Blog | Class With Catwood

SHAKING THINGS UP

Jan 15

Hello everyone!

It’s been a little while since my last blog post, due to the holiday season. Let me catch you up on what we’ve been working on in class and what’s ahead for our Earth's Processes Unit.

Where We Were

After the winter break, we began our Earth's Processes Unit by delving into the topic of Continental Drift. We examined Alfred Wegener’s evidence for this groundbreaking theory, including the puzzle-piece fit of continents, fossil distribution, and geological similarities across oceans. From there, we transitioned into plate tectonics, exploring how the movement of Earth's plates shapes our planet. Through various hands-on activities, students investigated the interactions at plate boundaries—from divergent and convergent boundaries to transform faults—and discovered the incredible geologic features they can create, such as mountains, trenches, and rift valleys.

Below are photos of our Continental Drift CER Activity:

Where We Are

Currently, we are focusing on earthquakes and mass movements. Students are learning how earthquakes are recorded using seismographs and how seismic waves provide valuable insights into the Earth's internal structure. We’ve been analyzing P- and S-waves and discussing how they help us understand what lies beneath the surface. This week, students are applying this knowledge in our Earthquake Triangulation Lab, where they used data and tools to locate the epicenters of earthquakes. Alongside this, we are exploring how mass movements like landslides and avalanches shape the Earth’s surface over time.

Below are Photos of the Earthquake Triangulation Lab:

Where We Are Going

Looking ahead, we’ll be starting our Earthquake Mitigation project using the Stop Disasters Game. This exciting activity will challenge students to design strategies that help cities and countries prepare for earthquake disasters, minimizing damage, loss of life, and other negative impacts. Over the next few class periods, we’ll explore the importance of planning and infrastructure in disaster mitigation. After completing this project, we’ll transition into the final section of our Earth's Processes Unit focusing on Volcanoes.

Mark your calendars! Our unit test is tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 7th. Don’t worry—there will be plenty of time to review in class so everyone feels confident and prepared.

Additionally, the Marking Period ends this Friday, January 17th. I do not offer extra credit opportunities. Students should have already turned in all missing work.

If you have any questions or want to connect further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org. You can also follow our journey on Instagram at @classwithcatwood, where I share updates and snapshots of our exciting classroom activities.

Thank you for your time and support, and here’s to an engaging and productive start to the New Year!

Best regards,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)

EXPLORING EARTH'S HISTORY

Dec 12, 2024

Hey everyone,

Welcome to our latest science class update! We’ve been busy uncovering the fascinating story of Earth’s past, and I’m excited to share what we’ve accomplished and where we’re headed next. Read on to learn about our journey through Earth’s History, the exciting project we’re starting work on now, and what’s coming up in the weeks ahead (after winter break!).

Where We Were

Since Thanksgiving break, we’ve been diving into our Earth’s History unit. Students explored the structure of our planet and investigated different types of rocks, including how they form and change over time. This foundational knowledge has set the stage for understanding the broader story of Earth’s evolution and the processes that shape our world. Through engaging lessons, hands-on activities, and meaningful discussions, students have been building their understanding of the dynamic planet we call home.

Below are images from our Sedimentary Rock Activtiy, Weathering & Erosion Experiment, and Igneous Rock Demos (grayish wax representing extrusive igneous rocks and colorful speckly wax representing the intrusive igneous rocks):

Where We Are

We are wrapping up our Earth’s History unit with an exciting focus on the geologic time scale. Students are beginning their Geologic Time Travel project, where they will act as travel agents for a make-believe company called ChronoVacations. Their task is to research a specific time in geologic history, highlight key events, and relate these to the topics we’ve been learning about.

Students can create a poster, brochure, slide presentation, or radio commercial for their project. They’ll have three full class days to work on their projects, and on Thursday, the 19th, we’ll hold presentations. This weekend is an excellent opportunity for students to review their project packets and get a head start on research. Preparation will help them make the most of their class time, whether they work individually or with a partner.

Where We’re Going

After the Geologic Time Travel project, we’ll begin our next unit on Earth’s Processes. This unit will seamlessly connect with what we’ve learned in Earth History as we investigate plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other mass movements. These exciting topics will give students a deeper understanding of how Earth’s surface is shaped and reshaped over time.

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)

COMING BACK DOWN TO EARTH

Nov 13, 2024

Hello everyone,

As our Astronomy - Part 2 Unit comes to a close, we’re preparing to “come back down to Earth,” literally! We're transitioning from studying the skies to uncovering our planet's geologic history. We’ve had an exciting journey through the cosmos, and it’s almost time to shift our focus to Earth’s History. This is related to absolute and relative dating using information from rocks and understanding our Geologic Time Scale.

Where We WERE

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been all about the wonders of celestial movement. We dug into solar and lunar eclipses, learning why and how these events occur. Then, we shifted to tides, exploring how the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun create the daily rhythm of rising and falling ocean waters. These topics gave us a deeper understanding of the fascinating relationship between Earth, its closest celestial neighbors, and the observable effects right here on our planet.

Where We Are

We’re wrapping up our study of tides and preparing for our final Astronomy - Part 2 test this Friday, November 15th. This test will combine everything we’ve learned about Day, Night, and Seasons and the Moon’s phases, Eclipses, and Tides. It’s a great opportunity to show all we’ve discovered and understood about how these cosmic patterns shape our world. So, students should take time each night before the test to review their notes, work on the review packet, and use the review Blooket to ensure they're ready to soar through the test on Friday!

Below are images from our Analyzing Lunar Eclipse Images activity:

Where We’re Going

After the test, we’ll shift gears and begin our Earth’s History unit right before Thanksgiving break. We’ll dive into Earth’s structure and explore the processes that shape our planet’s surface. This will include an introduction to sedimentary rocks and how they tell the stories of Earth’s past environments. After the holiday break, we’ll continue exploring the rock cycle and move on to the other rock types: igneous and metamorphic rocks. We’ll end with an exciting look at the geologic time scale to understand the vast history of our planet.

Instead of a traditional unit test, we’ll conclude this unit with a cumulative project. This will allow students to be creative, dive deep into a period in Earth’s history, and present their learning and exploration in a different and slightly less stressful way!

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Catwood (formerly Silverwood)