Let's finish it!

Today, Friday, is all about finishing what we started:
First, the Eggs-spiriment, all about eggsmosis:  see Monday's post.  finish up and write down in your lab notebook briefly what you discovered and observed.  Answer any questions that were asked.  Perhaps take a photo to document your work.

Second, do the math and graphing for the experiment we did yesterday with the dialysis tubing. (the second one with the 4 bags.)  Read the questions and answer what you can. [btw, I figured out what I did wrong in the first experiment-- I used sucrose instead of glucose.  The test strip was for glucose.  Also, sucrose is a larger molecule than glucose, so it could not diffuse through the membrane. Live and learn.  :p]

Third, read the last section, chapter 7.4 , I think you can skip the study guide questions this time, but do look at the pictures and be observant.
Review the flash cards you made for the organelles, or find a quizlet
  http://quizlet.com/57013/cell-organelles-flash-cards/
Use coloring pages to review and ID the organelles.

This IS the complete homework

Previously, [This is not the complete homework; check back tomorrow.  Right now, Thursday night, I want you to take 3 eggs (per family) and cover them with cheap vinegar (white or cider, not balsamic...) This is to remove the calcium from the shells.  Let these sit, covered in vinegar, until the shells have dissolved; that is, a day or two.  I'll post more tomorrow morning.]
Now, for the rest of the story>>>

The Eggs-piriment:  http://ilovebacteria.com/eggosmosis.htm
This will take a few days, so start now and don't forget it.  Please note: you may not have a scale to weigh the eggs; you could measure the circumference instead.  Record your data.  This is basically  the same experiment in your lab books on page 85.

Read for Thursday: Chapter 7.3 textbook/study guide.
Short Interactive:  http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=AP1101
20 minute Video: Diffusion and Osmosis (take notes) : http://www.khanacademy.org/video/diffusion-and-osmosis?playlist=Biology
Review parts of cell flashcards.

here are the pictures from today:

and for the Tebow fans:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/tebow-time-three-3-16-references-boffo-tv-172145772.html

We'll Start with the Cell...

Hey, Welcome back to school!! This week, before JB gets underway, we will prepare for our first class. Here is the homework, and please don't underestimate the time it will take be starting it on Friday!  It should be done over the course of 3-5 days.  Those of you who were in my life science class may find it review, if you have a very good memory, but that was a long time ago, and this time around it is for keeps.  So pay good attention to my directions; I want you to do it my way!

Day 1: Read section 7.1 & answer study guide questions.
Day 2: Read section 7.2 & answer study guide questions.
Day 3/4: Watch these videos and make flash cards for each section on 3x5 index cards.  On one side of the card draw a detailed picture of the organelle/whatever, and on the other the name of the video and your notes on the information in the video clip.  There are 13 separate video clips, each 2-4 minutes long!!! You may wish to find a picture in your textbook or online to copy so that you can make an accurate and elegant picture/diagram.

So here is how to get to the site: http://brightstorm.com/science/biology/parts-of-a-cell/

Brightstorm is a great site for your high school science and math and grammar videos, so you will want to get your own account.
This is the list of videos:

Parts of a Cell

The free online video lessons in the Parts of a Cell unit provide an overview of the distinctions between different types of cells and explore in depth the structure and function of each of the organelles found within a cell as well as the ways in which different organelles interact. Topics include:

• Cell Overview

• Prokaryotic Cells

• Eukaryotic Cells

• Nucleus

• Ribosomes

• Mitochondria - Mitochondrian

• Golgi Apparatus

• Vacuoles-Vesicles

• Chloroplast

• Cilia and Flagella

• Cytoskeleton - Cytoplasm

• Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Cell Membrane - Cell Wall

  

  One more thing: please bring to class a lab notebook (bound) on Monday and every other day from now on.  In it we will keep our lecture notes, our lab notes, and an "exit question" which will help us retain the most important parts of our learning.  You also need a binder in which to keep your handouts and homework.  I am expecting a higher degree of organization this spring.   Also bring your other textbook and study guide, as always.  And put your index cards in a baggie and save them for tests & quizzes!  Bring them to class as well, to confirm that you have done your homework.

  
  

  Long directions, so re-read them, and please leave a comment so I know that you have read this blog.  Thanks, friends.  Enjoy your lessons.

   

Reprieve

Dear Friends, would you mind so much if we delayed the advent of our test a few days?  I was so fatigued last night that I could not bring myself to write it up, and so concocted a better plan, knowing also how busy your own schedules would be.
What I would like you to do is to write 150-200 words or so, paragraph form,  summarizing the ecological principles learned through the Ecocolumn activities, such as discussed in your groups yesterday.   Add to this any of the worksheets/handouts and the poem that you have done, put those in a folder, and turn that in on Monday.  We will then use any extra class time for the test, or if we don't have any, it can become take-home.  The test will be 50 pts. vocabulary and 25 points written, plus some "extra credit" which will be practice questions for STAR testing.

Prepare!

Enjoyable class yesterday, thank you.  I am sure Mr. Deleo will be honored to know that he has been immortalized as a isopod.

Homework is as follows:
Finish up your lab reports (typed) as described in the handout. Turn in on Thursday. Feel free to research the web -- and be sure to figure out what taxis and kenesis are; these words should be in your conclusion.  Re-read the Lab Handout; this is important.

Work on your Photo Essays, as described.  Presentation next Monday.

Study for the final on ecology, vocabulary links from previous post as well as clues to studying. 

No need to finish the Comic Book Guide to the Environment; up to Chapter 9 is good.

TEST WILL BE E-MAILED TO YOU ON FRIDAY, TO BE TURNED IN ON MONDAY.

And the Good News Is...

Forgot to mention (!) there will be an  Final EXAM next (not this coming), but the following, THURSDAY, that will cover the entire unit of ECOLOGY, chapters 3-6.  It will be a lot of vocabulary, plus short essay/diagram questions.  I will work up a list. Anyway, reviewing a little each day is much, much better than cramming.
http://quizlet.com/7456023/chapter-3-biology-prentice-hall-flash-cards/
http://quizlet.com/7684259/prentice-hall-biology-chapter-4-flash-cards/
http://quizlet.com/7305242/prentice-hall-biology-chapter-5-flash-cards/
http://quizlet.com/7305424/prentice-hall-biology-chapter-6-flash-cards/  Pay special attention to chapter 6 vocabulary, since I will give you a surprise quiz this Thursday for practice.

Off the top of my head, I recommend looking through those chapters for diagrams, such as the nitrogen cycle, the carbon cycle, food & energy pyramid, population graphs, biomagnification, etc. Pictures in textbooks give good clues as to what is important or interesting. If it is not interesting, it must be there because it is important. Which is to say, a diagram  summarizes a large amount of knowledge. It is a "pictorial paragraph."

Reading: from the Comic Book on the Environment: Read up to (and including) Chapter 9. Take notes on vocabulary and major concepts.

Keep working on your Persuasive Photo Essay.  Remember: 20 images, 1-3 minutes, show the problem, suggest a response.

Last HOMEWORK before break--Aren't you Thankful!?!

Thanks for class-here's what to do tomorrow:
Read chapters 6-7 of the Comic Book Guide to the Environment.  Take notes on vocabulary/concepts.

Invasive Species in SF Bay:
http://blog.sfgate.com/kalw/2010/11/29/what-lurks-beneath-the-bay-areas-battle-with-invasive-species-in-ballast-water/

Chinese mitten crabs