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Review of Activities by Debbie Farkas

The following is a review of the activities that were done with all of my 8th grade classes leading up to students doing the on-line lessons >developed by Maria and Lindley.

Students were first given a pre-test on Speed and Velocity. (see attachment S/V)

We then started this unit by taking notes on speed, velocity and >acceleration and discussing the main points that were covered in the Speed >and Velocity portion  of the Force and Motion unit that Maria and Lindley developed with help from Rachel and me.  For example, students were given some instruction on the difference between speed, velocity, and acceleration, and were familiarized with the difference between path and displacement using vectors.  There was also some discussion of the difference between scalar and vector quantities.

Students then did a lab activity called "Hot Wheels" where they noted the distance traveled by a toy car at different time intervals after being released from the top of a ramp.  After performing the activity a lab write-up was required and I decided that they needed some extra help in understanding the set up of the data table and the acceleration calculations for time intervals.  I therefore created a "Tip sheet" to assist them.(see attachment HW and HWT)

We then went to the computer lab and spent a 2-period block of time working on the Speed and Velocity portion  of the Force and Motion.  This required students to complete Worksheets 1, 2, and 3 in the on-line lesson, as well as to visit a few websites that they are directed to as they work through the questions.  I wrote up a worksheet to guide them as they went through the activities.(see attachment OLP)  This worksheet has all of the questions and directions that are given to students on-line and provides them with a place to record their answers/observations/data.

Students were then given the post-test on Speed and Velocity.  This test is exactly the same as the pre-test that was given.

Even though we are unable to get any more computer time this year, I am wrapping up my Motion and Force unit with a discussion of the forces of friction and gravity and an overview of Newton's Laws of Motion.  We have done an activity called Body at Rest/Body in Motion (see attachment BRBM) which I adapted from TOPS last year and revised this year with suggestions/changes from Lindley.  I also have had students do an activity that I got from a text called, "Will An Elephant Fall Faster than a Mouse?".  Unfortunately, we do not have time to do the related on-line work or to go into much depth.  Students will be tak}}{