Water Jigsaw

Today students shared what they had learned from going to their assigned websites. Instead of sharing in groups like we did with the soil jigsaw, a representative from each group came up to the board and taught the entire class.

Just to make sure that students were listening to their peers, we will have a 10 minute open notes quiz on Friday based on what we talked about in class on Wednesday. So...

Make sure you bring your notebook to class on Friday!

Properties of Water

Today we started to talk about the properties of water. Tonight for homework you will click on your name and take notes from your specific website. Tomorrow in class we will do a jigsaw activity just like we did for the soil unit.

When you take notes you can write in bullet points or complete sentences. If you type your notes, you MUST bring a paper copy to class. You can also use diagrams to help enhance your notes.

Some of these are note traditional readings, some of these websites are interactive or video clips.

Carlo
Malcolm
Richard
Francesca
Paul
Adam
Jose
Antonella
Gabriella
Gianromano
Isabella
Ivan
Jonatan
Tomi
Edo

Test Review

Today we spent time reviewing for your test on Friday. We learned about different types of questions and why some test questions are easier than others.
For your first test, 60-65% of the questions will be at the knowledge level. Our goal as the year progresses is to have less questions at the knowledge/remember level and more questions at the higher levels.

Eewww! That smells gross!

Today we had a lot of success with our soil bacteria cultures. We also learned about the basic parts of a bacterium as well as how quickly one bacteria can turn into 5,000 billion billion bacteria. You can watch the video clip we watched in class below the picture.



We also continued to practice how to identify controls and variables in an experiment. You have no written homework for tonight, other than to study for your test on Friday. Tomorrow we will be reviewing for your test.

Soil Bacteria and Controls and Variables

Today we talked about what it means to have a controlled experiment and set up our own lab to culture soil bacteria. Over the next few days, we should have agar plates that resemble the one below.After setting up our experiment, we used the Simpsons to practice identifying controls and variables in experiments.

Homework: finish the back of the Simpsons controls and variables worksheet. Note: These two problems are harder than the three on the front of the worksheet. Just try your best. You can do it!

Here's a math hint for the Krusty the Clown problem:
50% (or half of 30) =15
So... if the new itching power is advertised to last for 50% longer that the original itching powder (which lasts 30 minutes), the new itching powder lasts for 45 minutes, then the advertisement is correct.

Study Guides for Your Test on Friday

Your homework that is due on Monday is the post below this one. Don't forget to do it!

If your name is listed below you are staying in H period science. If your name is not listed below, you will have science with Mr. Ogilvie during B period.

Carlo
Malcolm
Richard
Francesca
PaulAdam
Jose
Antonella
Gabriella
Gianromano
Isabella
Ivan
Jonatan
TomiEdoardo

Below are the study guides for your test on Friday on the soil. Click the pictures to make them larger. The picture will open and be the size of a word document. There is a list of questions and a list of vocabulary.

Food Webs

Today we learned about food webs and how energy, nutrients and elements flow through living things. Homework: Read about Bacteria, Fungi and actinomycetes here. For each topic: Bacteria, Fungi and Actinomycetes write down three things you learned and two questions you have. This means you should have a total of 15 complete sentences. You must write in your own words. If you choose type this assignment, you must bring a printed copy to class.

Berlese Funnels and Dichotomous Keys

Today we went outside and you collected samples for your Berleses funnels. Hopefully on Friday we'll have some organisms to look at :)

We also learned about Dichotomous Keys and created our own for the class. For homework, due on Friday, you will need to make a dichotomous key for the organisms pictured below. There are lots of different ways to make a key, so it's OK if yours is different from someone else's key. Please work on your own to complete this assignment. You do not need to print out the pictures, just write your key in your notebook and bring it to class on Friday.

Click on the picture to make it larger.

Element Sharing and Experimental Design

Today students shared the elements that they researched over the weekend. We are now going to move forward from the inorganic (elements/nonliving) to the organic (living) things found in the soil.

Tomorrow we will be making Berlese funnels and begin talking about how we will classify what we find.
The illustration above shows how it works: a funnel (E) contains the soil (D), and a heat source (F) such as an electric lamp (G) heats the litter. Animals escaping from the dehydration of the soil descend through a filter into a preservative liquid (A) in a receptacle (B).

Homework None:

Interpreting Nutrition Labels

First a quick reminder about your homework:

Read the post below this one (or click here) for details about your Element Trading Card Assignment.

Today one of your peers asked, "But what do nutrition labels have to do with soil?! Why are we doing this?" You might have been thinking the same thing. We need elements, compounds, mixtures and molecules to function. Today we learned about some of these such as Vitamins A & C, Iron, Calcium, fat, sugar and protein. Next week we will learn about what elements, compounds, mixtures and molecules (ECMM) are in the soil. What ECMM do the organisms that live in the soil need? Are these the same ECMM that we need? Stay tuned!


We also looked at the molecular structure of fats, sugars and proteins, it turns out they a combination of H, C, O and sometimes N. What makes each molecule special? It's shape!

The Periodic Table

Today you reviewed the differences between elements, molecules and compounds and were introduced to the periodic table. We will be using the periodic table throughout the next several weeks.

Tomorrow in class you will each be given an element to make an 'element trading card.' These 'cards' will be due on Monday September 13th. The guidelines for the assignment are below. You can click on the picture to make it larger. You will also receive a copy of this paper tomorrow and your assigned element.


Lastly, you must cite your sources. On the back of your trading card list all of the websites, books or other materials you used to gather your information. For example:

If your element were Zinc and you used this website, you would need to write the following information:

Name of the website, url, date you visited the website.
Chemical Elements.com - Zinc (Zn) http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/zn.html, visited on (whatever day you visited the website).

Not sure where to find the name of a website or the URL? Click the picture below.

Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

Today in class we talked about elements, compounds and mixtures. Students were given a guided notes sheet to use during a powerpoint. We played a short game to practice categorizing elements, compounds and mixtures.

Homework:
1. Answer the question on the last page of your worksheets from today, "what elements do you think are found in the soil."

2. Using the periodic table in your student planner, identify the key elements 1-6 on the last page of the worksheet from today.

Soil Jigsaw

Today in class we used the websites students looked at for homework last night to do a jigsaw activity. Students shared the information they learned about soil in small groups.


Homework: Complete the soil question sheet. No computers needed for this assignment.

What sound does a raisin make?

Today you were asked a very strange question: What sound does a raisin make? Many discoveries in science have been because people asked very strange questions. They looked at ordinary things were curious, HOW does the thing work, WHY does it work that way, WHAT makes it behave like that?


In our first unit, The Soil, we will be looking at something that many of us consider very ordinary.

Your first homework assignment is to find your name below and click on the link. On a sheet of paper

1. Write your name
2. The url for the website (a url is the address, for example: www.tasis.ch is a url)
3. Read the information on the webpage.
4. Write down three things you learned about soil. Be specific and please use complete sentences.
5. Two things you have questions about from the reading. These might be things you don't understand or things you want to learn more about.

This is assignment should take you no more than 20 minutes.

Carlo
Malcolm
Conner
Svetlana
Mauro
Paulina
Molly
Joo Hwan
Francesca
Paul-Wilhelm
Adam
Jose
Antonella
Gabriella
Gianromano
Isabella
Ivan
Oliver
Hayden
Jillian
Edoardo

It is VERY important that you do your homework, because we will be using this information in class tomorrow.

Syllabus

We will be starting our year learning about the soil. This is where you might be thinking: Huh? What? Ugh, really? Before you try and say that soil might be the most boring thing you’ve ever heard of, I ask you to think about this:

Since [the beginning of] time humans and other animals have been dying of all manner of diseases and then buried in the soil, yet not a single major disease is transmitted by it." (Hillel 1991, p. 24).

So, what is it about the soil that makes it so unique? Both the air and the water can spread disease, why doesn't the soil spread disease?

Honesty: Being honest with yourself, is there something you don't understand? Ask. Being honest about your class and homework. Did you work on your own or did you copy from someone else?

Homework: Homework will be assigned almost every night and be incorporated into the following day’s class. A late assignment defeats the purpose of completing it. Therefore, late homework will not be accepted and will be graded as a zero. Assignments include, but are not limited to: worksheets; problem sets; readings; preparing for a discussion/presentation etc.

Make-up Work: You are responsible for obtaining missed assignments. If you know in advance you will be missing class for co-curriculars, an appointment etc. you should notify me in advance at least 2 days in advance.

Late Work Policy: As previously stated, late homework is not accepted. Late projects will be accepted up to three calendar days after the due date. However, each day that the project is late, 10% of the grade will be lost. After the third day the project will no longer be accepted.

Extensions: Extensions will not be given except in the event of extenuating circumstances, so plan your time wisely.

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory at all class meetings. You are expected to arrive on time in be in your seat with your homework and your notebook on your desk. A pattern of tardiness will be regarded as not meeting the expectations of the class and will affect your effort grade.

Class participation: In order to make the most progress in this class you will need to participate actively. Participating in class not only means sharing your ideas but also coming prepared and on time.

Notebook: Must be divided into two sections and have a table of contents:

You must keep a detailed table of contents for your notebook.

Class Rules:

· BE ON TIME!

· BE PREPARED! Bring the textbook, your notebook, highlighters and pens/pencils each day.

· BE PRESENT! Both in mind and body. Showing up for class doesn’t mean much if you are daydreaming.

· If you have an unexcused absence from class on the day of a test or quiz you will receive a zero.

· As soon as you need extra help, come find me. Don’t wait!

· NO eating or chewing gum in class. You may bring water.