Follow the instructions: "Science Class: 11/4/13" 
• All attempts must be completed by the end of class.

D. If you finish your online lab early, explore the "Energy Skate Park" simulation.

Energy Skate Park Simulation

Click to Run

Science Class: 11/4/13

Please complete the following steps in order. Please remain silent and on-task during the entire class period.

1. Complete the Chapter 8 Quia Activity by clicking on the following link - Chapter 8: Work and Machines.  Read the guidelines below before starting.

Activity Guidelines

• You are allowed to take the activity up to three times. 
• You may use your notes, book, and internet to help you with the activity.  Don't forget that you can access the PowerPoint notes and other items from the chapter by using the "Science Materials" link listed on the right side of the blog. 
•  If you do not score a 30 out of 30 (100%), retake the activity until you score a perfect or you have used all three attempts. 
• Only your best score will be recorded in the gradebook (if it is higher than your benchmark score).
• All attempts for the activity must be completed by the end of class on Monday, November 11th.  
• You may work on the activity at home.
• The activity can be saved if you are in the middle of an attempt at the end of the period. 
• You are not allowed to communicate the answers with other students.  The school’s cheating consequences will be followed if you are caught sharing answers. See your student handbook for more information.

2. Finish any work that you still owe Mr. Wolf.

Upcoming Due Assignments

• Work and Simple Machines - Web Activity: Due 11/7 
• Webquest: Simple Machines - Web Activity: Due 11/7 

3. Once your finish all the above steps:

Option 1: Click on the following link to explore some interactive websites on simple machines.
Simple Machines: Interactive Websites

Option 2: Complete a "Read and React" paper for bonus.

Option 3: Individually work on your Rube Goldberg Project.  We will NOT be spending additional class time on this project.  Due 11/8 (Friday)

Option 4: Watch - The Athlete Machine - Rube Goldberg Video

English 8 Extra Credit Opportunity

Students were given an extra credit opportunity to begin the second nine weeks grading period. They are to write a Text Criticism on an article in their textbook. This criticism should be a lengthy paragraph (5-8 sentences), at least. The assignment states:

"O. Henry's short stories remain popular with readers in part because they often have surprise endings. Read the article "Manuscripts Found in an Attic" on page 62 of the textbook. What do you think the author means when he describes it as 'a story about O. Henry that was an O. Henry story itself'?"

This extra credit assignment will be due by November 8th, 2013.

"Hallucination" Vocabulary

This it the link to the "Hallucination" vocabulary. The vocabulary worksheet and definitions will be due on Friday, November 1, 2013. These vocabulary terms will come up within the reading of the short story, as well as on the test.

Students of the Month: October

The Supernova teachers would like to congratulate the following Supernovas for earning student of the month honors for the month of October.

English: Patrick C.
Science: Megan B. 
Social Studies: Sophia K.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Sarah M.

Tell Tale Heart Vobcabulary

This is the link for "The Tell Tale Heart" vocabulary. The definitions and vocabulary practice are to be completed as homework and turned in at the start of class on Tuesday, October 29th, 2013. These vocabulary terms will come up within the short story, as well as appear on the test.

Science Class: 10/28/13-10/29/13

Please complete the following items in order. Please remain quiet and on-task during the entire class period.

1. Open "Chapter 8 - Work and Machines" PowerPoint.

• Go to slide 38 and check your answers to the key questions for section 2.  
• Read through each slide in section 3 of the PowerPoint.  Complete the rest of your guided notes for chapter 8 as you view the presentation. Examine, in detail, how each simple machine (lever, included plane, wedge, wheel and axle, pulley, screw) makes work easier. 

2. Complete the "Work and Simple Machines" activity. This handout will be provided for you by the teacher.  Ensure you fill in your answers on the answer sheet as you work through the activity. Turn in the activity sheet once you are finished.  (Due 11/7/13)

3. Complete "Webquest: Simple Machines". This handout will be provided for you by the teacher. Ensure you write in the answers on your handout as you work through the activity.  Turn in the activity sheet once you are finished.  (Due 11/7/13)

4. Click on "Science Materials" under the "Helpful Links" on the right side of the blog.  Please explore the format of this website.  Try accessing the "Rube Goldberg Project" from the "CH 8 - Work and Machines" section.  Read through the project.  Let Mr. Wolf know if you have any issues.

5. If you finish early:
Option 1: Click on the following link to explore some interactive websites on simple machines.
Simple Machines: Interactive Websites
Option 2: Complete a "Read and React" paper for bonus.
Option 3: Vocabulary Bonus - Chapter 8 (16 Words) - Due - 10/29/13 (end of class)

Ransom of Red Chief

This is the link for "The Ransom of Red Chief" vocabulary. The definitions and vocabulary practice are to be completed as homework and turned in at the start of class on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. These vocabulary terms will come up within the short story, as well as appear on the test.

How it works - The Incandescent Lightbulb

Energy 101: Light Bulbs

Energy 101: Light Bulbs