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Science Semester 2 DSLO Reflection

           During the second semester of Science, we covered two main units: Chemistry and Physics. In Chemistry we learned all about phase changes of matter, particles, Kinetic Theory of Matter, calorimetry lab, Law of Conservation of Matter, limiting Reactants, balancing equations, and more. In Physics we are learning about simple machines, levers, mousetrap cars, wheels, and trebuchets, gravitational forces, mechanical and speed advantage etc. I have really enjoyed this semester a lot because Chemistry intrigues me the most and Physics is something I haven't at all learned about yet.

Collaboration

           Collaboration is probably one of the most important skills to develop in today's world, and this semester in science we have really honed those skills. A bulk of our activities were partner activities where we've had to collaborate with each other and conjoin our ideas into a group solution. One ideal example of collaboration was when we were doing the Design to Cool Soda activity, we worked in partners to formulate a group plan on how we best can lower the liquid's temperature. I learned a lot from working on this with my partner (Sriya) because I was able to add my knowledge and she was able to add her knowledge about which materials are the best thermal conductors and insulators.

           Collaboration is a skill that applies so well to the outside world, yet this semester of Science was able to incorporate that skill into its experiments through partner work and peer review. Another activity that was good with collaboration was the Crater Lab because we worked with a partner to observe how the change in height or mass of an asteroid affects the mass of ejecta when the ejecta is different materials (rice, coarse sand, fine sand). We needed good coordination and planning to keep our procedure organized, efficient, and accurate.

Critical Thinking

           I feel like this semester's Science has really pushed us the most in the direction of critical thinking, which is why it's the easiest to write about. Collaboration and critical thinking are like the ying-yang of values in our life, which I've observed science has touched. One of the most evident activities might be the Air Pressure Demonstrations Follow-up because we had to observe the demonstrations the teacher showed and explain our thinking of how it connects to particle theory. This hones our skills to apply situations to what we're learning and critically thinking about our unit and how it applies to our real world.

          I also feel critical thinking is the basis for all the DSLO's. From critically thinking and understanding our topic, we gain knowledge and questions that shape our inquisitive Character and that we later solve with our partners, building on Communication and Collaboration as well. We also learn cultural competence because when critically thinking we are more aware and we can connect the situations in Science to our life. Another activity that showed Critical Thinking was the Investigation 3.1 Analysis Questions because as you can see we basically take our knowledge about particle theory and critically think to answer analysis questions that apply it to situations.

          All in all, I feel this semester was yet again a successful one and one that helped me build on my strengths and weaknesses as a learner. It was wonderful to learn new things (physics!!) and explore others I was interested in (chemistry!!). It is really thought provoking how Science class can cover the DSLO's that shape our identity as a student at SAS and it really makes me enjoy Science more and appreciate its impact on our life.

RLA Favorite Poems

1.  "I'm Gonna Tell God Everything" 

This poem is about the recent gas bomb attack that killed many innocent children. This poem is in the perspective of a Syrian child who knows he/she is going to die soon. 

I'm gonna tell God everything
he'll come down with his blinding light
so that they can't see
or laugh
their finger pointing at me
instead
with their hands pinned to the ground
maybe they'll feel
my family's bones soiled and drowned.

It was my birthday today
but they just blew my sister away
"foo" like a candle!
Mama had said to sleep early the night before
or she'd punish us
they'd be no celebrations, no cake
but we were punished, punished
for living our childhood
I can still see it:
her nose kept running,
her eyes wouldn't wake
oh we were punished

I just pray for the day
when Syrian children will wake to the sound of birds
not bombs
when our walls will be dipped with memories
not sobs
many children breathe, but no childhood lives

And soon, this toxic air will fill my nose too
I'll drift away from my bleeding Syria
and gently settle on the clouds with my family
at least we'll find peace
together in heaven
Maybe I can even celebrate my birthday then
with my heat going
beat
beat
beat
beat
... cause I'm gonna tell God
everything.


2. Unbought and Unbossed

This poem is about Shirley Chisholm-- first black and female to run for U.S presidency. Her slogan is "Unbought and Unbossed" and this poem is in the time of 1972. 

What is freedom?

When all we can feel is the

Burn

Burn

Burn of wounds and slashes on the back

When all we can taste

Is the bitter

Crunch

Crunch

Crunch of sandy granules between our teeth

Even now, after the 14th amendment is ratified

“No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property”

the blacks here sit terrified, unsatisfied

With no sign of an arriving liberty

So tell me now, what is the cost?

To live with freedom, with dignity

Unbought and Unbossed?

3. Imagine That Cozy Saturday Evening

Imagine that cozy Saturday evening.

I’ve sunk in my bed

Springy, fluffed

Just like a good cake

I’ve cuddled my blanket

A nest of spun sugar and silk

And cotton candy

Sticky and sweet

I’m dipped in my pillow

In warm melted honey

Waiting for the sugar syrup to

Intoxicate

Rejuvenate

   Drown

My pillow

While it slowly seeps through the porous fabric

And I look outside

At the pitter-patter

Melted pearls trickling against the sugar windows

Until the windows shatter

The shards pierce my skin

And I realize

The pillow was my computer

The bed was my desk

And I’ve succumbed to school.

ART 8 Photo Essay

1. Which Photo from your essay was your best? Show the photo and explain why it was your best.

I liked the Macro of a bug I saw in the classroom. I thought it was the most challenging because the bug kept moving and I wanted to capture the various colors and textures of that bug. In the end, though, I thought it was pretty cool.

1. What is a Photojournalist?

a journalist who communicates news by photographs.

1. If you could do one category ( people, place, objects, macro) of your essay again which one would you re-do and why? Show the photo

I would do people again because I feel like I haven't played as well with the originality and technique as I could have.

1. What is exposure?  Give an example of a photo you took to help explain your answer.  

the amount of light per unit area (the image plane illuminance times the exposure time) reaching a photographic film or electronic image sensor

Health- Addiction

1. Define addiction

Addiction is when the body adapts to a substance and wants that substance in an increased quantity.

2. There are a number of different types of addiction.... what are they?

Alcohol and drug addiction are most common. Other ones include coffee addiction and technology addiction, which is very common amongst people who might not think they have serious addictions. Another addiction that may not be commonly told is exercise. The happy feeling we get from exercising is a mellow but similar effect that drugs can bring too. That is why some people get addicted to exercising, but this addiction may not be as negative as the rest apart from how it can cause over excursion.

3. What are the signs and physical symptoms that can indicate you have an addiction to a substance or behavior?

Common symptoms are irritability and aggressiveness. For example, if we stop looking at our phone or stop drinking coffee, we will feel negative symptoms like cranky and aggressive behavior and a strong want for that thing. Even though I don't have a phone, I see this with my siblings after they see iPad for a long time. They start screaming and throwing things.

4. What are coping strategies and how are they used to manage and reduce stress in your life, in a way that is not detrimental or harmful in the long term. 

Instead of using drugs or other substances to move away from stress, we can use more friendly options. Exercise is very helpful in making us feel happier and stress-free, releasing a similar feeling that comes from drugs, but is subdued and not as extreme. Yoga is a good form of exercise for stress relief. Other strategies are practicing hobbies like writing, art, games, sport and others that take us away from stress. The most important thing is family. In such an environment, family helps to enliven the environment and make us laugh. Spending time and going outside is very effective.

5. How may addiction be treated?

Instead of punishing the person and further shutting them down, we should understand why they're at this position and help to get them out of the depression. Addiction is best treated when the environment is positive, open, lively, and healthy. Family and friends should be around to keep a healthy communication and relationship, and that will bring positivity. 

Cyber Trolling

     
        I've realized how it's way easier to bully someone online because we feel protected and not so scared of saying derogatory language out loud. However, if we had to say the same thing to the same person, just in a different platform, it would be way harder. We wouldn't do that. The video shows how rare an occasion is when someone bullies another one verbally, face-to-face, with an audience hearing. The message I've learned is that if we can't confront the person and abuse them out loud, we shouldn't be able to do the same online. But I also feel that most of the people who troll actually don't hate the person, they hate themselves because they see a reflection of who they actually wanted to be. Trolling should stop. The main root cause of trolling are the various perspectives on insecurity and imperfections. Everyone is imperfect or has insecurities, but it is the lens in which they see through that changes their perspective about them. We shouldn't pull someone else down because of our perspective; someone else may end up doing the same to us too when their perspective changes.

Rosa Parks

1. Why is bus segregation even a big deal? Who cares who sits in the different parts of the bus? Why does this matter at all?

Bus segregation does matter because it doesn't matter where anyone sits on the bus, but what is affected is the esteem of the people being separated. To have a special spot for only the blacks lowers the importance or value of the blacks, and makes them feel worthless and not "up to the same level" as the whites. I can connect this idea to the book "To Be A Slave", where the slaveowners had ingrained in the slaves' minds that they'd need to serve their master in order to eventually reach up to their level. 

2. Put yourself in Rosa Parks’s shoes: You’re going home from work. You have a family. A small incident arises. What do you honestly do? How far would you go? (Jail? Pay a fine? Lose your life? Explain your limits.)

If I were to put myself in Rosa Parks's shoes, I would probably do the opposite of what she did. If I had a family, work, and a normal life, I would (like many) choose the safer option to pay a fine and end the deal. I would probably not question the unjust system and blindly follow what I'm told so I can feel secure and keep my family and job safe. It's easy to analyse her courageous action, but very hard to do the same. 

3. Parks’ words are very deliberate. She says, “You may do that.” What do you think about the wording of her statement?

She said "you may do that" deliberately because she didn't want to seem like she was being forced. The "you may" sounds like she is giving them permission, rather than them forcing her into arresting her. Another thing we can interpret is that she shows how she is at a higher level in character than the driver. She doesn't argue or act aggressively like some may if they were told they'd get arrested. This shows how strong Rosa Parks was in her beliefs and that she was willing to accept whatever consequences that followed.