Friday, June 28, 2013

Geocaching/ Kites

Find Geocaches near you!!


Geocaching in Helena, MT



Be sure to log your experience at Geocaching.com!!!

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kites

DIAMOND KITE
Materials:
  • butcher cord or thin garden twine
  • scotch tape or glue
  • 1 sheet of strong paper (102cm x 102cm)
  • 2 strong, straight wooden sticks of bamboo or wooden doweling 90cm and 102cm
  • markers, paint or crayons to decorate you kite.
    1. Make a cross with the two sticks, with the shorter stick placed horizontally across the longer stick. Make sure that both sides of the cross piece is equal in width.
    2. Tie the two sticks together with the string in such a way as to make sure that they are at right angles to each other. A good way to ensure that the joint is strong to put a dab of glue to stick it in place.
    3. Cut a notch at each end of both sticks. Make it deep enough for the type of string you are using to fit in to. Cut a piece of string long enough to stretch all around the kite frame. Make a loop in the top notch and fasten it by wrapping the string around the stick. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the cross-piece, and make another loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at the other end of the cross-piece. Finish by wrapping the string a few times around the top of the stick and cutting off what you don't need. This string frame must be taut, but not so tight as to warp the sticks.
    4. Lay the sail material flat and place the stick frame face down on top. Cut around it, leaving about 2-3cm for a margin. Fold these edges over the string frame and tape or glue it down so that the material is tight.
    5. Cut a piece of string about 122 cm long. and tie one end to the loop at the other end of the string to the loop at the bottom. Tie another small loop in the string just above the intersection of the two cross pieces. This will be the kite's bridle, the string to which the flying line is attached.
    6. Make a tail by tying a small ribbon roughly every 10cm along the length of string. Attach the tail to the loop at the bottom of the kite.
    7. Decorate!


  • Wednesday, June 26, 2013

    Global Positioning Systems

    Longitude and latitude....



    http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/mapping/outline-map/?ar_a=1

    http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/mapping/outline-map/?map=USA&ar_a=1




    Map Skills








    Global Positioning System



    Monday, June 24, 2013

    Flight

    Discussion:

    What is the definition of Flight?


    Come up with a list of Natural Flight and 
    Man Made Flight

    Many things can become airborne, but if they aren't under control are they really flying?

    Check out these:






    Airfoils:









    AOA - Angle of Attack






    Monday, June 17, 2013

    Air has pressure??

    From our weather unit - what do you know about AIR PRESSURE???



    Did you know that air is pressing on us 14.7 pounds per square inch!!





    Why aren't we being squished by the air around us?

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    This diagram shows air molecules - what do you notice about this diagram?

    Why do our ears pop - when we are driving up the pass or flying?


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Lets test it out...

    1st- paper bag experiment 
    2nd - ziplock bag, straw & text books. 


    **********Don't forget your notebook!!!*************


    video:

    The Magic School Bus

    Wednesday, June 12, 2013

    Weather Fronts








    There are 5 different air masses that effect North America.  

    There are 3 main types of frontal boundaries that separate these fronts

    Cold front:

    Warm Front:

    Stationary Front:





    The JET STREAM


    L is low Pressure 






    Can you tell me what is happening here





    There are three Weather Detective activities. Please click HERE.

    Choose one location and report your findings.


    Monday, June 10, 2013

    6/11/13 Weather Stations

    Anemometer



    The anemometer mesures the WIND SPEED.  However many times the anemometer spends around in one minute will give you the RATES PER MINUTE (RPM)

    We are more familiar with Miles Per Hour (MPH)

    Use the formula:
    RPM x 0.2142 = MPH

    To calculate Knots (Beaufort Scale)
    1 Knot = 1.15077945 MPH


    In this picture the anemometer is connected to the Wind Vane.  The wind vane tells in which direction the wind is blowing. 

    Question: Why would this information be useful when reporting the weather?






    Resources:
    http://billboyheritagesurvey.wordpress.com/
    Scholastic.com
    http://www.spc.noaa.gov/





    6/10/13 Part 2

    Barometers


    Measures Atmospheric Pressure or Air pressure. 



    Atmospheric Pressure   At the bottom of a swimming pool, the pressure is equal to the weight of the overlying water divided by the area that weight is pressing against. The same idea applies in the atmosphere. For every square meter of the surface of the Earth, the full weight of all the air above that square meter, extending all the way up to space, is pressing down. This is called atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is less when you go up a mountain, because the higher you go the less air is above you. This is why air is denser at lower altitudes; the greater pressure squeezes more air molecules into each cubic centimeter. 


    Measuring Air pressure helps us determine the change in the weather. 
    If it is going to rain the hand will move the the left. 
    If it is going to stay the same the hand will not move.
    If it is going to be sunny the hand will turn to the right



    pressure is the force per unit of air

                 p=pressure           f= force            a=air


    - diving in a pool
    -walking on snow
    -pumping a bike tire
    -cutting food with the wrong side of the knife



    resources:
    Mr. Regester's Home page http://academic.greensboroday.org/~regesterj/

    Sunday, June 9, 2013

    6/10/13 Part 1 Weather and Climate

    Welcome to Summer of Science
    MONDAY JUNE 10, 2013


    This week we are examining Weather

    First Journal: What do you know about weather?



    Video: studyjams

    WEATHER



    CLIMATE




    Climate for Helena MT


    Weather reports

    Helena Weather - Google

    Weather Satellite

    Weather Report


    Comments -Please write 2 things you learned from this lesson. Do not forget your student number!



    Resources:
    http://www.make-my-own-house.com/
    Scholastic.com