Nitrogen Passport Reflection

1. Why didn’t everybody go to the same stations in the same order?

Everyone couldn’t go to the same stations in the same order because everyone started from the different stations, so in that way, people can go through all the stations and not waste time.

2. Did you go to the same station twice? If so, what does this tell us about cycles?

Yes, I did go to the some station twice, it tells me that everything can cycle around the world, even the atmosphere.

3. Was there one station that seemed to have a lot of people at it? Why or why not?

Yes, there was one station that seemed to have a lot of people standing there and tried to get the stamp. I think there were a lot of people in a same station because they got the same number, so they went to the same direction.

4. What do you think the point of this activity was?

For me, I think that this activity was about teaching us that how the different things in the world cycle around, where are the places that they might go, etc. This is part of the lesson that we are studying now during the science class. We used stamp to remind us which stations that we have been through and we also provide evidence, so we can learn something, and also know why we are going to other station, which matches the cycle lesson that we are studying now.

The Science of Benjamin Button!

Benjamin Button TED Talk

About the TED talk that I had watched during science class today, it was about how the people used the scientific method to create Benjamin Button. They talk about what is going on in the movie, a person called Benjamin Button was born as a very old man, and as he grew older, he looks younger which was very weird. People use the scientific technology to create him. Before the completion of Benjamin Button, they need to think of the color of the skin for Benjamin Button, and also his hairstyle. It was very difficult for the workers and actors because the scientific process wasn't very easy. They tried different ways to present Benjamin Button, there are steps that can clearly help them prove, and they have to be realistic as they can. I think this kind of scientific method that can present Benjamin Button is a very creative and special. Including to the TED talk, the most part that interested me was how they created Benjamin Button. They have actor to portrait Benjamin, and makeup artist and special effect team to make different faces and get through the computer so that they will have a new Benjamin Button. I think this is a very advanced invention, it really clearly shows how good we are in technology. After this TED talk, it interested me to get to know more about this. I think this kind of special invention will be very common in the future.

image source: http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2008/11/17/benjamin-button-poster-1.jpg

Submarine SMASH Day Reflection

1. Summarize --
-- What did we do for SMASH Day?
On the SMASH Day, Ms.Smith had divided all our class into four groups with three people. The title was "we all live in a yellow submarine", which is very exciting. All the groups got some supplies that Ms.Smith had provided for us. Our mission was to make a telescope, which can help us to check what is inside the box. The rule is you can't go above the table because you live in the submarine, which means under the table is the ocean, and above the table is the island.

-- What was your mission?
Our mission was to make a telescope together as a group and try to use the supplies to make a tall and big telescope to find out what was inside teacher's box.

-- What supplies were you given?
We had got several pieces of paper and a small box, two pairs of scissors and four small mirrors which two of them are zoom in magnifier mirrors and two normal mirrors, we have a roll of tape to use to bind all the supplies together.

2. Reflect -- Scientists often make a hypothesis, test it, and then change (or modify) their design to make it work.
-- How many times did you have to modify your design?
Actually, we came out with our design in a very short time and it actually works. To place the mirrors in the right angle were the most difficult part in making the telescope. We tried about five to six times to find the best angle for our telescope.

-- How did you know that you should modify your design?
I know that we should modify our design because it didn't work and so we tried to find another way, for instance, the angle of the four mirrors didn't work successfully and we couldn’t see anything, so we adjust our mirrors until we found the right angle.

-- How did you know what to do when you modified it?
We thought about many ideas to solve the problem such as the angle of the mirrors, while we were making the telescope, you are not a hundred percent sure what will really work, in the process of try and errors, you just adjust the angle little by little until it works.

-- How did your team communicate to decide how to modify your design?
Our team members had good relationship, we communicated and made the group decision together. If any members had any new ideas, we will bring it up, then discussed about it with other members and worked together and concentrated on the problems until it works.

3. Tips and Suggestions
-- If you could give a list of tips and suggestions to someone who is doing this for the first time, what would it be? What would you tell them to help them out?
If there is someone who is doing this for the first time, I would suggest the person not to think about the angle too much because you will end it up thinking about the problem but not actually doing it. The best way is to try every possibility and learn from errors. The more you try, the faster you will figure out the problems.