Wednesday 12/22/10

Today periods 2, 4, and 6 took the first semester exam.

Tuesday 12/21/10

Today periods 1, 3, and 5 took the 1st semester exam.

Monday 12/20/10

Today students finished taking the mid-year common assessment.

Friday 12/17/10

Today students took the Common Assessment (mid year).

Thursday 12/16/10

Yesterday and today the students continued science presentations and worked on editing their ecology videos.

Tuesday 12/14/10

Today students began science project presentations.  Yesterday students filmed their ecology skits.

Friday 12/10/10

Today students finished the ecology packet begun Wednesday.

Thursday 12/9/10

Today several students competed at the science fair at SPC.  All other students continued to work on the ecology review packet that was assigned Wednesday.

Wednesday 12/8/10

Today students worked on an ecology review packet with the substitute teacher.

Tuesday 12/7/10

Today students continued working on their review of ecology skits.  For the rest of the week, students will work on an ecology review packet.

Monday 12/6/10

Today students began writing skits for the Ecology unit review. Filming will commence Wednesday!  Science projects are due today!

Friday 12/3/10

Today students worked to complete unfinished Gizmos and abstracts.

Thursday 12/2/10

Today students completed the water pollution Gizmos. Rough drafts of science project abstracts are due tomorrow.

Wednesday 12/1/10

Today students completed a ticket in the door about succession in a whale fall (see Ms. Sanders for a copy) and started the Water Pollution Gizmo.  See Ms. Sanders for a copy of the water pollution packet or print one from the Gizmo website (click on the purple Gizmo link below the chatbox).

Tuesday 11/30/10

Today students took bell work quiz #7.  All classes, except 3rd and 6th, finished the lesson on ecological succession and took the quiz.  The other classes will take it tomorrow.  Be sure to see Ms. Sanders to make up any missed quizzes.

Monday 11/29/10

Today students received a copy of the science project binder requirements. See below. Science Project binders and backboards (or PowerPoints) are due Dec. 6, 2010.   We also began a lesson on ecological succession.  Please write the definition of ecological succession onto page 33 of your interactive notebook.


The following sections are typed, double spaced and secured in a clean binder or folder:


a. Title page, which should include your topic/title, your name, school, city, state, and zip code.


b. Table of contents


c. Purpose and Hypothesis- the purpose is a statement of what you plan to do. The hypothesis is the educated guess or prediction of what you think the outcome of your experiment will be.


d. Acknowledgements – in this section you identify people who have helped you.


e. Review of literature – this is your research paper


f. Procedures- in this section provide a numbered, step-by-step explanation of how you will conduct your experiment. If necessary, include drawings to help clarify your procedures.


g. Results – in this section you describe the outcome of your experiment and the data collected. This section should include the data tables you used to record your data and the graph(s) you’ve made using that data.


h. Conclusion- in this section you will remind the reader of your purpose and hypothesis and then indicate whether or not your results support your hypothesis.


i. Bibliography – list at least five sources (i.e., books, encyclopedias, reliable websites) you used to research your topic. Use MLA format (www.easybib.com).

Friday 11/19/10

Today students worked on their science project research papers.  Papers are due to Ms. Sanders by email by 11:59 pm tonight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday 11/18/10

Today students completed a directed reading assignment for selected portions of chapters 3 and 4 using the class copy Biology books.

Wednesday 11/17/10

Students completed the biome graph (p. 116 #26) and an activity for which they had to compare and contrast primary and secondary ecological succession.

11/16/10

Today we completed the following Ticket In the Door.

1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th periods completed the THIEVES pre-reading strategy for chapter 4, and completed p. 116#26.

3rd period completed the THIEVES pre-reading strategy for chapter 21.

Monday 11/15/10

Today we completed a Ticket in the Door. 
We also started a THIEVES pre-reading strategy for chapter 4.  It will be completed tomorrow in class.

Friday 11/12/10

Today we FINISHED the food chain Gizmo!!! So if you missed class, use the purple Gizmos link under the chatbox below to go to the Gizmos website so you may finish.  Print out this handout, Gizmo Food Chain Student Exploration, and complete all the tasks.  Don't forget to take the 5-question assessment located on the Gizmo page.  When you check your answers, your score will be sent to me for a grade.

Wednesday 11/10/10

1st - 4th periods completed a ticket in the door using the vocabulary terms on the student learning map, and then created an ecology vocab log on page 32 of the interactive notebook.
a) abiotic
b) biotic
c) commensalism
d) parasitism
e) mutualism

6th period continued working on the Food Chain Gizmo.

Tuesday 11/9/10

1-4th periods worked on the Food Chain Gizmo. 

6th period was in the media center and read the article, Making Light of Sleep, and answered related questions.

Monday 11/8/10

Today we spent about 15 minutes completing and discussing the following Ticket In the Door assignment:

The answer is mutualism.  Come up with three questions for which the correct answer is mutualism.

Students also continued working on the Food Chain Gizmo.

Friday 11/5/10

Today we finished notetaking on trophic levels in some classes and continued working on the Food Chain Gizmo in all classes.

Thursday 11/4/10

Today students finished notes on trophic levels and several classes began the Food Chain Gizmo.  Students can access the Gizmos from home by using the link available on this website (see links located below the chat box).  Any student who was not in class today will need to see Ms. Sanders for the access code to log in to Gizmos.

Wednesday 11/3/10

Today most classes students took the PLAN test.  4th and 6th periods took notes on trophic levels.

Tuesday 11/2/10

Today, in most classes, student groups finished their presentations for their ecology posters.  Then we began some notetaking about trophic levels using the information learned from ecology posters.

Monday 11/01/10

Today student groups presented their ecology posters while other students listened and evaluated the work.

Wednesday 10/27/10

Today we read an article entitled, Where Have All the Bees Gone, and answered related questions.  We also completed a double puzzle about ecology.

Tuesday 10/26/10

Today we finished our informative posters; we'll have group presentations on Thursday.

Monday 10/25/10

Today students continued their group work on the informative ecosystem poster.

Ms. Sanders was not at school on Thursday or Friday of last week.  Here's what we did.

FRIDAY 10/22/10
On Friday, students were divided into groups to create informative posters about an assigned ecosystem.

THURSDAY 10/21/10
On Thursday, students read the article, Fear Matters and answered related questions. 

Wednesday 10/20/10

Today we turned in science project paper work.  If you did not turn yours in, please do so by Monday.

Yesterday, we continued working on our project paperwork.

Monday 10/18/10

Today we began printing science project paper work.  Paper work is due Wednesday, 10/20.  Students may print these forms from home using the link provided in the 'Helpful Links' section of this blog.

Friday 10/15/10

Today we read and responded to an article entitled, Flush-Free Fertilizer.  Then we practiced the language of science by becoming more familiar with the little words (root words, prefixes, and suffixes) that make up the big science words.

Thursday 10/14/10

Today we continued working on our science projects.

Wednesday 10/13/10

The science project paper work is now due on Wednesday, 10/20/10. 

Today we continued working on science projects.

Tuesday 10/12/10

Today we completed a worksheet using the dragonfly biology book. 
Worksheet part one
Worksheet part two

Monday 10/11/10

Today we continued working on science project paper work.  The science project research plan was due last Thursday, and must be turned in ASAP, if you haven't done so already. 

The next science project due date is this Friday.  All science project forms are due.  You can access the forms at http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document.

Friday 10/8/10

Student Holiday.

Thursday 10/7/10

Today was an early release day.  We barely had time to do much, but we did manage to squeeze in Bell Work quiz #4.  Please see Ms. Sanders to schedule a time to make that up if you missed it.  Today is the due date for the science project topic.  Click on the "Contact Ms. Sanders" tab above to send your research plan by 11:59 pm tonight.

If you need help, Ms. Sanders will be on the chatbox from 5pm-6pm and from 9:15pm-10:15pm.

Wednesday 10/6/10

Today we continued our quest to find science project topics.  Topics are due tomorrow.

Tuesday 10/5/10

Today we continued searching for science project ideas.  The final topic idea is due this Thursday, 10/7/10.

Monday 10/4/10

Today we continued looking for science fair project ideas.  The science project idea is due by this Thursday, 10/7/10.

Friday 10/1/10

TGIF!
Today we discussed science project requirements, including the science project timeline.  (See calendar below for all science project due dates.)  Some classes were also able to begin an assignment which requires students to read three articles and create a science project idea from each.

Thursday 9/30/10

Today we finished watching the movie, Over the Hedge, as a preview of our ecology unit. Students completed the accompanying video worksheet.

Wednesday 9/29/10

Today each group presented their piece of the science project guidelines to the class using the bulleted lists created yesterday.  Now we are better aware of what is expected of us for our science projects.

Tuesday 9/28/10

Today we divided the science project guidelines into sections, and small groups worked on creating bulleted lists of the information each was assigned.  Tomorrow we'll have group presentations.

Monday 9/27/10

Today we turned in our Interactive Notebooks.  We also discussed the unit one test and scheduled makeups.  You are allowed to make up the test Tuesday and Wednesday ONLY, during lunch or after school.  The highest score you can make on the retest is a 70/C.

Friday 9/24/10

Today we previewed our ecology unit by watching Over the Hedge and completing a related worksheet that shows how this movie relates to ecology.  Fun times!

Thursday 9/23/10

Today we took Bell Work Quiz #3 and Unit One Test.  See Ms. Sanders to schedule a time to make up these assessments if you were absent.

Wednesday 9/22/10

Today we created concept maps using the vocabulary terms related to unit one.  The concept maps help us to see the "big picture" by showing the relationships between the terms. 

The help chat will be open tonight from 7:00-8:30 for anyone who needs last minute help before tomorrow's test.

Tuesday 9/21/10

Today we reviewed vocabulary in preparation for Thursday's test.  The help chat will be open tonight and tomorrow night from 7:00-8:30.

Monday 9/20/2010

Today we took a quiz on pseudoscience.  We also completed a $5 Summary about pseudoscience.  Be prepared for the following upcoming events:

1) Thursday 9/23 - Unit One Test and Bell Work Quiz
2) Monday 9/27 - Interactive Notebooks due
 

Friday 9/17/10

Today we completed a handout entitled, Recognizing Features of Pseudoscience.  Be prepared for a quiz on pseudoscience on Monday, 9/20/10.  A link to helpful pseudoscience notes can be found on the post from Wednesday 9/15/10.

Thursday 9/16/10

Today each group presented (explained, taught the rest of the class about) a specific feature of pseudoscience.  Be prepared to take a quiz on pseudoscience on Monday, 9/20/10.  You can find the link to the pseudoscience handout on yesterday's post.

Wednesday 9/15/10

Today we practiced taking notes using short-hand, or txt msg style.  It will help us to take notes faster in class while preserving the clarity of the information.  In other words, we'll still be able to understand them when we read them later.

We also worked in groups to define the features of pseudoscience.  Notes about pseudoscience can be found here.  Print and glue this document onto page 25 of your Interactive Notebook.  Don't forget to write reflections about it onto page 24.

9/14/10

Today we continued our discussion from yesterday.  We also discussed what a scientific theory is, and why theories are never considered to be "proven scientific facts."  Today's notes are available on yesterday's PowerPoint.

Monday 9/13/10

Today we learned what science is, and what science can and cannot do.  Students interpreted a related cartoon, and then used a graphic organizer to make predictions about the topic before taking notes from a PowerPoint.  These notes were added to page 23 of our Interactive Notebook.

Friday 9/10/10

Today we completed 3 handouts:
a) $5 summary about accuracy and precision
b) Metric Challenge
c) What is Pseudoscience?

Thursday 9/9/10

Today we took bell work quiz # 2 and a quiz on converting metrics.  See Ms. Sanders to schedule a time to make up these quizzes.

We also did an activity called Seeing Beyond the Obvious, during which we had to think creatively about an ordinary object.  We were shown a simple, woven basket and asked to answer the following questions about it:

1. How could you modify this object so that it is useful to pets?
2. How is the average four year old like this object?
3. How could this object be used to illustrate some math concept?

This is an example of the kinds of higher order thinking skills we are expected to use in biology class, in life, and in the development of our science fair projects.

Wednesday 9/8/10

Today we received our graded microscope and measurement labs and used some of the data to practice percent error and precision calculations. 

Tuesday 9/7/10

Today we reviewed vocabulary by playing the Vocab Pyramid game.  We then revisited the topic of converting metrics since so many students struggled with that portion of the lab.  We were given this handout to use for notes and practice.

Monday 9/6/10

Labor Day - No School

Friday 9/3/10

Today we shared the riddles we created based on the topics we've studied in class.  They were awesome!  We added many of them to our classroom word wall.  Here are just a few of the great ones.

Precision and Accuracy Riddles
Q: What did the cat say to the scientist about his measurements?
A: That they were "purr-cise!"

Q: Which scientist is famous for his song, "Love Me Accurate, Love Me True?"
A: Elvis "Precise"-ly

Q: What is a scientist's least favorite clothing store?
A: "Error"postale

Q: What did the grapes say to the scientist as he weighed them on a non-calibrated scale at the supermarket?
A:  Bias.

Lab Safety Riddles
Q: Where do scientists go for accurate information about the chemicals they are using?
A: Goggle.com

Observation and Inferences Riddles
Q: What did the scientist say when he felt pain in his foot?
A: "I just made an Ow-bservation!"

Scientific Method Riddles
Q: What did the boy scientist say to the girl scientist?
A: Wanna go on a data with me?

Microscope Riddles
Q: Why did Secret Agent Microscope infiltrate the base?
A: It was his objective.

Q: What does the microscope repairman call his date?
A: A "fine adjustment."

Q: What is a microscope's favorite dance?
A: The electric slide.

Q: What did the nosepiece say to the body tube?
A: Eyepiece you!

Thursday 9/2/10

Today we got our creative juices flowing by learning how to use our current science vocabulary words to make riddles.  Creating riddles is an example of associative thinking, and is a fun and humorous way to reflect on topics we've learned while using higher order thinking skills.  Glue this handout onto page 21 of your Interactive Notebook and follow its directions.

Wednesday 9/1/10

Today we practiced precision problems and error analysis.  We used a handout that we were given in class yesterday.

We also received grade reports which reflected assignments in biology class.

Tuesday 8/31/10

Today we discussed the difference between accuracy and precision.  The Powerpoint of the lesson can be found here.  We also received the following handout to add to page 19 of our interactive notebook.

Monday 8/30/10

Today we finished our graphing activity from Friday.  If it was not finished in class today, you must finish it for homework.

We also learned the difference between inferences and observations.  Powerpoint lesson available here.  Please see Ms. Sanders for the homework assignment.

Friday 8/27/10

Today we took bell work quiz #1.  Then we reviewed the functions of the parts of the light microscope before taking the microscope parts quiz.  See Ms. Sanders to schedule a time to make up these quizzes.

We also received a graphing activity to do after the quiz.  It is not weekend homework; you will have time to work on it during class on Monday.

Thursday 8/26/10

Today we finished the measurement and microscope lab.  We made flashcards of the parts of the microscope to study for tomorrow's quiz.

Wednesday 8/25/10

Today we continued working on the measurement and microscope lab that we started yesterday.

Tuesday 8/24/10

Today we began the measurement and microscope Lab.

Measurement Lab handout
Microscope Lab handout

Monday 8/23/10

Today we turned in the scientific method comic strips. 

We added a microscope labeling assignment to page 15 of our interactive notebook.

We were also assigned a microscope coloring worksheet which must be completed before  tomorrow's microscope lab.

Friday 8/20/10

Today we worked on our scientific method comic strips (due Monday).

Thursday 8/19/10

We added a copy of the lab safety guidelines to the interactive notebook.  See Ms. Sanders for a copy.  We also recorded brief notes on the scientific method in our interactive notebooks.  Then we were assigned the scientific method comic strip, which is due on Monday, 8/23/10.

Scientific Method Comic Strip Instructions - due Monday, 8/23/10
Blank Comic Strip Squares (Frames)
Comic Strip Rubric

Wednesday 8/18/10

1. Assemble your Interactive Notebook using these guidelines.  The notebook should be a spiral or other bound notebook.  Click on tab above to keep up with what items should be in your notebook and on what pages.

2. Use the Lab Safety Guidelines to complete the crossword puzzle.  The guidelines must be signed by student and parent and returned on Monday, 8/23/10.  Guidelines are not available online and must be retrieved from Ms. Sanders.

Tuesday 8/17/10

THIEVES pre-reading strategy allows you to "steal" information from a text before actually reading the text.  Complete the THIEVES practice sheet for chapter one in your biology book.

Monday 8/16/10

Textbooks assigned.
Textbook scavenger hunt due Tuesday, 8/17/10.

Bio I Textbook Scavenger Hunt
Honors Bio Textbook Scavenger Hunt

Friday 8/13/10

Baseline assessments were finished today.
Rules/Procedures wksht completed.  Due Monday if not finished in class.

Rules/Procedures handouts here and here.

Thursday 8/12/10

All Classes

Baseline assessments were taken and will be finished tomorrow.

No homework tonight.

Wednesday 8/11/10

All Classes:

1. BW – science attitude survey / turned in my Study Support System

2. Finished reading procedures

3. Getting to know you Bingo

No homework tonight.

Tuesday 8/10/10

Bio I / Hon. Bio I
1) My Study Support System - DUE TOMORROW - printable handout available here

2) The following was added to the blank lines on the last page of the classroom procedures handout.  Please copy it.

P. What to do if I finish Early: 

I may do homework, makeup work, work from another class, read or study. I may not talk to myself or others, play games, tap, sing, hum, or anything that might disturb others. I may not sit and do nothing.

Monday 8/9/10

Bio I / Hon. Bio I
Rules/Supplies handout - Printable document available here
Procedures handout - Printable document available here
Student Data Sheet - Printable document available here

Homework Chat for August 5, 2010 (7pm- 8:30pm)

1. Log in as a guest with your first and last name, otherwise you will be immediately blocked from the chatbox. If blocked, you will not be able to sign back on for an hour.
2. Please keep your comments relevant and clean to avoid being blocked. All comments entered into this chatbox are automatically archived.
3. FYI - No more than 10 people may be logged into the chatbox at one time.

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