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.

Can Science Explain the Origin of Life?

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

To learn about the "Big Bang", try this link:  http://www.chronozoom.com/

 Origins: How Life Began - This video is good.  It's about an hour long.  Watch it for extra credit (Get the video notes to do with it).

http://exploringorigins.org/about.html    - Great website with resources about the origins of life

10/6-10/10           Agenda and Assignments

Monday	-Correct wkst., Where Does Life Come From? -Set up flask demonstrations -Notes and discussion -HW: Germs From Nowhere (read, highlight, complete questions), due on Wednesday, 10/8 -From Soup to Cells Internet Module - Finish for homework, due on Thursday, 10/9 From Soup to Cells Link
Tuesday	-Begin analysis of "The Demise of the Halloween Pumpkins" -Quiz on Where Does Life Come From? pgs. 21-23 on Tues., 10/14 -Work on From Soup to Cells - Due on Thursday, 10/9
Wednesday	-Video: "The Origins of Life", Notes - Work on From Soup to Cells- Due on Thursday, 10/9
Thursday	-Video: Conclusion of "The Origins of Life", Notes -Notes, Chapter 1, Section 3 Origins of Life ppt Notes -HW: Origin of Life Wkst. -Quiz on Where Does Life Come From? pgs. 21-23 on Tues., 10/14
Friday	-Go Over Homework in class -Review for Quiz -HW: 1. Study for Quiz (blog videos and ppt, notes, wksts, textbook)            2. Portfolio Review - 15 pts. (Midterm) -Quiz on Where Does Life Come From? pgs. 21-23 on Tues., 10/14