During the first week of SEPTEMBER you can expect to be given an assessment on what we have covered so far in G9 Integrated Science. That means all the stuff on variables, units, significant figures, errors, science apparatus. We’ll talk more in class about this but here is a link to some powerpoints you might find useful. Click through the first few introductory slides to get to the good stuff 
Variables Measurement Errors - click on “How science works – Errors”
bread toasts by FrancoisRoche on flickr
Here is the lab sheet for the Murphy’s law toast drop. Murphy’s Law G9 lab Print a copy for yourselves if you would like to have a paper version.
Don’t panic – there will be lots of help with the data collection and analysis part. Don’t forget to bring in any “extra” spreads that you plan to test. This should be fun!
Confused about variables? Dependent, independent, control, continuous… all covered in this song. Make sure you sing out loud, not in your head!
Next lesson you will have a number of challenges to complete to help you practice choosing suitable apparatus and recording accurate measurements. You can start thinking about them now:
1. Find the thickness of a microscope slide.
2. Which is longer – the circumference of a coke can, or the height?
3. Find the volume of a stone.
4. Find the mass of one paperclip.
5. Find how long it takes for a pingpong ball to hit the ground from a height of 1m.
6. Produce a beaker of water at 35°C.
Can you explain the difference between accuracy and precision?
Do you know what SI units are?
Do you know the SI units for length, time and mass?
Can you choose the appropriate number of significant figures to use in calculations?
The answers to these questions, and more, on this short video.
