What's in the box?

Students experimenting
with the black box.

In science class, we just concluded our work with "the black box" project. We referred to this as the black box because students never see what is inside. Wikipedia  describes a black box as "a device which can be viewed solely in terms of its input, output and transfer characteristics without any knowledge of its internal workings."

With the investigation into the black box concluded, the students had to design what they imagine could be the apparatus inside the black box. Using observation and experimentation the students had to use their data to help define the inner workings. Students discovered that when water was added, sometimes only a fraction of the water exited the box. Other times, the black box released more water than was added. Students had to make inferences about what would cause water in the box to behave in this manner.

Students had to defend their ideas in class by explaining how well their concepts matched the data collected during the investigation. The class discussed each team's ideas and helped them to make needed modifications.

At the end of the project, the students completed a writing activity where they discussed their confidence in their designs. Through the course of the black box experience, students were employing skills in perseverance, teamwork, critical and skeptical thinking, and problem-solving. You can see student work on the lab blog at http://amslab110.blogspot.com.

Student model of the inner
workings of the black box.

Student explanation for the
black box phenomenon.

Grade 8 Math Update

IM 1 and Math 8 will have a  quiz on Wednesday, October 1. 

  

October events and dates

Monday, October 13

 No School for Students (Columbus Day) - ACT 80

Wednesday, October 20

 [Reading] AR Points Due!

Wednesday, October 22

 2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

Wednesday, October 27

 First Nine-weeks ends

Environmental Club

Students are welcome to join the environmental club. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 1 until 4 PM in room 110. We will be talking about environmental projects at our school. Also, we will start the paper recycling for the middle and high schools. If you have questions, please see Mr. Haskins or Mrs. Abate.

Summer Vacation Story for The Herd

Have you had an interesting summer vacation? Well you should share it with us! If

your vacation was exciting, adventurous, horrific, or just plain fun you should send it to

the Avonworth’s Middle School newspaper! We are looking for your summer vacation

stories. If you have a good story for the newspaper summer vacation section, you should

share it with The Herd by sending it to Mr. Haskins, The Herd school newspaper sponsor. You

will have your final draft printed in the newspaper or posted to our website!

This week...

Sent 3:00 PM 9/22/14 via Remind to all subscribers

This week: 

Tuesday: [Science] unit test (study guide online) &  [Reading] AR Progress Check

Wednesday: [Reading] Study Island Inferences due

Thursday:  [English] Advertising Project