DiMaggio's Biosphere

 Life Science

Warm Up Q6:  What are adaptations and how do they help an organism survive?

Today we began reviewing section 1 notes, and then we started an activity called Tyrannosaurus Mess.  Students discovered why it is difficult to assemble a dinosaur skeleton.  Bones may be broken, spread over large areas and some may be missing.  Putting together the bones of an animal that no one has ever seen is very challenging much like a jigsaw puzzle.

Science Literacy:  Today we began a new novel called Never Cry Wolf.

Life Science

Warm Up Q5:  How can you tell that organisms are members of the same species?

Today students took a pre-test on Evolution, and then they began working on their evolution vocabulary pictionary.  All work not completed in class must be completed for homework. 

Reminders!

Pictionaries are due Wednesday.

Section 1 notes due tomorrow.

Science Literacy:  Today students presented their diorama projects to the class.  The dioramas were awesome, very creative.  Great Job to all!

Life Science

Q3: What kind of plant produces offspring with the same traits as the parent?

Q4: What are  chromosomes that carry the same set of genes called?

Today students took the Chapter 5 test, and after the test they used the remaining time to begin reading and taking notes on Chapter 7 section 1.

Science Literacy:  Students completed their Call of the Wild diorama.  Group presentations will begin Monday.

 

Life Science

Warm Up Q2:  What are homologous chromosomes?

Today we began class with a quick review for the Chapter 5 test Friday. 

Then students participated in a Human Karyotyping Simulation activity – students  identified and paired up chromosomes in homologous pairs.  Tomorrow they will analyze their chromosomes and identify any genetic disorders and decide if their subject in male or female.

Reminder!    Chapter 5 Test Friday 2/24

Life Science

Warm Up Q1:  What happens when a true breeding plants self pollinates?

Today the class learned how to read and interpret a pedigree chart.  Then we watched the Bill Nye video Genes.

 

Science Literacy:  Today students began working on their The Call of the Wild diorama.  Remember everyone must do their part when working with a group.  Forgetting materails at home is not an excuse.   

Life Science

Warm UP Q10:  What is genetic counseling?

Today we reviewed Meiosis and sex-linked genetic disorders.  Then students created a venn diagram to compare the two types of cell division -Meiosis vs. Mitosis.

Venn Diagram and warm ups are due Tuesday

Chapter 5 test is next Friday 2/24

 

Science Literacy:  Students workd together with their groups today in order to plan how they want to construct their diorama.

Students will bring in supplies and work in groups to re-create an important scene from the book that they will present to the class.  This assignment will be the final assessment for Call of the Wild.  Students should have supplies, and they should be ready to work on their project in class Tuesday. 

 

Life Science

Warm Up Q9:  What is selective breeding?

Today students took the Sections 1 and 2 quiz.  Then they began working on a rough draft for the venn diagram they will complete tomorrow.  Mitosis vs. Meiosis

 

Science Literacy:

Today students completed the 4 question assessment for Call of the Wild.   

Students were then divided into groups of four today to begin working on a Call of the Wild diorama project.  Students will bring in supplies and work in groups to re-create an important scene from the book that they will present to the class.  This assignment will be the final assessment for Call of the Wild.  Students should have supplies and they should be ready to work on their project in class Tuesday.

 

Life Science

Warm Up Q7:  How many chromosomes does a  human egg cell have?

Today students took the Chapter 5 vocabulary test, and completed the mitosis and meiosis compare and contrast diagrams. 

 

Science Literacy:  Today we finished reading The Call of the Wild.  Students answered question 2 on page 14 of their packets in their journals.

Attention!!!     Instructions for all students who are revising their Organ Trail project book:

• Use your organ system packet to read and answer the questions on the Organ Trail project guide.  The page that directed the studnets how to put the project together- including the title page. 
• Then use those answers to develop your own paragraph for each page of the Organ Trail project.
• Rewrite only the passages that need to be revised,and attach revisions to the original page.  I want to see both the original copy and the revised copy.
• Do not reprint the booklet or pictures.  Just attach the revised copies to the original book.  Revised projects are due Monday!  So try to print early on Sunday in case you run out of ink or some other problem arises. 

 

 

 Life Science:

Warm Up Q5:  What is incomplete dominance?

Today we continued working with dominate and recessive alleles. Students practiced using the Punett square to figure out possible allele combinations, and see how genes or passed from one generation to the next.

 

Science Literacy:  

Attention: While I was out many students did not keep up with their journal writings.  All students should have the required assignments, listed below, in their journal.  Journal entries should be labeled the way I explained in class. 

Here is the list of required Journal assignments from The Call of the Wild packet:

Vocabulary  pages 1,2,3,5,6,9,10

Journal Entries Prompts

Page 4 Activity  5

Page 8 Choose Activity  1 or 3

Page 9 Activities 1 and 3

Page 10 Activity 3

Page 11 Discussion question 1

Page 12 Activity 5

Students were given a opportunity to complete these assignments this weekend without penalty, but they are due Monday,  no exceptions.  Also students were allowed to check out a book and a Call of the Wild packet to get the work completed.

 

 

 

 

Life Science

Warm Up Q4:  What is a ratio?

Today we review Mendel's first two experiments and vocabulary from Chapter 5.  Then students were given some time to begin their notes for section 2.  

Reminders! 

Homework:  Section 1 and 2 section reviews.  Due tomorrow.

Vocabulary test Tuesday 2/14

Sections 1 and 2 quiz Thursday 2/16

 

Attention!!!!!!!!!!

I began grading  The Organ Trail projects today.   I was very disappointed to discover that many of the projects were plagiarized.  Students copied and pasted straight from the on-line textbook!   And many other examples were easily found by Googling a phrase from their project and looking up the article.   This is a very serious matter; and these students should receive zeros for not doing their own work. 

Anyone who has plagiarized their project should pick it up tomorrow and rewrite it or recieve a failing grade.     Due Monday NO EXCEPTIONS!   Project grades are weighted at 60%,