Click the Aquarium

Friday is Fish Day! Remember to change the water--use a kitchen baster to remove 1/4th of the water and replace it with settled tap water.  Make observation.

Sorry that none of the lab work yesterday was very decisive--sometimes it's like that.  I cannot vouch for the pH paper or the nitrate/phosphate testing kit; it was passed on to me by a friend and I'm not sure if those things go bad???  But perhaps, contrary to expectation, the water is good?!?

Remember to put your vials in a cool place which receives sunlight (not your backpack) and to take observations.  I saw a number of science worksheets in the room yesterday; if you lost your paper then look up the experiment in chapter 3, and the questions are the same.  This is to turn in after you've finished the observations.  Please re-read the directions and questions to be sure of the main point, which sometimes gets lost in the bustle of the lab.
Reading homework is Chapter 4.2, answering questions from the study guide.  Quizlet can help you with the vocabulary practice.  Also, The Cartoon Guide: read chapters 1-2. 


Did you click the aquarium?

Mystery of the Floating Fish?

For your ecosystem notebooks, answer these questions:
How does the ecosystem model  the water cycle? How is it different?
How does it model the carbon cycle? How is it different?
How does it model the nitrogen cycle? How is it different?
How does it model food webs and food chains?
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/bottlebio/ecocol/pdf/foodweb.pdf


The study chapter 4.1, answering study guide questions & vocabulary.
http://quizlet.com/2433336/ch-4-ecosystems-and-communities-flash-cards/(optional)

For your ecosystems notebook, answer:

How does the ecosystem model greenhouse gases? How is it different?

Comment today: Why did they die?  Comment on why your fish did or didn't make it, and any new signs of change you are observing.  (Please sign your name.)

ALSO THIS: Please bring a water sample from your ecocolumns to Thursday's class, about 120 mL or 1/2 cup.

Are Your Bottles in the Car!?!

 Today is THE DAY to finish setting up your ecosystems (all three levels), and your system of observation-taking.  First of all, WHERE are you going to keep it where it will be remembered, where it will get indirect light but not in the direct sunlight, and where it will NOT get knocked over?  And WHEN will you make your daily observations?  WHAT is it that you will be looking for?   This is what you will write a comment on below.
However, that is not enough.  Now is the time to read your Handouts and begin to fill in the first pages.  Set aside a good portion of time today to do so, so that we can get off on the right foot.

PRINT THIS OUT NOW  - THE DIRECTIONS ARE HERE:
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/bottlebio/ecocol/takinginventory.html


If you have lost the handouts, here is a link:
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/bottlebio/ecocol/pdf/takinginventorydata.pdf
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/bottlebio/ecocol/pdf/ponderingchangedata.pdf

THIS IS OUR STARTING POINT, SO GET THIS READ AND DONE RIGHT AWAY.  I think you should find a folder to put all your papers in for this project, as it will last for 4-6 weeks.

ALSO: Now is a good time to take a photo. (Part of the assignment, not a suggestion.   :)

First, read your textbooks and fill in the study guide for section 3.3 -- Cycles of Matter.
Study vocab words for chapter 3. http://quizlet.com/4890028/prentice-hall-biology-chapter-3-flash-cards/

Then, some videos: (most just a minute or so long.) Make a page of Cycles.  (I mean, take notes/diagram the information)  And when you are done, leave a comment in the form of a question.  Answer any previous questions and then ask your own for the next student to answer.
Eutrophication !
Eutrophication Animation
The Nitrogen Cycle- It's Easy (for fish tanks)
The Nitrogen Cycle - Wonderful World
The Nitrogen Fixation Cycle: Presented by Dr. Undergrad (10 minutes)
http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/nitrogencycle/  username pcshome  password  ilearnathome
The Phosphorus Cycle - in doubletime talk
back where we started- eutrophication

And when you are done, leave a comment in the form of a question.  Answer any previous question and then ask your own for the next student to answer.

Please read this!!! 
To be ready for our field trip Thursday morning: We need a few things; anybody have these?
-net for collecting little fish in the pond
- rubber boots
- cameras
- recycled containers
- small notepad or notebook
-pen or pencil
-magnifying lens
-trowel

Nobel Win for crystal discovery 

Friday's Homework

Today's homework is simply to read and answer  study guide questions from 3.1 and 3.2.  Keep
a vocabulary list.

Interactive: Arctic Food Web
  (real all and take short quiz)
 Now for some vids:
ocean food cycle
The Food Chain Song

And when you're all done, post a comment.  :)

So Here's the Test...

The moment you've all been waiting for... first science test of the year!!  So, after you have reviewed adequately, you may proceed to page 57, the Chapter 2 Assessment, and answer these questions in sentence form.  By that I mean, the answer to #1 is not "d" , but rather "The positively charged particle in an atom is the electron."  All answers should be in complete sentences and should reflect the question asked.  ( For example:
Describe the parts of the nucleotide. ||  "Nucleotides consist of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base."  Therefore it is not necessary to copy the question.)

These are the questions to answer: This is an Open book test.
1-19, 22-25, 28,31,35
 
On Thursday we will complete the test (not open book) on the vocabulary of chapters 1 & 2, plus some multiple choice questions.  For help studying vocabulary, go to quizlet.com : http://quizlet.com/1229738/biology-chapter-2-prentice-hall-2008-flash-cards/

Please read and re-read these instructions so that you understand completely the directions.