Field Trip

This week, we went on a field trip to the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center. The kids had a great time as they explored plate tectonics, natural resources, ecology, erosion and more. All the students rotated through 12 stations and took a 1.5 mile hike. See pictures from the trip below.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible!!

Ecology Part 2

This section of ecology focuses on the movement of energy through an ecosystem and the recycling of matter. In most cases, the energy for an ecosystem starts with the sun. Producers use this energy to make food using the process of photosynthesis. Consumers then eat producers, or other consumers, to get the energy they need. There are several types of consumers...herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, scavengers and decomposers. The decomposers break down waste and return nutrients to the soil.

Matter is recycled in an ecosystem. We will be learning about the water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle.

Use the visual flashcards below to help you study. You may also print a study guide, or click through some online flashcards, by using the "important links" to the right.

Ecology Part I

We are currently studying the first of 2 units on ecology. Our first unit focuses on biotic and abiotic factors, limiting factors, biomes and niches. Below are some vusual flashcards to help you study. Scroll over to stop the slide show and advance at your own speed. A study guide and online flashcards can be found under "Important links" to the right.

Oodles of Noodles

Teams worked together to create the tallest structure using 30 noodles and a supply of mini-marshmallows. See their creative work below.

Energy

We have been studying energy in Earth's atmosphere. Below are a few of the key terms that we have learned. Move your mouse over the bottom right corner of the slide to pause it.

You can also CLICK HERE to view some other online flashcards.

Landforms

We had some fun learning about landforms the last couple weeks.  See some creative presentations from the students below...

More Erosion Study Tools

I created the following visual flash cards to help you study. To stop on a word, move your mouse over the picture and click in the bottom right corner.  Also, after you have completed your study guide guide, you may click here to check your answers.

Erosion

For the past 2 weeks, we have been learning about weathering, erosion and deposition. Weathering is the process that breaks down rock and other material at Earth's surface. Erosion moves weathered material from one place to another. Deposition is the process where sediment is set down at a new location. (Go Team!)

Running water is the dominant process that shapes the landscape, including California's topography. We modeled erosion by rivers in class. Students were able to observe oxbow lakes, alluvial fans and deltas. Check out the pictures below.

We also talked about wave erosion, glacail erosion and mass movement.  Waves hit the shore at an angle causing the sand to move down the coast.  this process is called longshore drift.  Features created from wave erosion include cliff, wave-cut platforms, cave, sea-stacks and sea-arches.  Glaciers cause erosion as they move across the land.  As they move, pieces of sediment get stuck in the ice and scrap along the ground.  Scratches, called striations, are left behind.  Deposits made by glaciers include till, moraines, and outwash.  Gravity can also cause erosion (mass wasting).  Most mass wasting happens quickly, like landslides, mudslides, rockfalls, and slump.  Creep, on the other hand, happens very slowly but can still cause a great amount of damage.  The amount of mass wasting that occurs depends on the type of climate...more rainfall and steep slopes means more mass wasting.

Test next Week

Next week, we will be taking a test on earthquakes. The test will cover stress, faults, focus, epicenter, seismic waves, reading seismograms, locating an epicenter, measuring earthquake strength and intensity, and also seismic risk maps. All information is in your notes. Review all key vocabulary.

To help you study, I have created a study guide, made online flash cards, and created a review game. Use these to help you study. There will be no essay questions on this test. If you need additional help, please let me know.

I have just added a completed copy of the study guide to my website.  Look at Friday, January 14 to check your answers.

Seismic Waves

We recently modeled seismic waves during class.  Primary waves travel in a straight line and are the fastest waves.  They reach the seismograph first.  Secondary waves move in a side to side fashion and are slower than primary waves.  Both of these waves start at the focus and move out in all directions.  The pictures below show some of the students as they investigate waves.