365

-Chapter 4: Pheobe-

April 29, 2024
Physical science
Pheobe's POV

I plopped down into my seat as the 3rd period bell rung, Kayla my other friend was sitting next to me, pulling out what she needed for today's class. "Okay Everyone please take out your notes!" Mr Watkins

I took out my binder that had my notes in it. My Cromebook that the school provided us with, so i could see the slideshow easily, and to get done the notes quickly. I usually finished my notes writing everything down fast. I grabbed out my pencil bag and took out my highlighters and a pencil.

the familiar scent of textbooks and pencil shavings greeting me as I finished taking my things out. I loved this class, Even though I hated school. Science always had its interesting experiments and engaging discussions about the natural world. The teacher, Mr. Watkins, was a kind and enthusiastic man who always made learning fun.

As the lesson began, I was eagerly started writing down the notes. Today they were learning about the different states of matter, and she was absorbed in the explanation of solids, liquids, and gases.

"Solids, liquids, and gases are the three main, or fundamental phases of matter. Each one has a different density and a different level of stability." Mr Watkins started pointing to his words on the white board. What determines the stability of each phase is the bond between it's atoms. The tighter the bond between it's atoms the more stable that phase of matter is. Solids are the most stable form of matter, followed by liquids, and then gases."

I wrote down what was on the board. Mr Watkins took a moment for everyone to write more notes. I continued on, "Solids have a definite shape and do not take the shape of their container. Liquids do not have any definite shape and do take the shape of their container, the same is true with gases."

Mr Watkins continued to talk while I went on writing more things. 'Once again it is the bond between the atoms of liquids, and gases that make it have no definite shape. The first phase of matter is solids.Solids are the most stable form of matter.' I took and moment and put my pencil on my desk and started highlights some things. I did a heading in a black pen, I wrote a little more before highlighting some things.

"Solids are more stable than liquids and gases.What is one type of solid?" Mr Watkins asks the class. I raised my hand.

"One type of solid is a Crystalline solid." I said

Mr Watkins nodded. "That is correct, The particles in a crystalline solid have a regular repeating pattern.The types of crystalline solids are metals, alloys, salts, valence crystals, molecular crystals, polymers, and plastics. Most elementscrystalize as metals." He paused to take a breath. "Some solids can also be frozen liquids.The atoms in a solid are tightly bonded which means it has a definite shape. The second phase of matter is liquids. Liquids have no definite shape."

Mr Watkins then told us to copy down the notes from the next two slides. Once again I completed the notes quickly. Soon the bell rung and it was time for 4th period.

I walked with Kayla down to History Class, going upstairs, I walked in as Kayla went to her next class, I sat down in the back of the class, waiting for the bell to ring. I took out my cromebook ready to do our class assignment I knew she was going to have us do. Mrs Murphy walked in, "Good morning class! Today we are going to start learning about World War 2. You will be taking notes on your own, So please open your cromebook and go to a blank sheet on Google docs."

I also enjoyed history very much. "World War II, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history, involved more than 50 nations and was fought on land, sea and air in nearly every part of the world. Also known as the Second World War, it was caused in part by the economic crisis of the Great Depression and by political tensions left unresolved following the end of World War I." Mrs Murphy started to say as she pulled up a google slides with notes that we had to copy down.

"The war began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and raged across the globe until 1945, when Japan surrendered to the United States after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By the end of World War II, an estimated 60 to 80 million people had died, including up to 55 million civilians, and numerous cities in Europe and Asia were reduced to rubble." I also wrote that down and highlighted it on Google docs. She talked for a while then sat at her desk as we got caught up with what she had on the board before she moved on. I went on my phone for a few minutes waiting to move on because my notes were done.

"So what was the cause of World War 2?" Mrs Murphy asked the class. "Anyone know?"

A few people raised there hands, Mrs Murphy called on a girl, I think her name was Annabelle. She got the question right. We moved on to notes about World War 2 in the pacific ocean. "With Britain facing Germany in Europe, the United States was the only nation capable of combating Japanese aggression, which by late 1941 included an expansion of its ongoing war with China and the seizure of European colonial holdings in the Far East."

She took out an expo marker and wrote on the board a date. 'December 7, 1941.' She then she turned back to the class.

"On December 7, 1941, 360 Japanese aircraft attacked the major U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, taking the Americans completely by surprise and claiming the lives of more than 2,300 troops. The attack on Pearl Harbor served to unify American public opinion in favor of entering World War II, and on December 8 Congress declared war on Japan with only one dissenting vote. Germany and the other Axis Powers promptly declared war on the United States."

She clicked to another slide that had the same information she said on the board for us to write down. "On monday we will learn more about the Attack of Pearl harbor."

She talked a little bit more about the war in the pacific ocean. She had us write a little bit more on a google docs, before the class ended which was in 5 minutes. I was so engrossed in taking notes that I didn't notice the subtle shift in the atmosphere of the classroom. It started with a faint sound, like a muffled pop. I frowned and looked up, wondering if a student had dropped something. Classmates were cleaning up there supplies leaving the classroom as the bell rung.

But then another shot rang out, it seem louder this time, and panic swept through the room. Mrs. Murphy shouted for everyone to get into the classrom and to get down on the floor, her usually calm voice filled with urgency. She went over to the door and put a stop lock in.

My heart raced as I crouched behind her desk, trying to make sense of what was happening. Was this a drill? A prank? Was the senior prank happening today? But the terror in my classmates' eyes told me that this was all too real. I felt a wave of fear wash over her, the adrenaline in my veins making her shaky and disoriented.

Word count: 1288