Thursday, April 19, 2018
12:30 - 1:45; 75 min. -
Physical Science:
Reflection / Refraction -
Will was given a test on the vocabulary he was given last week. We then watched a Bill Nye the science guy video on Light and Color. The film is divided into chapters, allowing us to stop the video to discuss each new concept. Will then participated in an activity that helps illustrate how light energy reacts with black or white objects, compared to each of the colors of the spectrum.

Monday, April 16, 2018
1:00 - 2:30; 90 min. -
Physical Science:
Reflection, Refraction and Dispersion -
Will and I reviewed the reflection, refraction and dispersion of light energy. He was challenged to identify the direction light travels when coming in contact with a planar surface mirror. Then we introduced the concept of convex and concave surfaces, and Will worked out how light would travel when contacting mirrors of this kind. We had a detailed conversation about ‘fun house’ mirrors, and how the light energy reacts to these surfaces, and how what we see is different from what we expect to see in a mirror. Will wrote out his new vocabulary, and answered lists of questions about these properties of light. Homework: review vocabulary in preparation for a test.

Friday, April 13, 2018
10:00 - 11:00; 60 min. -
Physical Science:
Light Year -
Will and I calculated the distance of imaginary planets based on the events they would be watching using a telescope aimed on Earth. These light-year calculations help illustrate how what we see is dependent on light waves. Will then participated in a school-wide activity for photo-day.

Thursday, April 12, 2018
12:30 - 1:45; 75 min. -
Physical Science:
Light Year -
Will wrote out the definition and length of a light year. He then determined how far away an imaginary planet is, based on the images of the denizens we're seeing through a powerful telescope. The first planet witnessed the third birthday of a child born in the year 2000. The planet was 94.6 trillion kilometers away. Will figured out that the birthday boy was actually 13 years old at the time. We finished several similar light-year calculations to help illustrate how what we see is dependent on light waves.

Monday, April 9, 2018
1:00 - 2:30; 90 min. -
Physical Science:
Light lab -
Will worked on a light lab, using a laser pointer as the source. He investigated how light bends when it meets a prism, water, a clear latex cube, and other substances. He defined several vocabulary words related to reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light. We also discussed the light spectrum. We used a light delineator to observe how light divides into different wavelengths In the observable range, each wave length resulting in a different color. Will also wrote out the acronym ROY G BIV to remember the order of the observable colors of he spectrum. Finally we discussed the meaning of the word ‘spectrum’.

Thursday, April 5, 2018
12:30 - 1:45; 75 min. -
Physical Science:
Refraction Lab -
Will conducted several experiments showing how light bends when it moves from one medium to another. He examined how a pencil in a beaker of water looks broken, due to light bending as it moves through air and water. He took notice of how it changes when he moves the pencil, and that it was dependent on his angle of sight. He then did an experiment where he drew an arrow on a piece of paper, pinned the paper to the board, placed a beaker of water in front of the arrow, and noticed that the arrow changes direction when behind the water. We discussed how and why this happens.

Friday, April 6, 2018
10:00 - 11:00; 60 min. -
Physical Science:
Refraction Lab -
Will and I discussed how lenses work, and how they are used to make things look larger, or smaller. We also discussed how things appear to be farther away when they are made smaller, using the side mirror on a car as an example. We also examined several examples of tromp’loeil, which means ‘fool the eye’. These paintings convince the viewer that something is different than it really is, for example, a window painted on the side of a building. We examined some of the more extraordinary examples of this style of art, and discussed how the image is made larger or smaller to appear near or far. Will answered a series of questions about how to graph the effect of a lens.

Monday, March 26, 2018
1:00 - 2:30; 90 min. -
Physical Science:
Waves -
Will reviewed the sections of the comprehensive exam he completed before spring break. He had finished two sections of a four-part exam as per his instructions. Will wanted to complete the remaining two sections of the exam on waves. He will complete the test next class

Thursday, March 29, 2018
12:30 - 1:45; 75 min. -
Physical Science:
Waves -
Will reviewed what he had completed on Monday. He continued working on the test and completed it just as the class time expired.

Monday, April 2, 2018
1:00 - 2:30; 90 min. -
Physical Science:
Light lab -
Will was tasked with observing how a beam of light interacted with several objects, as we discussed the difference between opaque, transparent, and translucent. I asked him to define each of these terms, in context with his observations. We then used a prism to create a light spectrum, and discussed how light bends when it meets the different states of matter. We talked about how rainbows are created, and why a person can never find the end of the rainbow. We spent some time talking about his plans for college; his acceptance to Landmark College and his plans to visit other campuses next year.