I “spy” some awesome scientists! (Unit #6 Edmond Locard)

“Every contact leaves a trace.” ~Edmond Locard

In this unit we will be learning all about what forensic science is and how they use it to help solve crimes. We will use infrared technology provided by the SUU stem center and practice finger printing.

Born in 1877, Dr Edmond Locard was a French criminalist renowned for being a pioneer in forensic science and criminology, often informally referred to as the “Sherlock Holmes of France”.

He officially formed the first forensic science laboratory. Locard is also renowned for his contribution to the improvement of dactylography, an area of study which deals with fingerprints. After the laboratory in Lyon was established, he developed the science of poroscopy, the study of fingerprint pores and the impressions produced by these pores. He went on to write that if 12 specific points were identical between two fingerprints, it would be sufficient for positive identification. This work led to the use of fingerprints in identifying criminals

In addition to this, Edmond Locard is perhaps most well-known for his formulation of Locard’s Exchange Principle, a theory relating to the transfer of trace evidence between objects, stating that “every contact leaves a trace.” The theory dictates that when two objects come into contact with one another, each will take something from the other object or leave something behind. ~ The Forensics Library

 

 

 

“Together we make a great pair!” (Unit #5 Gregor Mendel)

“My scientific studies have afforded me great gratification, and I am convinced that it will not be long before the whole world acknowledges the results of my work.” ~ Gregor Mendel

In this Unit we will be learning all about genetics and our heredity, where we come from, DNA, and tying it into our theme of “Science is in our genes.” Learning about DNA way back in my 7th grade class is what first sparked my interest in science. I love learning everything about it. I still research about genetics all of the time. Now onto our scientist of the month.

Gregor Mendel was an Austrian Monk who discovered the basic principles of heredity through experiments in his garden. Mendel’s observations became the foundation for modern genetics and the study of heredity and he is widely considered a pioneer in the field of genetics. He is known as the “father of modern genetics” His experiments showed that the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants follows particular patterns, subsequently becoming the foundation of modern genetics and leading to the study of heredity.

Mendel chose to use peas for his experiments due to their many distinct varieties, and because offspring could be quickly and easily produced. He cross-fertilized pea plants that had clearly opposite characteristics—tall with short, smooth with wrinkled, those containing green seeds with those containing yellow seeds, etc.—and, after analyzing his results, reached two of his most important conclusions: the Law of Segregation, which established that there are dominant and recessive traits passed on randomly from parents to offspring (and provided an alternative to blending inheritance, the dominant theory of the time), and the Law of Independent Assortment, which established that traits were passed on independently of other traits from parent to offspring. He also proposed that this heredity followed basic statistical laws. Though Mendel’s experiments had been conducted with pea plants, he put forth the theory that all living things had such traits. ~biography.com

Together We Can Rule The Galaxy- (Unit #4 Galileo Galilei)

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered, the point is to discover them.” ~Galileo Galilei

In this unit we will be learning all about Galileo, space, galaxies, stars, the sun and the planets and tying in the solar system to our theme of STAR WARS. Of course the force in strong in my class. Don’t underestimate the power of science haha! I stinkin love Star Wars and actually went to a sight where they filmed The Force Awakens. Okay I know I’m geeking out. Now onto the scientist we will be learning about.

Considered the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) made major contributions to the fields of physics, astronomy, cosmology, mathematics and philosophy. He invented an improved telescope that let him observe and describe the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, the phases of Venus, sunspots and the rugged lunar surface. His flair for self-promotion earned him powerful friends among Italy’s ruling elite and enemies among the Catholic Church’s leaders. His advocacy of a heliocentric universe brought him before religious authorities in 1616 and again in 1633, when he was forced to recant and placed under house arrest for the rest of his life. ~ History.com

He improved the telescope, discovered the laws of the pendulum and is famous for discovering that the sun was the center of the universe, not Earth, as they believed at the time.

 

Mrs. Westwood’s Wizarding School of Witchcraft (Unit #3 Marie Curie)

“Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.”~Marie Curie

Scientist Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win the award in two different fields — physics and chemistry. Curie’s efforts, with her husband Pierre Curie, led to the discovery of polonium and radium and, after Pierre’s death, the further development of X-rays. She is the known as the grandfather of radioactivity and it is because of this discovery that people today are able to cure cancer and other illnesses. She also pushed the boundaries for female scientific and academic achievements.

In class we will be learning about cause and effect. We will be making chemical reactions, learning how to make slime, different potions, snow, blowing up balloons with carbon dioxide and making elephant toothpaste. All of these fun activities will be mixed with a Harry Potter theme and spells. ~Expecto Patronum!

 

Angry Birds Are Mad About Physics- (Unit #2 Isaac Newton)

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.”

In this unit we will be highlighting Isaac Newton and working with gravity, physics, engineering and mathematics. He taught the law on gravitation, the theory of gravity and invented calculus to explain it. He also came up with the theory on ocean tides which explained high and low tides because of the moon’s gravitational pull and he’s known for the reflecting telescope.

Example of Newton’s laws of motion: 1st law: The law of inertia. E.g. -A soccer ball will not move until a player kicks it. 2nd law: F=MA (Force = Mass X Acceleration). E.g. – You have to push a heavy ball harder to get it to move as fast as a small one. 3rd law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action E.g.- A fireman turns on his hose and is knocked backwards.

In class we will be making angry birds marshmallow catapults. We will talk about the angles in math and how you have to aim to knock over the pigs. Also, how if you pull back further, the birds will go farther.

Where in the world is Mrs. Westwood’s Science Class? (Unit #1 Albert Einstein)

“The important thing is to never stop questioning.”

During our first unit, we will be highlighting Albert Einstein and working in the fields of physics, energy, and technology. Albert Einstein is the father of modern physics. He came up with the world’s most famous equation E=mc2 (Energy = mass X the speed of light squared) which gave birth to the atomic bomb. He provided evidence that molecules and atoms exist through Brownian motion.

He basically re-wrote the law of gravity, which had been unchallenged since Isaac Newton. His theory of relativity has changed the way we think about space and time. He showed that matter causes space to curve, which produces gravity.

Example of the theory of relativity used today: GPS

In class we will be learning about how to use coordinates and GPS. We will also used Google Earth in class and pin-point our exact location.