WELCOME TO MRS Rafas TH 8 Grade SCIENCE

WELCOME TO MRS. Rafa’s TH 8 Grade SCIENCE CLASS SPARTAN TEAM

INTRODUCTIONS *18 th year at Summit Hill School District 161 (22 nd year teaching) *Married with 2 Children *Bachelors in Education from University of Illinois. Champaign *Masters in Administration – Governors State University *NGSS—Next Generation Science Standards *http: //ngss. nsta. org/About. aspx *Hobbies: Searching for new ideas to foster the love of science and spending time with my family – watching my children grow up and participate in sports.

What will we study this year? SCIENTIFIC METHOD LAB SAFETY METRIC SYSTEM PHYSICAL SCIENCES PBL—NUCLEAR POWER: FRIEND OR FOE?

WELCOME TO THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES!! What are the physical sciences? • any of the natural sciences dealing with inanimate matter or with energy, as physics, chemistry, and astronomy.

WHAT IS PHYSICS? Physics is the scientific study of matter and energy and how they interact with each other. This energy can take the form of motion, light, electricity, radiation, gravity. . . just about anything, honestly. How Physics Works? As an experimental science, physics utilizes the scientific method to formulate and test hypotheses that are based on observation of the natural world. The goal of physics is to use the results of these experiments to formulate scientific laws, usually expressed in the language of mathematics, which can then be used to predict other phenomena. Why study physics? The entire universe is built upon the principles revealed by a study of physics. Because physics is the study of matter, energy, space and time, without which there would be nothing in existence to react or thrive or live or die.

WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, how and why substances combine or separate to form other substances, and how substances interact with energy. Why study Chemistry? Every material in existence is made up of matter — even our own bodies. Chemistry is involved in everything we do, from growing and cooking food to cleaning our homes and bodies to launching a space shuttle. Chemistry is one of the physical sciences that help us to describe and explain our world.

LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR!! • Looking forward to a wonderful year in science! • Contact info: nrafa@summithill. org • 815 -469 -4330