Monday, April 9, 2012

General Announcements:

• If you ever notice something missing or wrong on the blog, comment to let me know about it - I don't always have the whole picture. -Grace
• Hip Hop PE Thursdays from now until the beginning of May. Wear or bring clothes you can dance in and sneakers.
• No Dance This Friday - Don't worry, all your preparations thus far will still be useful for its rescheduled date TBA (probably sometime in May)

Humanities:

• Due Wed., 4/11: Gr. 7: Memorize your Monologue and bring any costume/prop you will need for it
• Due Fri., 4/13: Gr. 8: 2000 words of 8th grade project research paper.
7th Grade Research Paper
• Deadlines for 7th Grade Abolitionist Research Paper (updated 1/31)

Math:

• Graph paper link on the sidebar →
  Grade 7
• Due Tues., 4/10: p. 70, Applicaions #1-4, 10-12
Grade 8
Algebra A Algebra B
• Nada
• Math's Mates Test TBA

Science:

• Due Wed., 4/11:
  • organize your physics notes
  • put them in folder
  • make a cover on a sheet of plain 8½ x 11" paper including the unit title "Physics of Motion and Energy" in large letters. Decorate thematically.
• Due Thurs., 4/12:
  Write paragraph reflecting on Physics of Motion and Energy unit which includes the following:
  • 2-3 things I learned
  • The most interesting thing we did
  • What I want to learn more about
• Alternative Power Videos from class today:
  • Slideshow of human-powered tools: Human powered Bull Dozer, Human powered fork lift, human powered shovel, human powered blender, leg power machines. human powered construction equipment.
  • SpinCycle Human powered washing machine
  • Microhydropower
  • Off the grid in Fiji

8th Grade Project:

• Due Wed., 3/28: Project Proposal
Complete list of project due dates (as of 1/25) here.

Moment of Zen

The Beach Beasts of Theo Jansen

It's hard to say where the line between art and science is in the work of Theo Jansen. While his theoretical work looks at the history of biological evolution, his art is an experimental celebration of the same. His moving sculptures, engineered to run fully on the power of their environment, primarily from wind, he describes as "artificial life." Inspired by structures found in natural life, Jansen's sculptures walk the beaches in his native Netherlands in uncannily naturalistic ways. Click above to see more of his "Strandbeests" (Beach Beasts) or look him up on YouTube to watch them walk.