The Science of Christmas

The Science of Christmas

12/22-12/26           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Test on 3.1 & 3.2 today! -Lab: "Eggsperimenting with Osmosis" due today! -HW Midyear Exam 1/8/15; Study Guide
Tuesday	-Lab: "Eggsperimenting with Osmosis" due today! -Deck the Halls with Science activity -HW Midyear Exam 1/8/15; Study Guide -BRING PORTFOLIOS HOME
Wednesday	School Vacation Begins December 24-January 4, 2015
Thursday	Merry Christmas!
Friday	Boxing Day

12/15-12/19           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-"Eggsperimenting with Osmosis Lab"; Discuss Pre-lab -Test on 3.1 and 3.2 scheduled for Monday, 12/22 (Study guide)  -Chemistry of Life Study Guide -HW Portfolio Reflection Assessment #3 due tomorrow!
Tuesday	-Continue working on Lab -Demo: Rice and iodine -Youtube videos on blog -Test on 3.1 and 3.2 scheduled for Monday, 12/22 -HW Diffusion, Osmosis, and Cell Transport Worksheet
Wednesday	-Continue working on Lab -Test on 3.1 and 3.2 scheduled for Monday, 12/22 -HW "Eggsperimenting with Osmosis Lab" due on Monday, 12/22
Thursday	-Continue working on Lab; discuss and analyze results -Review for Test -Test on 3.1 and 3.2 scheduled for Monday, 12/22 Identifying Cellular Processes Examples -HW STUDY!!!
Friday	-Review for Test -Test on 3.1 and 3.2 scheduled for Monday, 12/22  -HW STUDY!!!

Moving Cellular Materials Videos and Animations

                                                             Diffusion Animations

Facilitated Diffusion

Osmosis

Virtual Lab: Hypotonic, Isotonic, Hypertonic

Endocytosis and Exocytosis

12/8-12/12           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Discuss Pre-lab -Lab: Food Labels -HW Finish Analysis Questions and Graph, Due: Thursday 12/11
Tuesday	-Continue Lab on Food Labels -HW Finish Analysis Questions and Graph, Due: Thursday 12/11
Wednesday	Field Trip - North Shore Theater "A Christmas Carol"
Thursday	-Food Label Lab is due today! -Begin reading 3.2, pgs. 76-81; complete the note-taking guide -Demonstrations: Osmosis and diffusion -HW 3.2 Reinforcement
Friday	-Continue with 3.2 note-taking guide -Correct HW -More demonstrations in class -Begin discussion about "Eggsperimenting with Osmosis Lab" -HW 1. Complete Pre-Lab for "Eggsperimenting with Osmosis Lab"           2. Portfolio Reflection #3 due on Tuesday, 12/16

12/1-12/5           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Go over HW -Read about Mixtures and continue with Note-taking guide -Mixture Demonstrations -HW 1. Chemistry Worksheet (2 sides), use textbook (pgs. 68-71)           2. Bring in a food label (with ingredients and nutrition) for 12/5
Tuesday	-Go over HW -Review mixtures -Make salsa (heterogeneous mixture) and Kool-Aid (solution) -HW 1. Note-taking guide: Parts C, D, E (pgs. 72-75)           2. Bring in a food Label for 12/5
Wednesday	-Notes on 3.1 -Correct HW -Set up "Eggsperiment" -HW 1. Food Label Lab: Read and Highlight, complete 1-10 pre-lab           2. Bring in a Food label for 12/5
Thursday	No School - Professional Development
Friday	-Discuss HW Pre-lab questions -Food Label Activity -HW None

11/24-11/28           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Demonstrations - Flame Test and Iron in Cereal -Begin Chapter 3.1, Chemistry of Life -HW Note-taking Guide and Reinforcement
Tuesday	-Correct homework -Chemistry youtube videos -Periodic Table of Elements -HW Using Chemical Symbols - 2 sides
Wednesday	-Half day -"The Electric Pickle" -Thanksgiving Extra Credit Assignment: Thanksgiving Trivia Webquest
Thursday	-No School Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday	-No School

11/17-11/21           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Continue Plant and Animal Cell Lab -HW Work on Cell Project, due on Fri. 11/21
Tuesday	-Finish Plant and Animal Cell Lab -HW Work on Cell Project, due on Fri. 11/21
Wednesday	-Play "Cell Charades" -HW Work on Cell Project, due on Fri. 11/21
Thursday	-Play "Cell Charades" -HW Work on Cell Project, due on Fri. 11/21
Friday	-Cell-a-bration Day!!  Cell Projects are due! -HW 1. Cell-a-bration reflection           2. Plant and Animal Lab is due on Tuesday, 11/25

Cell Project: Cell-abrating Life by Building a Cell!

                                                                                               November 12, 2014

Dear Parents and Guardians,

        Students have begun a unit on The Cell, chapter 2 in the Life’s Structure and Function textbook.  We have studied all about the various organelles and structures of cells and how each has a particular function.  Students have been assigned a project called, Cell-a-brating Life by Building a Cell.  Students will create a three-dimensional model of a plant or animal cell.  Please see the project directions sheet and rubric for details.  

Many creative ideas are available to students and are discussed in class.  Students are encouraged to use recyclable materials and other inexpensive objects that represent by shape, size and color the various organelles that are found in the cell.  Shoe boxes work great as well as plastic containers.  In the past some cells were made out of pizza decorated with various types of toppings each chosen carefully to represent the parts of a cell and some were made out legos and fabric sewn to create a 3-D cell.  Other cells have been made out of foam or Styrofoam.

This Cell project is due Friday, November 21st.  On this day students will present and share their projects.  The classroom will be a virtual cell museum.  I call this very special day, our “Cell-a-Bration”.  We celebrate remarkable and amazing cells.  Students are allowed to eat the edible cells if they wish.  This is a really fun visual and kinesthetic activity that engages student learning of the cell as well as helping to reinforce concepts.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Pratt

Here is a link to the project guidelines and rubric:

Cell Project: Cell-a-brating life by Building a Cell!

11/10-11/14           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	Parent/Teacher Conferences No School for students
Tuesday	Veteran's Day - No School
Wednesday	-Correct Cell Organelle sheet -Cells Alive Internet Lesson is due today! -Discuss Cell Project due on Fri. 11/21 -Start Plant and Animal Cell Lab -HW 1. Begin thinking about the Cell Project           2. Study for Quiz tomorrow Cell Structure and Function Power Point
Thursday	-Quiz on Cell parts and functions! -Continue Plant and Animal Cell Lab -Discuss Cell Project more -HW Work on Cell Project
Friday	-Finish Plant and Animal Cell Lab -HW Work on Cell Project

Cell Organelle Song!

11/3-11/7           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Discuss and Collect "The Demise of the Halloween Pumpkins" -Start Chapter 2 "The Cell" -Demonstration - Egg -Note-taking guide -HW Reinforcement and finish Note-taking guide Portfolio Reflection #2 due on Thursday, 11/6
Tuesday	No School - Election Day!
Wednesday	-Correct HW Note-taking guide and Reinforcement -Quiz on Cell Organelles and Functions on Thurs. 11/13 -HW Portfolio Reflection #2 due tomorrow!
Thursday	-Continue to correct homework-Quiz on Cell Organelles and Functions on Thurs. 11/13 -HW Cell Worksheet (2 sides)
Friday	Quiz on Cell Organelles and Functions on Thurs. 11/13 -HW Cells Alive Internet Lesson due on Wednesday, 11/12 Cell Organelles worksheet

10/27-10/31           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Read about microscopes; pgs. 49-53 -Complete Microscope packet (if needed, finish for HW)
Tuesday	-Continue with Lab, Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function
Wednesday	-Finish Lab, Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function -Discuss results and findings -Watch blog video: How Did Plants Evolve? -HW Complete the wrap-up assignment;lab due on Thurs. 10/30
Thursday	-Halloween Assembly -Organize portfolios and folder
Friday	-Happy Halloween!! -Discuss Microscope packet -Lab due today! -"Demise of the Halloween Pumpkin" Activity in class and finish for HW

Blog Assignment #3: Stuck in Cement!

Please watch this podcast.  The information can help further your understanding of the lab we are working on in class: Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function .

Write a 2-3 paragraph (6-8 sentences) response to the following task:

Your task: You need to find a way to survive with your feet permanently anchored in cement?

You Can't:                                                      

• Hide from predators                                 
• Seek a mate
• Walk to water or food
• Change your habitat

You Have to:

• Get necessary nutrients
• Get water and oxygen
• Reproduce (your mate may be a mile away)
• Deal with changes in your environment (i.e. dry, wet, hot, cold, dark, light etc..)

Disclaimer: videos on this blog and all blogs can not be viewed on iPads.  Make sure you are using a laptop or desk top to view videos.

10/20-10/24           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Finish Shark Dichotomous Key -Finish Notes -Correct HW: Biological Classification -Quiz on Wed. 10/22 -HW 1. Pre-Lab definitions and prediction for Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function           2. Blog Assignment #3 Stuck in Cement!  Due on Thurs. 10/23
Tuesday	-Review for Quiz on 1.4 pgs. 24-28 Classification -Preview Lab and go over details: Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function -HW 1. Study for Quiz          2. Blog Assignment #3 Stuck in Cement!  Due on Thurs. 10/23
Wednesday	-Quiz today! -Continue with Lab: Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function -HW Blog Assignment #3 Stuck in Cement!  Due on Thurs. 10/23
Thursday	-Continue with Lab: Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function -Blog Assignment #3 Stuck in Cement! is due today
Friday	-Wrap-up of Lab: Evidence of Plant Evolution: Form Fits Function -Work on "The Demise of the Halloween Pumpkin" finish for HW

10/13-10/17           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	No School - Columbus Day
Tuesday	-Quiz on 1.3, Where Does Life Come From? today -Comparing the History of Life to a Clock activity in class -HW Read pgs. 24-28, Classification 1.4; complete note-taking guide
Wednesday	-Correct HW -Quiz on 1.4 Classification on Wednesday, 10/22 -HW 1. Portfolio Reflection Assessment (15 pts.) Due on Fri., 10/17          2. Domains and Kingdoms wkst.
Thursday	-Shark dichotomous key activity -Footwear classification -Correct HW -HW Portfolio Reflection Assessment (15 pts.) Due on Fri., 10/17
Friday	-Portfolio Reflection Assessment due today! -Notes -Shark dichotomous key activity -HW Biological Classification - Read, complete all questions Study for Quiz on Wed., 10/22

Brine Shrimp Lab Project

7A students have designed their own experiments to determine the effect of hatching and/or survival of brine shrimp!  Students worked in teams of 4-5 members.

• First, the students designed their experiment and laid the foundation.  Here's what they did: they wrote a problem and explained their purpose.  Then they wrote a hypothesis they could test.  Last, they drew a diagram of their experiment and listed/obtained materials.

• Next, students set up their experiments!  What creative ideas they had!  Some of the fantastic ideas that students came up with were:  the effects of different colored lights on the hatching of brine shrimp, the effects of a black light on the hatching of brine shrimp, which pH level can support live brine shrimp survival?, does music allow for better hatching rates of brine shrimp?, what foods allow brine shrimp to survive better?, and finally the effect of temperature on brine shrimp survival/hatching rates.

• Then, students collected data with their iPads by taking picture and videos to document progress.  Students created diagrams, graphs, and data tables so they could analyze the results of their experiments.  Each team created a shared google doc.  The google doc proved to be an excellent tool to allow students to collaborate on the lab report (students were happy with the success of this, too).  This way each member really could contribute in a meaningful way and they could support one another in learning how to write a lab report.

• Finally, the teams each created a presentation of about 5-7 slides in Explain Everything app or in the Book Creator app.  They presented their experiments in front of the the class.