Mon Dec 14th – Thurs Dec 17th

General Plan:

This week we will:
  • Review for and take Semester Exams
  • Laptop inventory and turn-in to 7th period class on Wednesday!
Links and Tasks for the week: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Semester Review 
  2. Christmas Cards for Children’s Hospital  :)
Additional Information:
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Fri Dec 11th

General Plan:

Today we will:
  • Complete Measures of Volume Lab
  • PreAP project work
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete volume lab if necessary
  2. View TED Talks
    • Origami
    • Wii controller modifications
  3. Christmas Cards for Children’s Hospital  :)
Additional Information:
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Thurs Dec 10th

General Plan:

Today we will:
  • Review Graduated Cylinder measurements
  • Conduct a Measures of Volume Lab
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Online Liquid Measurements Review – Use this to review Graduated Cylinder Measurements prior to the lab
  2. Graduated Cylinder Practice - Excel version of a Graduated Cylinder Measurements Review
  3. Volume Lab - in-class lab activity (after measurements review)
  4. Lab Results Checker – Use this to verify the results of your lab
  5. PreAP project work or Christmas Cards for Kids  :)
Additional Information:
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Wed Dec 9th

General Plan:

Today we will:
  • Investigate acids and bases
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Acids and bases notes – View and discuss the notes on acids and bases
  2. Notes handouts – complete these while viewing the notes
  3. Acids and bases reactions lab – in-class assignment after notes
  4. PreAP project work or Christmas Cards for Kids  :)
Additional Information:
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Tues Dec 8th

General Plan:

Today we will:
  • Return papers and review grades for OneNote Assignments 3.2-3.4
  • Complete 3.5 One Note assignment and work on any other incomplete assignments
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. 3.5 OneNote Assignment - Complete
  2. Complete section 3-2 of the textbook (pages 94-99) and complete workbook section 3-2, questions 1-16 (pages 28-30)
  3. Make-up work (check for zeros in online grades and complete those missing assignments)
  4. PreAP project work
Additional Information:
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Mon Dec 7th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Review for Chemistry Test
  • Take Chemistry Test
  • Explore information on Acids and Bases
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Study Stack Chemistry Review – click the link to review terms for the test
  2. Take Chemistry Test – You may use the Periodic Table on page 34 to help you during the test
  3. Read section 3-2 of the textbook (pages 94-99) and complete workbook section 3-2, questions 1-16 (pages 28-30)

Additional Information:

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Fri Dec 5th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Complete previous assignments and review chemistry terms and concepts
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. 3.5 OneNote Assignment - Complete
  2. Chemistry Jeopardy Review (this will be posted after today)
  3. PreAP Periodic Table Project – (due Dec 16th; click on the link to review project details and examples)

Additional Information:

  • Rumor has it that we may see some snow today!
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Thurs Dec 3rd

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Observe a chemical reaction and describe its characteristics
  • Continue our exploration of Chemistry
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Copy today’s materials (3 files) from the J-Drive to your desktop
  2. Chemical Reactions Lab – in class assignment only
  3. 3.5 OneNote Assignment – You’ll need to watch the 2 clips below as part of the assignment  
  4. PreAP Periodic Table Project – (due Dec 16th; click on the link to review project details and examples)

Additional Information:

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Wed Dec 2nd

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Continue our exploration of Chemistry which we started before the Rotation Week activities
  • Discuss PreAP Periodic Table project requirements and examples
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. 3.4 OneNote Assignment - Open this file (try the J-drive for a faster version) and copy it into the 3rd 6 Weeks section of your OneNote Science Notebook
  2. Complete missing work from assignments 3.2 & 3.3
  3. PreAP Periodic Table Project – click on the link to review project details and examples

Additional Information:

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Tues Dec 1st

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Continue our exploration of Chemistry which we started before the Rotation Week activities 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. 3.3 OneNote Assignment - Open this file (try the J-drive for a faster version) and copy it into the 3rd 6 Weeks section of your OneNote Science Notebook
  2. Phases of Matter part1 – Please watch this to complete your 3.3 OneNote assignment 

Additional Information:

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Mon Nov 30th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Continue our exploration of Chemistry which we started before the Rotation Week activities 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Brainiacs Alkali Metals Reactions – we will watch this as a class first
  2. Chemistry Vocabulary List – Open this file (try the J-drive for a faster version) and copy it into the 3rd 6 Weeks section of your OneNote Science Notebook
  3. 3.2 OneNote Assignment - Open this file (try the J-drive for a faster version) and copy it into the 3rd 6 Weeks section of your OneNote Science Notebook  

Additional Information:

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Tues Nov 24th

  1.  Science Rotation Week Survey - Please complete this survey (one per student) as soon as you can.  It will count as extra credit toward your grade if you complete it and your comments are appropriate. 
  2. Vote for Student Council here – Please enter your votes for student council (Today only!) using this form (one vote for each position per student... votes are tracked by ID number)
Thanks and have a nice holiday!
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Mon Nov 16th through Tues Nov 24th

General Plan:

All 7th and 8th grade Science students will be conducting a data analysis and graphing rotation mini-course over these dates.  All students will spend 2 days in each of 3 different classrooms with 3 different teachers sharpening their skills in these critical areas.  I’ll return to posting daily assignments on this blog after the Thanksgiving Break.

Additional Information:

  • Have a great Thanksgiving!
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Fri Nov 13th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Discuss, demonstrate and/or use Triple-Beam Balances
  • Discuss, demonstrate and/or complete the Copper Plating Lab
  • Discuss, create and/or use Power Word Wall
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. How to use a Triple Beam Balance – view these 5 slides to remember how to use a balance
  2. Copper Plating Lab – This lab will either be demonstrated or completed during class
  3. Power Words List  

Additional Information:

  • 2nd 6 Weeks grades go out today
  • Have a great weekend!
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Thurs Nov 12th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Complete Chemistry basics video series
  • Assess our understanding of Atoms to Ecosystems
  • Review the proper use of a Triple Beam Balance
  • Practice basic balance skills
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete Chemical Reactions video series which we downloaded yesterday
    • Questions Form - Answer Video Question as you watch using this form… One form per person please!  If there are 2 names on the form, only the first name gets credit for this assignment…  I have paper copies for those without laptops.
  2. Interwrite self-assessment – Complete this activity to demonstrate your understanding of our 6 station rotation on Tuesday
    • Study Stack Atoms to Ecosystems – If you have problems completing the IW self-assessment, use this study stack to help you review the terms and pictures
  3. How to use a Triple Beam Balance – view these 5 slides to remember how to use a balance for tomorrow’s lab
  4. Practice using a triple beam balance – once you have completed all of the above, you can go to one of the 3 practice scales to review some basic measuring skills.

Additional Information:

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Wed Nov 11th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Explore basic Chemistry concepts through a OneNote assignment and related video segments
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Open today’s 3.1 OneNote assignment and drag it into your 3rd 6 Weeks notebeook section.  The file can be found in 2 places:
    • The best (and quickest) option is to open it in my J-Drive folder
    • If that doesn’t work for you, try this link
  2. View Chemical Reactions Video Segments and answer the questions in the form (the clips should be dragged from the J-drive to your desktop to be viewed… use the links below only to view them at home) 
    • Questions Form (One form per person please!  If there are 2 names on the form, only the first name gets credit for this assignment…  I have paper copies for those without laptops)
    • Part 1
    • Part 2
    • Part 3

Additional Information:

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Tues Nov 10th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Review Atoms to Ecosystems in a 6 station rotation
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Station 1:  arrange these 10 words (and 10 matching pictures) in order from smallest to largest: atom-molecule-cell-tissue-organs-organ system-organism-population-community-ecosystem
  2. Station 2: shuffle and match word cards to matching definition cards
  3. Station 3: play ‘I have – who has’ with the provided card set
  4. Station 4: examine critter sketches for patterns and arrange them in order from simplest to most complex
  5. Station 5: cut and paste a new Table-of-Contents onto page 20 of your Interactive Notebook
  6. Station 6: Complete the following statements and word pair matches on page 21 of your interactive notebook 
    • The difference between a population and a community is...
    • The BMS campus could be considered an ecosystem because...
    • Use these words to fill-in the matching blanks:  population element cell tissue family individual  atom person 
          _______ is to ________ as _______ is to ________
          _______ is to ________ as _______ is to ________

Additional Information:

  • The 7th Grade Science-wide Data Analysis unit has been postponed until next Mon Nov 16th
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Mon Nov 9th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Screen for Data Analysis Stations placement later on this week
  • Self-correct workbook materials from last week 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete Stations Screening
    • Look for file named ‘Stations Screening’ in J-drive\BMercer folder
    • Answer on green scantron form and online form
  2. Self-correct workbook pages from last week using the key 
    • Look for file named ‘WB-key chapter1’ in J-drive\BMercer folder
    • Compare answers on key with answers in workbook and make corrections if necessary
  3. Once you have completed the two activities above, try Dabbleboard

Additional Information:

  • Data Analysis rotation stations in 3 different classrooms starts Wednesday of this week.  Please do your best on the screening today so you are placed in the right group!
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Fri Nov 6th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Continue investigation of Chemistry of Life 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Read textbook Chpt 1 sect 2 (pgs 31-37)
  2. Complete the associated workbook pages (pgs 8 & 9, questions 1-12)
  3. Create foldable with the following vocabulary words, definitions and examples
    • Physical property
    • Chemical property
    • Element
    • Compound
    • Formula
    • Mixture
  4. Continue ‘Life in the Underbrush’ and complete Video Review sheet

Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th
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Thurs Nov 5th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Begin new section on Chemistry of Life
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Read textbook Chpt 1 sect 1 (pgs 24-30)
  2. Complete the associated workbook pages (pgs 5-7, questions 1-19)
  3. Watch ‘Life in the Underbrush’ and complete Video Review sheet

Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th
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Wed Nov 4th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Reinforce our understanding of cell structures and levels of organization in the body
Links and Tasks for today: 
  1. Read the following information on Cells and Cell Structures 
  2. Read the following review information on Levels of Organization in the body

Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th
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Tues Nov 3rd

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Complete our 2-day mini-unit on designing an experiment
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete Experimental design notes
  2. Enter pages 18-21 into our iN
  3. Rotate stations to create IVCDV Tables based on lab scenarios at each station
  4. Graph the data from the table at the second station in the rotation

 Additional Information:

  • I will be at conferences from Wed, Nov 4th, through Fri, Nov 6th
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Mon Nov 2nd

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Start a 2-day mini-unit on designing an experiment
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. View and discuss Experimental design notes
  2. Update iN with Experimental Design Materials
    • We will be adding pages 16 - 21

 Additional Information:

  • Today our new Principal, Ms. Watson, joins us
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Fri Oct 30th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Review for the Cells and Organization Quiz
  • Take the quiz
  • Complete missing work
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Review for Cells and Organization Quiz using either of these 
  2. Take Cells and Organization Quiz
  3. iN notebook checks pages 12-15 (use photos here to complete any missing information)
  4. Check grades online and complete any missing forms (assignments 3, 7 & 9).   
  5. Use these incredible insect photos to make a best Bug card for the bulletin Board. Add a clever caption to your drawing!

 Additional Information:

  • Please have a safe Halloween!
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Thurs Oct 29th

General Plan:

Today we will:
  • View another self-healing compound
  • Create a Venn Diagram to build on previous learning
  • Add some new vocabulary words to our list
  • Complete missing work
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Watch self-healing rubber compound clip
  2. As a class we will
    • Discuss and create a Venn Diagram (on page 14 of your iN) which compares cells & tissues to bricks & brick walls using the ideas we have written on page 12
    • Discuss the ‘cell comparison puzzle’ from your IW (InterWrite) ‘Cells and Organization’ in your S-drive folder
  3. Complete the notes on Organization and Homeostasis and the related InterWrite activity
  4. Add the following vocabulary words to pages 13 and 15 of your iN.  The title of both pages (13 & 15) is ‘Cells Vocabulary’.  The first group of 4 words should already be in your notebooks and the definitions of the others can be found in your textbook glossary.
    • Cell, Structure, Function, Nucleus
    • Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Homeostasis, Stimulus, Response, Stress
  5. Use this Study Stack to practice your vocabulary for a quiz tomorrow.
  6. Complete questions 1-7 on pages 113-114 of your workbook
  7. Check your grades online for missing assignments
Additional Information:
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Wed Oct 28th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Draw parallels between levels of organization in living and non-living things
  • Discuss the development of man-made materials which mimic living materials (self-healing properties)
  • Explore levels of organization in the body
  • Compare parts of plants and animal cells
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Complete the questions on page 12 of the iN (#5 in yesterday’s blog entry)
  2. View self-healing materials information
  3. Take notes on Organization and Homeostasis
  4. Complete missing forms (previous assignments)

Additional Information:

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Tues Oct 27th

General Plan:

Today we will:

  • Issue workbooks for in-class assignments and do some background research into the basic structure and organization of all living things 
  • Add a few new vocabulary terms to our Interactive Notebooks
  • Complete the video assignment from last class
  • Time permitting, explore the world’s most fearless animal and some incredible insect photos
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Assign student workbooks
  2. Pair-Read Chapter 10, section 1, pgs 336-337
  3. Answer questions 1-7 on pages 113-114 of your workbook
  4. Add the following words and definitions (which you can find in your textbook glossary) to page 13 of your Interactive Notebook:
    • cell, structure, function and nucleus
  5. Add the following 3 questions (and some extra space to answer each of them) to page 12 of your Interactive Notebook:
    • What might the levels of organization for our textbook be?
    • In what ways are cells like the bricks in a brick wall and in what ways are they different?
    • Compare a room which you are sitting alone in with the basic parts of a cell. What would these be?  (Cell membrane?  Cytoplasm?  Nucleus?)

Once those activities are completed and have been checked off by your teacher, you may logon to your laptops and complete the Cells Videos and Video Questions from last class

  1. If time permits, watch this video clip about the world’s most fearless animal
  2. …and check out these incredible insect photos for an activity which we will do tomorrow

Additional Information:

  • Please remember, your Interactive Notebooks, the textbooks and the workbooks are not to leave the classroom!  Thanks!
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Mon Oct 26th

General Plan:

  • Review feedback from benchmark tests
  • Discuss frequently missed questions and difficult vocabulary words
  • Introduce Cells and Levels of Organization information
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Return the benchmark tests and use a OneNote file (located in your S-drive folder) to 
  2. View Cells introductions video clips
Additional Information:
  • Progress Reports will be distributed later on this week!
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Fri Oct 23rd

General Plan:

  • Discuss benchmark student feedback
  • Complete and grade interactive notebooks
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. View and discuss the results of your Benchmark Feedback Form
  2. Complete and grade  iN  (Interactive Notebooks)
  3. Finish Penguin Adaptations
Additional Information:
  • Progress Reports will be distributed next week!
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Thurs Oct 22nd

General Plan:

  • Students who were absent yesterday will take the benchmark test today.
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. In order to help us to better prepare you for benchmark exams, please give us your feedback using this Benchmark Exam Feedback Form.  Your feedback is important to us, so please do your best with this form.  The benchmark test is worth 12 points and you can earn 3 extra credit points toward your test score for completing it! 
  2. Check your iN to make sure you have everything you need in it (pages 1-11).  This will be graded in class tomorrow.  There are pictures of pages 1-11 available under Make-up Work at the top-right panel of this site.
Additional Information:
  • Please check your online grades for assignments which are marked as missing and complete those by the end of this week.  (Assignments which are marked with an asterisk (*), but which are NOT marked as missing have not been graded yet).
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Wed Oct 21st

General Plan:

  • Today we will be taking the first Science Benchmark Exam

Additional Information:

  • All 7th grade science teachers will be at a planning meeting today.   Good luck with your testing today!
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Tues Oct 20th

General Plan:

  • Complete your iN (Interactive Notebook) Power Words list
  • Practice using the words and definitions using Study Stacks
  • Explore ‘Searching for Life in the Great Smokey Mountains’
  • Check out 13 Land and Water speed records
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Switch to LanSchool channel 3308 once you have started your laptop
  2. Introduce last 6 Power Words (group 1)
    • Add Compare, Contrast, Explain, Infer, Support, and Trace and their definitions to page 11 of your iN
    • (Use this information to complete page 10 of your iN)
    • After you have finished page 10, we will discuss student ideas as a class
  3. Review all 12 Power Words using the  Power Words Study Stack
  4. Please test your ability to get to this website: ‘Searching for Life in the Great Smokey Mountains’
    • If you can get there, click on ‘Explore the Website’
    • Follow the directions to get to section 1
    • Try the ‘Watch Video’ and ‘Play game’ links
  5. After watching the World Land Speed Record video clip yesterday, several students had interesting questions about other types of speed records.  Here’s a link with information on 13 other Land and Water speed records which you might find interesting.
Additional Information:
  • You will take your first Science Benchmark test during class tomorrow.  It will cover the 1st 9 weeks of science material and will be counted as a normal test grade for this class.
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Mon Oct 19th

General Plan:

  • View effects of objects traveling at the speed of sound 
  • Apply 3 power words to Water Slide clip
    • Power words are key vocabulary words which help with standardized tests
  • Compare graphs and make adjustments to line graph assignment
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Collect assignments from Friday
  2. View 308 Today Make-up Work links
  3. Watch Speed of Sound clips
  4. Introduce first 6 Power Words (group 1)
    • Add Analyze, Describe, Evaluate, Formulate, Predict, and Summarize to page 9 of your iN
    • Giant Water Slide (Predict what will happen, Summarize what happens, and Evaluate what you saw in the clip on page 8 of your iN)
  5. Return and fix line graph assignment
  6. Check Interactive Notebooks (iN) for correct information
Additional Information:
  • The 1st Science Benchmark Test will be this Wednesday!
  • Your iN (Interactive Notebook) will be graded Friday.  Please make sure you have everything in it up to date by then!
  • Corrected assignments will be accepted this Friday, so please hang on to your corrections until then.
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Fri Oct 16th

General Plan:

  • Practice Benchmark Style Ecosystems Questions
  • Watch Ocean exploration video clips and compare Ocean and Space Exploration
  • Summarize Biodiversity information
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Check your S-drive for the following video clips and if they’re not already there or you have trouble viewing them, please download a different version of the files to your desktop using these links: 
  2. Complete online warmup questions form
  3. As you watch the video clips, please answer the following Video Questions which go with them
  4. Read the Biodiversity Section Summary and answer the questions which go with the article
Additional Information:
  • We will be taking our first Science benchmark exam next week which will cover the first 9 weeks of this year
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Thurs Oct 15th

General Plan:

  • Review for Adaptations Vocabulary Quiz
  • Practice Graphing
  • Watch Mission 5 Brief
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. Review the Study Stack Adaptations terms and definitions and the  Photosynthesis Diagram or use the flashcard handouts in class
  2. Take the Quiz
  3. Discuss the Speed of sound Graphing Activity in class and complete the associated graphs
  4. Watch the Mission 5 Briefing Video.  As you watch, think about the Speed of Sound in water and the affect that has on life in our oceans
Additional Information:
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Wed Oct 14th

General Plan:

  • Please begin downloading the Fever and Homeostasis video clip as soon as you start your computer (save it to your desktop).  Check to see if it’s already in your S-drive folder, and if it is, just drag it to your desktop.
  • Today we will be considering factors which affect the normal state of balance (or Homeostasis) in the bodies of living organisms
  • We will also be reviewing vocabulary and other information related to our current topics using Study Stacks
  • There will be a quiz over this material either Thurs or Fri of this week!
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  1. As a class we will read and sort the articles on Hibernation and Sweating
  2. Watch the video clip called Fever and Homeostasis
  3. Compare human and animal behaviors related to temperature
  4. Please make sure you have completed these InterWrite Adaptations activities from last class and saved the file to your S-drive folder.  Check it using this key and if you made any mistakes, please correct them using the key for reference.
  5. Please make sure you have entered these terms and definitions (using your textbook glossary) into your InterActive Notebook on page 7
    • Adaptation
    • Hibernation
    • Homeostasis
    • Photosynthesis
    • Response
    • Stimulus
  6. Review the Study Stack Adaptations terms and definitions
  7. Review Photosynthesis Diagram 
  8. If you have not already done so, please create a Jason project account with your ePals information and check to make sure you can logon!  At the website, click on Register to create a new account (the red oval in the picture below) or enter your username and password to test your account access.  Please check to see if you are able to watch any of the Jason Project Video Clips.

image

Additional Information:
  • There are a large number of Windows Updates being released by Microsoft today.  It’s very likely that your computer will run slower than usual or restart on it’s own, so save your work frequently so you don’t lose it!
  • You will begin to see grades for the 2nd 6 weeks grading period after this upcoming weekend.  Sorry for the delay!
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Tues Oct 13th

General Plan:

  1. Discover a variety of animal adaptations and share them with other students through a form
  2. Find the definitions to key Adaptations vocabulary words and review them with Study Stacks
  3. Review the process of Photosynthesis
  4. Explore microscopic images
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  • Make a new folder in your Student Folder called ‘old science files’ and drag all old science materials (1st 6 Weeks files) into that folder
  • Watch National Geographic clips on animals, choose one that interests you, and identify 3 adaptations which have helped it to survive in its environment (If the video index link doesn’t work, try this link instead and use the Animals A-Z dropdown to choose animals for your adaptations search… if you need to use more than one animal to find 3 adaptations, that’s OK!)
  • Use this form to share the adaptations that you discover (please click ‘view latest content’ at the top right of the link page)
  • View consolidated adaptations results here (what does consolidate mean in this context?)
  • Complete the InterWrite adaptations activities and save the file to your student folder (S-drive) when you’re finished.  Please do not change the file name when you save it!
  • Use your textbook glossary to find the definitions to the Adaptations terms 
    1. Add the terms and definitions to page 7 of your iN (Interactive Notebook)
    2. Review the terms and definitions here
  • Review Photosynthesis Diagram
Additional Information:
image
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Fri Oct 9th

General Plan:

  1. Expand your knowledge of plant and animal adaptations
  2. Practice creating line graphs
  3. Last chance to turn-in late work!
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • You should receive your 1st 6 weeks grades today
  • Please turn in any makeup assignments today to clear incompletes (results won’t be visible until next week)
  • PreAP classes:  please ensure you turn in your Invasive Species Project TODAY if you have not already done so!
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Thurs Oct 8th

General Plan:

  1. Reflect on Microscope Lab
  2. Review for and take Microscope parts and Functions quiz
  3. Examine Ecological Adaptations website and answer related questions
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • Report cards will be distributed tomorrow (Friday)
  • All makeup assignments must be completed by tomorrow to clear incomplete grades!
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Wed Oct 7th

General Plan:

  1. Preview Adaptations Information
  2. Continue Microscope Lab with water samples
  3. Review Microscope parts locations and functions
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
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Tues Oct 6th

General Plan:

  1. Due to the fact that this is the 1st 6 weeks and I would like all students to have an opportunity to start the year out with a passing grade, I’ve assigned an Incomplete grade for all failing students.  I will allow this week for students who are behind to complete makeup work.  All incomplete grades (due to failures) will be posted next Tues, so please complete missing assignments prior to that date! 
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • PreAP classes:  If you did not turn in your project and it caused you to fail, you have been given an incomplete grade for the 1st 6 weeks.  You have the rest of this week to turn in your project.  If I don’t receive it by this Friday, your failing grade will be posted.  Please turn in a project!
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Mon Oct 5th

General Plan:

  1. Introduce Interactive Notebooks (iN)
  2. Practice creating and labeling Bar Graphs
  3. Label parts of a microscope
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • PreAP projects were due last Friday Oct 2nd
    1. Projects turned in today (Mon Oct 5th) will lose 15% (penalty for late turn-in)
    2. Projects turned in tomorrow (Tues Oct 6th) will lose 30% (penalty for late turn-in)
    3. Projects turned in after that will receive no greater than a 50% and will not show up on 1st 6 Weeks report cards.  Don’t give up though, because even a 50% on a major project grade helps!
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Fri Oct 2nd

General Plan:

  1. Review graphing components and procedures
  2. Complete Seed Dispersal Lab graphs
  3. Review basic microscope functions for next week’s pond water lab
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
    1. Basic bar graph generator
    2. More advanced  bar graph generator
    3. Need other types of graphs?  Try this site
    4. Advice on how NOT to graph!
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Thurs Oct 1st

General Plan:

  1. Today we will be designing paper ‘seeds’ which should either stay in the air as long as possible or travel the greatest distance away from the ‘tree’ (release point).  This activity will simulate seed dispersal (a concept we have recently discussed), and in the process we will be reviewing linear measurements, completing data tables, and practicing basic graphing skills.
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • PreAP classes: please name your file ‘project1’ with no spaces and save it to your S-drive folder.  It’s due tomorrow! 
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Wed Sep 30th

General Plan:

  1. Review for and take the 1st 6 weeks test
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
  • Please switch to LanSchool channel 3308 (I’ll be monitoring your review)
  • Play Jeopardy review game on your own or with a partner
    1. open the link above
    2. resize your Excel window so it’s about the size of the gameboard
    3. click on the gameboard values to choose your question
    4. click on the question to see the answer
    5. click on the answer to go to the scoring screen
    6. enter your score (optional) and click on the word Gameboard to return to the game
    7. If you click in the wrong place and see a strange looking symbol, click on the tab that says Gameboard at the bottom of your Excel window
  • Take 6 weeks exam
Additional Information:
  • PreAP classes: please name your file ‘project1’ with no spaces and save it to your S-drive folder.  It’s due this Friday!  Early turn-ins get extra credit (I’ll use the file modified date to determine the completed date for extra credit).
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Tues Sep 29th

General Plan:

  1. View unusual animal species
  2. Introduce new Biogeography concepts and terms
  3. Review for 1st 6 weeks test (which we will take Wednesday!)
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • PreAP Invasive Species project example .  This is due Friday, but you can receive 1 extra credit point for each day this project is completed early.
  • If you make an electronic version of your project (using InterWrite, OneNote, PowerPoint, etc), please name your file ‘project1’ with no spaces and save it to your S-drive folder so I can find it easily!
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Mon Sep 28th

General Plan:

  1. This is the last week of the 1st 6 weeks grading period.  Please check your online grades for missing assignments, especially near the end of the week.
  2. Today and tomorrow we will be looking at perhaps the biggest threat to our environment today… the loss of biodiversity.  The first link below shows the current assessment of that threat.
  3. Next, we’ll look at a very diverse location (the Ngorongoro Crater) which is actually a volcano caldera.
  4. Then, we will review information using InterWrite software on 1) Food Chains and Webs and Energy Pyramids and then 2) on Primary and Secondary Succession.  These should be saved to your desktop, then opened and edited and finally saved in your S-drive folder to be graded.
  5. Finally, we will look at some video clips on the topic of Biodiversity.
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • PreAP Invasive Species project example .  This is due Friday, but you can receive 1 extra credit point for each day this project is turned in early.  If you make an electronic version of your project (using InterWrite, OneNote, PowerPoint, etc), please name your file ‘project1’ with no spaces and save it to your S-drive folder so I can find it easily!
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Fri Sep 25th

General Plan:

  1. View summary information on Earth’s Biomes
  2. Complete your Biomes Gallery Walk project today!  It consists of 3 parts:
Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
 Additional Information:
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Thurs Sep 24th

General Plan:

  1. Complete the Biomes research posters and Gallery Walk results matrix
  2. Students who are absent can complete the Gallery Walk results matrix (PDF version) by viewing the information the groups have posted on the web (link to posted information)
  3. Pre-AP classes will have the remainder of the period to work on their Invasive Species in Texas project
  4. 5th Period: Most students have not completed these Reflection Questions.  Please check your grades online and if you see a zero for Ecology Reflection Questions, click on this link to go to the online form.  Here are the completion rates for those reflection questions by class period:

image 

Links and Tasks for today: (save files to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
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Wed Sep 23rd

General Plan:

  1. Today we will be researching Biomes (in groups of no larger than 3 students per biome),
  2. Groups will be required to complete the following (in order):
    • Choose group members (no more than 3 students per group) and a Biome to research
    • Use the Missouri Botanical Garden link (or other web or textbook resources) to research the biome
    • Enter the results in an online information collection form (one entry per group)
    • Create a gallery walk poster (one poster per group) with the required information: (biome description, location, 2 facts, 2 plants, 2 animals)
    • Use the results matrix form to collect information from other groups (every student completes their own results matrix!)
Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)
Additional Information:
  • What is a Biome? A biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, which are adapted to that particular environment. The climate and geography of a region determines what type of biome can exist in that region.
  • Everything you need for today’s activity can be found at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Biomes information research link; however, here are some additional related links in case you would like to learn more:
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Tues Sep 22nd

General Plan:

  1. View and discuss typical TAKS style food web questions
  2. Read about Succession and Equilibrium in Ecosystems
  3. View the Mount St. Helens eruption and its effects on the local Ecosystems
Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)
  • Food Web warm-up questions 
  • Ecological Succession section summary
  • Ecological Succession summary questions
  • View the Mount St. Helens eruption video (this can only be viewed in class, so students who are absent today will be excused from this assignment and the related questions)
  • Mount St. Helens eruption video questions
Additional Information:
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    Pre-AP Project #1 Links and Information

    Related Links
    Additional Information:
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    Mon Sep 21st

    General Plan:

    1. Check logon information for ePals, Student Access (grades), and the Jason Project
    2. Introduce the Jason Project Mission 2 (The Survivors)
    3. Discuss Pre-AP project #1
    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)
    Additional Information:
    • Please check your grades online to see if you have completed the Reflection Questions from last week… if not, please do so.  The online form will no longer be available online soon!  (paper copies will be available until the end of this grading period).
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    Fri Sep 18th

    General Plan:

    1. Examine several cases of invasive species in the US
    2. Complete the Food Web Cubes activity which we started last class
    3. Distribute Student Access Logon information
    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)
    Additional Information:
    • Please carefully guard your ePals email and Student Access logon information!
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    Thurs Sep 17th

    General Plan:

    1. Summarize information regarding Energy Flow in Ecosystems
    2. Create Food Web Cubes for later use in Energy Pyramids

    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)

    Additional Information:

    • Students will be receiving ePals email account logon information and Student Access gradebook logon information this week
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    Wed Sep 16th

    General Plan:

    1. Review the Food Webs concept and components
    2. Distribute ePals email accounts
    3. Create and test logon (with ePals account) to the Jason Project

    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)

    Additional Information:

    • Missing assignments may be completed up until the end of the 1st 6 Weeks reporting period.
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    Tues Sep 15th

    General Plan:

    1. Explore the mussels invasion using InterWrite and Google Earth
    2. View photos of Niagara Falls
    3. Complete Reflection Questions Form
    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)
    Additional Information:
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    Mon Sep 14st

    General Plan:

    1. Read and discuss the Jason Project Information on Ecology
    2. Introduce EtherPad for group collaboration
    3. Practice InterWrite functions through Ecosystems Word Search
    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)
    Additional Information:
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    Friday Sep 11th

    General Plan:

    1. Clarify the purposes for and uses of Dichotomous Keys (D-Keys)
    2. Complete D-Keys lab packets
    3. Complete missing assignments for the 1st Progress Reporting Period

    Links and Tasks for today: (save to your desktop before opening!)

    Additional Information:

    • The progress reporting period ends today; however, missing assignments may be completed up until the end of the 1st 6 Weeks reporting period
    • Students may get help with assignments in my room before school any school day, or after school on even calendar days (I have duty until 4:20pm on odd calendar days)
    • Students who are failing after today will be selected to receive extra help during Den Time (details to be explained in class)
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    1st 6 Weeks Assignments

    Assignment: 1.1v   (1.1v PDF version)

    Additional Links and Tasks for 1.1

    Additional Information:

    Assignment: 1.1    (1.1 PDF version)

    Additional Links and Tasks for 1.1

    Additional Information:

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    Happy New Year!!!

    Today we have a Linear Measurements Quiz (meaning we’re going to check to see if our lab last class has helped to remind you how to use a metric ruler correctly!)

    Since we’re just getting our laptops today, the quiz will be available through 1) an online form or 2) a scantron during class

    Here’s a link to the online version

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    True Colors Profile Information

    Here's some additional information on True Colors Profiles:

    True Colors Personality  Test
      Info:
          http://www.online-distance-learning-education.com/article_info.php/articles_id/24
          http://www.yuthguy.com/classroom/super/pupilservicestruecolors.htm
      Tests: 
          http://www.truecolorstest.com/truecolors.swf
          http://www.truecolorscareer.com/quiz.asp

    (The following information comes from the links above)image image

    image

    image

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