Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Presentation Day!


Today and tomorrow for the block days students will be presenting their projects on the introduced species. I will randomly pick names of students to present in that order. When students present their project they will stand up in front of the class and explain their species. They will have to answer the questions that they researched including where the species was originally from, how it was introduced, what time of predator-prey relationship it has, and any issues that are going on about that species. They will also have to show a food web, maps, and pictures of their species. The grade they get on their project will take the place of the unit Test grade for Ecology. Next week we will move on to Unit F: Evolution.


Homework: Remember to come prepared for the Zoo on Friday

Monday, April 26, 2010

Carrying Capacity


Today students read about carrying capacity. They looked at population graphs of Zebra Mussels over a 25 year time period. During the reading the students answered the questions of stopping to think 1-4. The students had to think of limiting factors that may effect a population size such as food, water, shelter, space, predators, etc...They also had to estimate the carrying capacity of Zebra Mussels by looking at the graph in Lake Ness. The students finished this activity by examining their introduced species and hypothesize whether it had reached its carrying capacity or if it was above or below it.

Homework: Project Due This Week!

Hint: The answer to stopping to think #3 part a is 1100 zebra mussels :)

Friday, April 23, 2010

Science Magazine


Today students are reading a current science magazine. I am in Montana so they have a guest teacher today. The students should be reading the magazine and answering questions on the worksheet that corresponds to the magazine. Things to keep in mind for next week: the introduced species project in due on wednesday or thursday depending on what block day you have life science. The zoo trip is Friday. Please remind your chaperones that they need to be at Henry on Friday at 8:25 AM. Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Activity 80-81: Discovering a Worms Habitat


Today students worked on a lab using the scientific method. The students had to design an experiment that looked at the change in habitat on an earthworm. They had to change one variable to the worm's habitat. The first step was to develop a question they wanted to test. Next they had to come up with a hypothesis to their question. The then developed steps in which they would carryout their experiment. They then tested the habitats on the earthworms and recorded their observations. Their final step was to make a conclusion about their hypothesis. Overall they did a great job on practicing the scientific method.

HMK: work on project!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Computer Lab Day


Today was an early release day so only periods 1, 3, and 4 had life science today. During class we finished the photosynthesis lab analysis questions from the previous class. After we finished that activitiy, we went into the computer lab. The students were given time to work on their introduced species project. They were able to look up the specific research questions, find food webs of their species, and locate a map which shows where the species originally came from and where it lives now. Overall, it was a great day for students to get caught up on their project which is due next Wednesday or Thursday.

HMK: Work on Project!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Activity 80-81: Photosynthesis Lab


On Friday, Students did activities 80-81 in which they used an elodea plant to see how light affects photosynthesis. Students used a BTB indicator solution to see if carbon dioxide or oxygen was present in the water. They started with yellow water which showed that carbon dioxide was in the water. They then placed elodea plant into two vials. They covered one vial with aluminum foil to block the light from entering. They placed both vials under the light and examined what was going on. They found that the vial with no aluminum foil turned blue. This meant that the plant was doing photosynthesis and oxygen was now in the vial. The vial with aluminum foil stayed yellow because photosynthesis did not occur because it needs light to process.

HMK: Work on project. Remember Permission slip and money for Zoo Trip!

Hint: CO2 + Water + Sunlight --> Food + O2

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Activity #78: Producer's Source of Energy


Today students carried out activity 78: A Producer's source of Energy. This activity was a reading in which the students learned about the role of photosynthesis, producers, consumers, and food webs had in an ecosystem. Students had to practice drawing food webs of lake, ocean, and land ecosystems. They needed to make sure the arrows pointed in the direction of the energy or food flow. Students also discussed what may happen to lake ecosystems and food webs if zebra mussels keep reproduces and spreading. After we finished this activity, student finished putting their owl pellet skeleton together.

HMK: Work on project and bring receipt and permission slip back for Zoo Trip!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Activity 78: Owl Pellets


Today students are finishing activity 77: Ups and Downs. They are answering the analysis questions about what is happening to Zebra Mussels around the world. After students finished analysis questions, students started Activity 78 in which they dissecting owl pellets. The students worked together to separate the owl pellets. They take all the bones out of the pellet to analyze what type of food owls eat. They will continue dissecting the owl pellets tomorrow and will put the skeletons together to build an owl's food web.

Homework: Work on Research Project!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Activity #74 Observing Black Worms


Today students will be investigating black worms by doing activity 74: "Observing Organisms in their Habitat." Each group of students will have a black worm to investigate. They will have to find out how:

1. How does the blackworm move?
2. How does it respond to touch?
3. Can you identify which end is the head?
4. How does the blackworm move on filter paper?
5. What type of environment do you think the blackworm lives in?
6. How do you think the blackworm survives in it environment?

Students will also have to draw a picture of the blackworm.

Homework: Students remember to have your parents sign the Zoo trip permission slip and bring it back with the 6 dollars!

Hint:Blackworms belong to the phylum Annelida!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Planet Earth: "From Pole to Pole"


Today students continued working on Activities 75, 76, and 77. They had to classify animals into their phylum and then grouped the Chordates into their correct sub-phylum. If you want more details look at yesterday's post. During enrichment today, students watched the Planet Earth DVD episode :Pole to Pole. This episode travels through the different biomes from tundra to tropical rainforest. The students had to describe an adaptation of a specific animal that allowed it to live in its habitat. They also had to explain the characteristics of each habitat. Students also updated their table of contents.

HMK: All Research Questions are due tomorrow!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Classifying Vertebrate Animals into their Sub-Phylum


Today students worked on a couple different activities. They first finished classifying the 18 animal cards into the 6 phylum which they had started yesterday. Next the students worked on Activity 76 in which they had to classify 8 mystery animals into the 6 sub-phylum of Chordata. The 6 sub-phylum were Amphibian, Reptile, Mammal, Bony Fish, and Birds. The students had to read the letters about the mystery animals and predict which sub-phylum they belong in by analyzing the animal's characteristics. After that activity, student started Activity #77: Ups and Downs in which students analyze Zebra Mussel growth and Graph the population of the Zebra Mussels throughout the years. We will finish this activity on Friday.

HMK: Work on Project!

Hint of the day: Platypus belongs to the sub-phylum Mammal!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Activity #75-76: Classification of Animals


Today students worked on activity 75-76: Classification of the Animal Kingdom. The students were given 18 different animal cards and first had to predict which animals belong together in a specific Phylum. After the students predicted the animal groups they discovered the 6 different phylum's as well as the phylum's characteristics. The phylum were Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, and Chordata. After the students learned about the characteristics of each phylum they were able to revise their groups and finalize their decision on the classification of all 18 animals. We will continue with this activity during the block days this week.

HMK: Work on Project!

Hint of the Day: Humans belong to the phylum Chordata.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Shoe Classification Activity


Welcome back students! Today there will be a couple different activities going on. Periods 1, 3, and 4 will be doing activity #73, which is an introduction to their project on invasive species. Periods 6 and 7 will be doing a classification activity with their shoes. This activity is an enrichment activity to allow the other periods to get caught up with their project because of the snow day and talent show which put them a little behind.


HMK: Work on research questions for project!