Monday, November 06, 2006
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Science Puzzle #3
In Mr Fong's Science class, they are holding a contest. Mr Fong has a glass bottle, and a little iron ball, the size of which is exactly the same as the hole in the bottle. Mr Fong is giving the student who can put the ball in the bottle, without breaking the glass or destroying the ball, a gameboy. In his class, there is a microwave, cooking oil, a stove, and a fridge.
Six of his seven students attempted this feat, but with no luck. After the sixth student, the seventh, Ben, comes up to the bottle and the ball. He thinks of using one of the tools in Mr Fong's class, and uses one (not the cooking oil as it was already proven not to work) and five hours later, gets the ball in the bottle and his free gameboy.
How did he do it?
Six of his seven students attempted this feat, but with no luck. After the sixth student, the seventh, Ben, comes up to the bottle and the ball. He thinks of using one of the tools in Mr Fong's class, and uses one (not the cooking oil as it was already proven not to work) and five hours later, gets the ball in the bottle and his free gameboy.
How did he do it?
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Science Puzzle #2
Mdm Tan, a Science teacher and Mrs Chua, an Art teacher were arguing about what colour red mixed with blue makes. Mdm Tan said it made magenta but Mrs Chua said it made purple.
Who is correct?
Who is correct?
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Science Puzzle #1
After Mr MacDonald's wife made him give up his used chewing gum collection, MacDonald decided to start collecting fridge magnets. Eventually, he had enough to cover the entire fridge, much to his wife's dismay.
After several failed attempts to get rid of them, she finally gave up until one day, their fridge broke down. They looked at dozens of fridges, but finally settled on a top-of-the-line stainless steel model with two doors, icemaker and the works. MacDonald was reluctant to spend so much on a fridge till his wife told him to imagine how great his fridge magnets would look on it. That was all the motivation he needed.
However, once the fridge was in, he soon realized his wife had fooled him, and he would only be able to imagine his collection on the fridge from now on. But why, what had she done?
Leave your answers under comments :)
Saturday, October 21, 2006
What you need to know about the haze
What is haze?
According to Dictionary.com, haze is described as "atmospheric moisture, dust, smoke, and vapor that diminishes visibility".
What causes the haze in Singapore?
The haze is caused by the smoke produced by forest fires in Indonesia. Farmers use the traditional method of slash-and-burn to clear land for agriculture. Even though this practice is illegal in Indonesia, weak enforcement means that the ban is largely ignored by its people.
What is Slash-and-Burn?
Slash and burn agriculture has been practised in Indonesia and in many other countries for thousands of years. Small farmers in Indonesia usually carry out this technique to prepare for the cultivation of palm trees, which can be lucrative business as they can be harvested within 6 months of being grown. Burning is the cheapest and quickest way to clear the land. The alternative is to use heavy machinery - which costs about S$300 to clear a piece of land the size of a soccer field - which small farmers could not afford.
Why is the haze unhealthy for us?
Haze may include lethal substances such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and lead. These substances when taken into our body system may cause dizzy spells, memory disturbances, irregular heartbeat and damage to the nervous system.
What is PSI?
PSI stands for Pollutant Standards Index. It measures air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and particulate matter called PM10 (particulate matter of 10 microns or smaller in size). The PSI value gives an indication of the air quality as shown:
PSI Value PSI Descriptor
0 to 50 Healthy
51 to 100 Moderate
101 to 200 Unhealthy
201 to 300 Very unhealthy
Above 300 Hazardous
Why do we get the haze?
There are mainly two monsoon seasons in Singapore. The Southwest monsoon which occurs from June to September and the Northeast monsoon which occurs from December to March. During the Southwest monsoon (also known as Summer Asian Monsoon), winds blow from Australia and South-east Asia towards India. Since Singapore is located along that path of direction, the haze gets to us as well as countries like Malaysia. Refer to picture below.
Why does the haze seem worse at night?
During the day, the ground is heated by the Sun which causes the air immediately above it to become heated. When this air is warmed, it will become less dense and will rise upwards bringing along the pollutants. At night there is no sunlight to heat the ground so it cools. The air close to the ground also becomes cooler and more dense and will tend to sink together with the pollutants.
How has the haze been affecting you? Leave your comments :)
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Tips for preparing for your exams
Since most of you are preparing for your exams (I hope!), here are some tips which I found from the internet which you might find useful.
Preparation for the year-end exam should begin well in advance. The magic word here is “consistency”. Listen attentively during class and use the regular assignments and class tests to help clarify any doubts that you may have. Weak areas should be spotted early, and your time managed in such a way that more attention is paid to weaker subjects. Use acronyms whenever you can in your study notes. This is one way to string together a list of things you need to remember. Here we will use the acronym LRT.
L - Learning Style
Practise “holistic learning” - that is, using multiple senses including your sense of Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Smell. We are all made different, so get to know your unique learning style so you can tailor your notes and study methods to attain optimum results. For example, if you are a “visual” person, avoid writing chunky paragraphs (they look boring!). Instead, use colourful flow-charts, mind-maps, icons and other diagrams. Try doodling your notes instead of writing them. If you are an “audio” person, your best bet to understand the subject matter is to listen attentively to your teacher. Try writing your study notes in a form that you can record on audio tapes. It might well work for you. The other two recognised learning styles are “tactile” and “kinesthetic”. Tactile (referring to the touch) people need to create study material that they can touch. Collect leaf and plant samples, go on educational tours and learn in a physical way wherever possible. If you are “kinesthetic” (referring to movement) try to work with motion like educational video clips and computer games.
Note Taking Vs Note Making
A word about study notes. There is a big difference between “note taking” and “note making”. Note taking suggests that the student is writing whatever the teacher is saying. This is not a smart way to study because when you re-visit your notes, you may not understand the contents or the context. On the other hand, when you have fully understood and digested what the teacher has said, and you reproduce it in a way that entertains your senses and help you understand better, that is note-making. Stop thinking of note-making as simply writing in words. It could very well be drawing a mind map or making point-form notes using acronyms and icons.
R - Relaxation and Recreation
Even though studying is important, it is equally important to take time off to play and engage in other meaningful activities. This is to prevent burnout, where the enthusiasm for studying is killed.
T - Time Management
During the revision period, time management becomes even more crucial. It is tempting to spend more time on the subjects you like at the expense of the more difficult or “dry” subjects. Do not shy away from studying for your weaker subjects (e.g. Mother Tongue). Make sure that you cover the syllabus for all your subjects meaningfully and systematically.
Study Periods
Know your “high-key” and “low-key” periods. To be productive in your study, make sure you schedule your heavy-duty topics or subjects during your “high key” period and leave the easier stuff for the “low key” periods. The total length and frequency of each study period should be left to the individual. It is advisable to have 45-60 minute study periods with short breaks in between. It is important not to get distracted from work by music, the telephone, the television, the bed or the computer. Find a place where you can concentrate without distraction.
Revising for the Exams
Your revision period should start about 5 weeks before the exam. During this period, it is important to steadily “let go” of other commitments (CCA, games, goofing around, etc). A fortnight before the exam, all other activities should be temporarily stopped. However, this does not mean that you have to study 24 hours a day.You’ll still need to spend some time each day on recreation and relaxing your mind. Revising is not so much about cramming or rote learning, as reviewing the notes made during regular term-time, and refreshing your understanding of the subject matter. By now, most of the vital material should have been condensed in your notes, to avoid overload of irrelevant information during this vital period.
Study/Exam Tactics
Spotting Questions
Spotting questions is a useful way of giving “weighting” to the various topics in the syllabus so you’ll know which areas to concentrate on. However, taken too far it can be dangerous because you might neglect the other topics, and you do so at your own peril.
Individual Study Vs Group Study
Although I personally favour individual study because I can control the environment, group study is a good way to clarify doubts, share notes and enlarge each other’s experiences. You can have a mix of individual and group study periods. For group study, find a group of friends whom you trust and are willing to share and work for the common good of the group! It takes more discipline working in a group.
Tackling the Exam Paper
On exam days, it is important to get lots of rest the night before. Do not burn the midnight oil. Get at least 7-9 hours of rest. This will give you the energy you need to concentrate during the two- or three-hour paper. It is not advisable to do last minute cramming on the day of the exam. This only serves to make you more nervous. Instead try to relax and review your study material through the “big pictures”. Bring sufficient stationery. Nothing freaks out a student more than when his calculator battery goes flat, or when his pen runs out of ink during an exam. When you have done all that’s needed, approach the exam with cheerfulness and confidence.
Preparation for the year-end exam should begin well in advance. The magic word here is “consistency”. Listen attentively during class and use the regular assignments and class tests to help clarify any doubts that you may have. Weak areas should be spotted early, and your time managed in such a way that more attention is paid to weaker subjects. Use acronyms whenever you can in your study notes. This is one way to string together a list of things you need to remember. Here we will use the acronym LRT.
L - Learning Style
Practise “holistic learning” - that is, using multiple senses including your sense of Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Smell. We are all made different, so get to know your unique learning style so you can tailor your notes and study methods to attain optimum results. For example, if you are a “visual” person, avoid writing chunky paragraphs (they look boring!). Instead, use colourful flow-charts, mind-maps, icons and other diagrams. Try doodling your notes instead of writing them. If you are an “audio” person, your best bet to understand the subject matter is to listen attentively to your teacher. Try writing your study notes in a form that you can record on audio tapes. It might well work for you. The other two recognised learning styles are “tactile” and “kinesthetic”. Tactile (referring to the touch) people need to create study material that they can touch. Collect leaf and plant samples, go on educational tours and learn in a physical way wherever possible. If you are “kinesthetic” (referring to movement) try to work with motion like educational video clips and computer games.
Note Taking Vs Note Making
A word about study notes. There is a big difference between “note taking” and “note making”. Note taking suggests that the student is writing whatever the teacher is saying. This is not a smart way to study because when you re-visit your notes, you may not understand the contents or the context. On the other hand, when you have fully understood and digested what the teacher has said, and you reproduce it in a way that entertains your senses and help you understand better, that is note-making. Stop thinking of note-making as simply writing in words. It could very well be drawing a mind map or making point-form notes using acronyms and icons.
R - Relaxation and Recreation
Even though studying is important, it is equally important to take time off to play and engage in other meaningful activities. This is to prevent burnout, where the enthusiasm for studying is killed.
T - Time Management
During the revision period, time management becomes even more crucial. It is tempting to spend more time on the subjects you like at the expense of the more difficult or “dry” subjects. Do not shy away from studying for your weaker subjects (e.g. Mother Tongue). Make sure that you cover the syllabus for all your subjects meaningfully and systematically.
Study Periods
Know your “high-key” and “low-key” periods. To be productive in your study, make sure you schedule your heavy-duty topics or subjects during your “high key” period and leave the easier stuff for the “low key” periods. The total length and frequency of each study period should be left to the individual. It is advisable to have 45-60 minute study periods with short breaks in between. It is important not to get distracted from work by music, the telephone, the television, the bed or the computer. Find a place where you can concentrate without distraction.
Revising for the Exams
Your revision period should start about 5 weeks before the exam. During this period, it is important to steadily “let go” of other commitments (CCA, games, goofing around, etc). A fortnight before the exam, all other activities should be temporarily stopped. However, this does not mean that you have to study 24 hours a day.You’ll still need to spend some time each day on recreation and relaxing your mind. Revising is not so much about cramming or rote learning, as reviewing the notes made during regular term-time, and refreshing your understanding of the subject matter. By now, most of the vital material should have been condensed in your notes, to avoid overload of irrelevant information during this vital period.
Study/Exam Tactics
Spotting Questions
Spotting questions is a useful way of giving “weighting” to the various topics in the syllabus so you’ll know which areas to concentrate on. However, taken too far it can be dangerous because you might neglect the other topics, and you do so at your own peril.
Individual Study Vs Group Study
Although I personally favour individual study because I can control the environment, group study is a good way to clarify doubts, share notes and enlarge each other’s experiences. You can have a mix of individual and group study periods. For group study, find a group of friends whom you trust and are willing to share and work for the common good of the group! It takes more discipline working in a group.
Tackling the Exam Paper
On exam days, it is important to get lots of rest the night before. Do not burn the midnight oil. Get at least 7-9 hours of rest. This will give you the energy you need to concentrate during the two- or three-hour paper. It is not advisable to do last minute cramming on the day of the exam. This only serves to make you more nervous. Instead try to relax and review your study material through the “big pictures”. Bring sufficient stationery. Nothing freaks out a student more than when his calculator battery goes flat, or when his pen runs out of ink during an exam. When you have done all that’s needed, approach the exam with cheerfulness and confidence.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Pluto - Dwarf Planet
Dear students,
You may have read about the recent announcement by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to re-categorise Pluto as a dwarf planet and wondered how this information could impact your learning of the solar system in the science textbook. While you are not required to either name the planets or describe their relative positions, the current textbooks provide additional information about the planets.
The debate on the status of Pluto is an excellent opportunity for us to appreciate the role of evidence in supporting scientific theories and how advances in science continually re-define what constitutes scientific knowledge.
Some of the key points which you may find useful:
Pluto was first discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 through multiple observations of the planetary system. Advances in telescope technology and further discoveries of planetary bodies in the 21st century started the debate on the status of Pluto as a planet. The IAU on 24 Aug 06 decided to adopt a set of new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit." In essence, the oblong orbit of Pluto that goes into Neptune’s elliptical orbital path disqualifies Pluto as one of the planets in the solar system.
You may find the following information on Pluto useful:
1. International Astronomical Union and the resolution on the definition of a planet
You may have read about the recent announcement by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to re-categorise Pluto as a dwarf planet and wondered how this information could impact your learning of the solar system in the science textbook. While you are not required to either name the planets or describe their relative positions, the current textbooks provide additional information about the planets.
The debate on the status of Pluto is an excellent opportunity for us to appreciate the role of evidence in supporting scientific theories and how advances in science continually re-define what constitutes scientific knowledge.
Some of the key points which you may find useful:
Pluto was first discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 through multiple observations of the planetary system. Advances in telescope technology and further discoveries of planetary bodies in the 21st century started the debate on the status of Pluto as a planet. The IAU on 24 Aug 06 decided to adopt a set of new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit." In essence, the oblong orbit of Pluto that goes into Neptune’s elliptical orbital path disqualifies Pluto as one of the planets in the solar system.
You may find the following information on Pluto useful:
1. International Astronomical Union and the resolution on the definition of a planet
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/08/24/pluto.ap/index.html
3. It's official--Pluto's out
http://news.com.com/Images+Its+official--Plutos+out/2300-11397_3-6106240.html?tag=st.bp.story
4. Rest In peace, Pluto (Sunday Times, 27 August 2006)
5. Pluto's demotion not a cause for classroom panic
3. It's official--Pluto's out
http://news.com.com/Images+Its+official--Plutos+out/2300-11397_3-6106240.html?tag=st.bp.story
4. Rest In peace, Pluto (Sunday Times, 27 August 2006)
5. Pluto's demotion not a cause for classroom panic
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/08/25/pluto.reaction/index.html
6. Information about Pluto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto
7. Clyde Tombaugh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Tombaugh
6. Information about Pluto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto
7. Clyde Tombaugh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Tombaugh
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Dr William Tan
A+B+C+D=E
A=Attitude
B=Big Goals
C=Create an action plan
D= Determination, dilligence and ... i cant remember the last :p
E=Eureka
and may I add, F=Focus, because Dr William Tan repeatedly emphasized about that and to also study smart by doing homework first instead of watching tv or playing computer games.
However, I want to remind all of us that Dr William Tan is not the only inspirational person in our community. There are many more out there who may not be as distinguished as Dr William Tan but who are also heroes and heroines in their own right. They are everywhere around us if we would only open our eyes and hearts to see.
Do you see?
A=Attitude
B=Big Goals
C=Create an action plan
D= Determination, dilligence and ... i cant remember the last :p
E=Eureka
and may I add, F=Focus, because Dr William Tan repeatedly emphasized about that and to also study smart by doing homework first instead of watching tv or playing computer games.
However, I want to remind all of us that Dr William Tan is not the only inspirational person in our community. There are many more out there who may not be as distinguished as Dr William Tan but who are also heroes and heroines in their own right. They are everywhere around us if we would only open our eyes and hearts to see.
Do you see?
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Watch your thoughts
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
P.S. this is why teachers scold students for their thoughtless words and acts.
Friday, August 18, 2006
An inconvenient truth - THE movie to watch!!
Synopsis:
Al Gore, former vice President of the USA is back in the spotlight. Stemming from a global-warming lecture that he has been delivering worldwide, this Sundance hit documentary (from veteran Director Davis Guggenheim) vividly displays the potential effects of climate change. It ultimately brings home Gore’s persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue – rather, it is the biggest moral challenge facing our global civilization. Produced by Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction).
The following information is taken from www.climatecrisis.net - Official website of the movie
The following information is taken from www.climatecrisis.net - Official website of the movie
WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising.
The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.
- The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.
- Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.
- The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.
- At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.
If the warming continues, we can expect catastrophic consequences.
- Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years -- to 300,000 people a year.
- Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.
- Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.
- Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
- The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.
- More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.
There is no doubt we can solve this problem. In fact, we have a moral obligation to do so. Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big differences in helping to stop global warming. The time to come together to solve this problem is now.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Welcome!!
This will be my blog for all my students :)
Do remember to drop by often to get the latest updates on homework and class-related news
Do remember to drop by often to get the latest updates on homework and class-related news
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