Activity #14 part II: Breakdown Lab

Today students did activity 14 part II which was a lab on digestion. Students compared the size of food to time of digestion. Students started out by defining mechanical breakdown and chemical breakdown. After students defined these terms, students set up their lab materials. We discussed which variables were independent and which were dependent. Students made an hypothesis on which size of food (tablet) will dissolve the fastest. Next, students set up their trays which tablets and added 5 ml of vinegar. Then students measured the amount of time it took to dissolve the tablets. Finally, students created a line graph that displayed size of food to time to digest food. After they made their graph, students had to write conclusions about the experiment.

Homework: If students did not finish their conclusion they must do it for homework!

Liver Role Play

Today students read a role play about our liver. First students assigned each group member a different role in the play. They then read the play as a group at their table. After the group read the play, the class read the play together with four students standing up in front of the class. After the class read the play, students answered analysis questions 1-3 about the liver in the role play. Finally, students had to write a reflection about the role of liver in their body.

Something to think about: How is the liver part of the digestion system?

Activity #14 part I: Magic School Bus Digestion

Today students carried out activity #14 part one which is the beginning of the digestive system. Students had to answer six questions about the steps of the digestive system by watching Magic School Bus: Out to Lunch. At the end of the movie, students had to summarize the steps in which food moves throughout their body.

Hint of the day:

Step 1: mouth
Step 2: esophagus
Step3: stomach
Step4: Small intestine
Step 5: Large intestine
Step 6: Rectum

Homework due today: Organ Wanted Posters!!!!

Wanted Organ Posters

During block day is science class students created their organ wanted posters. Students had to include specific tasks on their poster.

Posters Need:

-Organ Title

-5 Questions

-5 Answers

- Picture of Organ

- COLOR

- ACCURATE INFORMATION

-CORRECT SPELLING

-CREATIVITY (caution/reward)

Students use the research from yesterday's class to make the poster.

Homework: Posters are due Monday!

Activity #13: Organ Wanted Poster

Today students worked on activity #13 which is an organ research project. Each student picked a different organ out of a grab bag. After students chose their organ, they had to answer specific questions about their organ. They were given library books to find the information about their organ. After students researched their questions, they are going to make a wanted poster for their particular organ.

The five questions they have to find are:

1. What organ system is your organ part of?

2. What is the function of your organ?

3. What diseases or disorders affect your organ?

4. Can you live without your organ?

5. What is the size, shape, and weight of your organ?

This poster will be due on Monday September 27th.

Human Body Drawing

During block days students did a couple different activities. First students did the 4-corner vocab activity with their new vocab words which were organ, organ system, and all the organs that we reviewed in the previous activity. The students then started on their human body drawing. In their groups they picked one person to trace the outline of their body. After the body was traced students began drawing and labeling 16 different organs that are inside our body. They had to divide the tasks among their group in order to complete the activity. The 16 organs needed to be the ones that we discussed the previous day in class. After their bodies are finished they will be hung up in the hallway for the school to see!

Homework Due today!!!! One page reflection summary of unit A: How we study people and medicine!

Have a great 4 day weekend!

Activity #12: What's happening inside?

Today we started Unit B: Human Body where students participated in activity #12. Students first defined their new vocabulary words which were organs and organ system. After our class defined the words, student made a 3-column chart that had organ/ organ system/ and organ function in each column. After we created the chart, we filled in the chart with 16 of our major organs. We discussed what system each organ belongs to and then talked about its function. At the end of class student reflected about what they learned today about the human body.

4-Corners Vocabulary and Picture Day

Today in science class students are taking their pictures for the yearbook and to buy. If students forgot to bring their money they can turn it into the office by Wednesday. After the students took their pictures they worked on an Activity called 4-corners vocabulary. Students picked five vocab words from unit A. They first wrote down the vocab words in the first box. In the next box the students wrote the definition of that vocab word. Next students drew an illustration or example of that vocab word. Finally students had to put that vocab word into a complete sentence which was not the same as the definition. This activity was due at the end of class.

Tomorrow we start Unit B: The Human Body

Homework: Students one page essay/ reflection on Unit A is due on their block day this week either Wednesday or Thursday!

Activity #10: Evaluating Clinical Trials

Today students watched a movie on Diabetes and Insulin. During the movie, students took Cornell notes about the main topics in the movie which included what Diabetes is, how insulin plays a role, how the Pancreas is involved, and how it was tested or studied. After the Movie students had to write a reflection or summary about what they learned, how scientists study Diabetes, and any questions they have. Students examined the ethics of testing dogs with insulin before humans and discussed how it is different today then back then.

Homework: Students were assigned the following homework today: Students must write a one page essay the answers the following question: How do scientists study people and medicine? The paper is due during the science block day next week, either Wednesday or Thursday!

Have a great weekend!

Activity #9: Data Toss

During block days this week students will be participating in activity #9: Data Toss. Students will be using the scientific method while carrying out this activity. The question is : Is it easier to catch a ball with two hands or one hand? Next students had to make a hypothesis about what they thought was going to happen. Then students wrote out the steps for the experiment. When that was finished, students went outside with their partner and tested their hypothesis by catching the ball with one hand 15 times and then with two hands 15 times. They then had to record their data and explain whether is what easy, medium, or hard to catch the ball with one hand or two hands. Finally students wrote conclusions about their experiment.

Homework due today: PB and J re-written procedures

PB and J

Today students participated in a couple of activities. They took their first quiz of the year which covered what they have learned so far in life science. Most of the questions were related to vocab words that they have focused on in unit A. Students were allowed to use their science notebook as a resource for the quiz. Next, students wrote procedures for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After the students were finished writing procedures, volunteers came up to read their procedures to the rest of the class. As they read procedures, I tried to make the sandwich. The students recognized that I was not able to make the PB and J because their procedures were not clear enough.

Homework: Students need to rewrite their procedures for making a PB and J making sure they have details and are clear and precise. This is due next week on their block day, either Wednesday or Thursday!

Hint: Do not come to school Monday!!! Happy Labor Day!

Activity # 6-7: Human Variation

During block days this week students are doing activities 6 and 7. First students will read activity 6 which explains the nervous system and touch receptors. While they read, the will take Cornell notes about the information that they are reading. The four main ideas in the reading are nervous system, nerves, eating food, and touch receptors. Next, students do activity 7 which is a touch test. The students test each other on their sensitivity to touch where they have to distinguish the difference between two points and one point. Students then analyze how human variation makes it difficult to study people.