Today, as promised to Ivan, we watched an episode of Human Planet: Oceans. As sea level rises, how will our behaviors change? How have the oceans shaped our lives? Check out the clip below to see how long one man can hold his breath.
Congratulations to Mathilde for winning the "Best Lab Report Award" and to Jose for winning "Most Improved in Science."
Have a great and safe summer!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Geology Jigsaw - Presentations
Today students presented their sections from the geology jigsaw. We learned about how fossils are made, how scientists use radioactive dating and the relative age of rocks. There was some confusion on how radioactive dating works, so if you're interested, you can check out this article, or watch this basic video on Carbon-14, or this more advanced video.
On Monday we don't meet because you get to go to Gardaland! Tuesday will be our last class, as promised, we'll watch an episode of Human Planet and have a few treats. If you would like to bring in something for the class, feel free, but no nuts :)
On Monday we don't meet because you get to go to Gardaland! Tuesday will be our last class, as promised, we'll watch an episode of Human Planet and have a few treats. If you would like to bring in something for the class, feel free, but no nuts :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Geology Jigsaw
Now it's your turn to be the expert! Today students worked on a jig saw activity using Chapter 4 from Science Explorer. Below are the groups.Fossils: Jon, Isabella, Antonella, Adam
The Relative Age of Rocks: Jose, Mathilde, Paul, Carlo
Radioactive Dating & Geologic Time Scale: Ivan, Gabriella, Francesca, (Malcolm)
Working with your group, you will create a 5-7 minute presentation on your topic to share with the class on Friday. You will have the first half of class on Friday to do any final organizing/editing.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Be a Paleontologist!
Today students had a chance to be a paleontologist and discover how tricky it can be to interpret fossil evidence when you don't have a complete picture. After a great display of teamwork, students discovered that they were looking at the bones of a Xenosmilus.
"From the partial skeletons found in Florida, Xenosmilus has been found to have the short, broad upper canines of the Scimitar tooth cats and the robust short legged build of the Dirk tooth cats. Xenosmilus was about the size of a modern lion, and more muscular than the Smilodon species. It is assumed that Xenosmilus preyed upon wild pigs, for several skeletons of this type were found in the cave deposits along with the cats." Read more here. This lesson came from UCMP Berkeley.
Homework: none :)
"From the partial skeletons found in Florida, Xenosmilus has been found to have the short, broad upper canines of the Scimitar tooth cats and the robust short legged build of the Dirk tooth cats. Xenosmilus was about the size of a modern lion, and more muscular than the Smilodon species. It is assumed that Xenosmilus preyed upon wild pigs, for several skeletons of this type were found in the cave deposits along with the cats." Read more here. This lesson came from UCMP Berkeley.Homework: none :)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Finshing Great Transformations
Today we finished Great Transformations from the PBS evolution series. We learned about the importance of homologies 
and comparative embryology in understanding evolution. 
As you may recall, at the beginning of the film, we learned about paleontologists and how the discovery of fossils contributes greatly to our understanding of the fossil record. Tomorrow, you will have the chance to be a paleontologist.
and comparative embryology in understanding evolution. 
As you may recall, at the beginning of the film, we learned about paleontologists and how the discovery of fossils contributes greatly to our understanding of the fossil record. Tomorrow, you will have the chance to be a paleontologist.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Hooray Blogger is back up and running!
Since blogger was down for almost two days (which felt like an eternity), we are missing the post from Wednesday.
On Wednesday students made a 46 meter timeline that stretched from the gazebo almost all the way to the theater. Each meter represented 100 million years. We were able to take a walk through time and see just how recently the world came to be how we see it today.
Today we watched the first two segments of PBS's Great Transformations video. For Monday you have two assignments. First watch the third segment and answer the following questions:
A. What are three things you learned?
B. What are two things you have questions about?
C. What is one thing you'd like to learn more about?
Part 2:By Monday at 3:35 PM, email me the answers to the following questions:
1. What assignment are you most proud of from this class and why?
2. How does this work demonstrate your skills and abilities in science?
3. What was challenging or interesting about this project?
4. If you had to do this again, what would you do differently?
5. What did you work the hardest on? Was it a specific project, studying for a test, learning to be organized etc?
6. What was the most interesting thing to learn about this spring term? In case you’ve forgotten all that we have done, look back through the blog archive.
7. What were the biggest challenges to your success in this class?
8. How did you work to overcome these challenges?
9. How have you changed as a student from the start of the year to now?
10. What can you teach others about Biology that you couldn't before?
11. Is there a skill that you learned in this class that can help you in other classes, if so what it it? (don't you dare write "nothing" because you are tired of writing.
Part 2:
What are three things you think I do well as a teacher?
What are three things (or areas) where you think I could improve as a teacher?
What is one piece of advice you would give to students who are taking this class next year?
Anything else I should know?
On Wednesday students made a 46 meter timeline that stretched from the gazebo almost all the way to the theater. Each meter represented 100 million years. We were able to take a walk through time and see just how recently the world came to be how we see it today.
Today we watched the first two segments of PBS's Great Transformations video. For Monday you have two assignments. First watch the third segment and answer the following questions:
A. What are three things you learned?
B. What are two things you have questions about?
C. What is one thing you'd like to learn more about?
Part 2:By Monday at 3:35 PM, email me the answers to the following questions:
1. What assignment are you most proud of from this class and why?
2. How does this work demonstrate your skills and abilities in science?
3. What was challenging or interesting about this project?
4. If you had to do this again, what would you do differently?
5. What did you work the hardest on? Was it a specific project, studying for a test, learning to be organized etc?
6. What was the most interesting thing to learn about this spring term? In case you’ve forgotten all that we have done, look back through the blog archive.
7. What were the biggest challenges to your success in this class?
8. How did you work to overcome these challenges?
9. How have you changed as a student from the start of the year to now?
10. What can you teach others about Biology that you couldn't before?
11. Is there a skill that you learned in this class that can help you in other classes, if so what it it? (don't you dare write "nothing" because you are tired of writing.
Part 2:
What are three things you think I do well as a teacher?
What are three things (or areas) where you think I could improve as a teacher?
What is one piece of advice you would give to students who are taking this class next year?
Anything else I should know?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A quiz & an evolution timeline
For the first half of the period, students completed the evolution case study quiz. After completing the quiz, we transitioned from learning about microevolution to macroevolution.
Natural selection is only one part of microevolution. There are three other components, that because of time, we were not able to study in depth. These are: mutation, migration and genetic drift (random loss of genetic variation). When these four parts components are combined with a substantial amount of time, macroevolution can occur.
The first hurdle in learning about macroevolution is understanding the immense amount of time involved. To help us, students hypothesized about the appearance of life on Earth by making a model timeline.
Our timeline was only 4.6 meters long. Tomorrow we will be creating a larger timeline on campus. Your homework is to research your two assigned events. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Ivan your assigned events are: Neanderthals and Mississippi River Formation
Carlo your assigned events are: Formation of the Himalayas and Pictograms (written communication)
Below are the events which will be placed on the timeline:
Geological Events: When (in millions of years)
Pleistocene Ice Age 1.6
Land bridge between North and South America 5.7
Antarctic Ice cap 24
Mississippi River 35
Separation of Antarctica and Australia 50
Formation of the Himalayas 55
Formation of the Rocky Mountains 70
Breakup of Pangea 165
Oxygen building up in atmosphere 600-2500
Formation of the earth 4600
Biological Events
Pictograms (written communication) .005
Modern humans .04
Neanderthals .10
Manufactures stone tools 2.5
Lucy 3.2
Hominids 4.0
Monkeys 35
Primates 65
Flowering plants 140
Birds 150
Mammals 225
Dinosaurs 235
Reptiles 300
Seed producing plants 350
Amphibians 360
Land animals 400
Land plants 430
Vertebrates 520
Animals with hard shells 590
Soft bodied animals 680
Multicellular organisms 1000
Eukaryotes 1400
Bacteria 3500
Note: 1 billion equals 1000 million
Natural selection is only one part of microevolution. There are three other components, that because of time, we were not able to study in depth. These are: mutation, migration and genetic drift (random loss of genetic variation). When these four parts components are combined with a substantial amount of time, macroevolution can occur.
The first hurdle in learning about macroevolution is understanding the immense amount of time involved. To help us, students hypothesized about the appearance of life on Earth by making a model timeline.
Our timeline was only 4.6 meters long. Tomorrow we will be creating a larger timeline on campus. Your homework is to research your two assigned events. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Ivan your assigned events are: Neanderthals and Mississippi River Formation
Carlo your assigned events are: Formation of the Himalayas and Pictograms (written communication)
Below are the events which will be placed on the timeline:
Geological Events: When (in millions of years)
Pleistocene Ice Age 1.6
Land bridge between North and South America 5.7
Antarctic Ice cap 24
Mississippi River 35
Separation of Antarctica and Australia 50
Formation of the Himalayas 55
Formation of the Rocky Mountains 70
Breakup of Pangea 165
Oxygen building up in atmosphere 600-2500
Formation of the earth 4600
Biological Events
Pictograms (written communication) .005
Modern humans .04
Neanderthals .10
Manufactures stone tools 2.5
Lucy 3.2
Hominids 4.0
Monkeys 35
Primates 65
Flowering plants 140
Birds 150
Mammals 225
Dinosaurs 235
Reptiles 300
Seed producing plants 350
Amphibians 360
Land animals 400
Land plants 430
Vertebrates 520
Animals with hard shells 590
Soft bodied animals 680
Multicellular organisms 1000
Eukaryotes 1400
Bacteria 3500
Note: 1 billion equals 1000 million
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