WEEK OF JANUARY 5th -9th
This week we are going to finish up the owl pellet project we were working on before Winter Break. Monday students worked on the rough draft paragraphs in class. Each student is responsible for 2 paragraphs. Thursday students will use the computer lab to type the paragraphs into letter form.
In addition, students are going to start working on their Ecosystem final project. They will choose 1 concept from science to write a story on and will hopefully present them to elementary schools in the district. Maria Ruth, former parent and local author, will be assisting kids in how to go about creating a book for publication.
MONDAY: Ecosystem Book Project Reminder
Owl Pellet: Complete graphs, write paragraphs rough drafts (tempate here)
TUESDAY: Maria Ruth on Books (handout 1)
(web site handout)
WEDNESDAY: Mr. Parker here
THURSDAY: Owl pellet final in Computer Lab
FRIDAY: Work on Eco-Book; owl pellet study due
WEEK OF DEC 8TH - 12TH
MONDAY: O.A. Reading, MWB population activity
TUESDAY: Bye Bye Birdy population study
WEDNESDAY: Spotted Owl pellet study- Introduction day/study design
Mid term Progress reports go home
THURSDAY: Spotted Owl pellet study- pellet dissection day
FRIDAY: Spotted Owl pellet study- organize and analyze data
WEEK OF Dec 1 - 5th
MONDAY: Hare and Lynx Thing
TUESDAY: Graph Hare/lynx; answer analysis questions
Ecosystem crossword
WEDNESDAY: Energy in food activity
THURSDAY: Energy in food activity
FRIDAY: ½ day – finish up whatever
NOV. 24-26
MONDAY: Food Web terms; complete study sheet for chp 18 turn in.
TUESDAY: NRG Bead activity
WEDNESDAY: Mr Parker…Hare & Lynx activity (absent?do at home)
THURSDAY: Eat Turkey
FRIDAY: Eat Turkey left overs
**Monday: Mr Parker: reading and complete hare & lynx activity
Students will analyze data from their brine shrimp experiment on
optimal salinity for hatching brine shrimp. We will use
Mono Lake (a saltwater ecosystem) as a case study of a small ecosystem. We will be examining the
populations from Mono Lake to learn how to label and diagram a food web
to illustrate the flow of energy through an ecosystem. Students will
learn (or review for some) the terms producers, consumers, and
decomposers.
WEEK OF November 17th - 21st
Monday: Analyze brine shrimp data;graph all class data, begin conclusion paragraph
Tuesday; Complete Brine Shrimp conclusion paragraph - turn in lab; Video of Mono Lake; food web terms
Wednesday: Diagram food webs of Mono Lake; Begin study sheet
Thursday: Energy in food Activity; complete study sheet
Friday:Assessment: covers food webs, identifying variables & control in experiment, be able to describe and explain brine shrimp experiment
NOV.10-14h
This week we will focus on describing how nonliving factors limit the populations of organisms that can exist in an ecosytem. We will use Mono Lake (a saltwater ecosystem) as a case study of a small ecosystem. Students will set up an experiment with brine shrimp to determine the optimal salinity for hatching brine shrimp, and will be examining the populations from Mono Lake to learn how to label and diagram a food web to illustrate the flow of energy through an ecosystem. Students will learn (or review for some) the terms producers, consumers, and decomposers.
We will also be continuing our observations of the students ecotowers and our milkweed bug habitats for any changes.
MONDAY: Ecosystem/Biome study No 2nd period
TUESDAY: No School
WEDNESDAY: Mono Lake Case Study Notes on Variables and Procedure of experiments
Experimental Design -we will set up an experiment "Salinity and Brine Shrimp Hatch Rate"
THURSDAY: Mono Lake Food Web Activity Set up brine shrimp experiment in class
FRIDAY: Food Web Assessment Brine shrimp have already begun to hatch; we spent the day counting hatched brine shrimp under the microscope
Science@Home due date has been postponed until Friday, Nov. 21...this will allow students more time to actually collect data.
WEEK OF NOV. 3-7
This week we are looking at two objectives: 1. How do abiotic factors/limiting factors affect the populations in an ecosystem? We will read and take notes on limiting factors to a population and partners will examine 16 different ecosystems/biomes. 2) How do scientists observe and research populations in the wild? We will look at this by watching how Jane Goodall was able to study and research wild chimpanzees in Tanzania.
At home students should be setting up a decomposition experiment with bread. This is due Friday, November 14th. Students will also be observing their eco-tower ecosystems and their Milkweed Bug habitats in class.
MONDAY: Read & notes on Section 18-2-Green Book (absent students will need to check out a book from library to complete notes/or download outline and use computer to access the information)
Return test from Friday
TUESDAY: Discussion/Ecosystem/biome Assignment
Tower & MWB observation
WEDNESDAY: Video: Among the Wild Chimps
THURSDAY: Work on ecosystem/biome assignment
Tower & MWB observation
FRIDAY: Complete ecosystem/biome assignment ***End of 1st Quarter - 1/2 day today; all classes 30 minutes long.
WEEK OF OCT. 27 - 31
This week we will focus on how ecologists organize ecosystems they are studying: What exactly is an "ecosystem", what terms are used to describe ecosystems & what non-living factors affect an ecosystem. We will be observing the eco-towers kids created last week and setting up a habitat for the single organism we will be studying: milkweed bugs. We will observe milkweed bugs, watch them go through their life span, and eventually take note of what happens to populations when there are no limiting factors.
MONDAY: Complete eco-tower set up: draw the inputs of eco-tower & take initial data
TUESDAY: Complete ecotower sketch/list abiotic & biotic components.
Introduce milkweed/organism study - set up organism in the class
WEDNESDAY: Complete Milkweed observations/set up milkweed habitat. Notes Ecosystem Organization
THURSDAY: Ecosystem Card Sort activity
FRIDAY: Weekly Assessment: abiotic/biotic, ecosystem organization & weekly activities
Science@Home will go home on Friday!
WEEK OF OCT 20-23
Monday: Completed notes from book on Needs of Living Things
Tuesday: Notes on Abiotic & Biotic factors in environment
Organism Inventory: students sorted through cards of organisms that will most likely be in their ecocolumns and identified energy/food needs, shelter/living space needs, predators, and abiotic needs of the organisms. They also marked bottles for cutting and did a check-in on supplies that have been brought in and what they still need.
Wednesday: EcoColumn construction!! Students worked on constructing the ecocolumns
Thursday: Completed EcoColumns, added biotic and abiotic factors. Draw and label parts of the eco-column systems.
This week was crazy because of conference schedule. We accomplished the following: took notes and practiced good scientific questions, planned out the EcoTower project with their group members, and began notes on "needs" of living things. Students should be collecting materials, organisms, etc for their ecotowers. Students need a 2 liter clear soda or water bottle and various living or non-living things to put in them. If they cannot get a bottle they should talk with me. We will begin construction next Wednesday.
WEEK OF OCT 6-10
MONDAY: Complete notes on life
TUESDAY: notes on Mrs C Gren…Begin lab testing on unknowns : What tests can be used to determine if something is alive or not?
WEDNESDAY: Variable notes
Test unknowns-in class we tested for presence of cells under the microscope
**Mid Quarter Progress Reports go home*** I did not give 3rd period their progress reports! They will get them tomorrow.
THURSDAY: Test unknowns-will test for the presence of respiration and if gas produced is carbon dioxide
FRIDAY: Quiz on characteristics of life: students should know the 8 characteristics we have talked about in class and be able to apply them to a specimen to determine if it is alive or not. They should also be able to explain what we have been doing in lab this week to tell if something is alive or not.
. . .Sci@Home out ???
WEEK OF SEPT 29 - OCT 3
This week we will focus on two objectives: reviewing experimental design & characteristics of life...what properties do all living things share and how can you use these properties to determine if something is alive? To this end, we will generate a list of characteristics and devise ways to test for some of these characteristics. Eventually, students will be given several unknown samples and have to determine if there are living organisms in the sample or not.
MONDAY: Article reading/Finish 118 Green St
TUESDAY: Notes Experimental Design: Question & Hypothesis
Is it alive? Activity #1
WEDNESDAY: Is it alive? Activity #2
ExpDesign: Variables Notes
THURSDAY: Begin testing characteristics of life Complete activity #2
FRIDAY: Finished up Activity #1, started notes from reading today. Continue Begin testing characteristics of life - metabolism
Science@Home out – due ___________(I will add this date when Friday rolls around)
WEEK OF SEPT. 22-26
MONDAY: Complete microscope investigation If you have been absent...try and complete the Microscope Lab in the Virtual Science Section
Microscope X-word
TUESDAY: Computer research on microscopes (handout)
WEDNESDAY: Get & Complete (some kids have started it) Microscope X-word
Start The Hidden Life of 118 Green St.
THURSDAY: Science Tools & Microscope parts/use Test Try the practice quiz in the Virtual Science section
Finish 118 Green St
FRIDAY: ½ day – finish up whatever needs to be done
X-word due
WEEK of Sept. 15-19: This week we will learn everything there is to know about microscopes. Students will be expected to label a microscope, explain and use the microscopes correctly, and draw reasonable illustrations of what they see under the microscope.
MONDAY: Textbook Scavenger Hunt/complete and go over measurement lab from last week
TUESDAY: Parts of Microscope Notes from class
WEDNESDAY: Use of microscope
Microscope X-word Puzzle (due Friday)
Changed plans today due to Magazine Assembly....Opening Activity & microscope labeling & matching game
THURSDAY: Complete notes on microscope and perhaps begin Microscope Lab
FRIDAY: Quiz: Science tools & use, microscope parts (online practice quiz) & use/
Continue working on Microscope Lab
WEEK OF SEPT. 8-12
Monday: O.A, safety activity
Tuesday: Safety Sci@Home assigned (see below for downloads), notes on science tools
BioPoem due!!!
Wednesday: Science tools & measurement review activity (in-class)
Thursday: Complete activity if needed, microscope parts notes
Friday: Science@Home safety assignment due. Safety Quiz: know your rules!!
WEEK OF SEPT. 3-5
Wednesday: Parent Letter; intro to class; student survey
Thursday: Biology pre-quiz; bio-poem (doc)due Friday bio-poem (pdf) THE BIOPOEM FINAL WILL BE DUE ON TUESDAY 9/9/08