Cells

During the next couple weeks in life science, students will be learning about different characteristics of cells. They will begin by comparing plant vs. animal cells. Next, students will identify the structures and functions of organelles that make up the cell. Then, students will model how the cell membrane protects the cell. Students will then compare cells of different living species.

Unit C Infectious Diseases

This week students are studying how infectious diseases spread from person to person. First students are analyzing how Typhoid Mary was a carrier and spread Typhoid Fever to many people. Next, students will analyze how the Bubonic Plague spread using a vector. Then students will read about how students were treated with Leprosy. Finally, students will take a quiz comparing vectors and carriers.

Heart Problems

Today in science, students learned about heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. Students read about each section and taught their peers about the risk factors for each problem. Students ended with writing a reflection about how they can maintain or improve the health of their heart. Tomorrow and Wednesday students will be reviewing each body system and will determine how they work together to complete a certain function. On Thursday and Friday, we will be completing the frog dissection and will compare/contrast the frog to the human.

Circulatory System

During this week in life science students are continuing to work on the circulatory system. Today students learned how our heart works as a pump to push blood in a one way direction with the help of valves. Tomorrow and Friday, students will be learning about the different parts that make up our heart. On Monday, students will be dissecting the heart and identify the function of each part.

Introduction to Circulatory System/ SOS

This week in science class students are starting to learn about the circulatory system. On Monday we went over the major structures and functions of the circulatory system. On Tuesday and Wednesday, students are participating in a 2-day class called "SOS" to make students aware of signs of depression and suicide risk so they know who to talk to for help for anyone. On Thursday, students will be going to the Nature and Science Museum. They will be going through the Health Exhibit to learn about their health and choices they make.

Activity # 18-19 Nervous System Activities

Next week students will be investigating the nervous system. Student will start by looking into the different organs that make up the nervous system. Next we will look at the brain and the different parts that make up the brain. We will dissect the brain on Monday. Then we will continue on by looking at the different parts of the eye. We will dissect the eye on Wednesday. On Thursday, students will have a quiz on the different parts of the brain and eye. On Friday, we will talk about all the steps of science fair.

Activity #17-18: Respiratory System

For this week students will be studying the respiratory system. We will begin by reading about the different organs and functions that make up the respiratory system. Next, students will participate in the gas exchange lab. They will predict if everyone has the same amount of gas that enters and leaves their body. Students later this week will understand how oxygen enters the body and carbon dioxide leaves the body.


Homework due today: digestive system cartoon and 5 science fair questions

Activity 13-16: Digestive System

For the this week in science class, we have been evaluating the digestive system. We carried out the breakdown lab that shows how the size of food effects time of digestion which was modeled by vinegar and tablets. Next we read about the digestive system and took notes about each step of the process. Today, students will watch a video that shows all the steps.

Hint: Digestive System quiz is on Monday!

Homework: Design a cartoon that shows how a food travels through the digestive system in your body.

Activity #12 What's Happening Inside

Today and tomorrow students are learning about the different organs that make up our body. We start class by reviewing the different organ systems that make up the human body like the nervous, digestive, respiratory, muscular, and skeletal systems. Next, we discuss the organs and the functions of each organ. Finally, students will be given an organ to research and will develop a wanted poster for that organ.

Homework Due today: KWL chart/ Human Body

Activity #10 :Data Toss

Students participated in the data toss activity yesterday and will continue today. We started with the question: Is is easier to catch a ball with two hands or one hand. We then went outside a tested our question after everyone made a hypothesis. Today we will calculate data and make graphs from that data. Finally, students will write conclusions about their outcomes.

Homework: Finish Lab Report on Data Toss

Activity #9: Evaluating Clinical Trials

Today in class, students evaluated four different clinical trials. Each group member was in charge of reading one of the four studies. They read and record the important facts and information about the study. Then the group members shared their study with the rest of the class. By the end, students were informed about all four studies: Summer Fever Medicine, Burn Cream, Weight Loss Method, and Relaxin. Students then had to decide which study had the best elements of a well designed experiment and would recommend more research for that study.

Homework due today: Essay of Elements of a Well Designed Experiment

Enjoy your four day weekend!

Activity #8 : Studying People

For the next three days in Life Science, students will be completing activity #8: Studying People. In this activity, students will read about the elements that make up a well designed experiment. Students will complete four corner vocab on the following words: Data, Qualitative Data, Quantitative Data, Sample Size, Trials. Students will finish the activity by writing an essay about the elements that make up a well designed experiment and about how data drives the decisions that they make.

Activity #7: Human Variation

Today students completed the second part of the touch test. They had to predict if they could tell the difference between two points and one point. They then completed the touch test. We also looked at the students PB and J procedures and tried to make the sandwich. Finally, students were assigned to rewrite their procedures to be more detailed and specific.


Homework Due Tomorrow (9/9): PB & J Procedures

Reminder: T-shirt order form due tomorrow

Activity #5: Can You feel the difference?

Today students will be using touch sensors on their hand and arm to see if they can feel a difference in sensitivity to touch. They will record their results and discuss why they think it happened. Tomorrow students will read a current science magazine and answer analysis questions. No school on Monday for Labor Day. On Tuesday, students will be completing a scientific method activity. I will be back on Wednesday.

Homework Due today: One Pager!

Hint: Please be respectful to the Guest Teacher!

Activity #4 Testing Medinicine

Today students will be finishing up the activities about testing medicine. Student will be creating a one-pager that summarized the process of testing medicine. The one-pager must include all terms with definitions, a border, 3 pictures or graphics, a summary, a question, and a quote. This one-pager must be colorful, creative, and organized.

Homework: One-Pager Due tomorrow!

Hint: Terms are placebo, clinical trial, informed consent, control.

Pre-Test Life Science

Today students will be taking the life science reading portion pre-test. They will read about testing medicine and complete four different writing assignments including, Cornell notes, summarizing, questioning, and personal response. Yesterday, students completed the multiple choice questions about topics that will be covered throughout the year. By the end of the year, students should show growth on both pre-tests!

Homework: Bring in T-shirt order form.

Activity #3 Testing Medicine

Today and Friday students are participating in a simulation clinical trial of testing medicine. Students are seeing if the medicine works and are understanding the process. They should understand why we use a placebo when testing medicine. By the end of tomorrow, students will have graphed the class results and will answer analysis questions about what happened in the clinical trial.

Homework: Due Friday, write down two foods that contain niacin in your planner. Make sure you look at the label.

Hint: peanut butter, beans, tortilla chips

Notebook Day!

Today students are going to set up their Science notebook. Homework due today was two spiral one subject notebooks and either a box of kleenex, hand sanitizer, or hand soap depending of which period the student is in. Students will use two notebooks throughout the year. We will set up the table of contents, vocabulary section, scientific method section, and number all the pages. Then we will review the group activities: Team Manager, Procedure Specialist, Supply Master, and Recycling Engineers. Finally, we will review what Life Science is and review the steps of the scientific method.

Wilderness Survival Day 1

Today we started the survival unit. Students first took a survival quiz that covered shelter, food, water, survival pack, and other essentials. Next students participated in a improv game where their group had to come up with a way to use canvas if stuck in certain areas, Desert, Arctic, Rainforest, etc....

Mammoth vs Asian Elephant

Today students first reviewed their year long test. Next, students read about the extinction of the mammoth and the endangerment of the Asian elephant. We compared and contrasted the similarities and differences between the two species. Then, student discussed if we should try to bring back the mammoth or try to save the Asian elephant from going extinct. Finally, students watched Planet Earth.