Weekly Blog 03/13/15

Surprise

One thing that surprised me this week was that my mom slept downstairs on the couch. I was getting ready for school in the morning when I walked into the living room ( I didn't turn the lights on yet) and put away a book when I heard my mom say "Hi honey, how's your back?"  since I bruised it in karate the other night. I thought she was upstairs so I screamed and turned around. I was very surprised that she was there because I thought I was the only one awake and downstairs. One thing I can learn from this experience is to stay open minded about things like where people sleep (it's actually kind of comfortable on the couch) and know that my parents wake up really early.

Summary

This week we studied all about magnetism and did experiments on magnetism. We watched a Bill Nye video, tested what magnetism can go through (almost everything), tested how strong a magnet is, worked with electromagnets, and studied what uses magnets and what kind. Electromagnets or permanent magnets. 

Also, we had to complete different worksheets every time after we did a project.

Backwards

How much did you know about the topic before we started? What do you now know about the topic that you did not know before?

Before I already knew a lot about magnets but this week I learned even more.  I knew that magnets attracted certain metals but I now know that magnets attract cobalt, nickel, and especially iron. Also, I learned that magnets are strongest at the poles. I knew that on a magnet there is a north and south pole and the opposite poles attract while if you try to put two of the same together it will repel. I learned that when you make electromagnets the more coils the stronger the magnet.

Inwards

What was especially satisfying to you about your work this week?

I really liked my work this week for a couple reasons. I think the answers to the questions are very detailed and they really explain why. Also, I think that my work was also very accurate. For example, in the worksheet where we calculated volts being generated on the website I am certain did all my math correct. One thing was wasn't satisfying was how I forgot to do my birdbrain. 

Outwards

What do your classmates particularly notice about your work when they look at it? 

One thing I think my classmates would notice my worksheet is that the answers are most of the time very long. i like to write a lot in my answers because that way it has more detail and is more interesting to read because it has more information. When I write most things I usually make the answer really long and somehow stretch it out even though it is the same information but longer.

Forward

One thing I would like to improve upon is ...

One thing I would like to improve on is remembering to do my birdbrain. This week I forgot so I now have a permanent zero. Next week I will make a goal to do my birdbrain on monday so that way for the rest of the week I don't have to worry about it. I would also like to improve on getting my work done faster so I will not have any extra homework.