Life Science with Lovett

To access our JHMS Life Science Webquest, click on this link –> “Diversity of Kingdom Animalia WebQuest”

As you complete the research phase of this WebQuest, you must submit 2 comments of 5-star resources on this post for homework credit.

Your comment must contain: 1) the Class of organisms that you are researching; 2) the copy and pasted web address of your 5-star resource and 3) your name and class period.

**Note: If another student has already posted your 5-star resource, then please REPLY to their comment and make a statement about why you also felt this site was so helpful.

Happy Researching!

Welcome to the 21st Century as we continue our Classification Unit.  We will be in collaborative groups to become experts in one Class of the Animal Kingdom.  We will then reshuffle into cooperative groups to teach each other and create a video podcast to celebrate the diversity of the Animal Kingdom.  Upon the conclusion of this project, students will have the Unit Test which will include Ch 9.1, 9.2 and the Podcast-presented Information as introduced below.  I am very excited about this upcoming project – it will begin unfolding Tuesday — Ok, hang onto your hats, because here we go!

MONDAY, 2/1: Chapter 9.1 QUIZ;  Complete graphic organizer notes for Chapter 9.2 – The Six Kingdoms

TUESDAY, 2/2: “Diversity of Living Things” powerpoint introduces 9 Phyla of Kingdom Animalia.  NEW ASSIGNMENT: “Diversity of Kingdom Animalia” WebQuest.  Today, groups will be assigned and Animal Class will be determined.

WEDNESDAY, 2/3: Collaborative groups –> Hmwk: Complete Research Sheet and Post your 1st resource as a comment on this blog under the “Diversity of Kingdom Animalia WebQuest” Post.

THURSDAY, 2/4: Collaborative groups –> Hmwk: Complete the 3 Representative Organisms from 3 different Families worksheet (pictures and descriptions) and Post your 2nd resource as a comment on this blog under the “Diversity of Kingdom Animalia WebQuest” Post.

FRIDAY, 2/5: Collaborative groups –>  Work together to design a 10 minute lesson plan to teach your new group on Monday about your special Animal Class.  Complete your Participation Rubric and Hand in.  Hmwk:  Finish and practice your 10 minute lesson.

We are embarking on a new journey starting Monday.  Expert minds will come together to combine their collective knowledge of the Animal Kingdom to create a “Diversity of Kingdom Animalia Podcast”… Stay tuned!

This week we are diving into how scientists classify the vast diversity of living things on Earth!

MONDAY, 1/25: Chapter 9.1 class notes, including Carolus Linnaeus, 7 levels of Classification

TUESDAY, 1/26: Chapter 9.1 class notes, including Branching Diagrams and use of Latin in scientific names

WEDNESDAY, 1/27: Using a Dichotomous Key, activity on page 207, “A Fishy Design” dichotomous key activity

THURSDAY, 1/28: Creating a Dichotomous Key, tree identification.  Hmwk: Complete tree key

FRIDAY, 1/29: Due: Tree Key. Chapter 9.2 class notes, discovering characteristics of the Six Kingdoms of Living Things

We will have our Chapter 9.1 Quiz on Monday, 2/1.  Please Prepare over the weekend.  As always, checking out a text book is encouraged!  Enjoy your weekend!

Congratulations to Victor Perez and Megan Jennings for winning our Homebase Spell-Off!!!  These two students will move onto the school-wide spelling competition on February 10th.

This week we are studying Chapter 8 of our text book and exploring human evolution.  This week will include a Discovery Channel video, a lecture on human skin color, an interactive online activity, and finally, our concluding Evolution Quiz (50pts).  The only take-home assignment for students this week is to study for their Chapter 8 assessment on Friday.  Check out our week’s agenda below:

MONDAY, 1/18: Discovery Channel presents “Walking with Cavemen” with question packet

TUESDAY, 1/19: … the continuation of Discovery Channel presents “Walking with Cavemen”.

WEDNESDAY, 1/20: We will review our question packet from the video together before handing it in for 25 points. Next we will listen to NPR story, “Your Family May Have Been a Different Color” and discuss changes in human skin tone.

THURSDAY, 1/21: Chapter 8 Evolution Review and online activity “Cavemen Challenge”

FRIDAY, 1/22: **Shortened Class Period due to Quarterly Recognition Festivities**; Chapter 8 Evolution Quiz.

Enjoy your weekend!

Our entire Evolution Unit included both Chapter 7 and 8.  This week we are concluding Chapter 7 and will be having a quiz that includes 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3.  Please encourage your student to sign out a text book for studying. Also, please note that 3:00pm on Wednesday, Jan 13th is the deadline for science work in the 2nd quarter.  The second quarter grades close at 3:00pm on Friday, January 15, 2010.

Here’s what to expect for this week:

MONDAY, 1/11: Due: Extra Credit Evolution Packet; 7.2  How Evolution Occurs – 4 Steps of Natural Selection

TUESDAY, 1/12: Natural Selection Virtual Simulation – Walkingsticks!  Hmwk: Complete Walkingsticks Packet, due tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY, 1/13: Due: Walkingsticks packet; Natural Selection in Action and Speciation – Ex. European Peppered Moths Online

THURSDAY, 1/14: Chapter 7 Quiz,  Introduction to Ch. 8 – History of Life on Earth

FRIDAY, 1/15: Activity – History of Life on Earth and personal reflections “quick write” assignment

See you in the 3rd quarter.  Note: classroom seating will change on Monday in honor of the new quarter.

Cheerio!

Happy New Year!!  Can you believe that it is 2010 already?  Well, I hope that you all had a restful and peaceful holiday break.  With the beginning of the calendar year and a new science unit, it feels like a fresh new start – however, keep in mind that we are wrapping up the second quarter.  Be sure to mark your agenda: the final day of the second quarter is Friday, January 15th.  Therefore, our deadline in Life Science for extra credit submissions and late work is 3:00pm, Wednesday, January 13th.

Now, we are beginning our Evolution Unit, starting with Chapter 7 in our text book.  Here’s what to expect for this week:

MONDAY, 1/4: Review Science Expectations – coming prepared to class, students must bring a pencil, student agenda, and science binder.  Science binders must be kept in order (4-sections: Do Now, Class notes, Graded Work, Reference). We took time today in class to get organized as we will have a 10 point “Prep Check” grade later this week to be sure we are coming prepared to class.  **Students may buy a replacement agenda from the Main Office for $5.  We began our unit by introducing the topic of Evolution.

TUESDAY, 1/5: Chapter 7.1 Class notes,”Change Over Time”

WEDNESDAY, 1/6: Chapter 7.1 Class notes continued, “Evidence of Evolution”

THURSDAY, 1/7: Activity: “Dating the Fossil Record”; Homework: Complete activity packet, due Friday 1/8

FRIDAY, 1/8: Due: Dating Fossil Record packet; Class notes, “Comparing Organisms” – looking at Analogous, Homologous, and Vestigial Structures

Enjoy your weekend!

This 2-day week, we conclude our Ecology Unit.  Students will be presenting their Ecoregion posters. Note: Students who miss the group presentation must turn in an individual report.

MONDAY, 12/21: Ecoregions, Day 6: Ecoregion Group Presentations (25pts) 

TUESDAY, 12/22: Ecoregions, Day 7:  Ecoregion Group Presentations

If absent from class on the day of your group’s presentation, the student must submit an Individual Report the next time in class:

INDEPENDENT REPORT (25pts)

Create an individual report consisting of 5 paragraphs.

• Introduce your ecosystem and tell where the ecosystem is
• Cover your highlighted population’s role in the food web and ecosystem
• Describe the effect of abiotic factors on the ecosystem
• Describe the effect of humans on the ecosystem
• Conclusion – Discuss why it is important to preserve your ecosystem and what people can do to help.

Enjoy Your Holiday Break & Happy New Year!  See you in 2010!!!

For our Ecology Grand Finale, we are working in groups and diving into our Ecoregion Projects.  Each student received our 2-page green packet on our 7-day forecast, expectations, and assignments for this project. Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 to investigate an Ecoregion and identify the food web, abiotic factors, and human impact on that environment.  Students will then create a group poster and presentation.  Note: Students who miss the group presentation must turn in an individual report.

Days 1-5  are outlined below:

MONDAY, 12/14: Ecoregions, Day 1: Research & Preparation.  Today groups are assigned and topics are drawn.  During class, students work to answer questions 1-4 on their packet.  Hmwk: Complete questions 1-4 (20pts), due Tues.

TUESDAY, 12/15: Ecoregions, Day 2:  Becoming an Expert!  Students will decide amongst their group their area of expertise.  Students will specialize in the Food Web, Abiotic Factors, or Human Issues for their Ecoregion.  Hmwk: Complete the bulleted instructions for your specialty area (20pts) and prepare a 10 minute talk to your group members about your specialty, due Wed.

WEDNESDAY, 12/16: Ecoregions, Day 3:  Making Connections and Poster Planning.  This class period is divided into 2 parts.  Part I:  In 10 minutes, teach your specialty area (food web, abiotic factors or human issues) to your group.  Part II:  Review the poster requirements and plan your poster with your group members.  Decide what items you need created, typed, printed, drawn, etc. for your poster and assign tasks to group members.  Hmwk:  Complete your poster tasks for your contribution to the group (10pts).

THURSDAY, 12/17: Ecoregions, Day 4:  Poster Creation!

FRIDAY, 12/18: Ecoregions, Day 5: Presentation Rehearsal;  Students will create notecards while following presentation criteria.  It is important that each member of the group feels confident in presenting each others’ information, as “the show must go on” regardless of who might be absent on presentation day.  Students will hand-in notecards at the end of the period.  DUE: Individual Report ONLY for those with planned absences for our presentation days, Mon. 12/21 and Tues. 12/22.

Next week, Monday 12/21 and Tuesday 12/22, groups will be presenting their posters.  Posters will be assessed for 25pts and 10-minute Presentations will be assessed for another 25pts.  **Note:  If a student is absent on presentation day, he/she will have to hand in an individual report upon returning to class.

Here we embark on week 2 of our Ecology Unit.  Students should study each night for their Ecology Quiz occurring on Friday.  Take a look at this week’s agenda:

MONDAY, 12/7: Ch 18.2 – “Living Things Need Energy”‘; due: Chimpanzee Video Worksheet

TUESDAY, 12/8: “Types of Interactions Between Organisms”

WEDNESDAY, 12/9: Predator – Prey Activity

THURSDAY, 12/10: …continued: Predator – Prey Activity; Hmwk: Activity Q 1-6 and Graph

FRIDAY, 12/11: DUE: Pred-Prey questions and graph.  Ecology Quiz - This includes our State Standard Assessment questions, so come prepared!

Next week, come equipped with your thinking caps on!  We will be working in groups on our Ecosystem Presentations.  Have a great weekend!