Earth Science Honors - Tues., Mar. 31

Dear Students,

I hope you are staying safe.

I got a number or emails yesterday regarding difficulties with the Castle Learning site.  If you find that Castle Learning is being slow, please come back to it later when there is less volume on the site. 

To introduce our upcoming topic: 
On Long Island, most of the precipitation we receive is rain.  This precipitation can:  a) evapotranspire; b) run-off; or, 3) seep down into the ground, adding to (recharging) the water table as groundwater. Long Island's annual precipitation averages 45.2 in/yr--50% of the falling precipitation recharges the groundwater system, replenishing our sole source of freshwater.  Water companies drill wells below ground into water-bearing formations known as aquifers.  We are lucky to have this source of freshwater because many people around the world do not have a similar access to clean, plentiful water like we do.  As we begin learning about our groundwater source over the coming week, I hope you will consider how we can protect its availability and quality.  We all have a role to play!

To read more, go to:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ny-water/science/long-island-precipitation-and-recharge?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

and

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ny-water/science/long-island-groundwater?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects


Assignments:
1) If you not completed yet completed some of the RB Topic #'s 1 to 5 (on castlelearning), please do so as soon as possible, because we start new content on Thurs., Apr. 2.  Please note that today's assignment follows:

Tues., Mar. 31 - Read Topic 7 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #7 on castlelearning

If for some reason you do not have your Review Book at home, the publisher has granted us online access.  Here is the login info:
https://www.pearsonschool.com/newyorkbr

UN: nybr-student

PW: NYStudent2020

2) Before Fri., Apr. 3, you can still complete the Current Event Enrichments, which will count as one lab grade apiece.  Please see my blog post dated Mar. 15 for details.

3) We will be transitioning to the Google Classroom platform, although I will continue to run my blog as a duplicate platform.  Beginning Thurs., Apr. 2, our daily lessons will be posted in both places.  Please note that the following class codes will apply to each of your classes:

Earth Science Honors - P 1/2 - Class code - bffwxqx

Earth Science Honors - P 2/3 - Class code - 5rdpouf

Earth Science Honors - P 7/8 - Class Code - k326ff4

You must join your class asap so we are ready to go forward on Thurs., Apr. 2!


Be well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija

Earth Science Honors - Mon., Mar. 30

Dear Students,

I hope you had a nice weekend--I wish it hadn't been so dreary, but we do need the rain. This brings us to a natural segue into our upcoming unit--Groundwater.

On Long Island, most of the precipitation we receive is rain.  This precipitation can:  a) evapotranspire; b) run-off; or, 3) seep down into the ground, adding to (recharging) the water table as groundwater. Long Island's annual precipitation averages 45.2 in/yr--50% of the falling precipitation recharges the groundwater system, replenishing our sole source of freshwater.  Water companies drill wells below ground into water-bearing formations known as aquifers.  We are lucky to have this source of freshwater because many people around the world do not have a similar access to clean, plentiful water like we do.  As we begin learning about our groundwater source over the coming week, I hope you will consider how we can protect its availability and quality.  We all have a role to play!

To read more, go to:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ny-water/science/long-island-precipitation-and-recharge?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

and

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ny-water/science/long-island-groundwater?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects


Assignments:
1) If you not completed yet completed some of the RB Topic #'s 1 to 5 (on castlelearning), please do so as soon as possible, because we start new content on Thurs., Apr. 2.  Please note that today and tomorrow's assignments are as follows:

Mon., Mar. 30 - Read Topic 6 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #6 on castlelearning

Tues., Mar. 31 - Read Topic 7 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #7 on castlelearning

If for some reason you do not have your Review Book at home, the publisher has granted us online access.  Here is the login info:
https://www.pearsonschool.com/newyorkbr

UN: nybr-student

PW: NYStudent2020

2) Before Fri., Apr. 3, you can still complete the Current Event Enrichments, which will count as one lab grade apiece.  Please see my blog post dated Mar. 15 for details.

3) We will be transitioning to the Google Classroom platform, although I will continue to run my blog as a duplicate platform.  Beginning Thurs., Apr. 2, our daily lessons will be posted in both places.  Please note that the following class codes will apply to each of your classes:

Earth Science Honors - P 1/2 - Class code - bffwxqx

Earth Science Honors - P 2/3 - Class code - 5rdpouf

Earth Science Honors - P 7/8 - Class Code - k326ff4


Be well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija

Earth Science Honors - Fri., Mar. 27

Dear Students,

You may have noticed today's advice from castlelearning:


Castle Learning - Site Update Message
Dear Castle Learning Community,

We are seeing online learning picking up considerable momentum as reflected in the extremely high user volumes we are experiencing on Castle Learning.  Unfortunately, at times, high usage is causing slow response times within the application, which can be very frustrating for teachers and students working to create and complete activities.  We are seeing peak activity between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and faster response times outside of that window.

We apologize for the inconvenience and are working quickly to boost performance of the environment.  This will be an ongoing effort over the next several days and we will provide updates on our progress.

We greatly appreciate your use of Castle Learning and your patience as we absorb the increase in volume.

Sincerely,

Ron Borowski
Director of Customer Support

Important: It may appear as though assignments are missing when you access Assignments. The assignments have not been lost, but due to extremely high user volumes we are experiencing slowness in the page loading. We will be implementing changes between 7 AM and 10 AM EST on Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th. During that time Castle Learning will be offline and unavailable as we work to boost performance. We greatly appreciate your use of Castle Learning and your patience as we absorb the increase in volume.


In terms of completing the assignments that I posted for you, please make every effort to complete them by Wed., April 1st.  These are unusual times and we must all adapt to the situation at hand.

Be well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija

Earth Science Honors - Thurs., Mar. 26

Dear Students,

I hope you can go outside a bit to take in some of today's springtime sunshine!

Most of you have completed yesterday's RB Topic #3 and have done well--for the students who haven't completed this assignment, please make it up in a timely manner.  RB Topic #4 is due today.

Given that RB Topic #4 consists of a number of Moon questions, I thought you might be interested in the data recently received by China's Chang’e-4 lander and Yutu-2 rover--which are the first to physically explore the far side of the Moon.  Remember that the Earth and the Moon are tidally locked, meaning that it takes the Moon exactly the same amount of time to rotate on its axis as it takes to complete one revolution of Earth.  This is why we continually see only one side of the Moon, that is--the near side.  The new data collected from the far side of the Moon shows alternating layers of coarse rock and soil, hinting at a history of violent impacts.  As we plan to set up space stations on the Moon, it's important to understand its structure and history.  To learn more about this recent Chinese mission, go to:  https://www.sciencenews.org/article/china-moon-rover-revealed-what-lies-beneath-lunar-farside-surface


Be well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija

P.S.  In case any of you would like to use the online version of our Earth Science Review Book, the publisher has granted us access at:

https://www.pearsonschool.com/newyorkbr

Student Access

UN: nybr-student

PW: NYStudent2020

Earth Science Honors - Wed., Mar. 25

Dear Students,

Here's some interesting space news on this cloudy day.

Scientists have discovered that our galaxy is much bigger than previously thought.  A new study has revealed that the Milky Way measures nearly 2 million LY across--this includes both the luminous part of the spiral disk as well as the halo of dark matter that stretches far beyond it.  This study will help scientists determine a better estimate of our galaxy's mass, as well as the number of galaxies that orbit it.  To read more, go to: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/astronomers-have-found-edge-milky-way-size

Most of you have completed yesterday's RB Topic #2 and have done well--for the students who haven't completed this assignment, please make it up in a timely manner.  RB Topic #3 is due today.

Be well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija

Earth Science Honors - Tues., Mar 24

Dear Students,

I hope you are staying well, going outside to enjoy the longer hours of daylight and keeping up with your school work.

The Vernal Equinox was on Thurs., Mar. 19--the earliest vernal equinox in 124 years!  Remember what the equinoxes represent astronomically:  12 hours of daylight and night; the Sun rising due east and setting due west with the Sun's direct rays the Equator at this time of year.

Most of you have completed yesterday's RB Topic #1 and have done well--for the few students who haven't completed this assignment, please make it up in a timely manner.  RB Topic #2 is due today.

This is a difficult and unsettling time for all of us and establishing good routines will help us get through and move ahead.  We will have to find new ways of doing the things we used to do.  On that note, I will begin transitioning to Google Classroom over the course of the next couple of weeks.

For now, please continue checking my blog for daily updates.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija
 

Castlelearning Technical Difficulties - Mon., Mar. 23

Dear Students,

Castlelearning appears to be experiencing server problems--it must be due to the unprecedented heavy traffic on their website.  Please be patient, work on your other assignments and try again later.  I apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused you.

Best,
Mrs. Crnosija

Earth Science Honors Assignments for Mon., Mar. 23 through Tues., Mar. 31

Dear Earth Science Honors Students,

I hope you are staying safe and keeping a positive outlook during this difficult time for all of us.  Please continue to contact me via email with any questions or concerns.

So that we may begin returning to a routine of learning, I am posting daily review assignments involving the Review Book Topics that we have covered to date.  These review assignments will refamiliarize you with the foundational concepts that will support the new topics that will follow in the coming weeks. 

The following daily castlelearning assignments consist of 35 multiple choice questions.  Please complete these assignments in a timely manner as they are supportive of your continued learning.

Mon., Mar. 23 - Read Topic 1 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #1 on castlelearning

Tues., Mar. 24 - Read Topic 2 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #2 on castlelearning

Wed., Mar. 25 - Read Topic 3 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #3 on castlelearning

Thurs., Mar. 26 - Read Topic 4 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #4 on castlelearning

Fri., Mar. 27 - Read Topic 5 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #5 on castlelearning

Mon., Mar. 30 - Read Topic 6 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #6 on castlelearning

Tues., Mar. 31 - Read Topic 7 in Review Book and complete RB Topic #7 on castlelearning

Be well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Crnosija

Earth Science Honors Enrichment (Optional) - posted Mar. 15

I hope you're all staying safe.

Some of you asked for an Enrichment assignment while school is closed:

Read a science current event article from Science News, NY Times, Scientific American, etc.
The link to Science News follows:  https://www.sciencenews.org/ (you may find the series of corona virus articles interesting.)

Please write your responses in full sentences and attach a link to article.

1. From which publication did you get your article?
2. What is the title of your article?
3. Who is the author of your article?
4. What area of science does the article address?
5. Write a summary of the article in paragraph form.  Be sure to include the following:
    a) Who (is involved)?
    b) What (does the article discuss)?
    c) Where (is this situation occurring)?
    d) When (has this occurred or will occur)?
    e) Why (is this of importance to us)?
6. What is your opinion/reaction to this event?
7. What is something new you learned from the article?

You may do several of these and submit these enrichment assignments to me via email:  ocrnosija@smithtown.k12.ny.us

Earth Science Honors Homework due Sun., Mar. 15, by 11:59 pm

Climate Quiz (40 Q on castlelearning) is due Sun., Mar. 15, by 11:59 pm.

Earth Science Honors Homework due Fri., Mar. 13

1. Be ready to hand in the Climate Labs we have worked on these past few days AND read RB pp 165-171; p 172-174, Q #’s 26-61 (you have the answer key to check your answers)--due Fri., Mar. 13
2. Make certain that you have your textbook and review book at home! 
3. Climate Quiz (40 Q on castlelearning) is posted and is due Sun., Mar. 15, by 11:59 pm.

Earth Science Honors Homework

1. Read RB pp 165-171; p 172-174, Q #’s 26-61 
2. Make certain that you have taken your textbook and review book home! 

Earth Science Honors Homework due Tues., Mar. 10

1. Read TEXT pp 600-603; p 603, Q #’s 1-7--due Tues., Mar. 10
2. Complete Coastal and Continental Temperature Ranges Lab, if you didn't finish it in class

Earth Science Honors Homework due Mon., Mar. 9

1. Read TEXT pp 588-591; p 591, Q #’s 1-10--due Fri., Mar. 6  
2. Read TEXT pp 592-599; p 599, Q #’s 1-9--due Mon., Mar. 9
3. Period 2/3 & 7/8 ONLY - Finish Coastal and Continental Temperature Ranges Lab for HW, if you didn't finish it in class.

Earth Science Honors Homework due Fri., Mar. 6

1.  Read TEXT pp 588-591; p 591, Q #’s 1-10--due Fri., Mar. 6

Earth Science Honors Homework due before Weather Unit Test

1. REVIEW BOOK pp 155-158, Q #’s 1-41
2. Complete Weather Review (65 Q on castlelearning)--due before Wed., Mar. 4 (P 2/3 & 7/8) and before Thurs., Mar. 5 (P 1/2)
3. Unit Test - P 2/3 & 7/8 - Wed., Mar. 4; P 1/2 - Thurs., Mar. 5 (Extra Help Tues., Mar. 3)