Extra Credit on Code.Org

Hello to my awesome 8th grade science students!

Do you ever wonder why your computer works?  How does it know what to do?  Why does the internet come to my house and why can I take my classes in a virtual classroom?  Well, the answer is coding!  I thought it would be fun -- for extra credit -- to look into the world of computer science. When I was a student at the University of Utah, I graduated in Biology -- but also took courses in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science -- were I learned some basics of computer coding. 

A new method has been developed -- and is made accessible for students on the following website:   https://code.org

In our honors lab class -- and for extra credit, you can join this web site and create basic programs.  The creators (many of the coders of popular sites like Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter), have made a student - friendly site for us to use.   We can code fun platforms such as Star Wars and Minecraft. 

Your student account (for extra credit) has already been made.  Pease visit this link to get 2 extra credit points and verify your logins.  I have put your infomation in as LAST NAME, FIRST NAME.  Here is the link: 

http://studio.code.org/sections/WTNDCG

Please join me in this fun adventure -- and enjoy some extra credit in science class!  You will need to respond to this email and message me to get your your SECRET WORDS to login.

You are awesome and have a great day!

Mrs. Shannon J. Mower, BS, MATS

smower@utahvirtual.org

http://mowersbiologyclassstuff.blogspot.com

Here are some screen-shots to walk you through the join-in process.

Click on the purple link above.  This page will open.  Click on your last name.

If this your first time, you will need to update your account information.

Select a course!

HERE SOME SAMPLE PROJECTS.

How To Make An Account on Quizlet

Hello!

We will be using Quizlet to study for our science tests.  Please join our class by clicking on this link:   https://quizlet.com/join/WQs9zWaHz

Please click on 'FREE Sign-In" Button.

A Pop-Up Screen will open.  Please fill out your information or click to sing in with Facebook or Google.  If this does not open after clicking on the button, your "Pop Up Blockers" are ON.  You need to switch them to "Off" in your Browser settings.

Our classroom will now open.  You will see a list of Flash Card Sets.  Choose one to start studying.

Choose your favorite  game!  Start with "LEARN" or "FLASHCARDS".  The computer can read these to you!  When you are done, play against your classmates in the "MATCH" or "GRAVITY" games.

To create an account, simply use your UTVA email and password that you regularly use for the OMS. By joining our class, you will be able to share your scores with me and see how your fellow students did on the games!  You can play games like "Gravity" against one another!  Many students are enjoying this, and I have found that students who are playing against one anther get high scores on the exam.  This is a fun way to study against your peers -- yet still enjoy the "video-game" atmosphere.

If you are playing "GRAVITY" I recommend switching the drop-down box to "TERM".  Otherwise, the computer will ask you to type in every definition -- with correct spelling.  When using "TERM", you only need to type and spell the vocabulary word correctly.

When a student clicks on the "MATCH" game, this screen will appear.  Your goal is to drag and drop the definition to the term on the screen.  Click on "START GAME" to begin.

This is what the "MATCH" game will look like.  Share your time with your friends and see who is fastest!  My time is in there too-- can you beat the teacher?

If you still need more help on this, watch this tutorial created from a different teacher on YouTube: 

How To Access Play Posit Lessons

Hello Students!  It is intervention time!

I have yet another great question from students and Learning Coaches!

Some of you ask for additional support on accessing your Play Posit lesson I have emailed to you.

Here are screen shots of how this can be done.

1. Click on the link in the email I sent to you.  If your browser setting are set so that "Pop up blockers are on" -- you need to go turn them off.  Alternately, you can copy (CTRL+C) and paste (CTRL+V) the link into the web bar and push ENTER.  The following screen will open.

2.  You can access the Play Posit without an account.  This is why teachers use this app!  Click on the "G sign-in" button or "Officee 365" (provided by UTVA) to run the class.  Many teachers use this and you may already have an account.  Use the Logins and Passwords you have created for your other classes.  If you don't have an account on Google, Office 365 or Play Posit, click on the blue "Create an account here" button and follow the prompts.  I recommend using your UTVA email and password when you set this up.

If you have a Play Posit account, type in your email and password then hit enter.  The class will open.

3. When you class opens, this is what the screen will look like.  Push the blue play button.

4.  Class will begin to play.  It will pause at different times and ask you questions.  The first question is to type in your name.  This way I can give you credit for doing your assignment.  Most other questions are multiple-choice.  It will tally your score.  Try your best to get above 80%.

I hope this helps! You are are awesome and have a great day!

Honors 8th Grade Science Lab Letter

Hello my fabulous 8th grade science students!

Today, many of you noticed a new class connect session.  Way to go!  Thank you for being observant and thank you for attending.  This session is a class connect session for students who do not have any required Math or English Language Arts intervention classes.  It is an optional class-- and is not required.

If it is optional, then why is it there?

Our great principal, Angie Kreitzer and I met together at the end of last term.  I expressed that I wanted more time to do more hands-on science.  We have time in class to explain science, but not always enough time to do the science.  In this lab section, we will be doing the extra credit options that I had loaded on the OMS.  (For example, the "SAFE Halloween Ooze" https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mAw06xIZjs4yj0dPiIpnLtHGWjJVCtCv_2n0kz4xAHo/edit). 

Often, students need a demonstration of how to do these types of hands-on projects and need a teacher to consult with to complete them.  This extra class connect session provides students with that little bit extra from me.  It also gives time for students to share their projects.

For example, many students made and submitted awesome recordings of their "Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment".  However, class time did not permit me to show those experiments to their friends.  This gives me time to do so.  Class is more fun this way!  https://safeshare.tv/x/2xse4Vcz0e8

So, what does it mean to attend "Honors Science Lab" as a student?

·       It means your grades and scores in all of your classes are good.

·         It means you like to do science, hands-on!

·       You want to build things!

·       You are not afraid to get messy!

·       You want to go the extra mile to answer the harder questions!

·       You are willing to get supplies from home and have items set-up and ready to go before class.

What do I do if I want to attend lab but have a required intervention class?  No problem!  I am posting the recordings for you!  You can still do the projects!

What is our first project?  Today's class talked about an engineering design problem.

Situation: You have gone camping with your family and friends.  You decided to go on a hike.

Problem: Your clumsy friend tripped over a log.  You need to design and build something to carry ice to the injured person on the trail -- without it melting!  All you have to use is your camping supplies!

Task: Design (we did this part in class), create and build your ice-carrying device.  Remember, don't let your ice change its "state of matter" -- don't let it melt into water.  Please build your project and send photos to me.  My emails is: smower@utahvirtual.org

Here is a link to a student-style submission.  This student had the opposite problem -- she needed to keep her rabbit's water from FREEZING!  However, it shows how simple solutions are often the best

§https://youtu.be/it4vPZ5xMco!

Please email me and let me know if you would like to sign up for this extra class!  I am compiling an email list so that I can pre-contact students and learning coaches to let them know what items they need prior to coming to class.  By joining this list, you will get more emails from me, with a list of items we will be using for the experiments -- or topics we are going to "build" and need supplies for during the week.

You are awesome!  Have a great day!

Mrs. Shannon Mower, BS, MATS

smower@utahvirtual.org