10/21/08

Todays class period consisted of going over chapters five and six and discussing the reading guide that goes along with these chapters in class. Dr. E. decided to go over the reading guide in class in order to make sure that everyone had an understanding for what the questions were asking, and also to help us understand how to go about answering the questions. After completing the reading guide, we moved on to an in class lab titled, "The Leaping Egg (or Ping Pong Ball)". The purpose of completing this lab was to help us understand the different labs that can be used in order to help students gain an understanding for class topics, along with learning to use alternative materials in order to make certain labs work. After completing this lab acitivity, we then took the time to answer the follow up questions as a class. One quesiton asked, "What makes the egg jump out of the first glass?" We answered this question by stating that air gets under the ball, exerting a force that pushes the ball out of the glass. The follow up questions at the end of the lab helped us to gain an understanding for the lab, and develop an understanding for the events that took place within the lab. Overall the class period was very successful.