Ideas

      **Weekly Current Events Wiki Contribution**  The red glow originates from [|hydrogen] gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star [|Sigma Orionis]. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong [|magnetic field]. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming.
 * Find the Star named Cornelius McHugh (no seriously) Taurus RA 5h 32m 57sd 25 degrees 59'**
 * Include the following during Solar System Formation Activity:**
 * Saturn's rings**: How thick and how did they form?
 * Jupiter's moons:** Gravitationally melted, volcanic Io compared to ocean-covered, frozen Europa.

Directions: The current estimated age of the known universe is approximately 13.73 billion years old. The current estimated age of our solar system is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Your job is to use your notes and the Internet to EXPLAIN how our solar system and the planets formed and to describe the remnants that were left over from those formations. **Include a definition or link to these 16 terms**: __nebula__, __terrestrial planet, gas giant__, planetesimal, planet, satellite (moon), __[|asteroid]__, __asteroid belt__, __meteor__, meteoroid, __meteorite__, __comet__, nucleus, coma__, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud__. The EXPLANATION should be sequential (follows the correct series of steps in the actual formation of the solar system). You may work in groups of no more than 2 people to complete this assignment and you will be given at least 2 class periods. When done, make sure to copy the complete summary to the second partner's wiki so I may grant credit. **NOTE: This can be written in paragraph format or as a series of sequential steps, but either way your notes are a good guide to follow.**
 * **ASSIGNMENT 5: Solar System Formation and Leftovers**


 * Your grade for this will be comprised of:**
 * define or describe 16 terms = 32**
 * quality / completeness of overall explanation = 8**
 * 5 good supporting images = 10**
 * Total = 50 points (Approximately half of a test)**

Directions: Many of the minerals we learned about during chapter 4 are the chief "rock-forming minerals." Next, we are going to investigate the 3 major rock types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Your job during this assignment is to **search** the Internet for a common rock that is composed of 2 or more of the minerals listed below and to **describe** how that rock forms from those minerals (1 good paragraph in your own words). You must include a **picture of the minerals** themselves, a **picture of the rock**, and a **picture illustrating the process by which the rock forms** (Include captions describing your images). The chief rock forming minerals are: Calcite, Feldspar, Quartz, Augite, Garnet, Hornblende, Kaolin, Biotite Mica and Muscovite Mica. Many many rocks are formed from these minerals so begin with some simple Internet research on rocks formed from the most common minerals on our list. You will have class time today and tomorrow only. Good luck! __**20 points total**__
 * **ASSIGNMENT 4: Rock Forming Minerals**
 * Grading for assignment 4 is based on the following:**
 * 5 points for the paragraph description of how the rock forms**
 * 5 points for the picture showing how the rock forms**
 * 5** **points for the pictures of the minerals involved**
 * 5 points for the** **picture of the rock you're describing**
 * How the rock _ __typically forms. Explain in a few sentences.__ || Insert a picture illustrating the process by which the rock forms. ||
 * Insert a picture or pictures of some or all of the minerals that compose the rock || Insert a picture of the rock you are describing. ||

Directions: You will work in groups of 3 to create a description of 7 mineral properties and post it on one of your wikis. The 7 mineral properties are: luster, streak, hardness, cleavage, fracture, specific gravity, and "special / unique." Your job is to define each property and give examples. Also explain how that property is used to identify mineral samples. You must also include a minimum of 2 images for each mineral property; for a total of at least 14 images.
 * **ASSIGNMENT 3: Mineral Properties**

In order to do this cooperatively, the first thing you must do is to decide which member's wiki will get this info added to it. That person must invite the other group members by using the following buttons in order: 1. Click "Manage Wiki" 2. Click "Invite People" 3. Type the username of who you want to invite 4. Click "Send" 5. Next, the other group members must accept membership by logging into wikispaces.com and going to their dashboard.
 * || **NOTE: An invitation message will appear near the top of your dashboard** ||

Next, you must go to the wiki that you will be working on, and describe these 7 mineral properties: luster, streak, hardness, cleavage, fracture, specific gravity, and "special". **You should begin by copying the table below to the wiki you will be working on.** Don't forget to include the necessary images, definitions, examples, etc. I do not care how you decide to split up the work as long as it gets done before the assigned due date Friday 10/2/09 at 2:28 PM. If your group does not finish during class time, you will need to work together to make sure the assignment gets done during study hall, after school, etc. NOTE: wiki work should be able to be done from any computer with Internet access. __**7 points for the definitions**__ __**7 points for the descriptions of how the properties are used**__ __**14 points for the images**__ __**2 points for sending a message to mchughc**__ on wikispaces telling me whose wiki to visit to grade the assignment and who all of the group members were.
 * Grading for assignment 3 is based on the following:**
 * 30 points total**
 * || [[image:63949264 caption="mail.png"]] ||
 * mail.png ||  ||
 * mail.png ||
 * Mineral Property || Definition || Description: How is it used to ID unknown minerals? || Supporting Images ||
 * Luster ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Streak ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Hardness ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Cleavage ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Fracture ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Specific Gravity ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Special / Unique ||  ||   ||   ||

Directions: Open Google Earth. If you don't see latitude and longitude gridlines, click "View" and "Grid." Find some small feature that you can take a snapshot of and estimate it's exact location using degrees, minutes and seconds. Good examples would include your house, your family car, your pond, your garage, barn, etc. etc. Bad examples would include the states of Montana, Alaska, Texas, etc. To take a snapshot, press (Shift+Apple+4) all at once (A little crosshair will appear). Then click your mouse button and drag across the region you want to take a picture of (This will save a picture of this region to your desktop as a .png file) Login to your wiki, Click "Edit this Page." Under assignments, create a heading **"ASSIGNMENT 2: Estimating Latitude and Longitude with Google Earth**" and use the tree icon to browse for your image, **upload it, double click it** to insert it. Along with the image, type a brief description of what it is and the estimated coordinates in degrees, minutes and seconds. Example: **Note: I used this Table button to get a box for the picture and description.**
 * **ASSIGNMENT 2: Estimating Latitude and Longitude with Google Earth**
 * [[image:Linehurst_Island.png caption="Linehurst_Island.png"]] || This is a tiny island I like to snorkel to when I get the opportunity to go to the Caribbean. The estimated coordinates of the center of this island are N 18° 22' 01.5" W 64° 43' 23.5" ||