Week Nineteen

4 more days until Winter Break!!


Monday- In class group project on Genetic Disorders (Research)
Tuesday- Prepare Visual and Presentation for Genetic Disorder
Wednesday- Genetic Disorder Presentations
Thursday- I will only see my 3rd and 4th periods - Cloning Movie or Genetic Bingo
Friday- WINTER BREAK!!

WEBSITES for GENETIC DISORDER RESEARCH:

Cobb County Virtual Library
Lab Corp Genetics
Genetic Disorder Library
A Guide to Disorders
Disorders by Chromosome
(Pick a chromosome across the top, and then click on the disease linked to that chromosome)
Genetic Disorders by Name
Library of Genetic Disorders

Week Eighteen

Two more weeks until Winter Break!

BIG TEST this THURSDAY on Genetics that covers chapter 3 and part of chapter 4 from the textbook. A study guide will be handed out in class on Monday.

Tentative Schedule this week:

Monday- Pedigree Challenge / check Non-Mendelian Problems / Study Guide
Tuesday- Genetics Test Practice Problems in class / Test Cross and Dihybrid cross practice
Wednesday- Human Inheritance and Pedigree practice / Study Guide
Thursday- Genetics Test / Reading
Friday- Notebook Quiz / Read p. 125 - 129 and work on vocab 21 - 28 / Karyotyping activity and on-line lab in class

Monday the Non-Mendelian Problems are due, the Genetics Study Guide is due on Wednesday, and the Genetics test is Thursday. There is NO vocabulary quiz this week due to the Genetics Test!

Week Seventeen

Last week we didn't get as far as I thought we would due to a few interruptions in the schedule. Therefore, you might see some activities from last week's blog in this week's itinerary because we never got to it!

Monday- Rebop Babies Lab
Tuesday- Dihybrid Crosses / Checking Punnett Word Problems
Wednesday- EARLY RELEASE / Non-Mendelian Genetics Notes / Family Pictures
Thursday- Finish Non-Mendelian Genetics Notes / Pedigree Challenge
Friday- Pedigree Activities / Reading Activity

Homework this week includes the Punnett Square word problems due on Tuesday, the Chapter 3 Essential Questions due on Wednesday, Reading pages 118 - 124 in the text and working on Genetics Vocabulary 14 - 20 due by the end of the week, study for the Genetics Vocabulary Quiz Friday (6 words this week), and Non-Mendelian Problems due Monday 12/11.

Week Sixteen

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving break!

Now that we are back, we can get deeper into our study of Genetics.

Monday- Mendel Questions/Video/Observable Traits
Tuesday- Observable Traits Lab / Begin Punnett square worksheets
Wednesday- Genetics Notes / Work on Punnetts
Thursday- Genetics Lab (Reebops)
Friday- Genetics Vocabulary Quiz /Chap. 3 Reading / Punnett practice / Video

Homework this week includes the Mendel Questions that are due Tuesday, finishing the Observable Traits Lab due Wednesday, Punnett Square Exercises due Thursday, Genetics Vocabulary Quiz on Friday, and Punnett Practice Worksheet due Monday.

Some Helpful Links:

GSK Genetics
Genetics Activities
Human Genome
Kids Genetics

Week Fourteen

DNA is the word of the week!

Onto genetics, what a fun unit this will be. Don't forget to bring in twizzlers and jelly beans for this week's lab if you signed up!

Vocabulary Words this week: Genetics, heredity, trait, gene, DNA, chromosomes, nitrogen bases, DNA replication, RNA, protein synthesis, and mutations

Tentative Schedule for 11/13 - 11/17:

Monday- DNA Anticipation Guide and KWL / DNA Notes and Facts
Tuesday- Watson and Crick article with questions / DNA Replication and Protein Synthesis
Wednesday- DNA is Delicious Lab
Thursday- DNA computer lab / DNA Essential Questions
Friday- Vocabulary Quiz / DNA Video / Reading Strategies

Work this week includes the Excretory W.B. pages due on Monday, the History of DNA article and questions due on Tuesday, the DNA Essential Questions due on Friday, and the DNA Vocabulary Quiz on Friday.

Helpful Websites on DNA and Genetics:

DNA Basics
Understanding Genetics
DNA from the beginning
DNA interactive
Human Genome Project

Week Thirteen

Last week we did not get the chance to talk digestion and excretion like I thought we would.

This week, we will fill in where we left off:

Monday- Digestive System PowerPoint / Begin Digestion Paper Doll
Tuesday- NO SCHOOL (for you anyway)
Wednesday- Read on Excretion / Do workbook pages on Excretion / start Excretion Paper Doll
Thursday- Video on Digestion and Excretion / Human Body Activity
Friday- Digestion and Excretion Vocab. Quiz / Begin Genetics

The Human Body Vocabulary and Graphic Organizer (passed out weeks ago) is due on Monday. The Digestive System Paper Doll is due on Wednesday, and the Excretory System Paper Doll is due on Friday. There will be a quiz over Digestion and Excretion Vocabulary on Friday.

The websites that I included in last week's entry will help you with this week's lessons. I would like to add one more website that is a fantastic tour through the digestive system and can help you with the Digestive System Doll:

Digestive Track Tour

Curious about other systems? Check out this amazing website:

Human Body

Week Twelve

Some of the dates from last week's blog have changed due to the fact that we didn't get as far as I thought we would by the end of last week. I will hand out the Study Guide for the Circulatory and Respiratory Systems Test Monday of this week and it will be due on Wednesday, Nov. 1st. We will begin working on the Respiratory/Circulatory Paper Dolls Monday, and they will also be due by Wednesday. A rubric (1/2 sheet of green paper) will be provided for the paper doll project so the students know what to expect.

Monday- Finish Respiration Power Point / Work on Paper Dolls
Tuesday- Respiration Lab / Work on Paper Dolls and Study Guide
Wednesday- Review / Begin Digestion PowerPoint
Thursday- Test over Respiration and Circulation / Read Ch. 16 Digestion (organizer and vocab.)
Friday- Vocab. Quiz on Respiration /Finish Digestion PowerPoint / Read on Excretory System Video

Test Thursday over the Respiratory and Circulatory Systems!!

Websites from last week's post are very useful to aid in studying for the test Thursday. Below I have added links to help you learn about the digestive and excretory systems:

The Real Deal on Digestion
Your Digestion System
Digestive System for Kids
Human Body Adventure
Stomach Gurgles

Excretory System for Kids
Kidney Knowledge
Human Body Adventure
Urinary System
Pee
Poop

Week Eleven

As we all now know cells come together to form tissues, tissues come together to form organs, and organs come together to form organ systems. Which in turn form an organism (a living thing).

We have looked in depth into the structure and function of individual cells. Now we will see what happens when cells begin working together to create the amazing and complicated organism, the human body.

Monday- Cell Review Packet/Re-organize Notebooks/ Begin Circulatory System PowerPoint
Tuesday- Finish Circulatory Sys. PP for parts 1 and 2 / Read 17.1 and 17.2 in textbook
Wednesday- Circulatory Sys. PP part 3/ Read 17.3 in text and work on vocab. and organizer
Thursday- Respiratory System Powerpoint/ Read 18.1 in text and work on vocab. and organizer
Friday- Finish Respiratory System PP/ Begin working on circulatory or respiratory paper doll

Homework for the week will include studying vocabulary flashcards for a Circulatory System Vocabulary Quiz on Friday. Words covered on the quiz will be: circulation, heart, veins, arteries, capillaries, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, plasma, blood types, and lymph.

Other homework this week will include a Circulatory System worksheet due on Wednesday, and Essential Questions for the Circulatory System due on Friday, A Study Guide due on Tuesday 10/31 for the Circulation/Respiration Quest on Thursday 11/2.

Some helpful websites for this weeks topics on the Circulatory and Respiratory Systems include:

Cardiovascular System
The Heart: An On-line Exploration
Quick Questions Answered
The Circulatory System
All About the Heart
The Electric Heart

The Respiratory System
Looking at your Lungs
Quick Questions Answered
Oxygen Delivery System
Inside the Respiratory System

Week Ten

Essential Question: Why is a cell the basic unit of life?

Reading Essential Question: What are the essential skills of good reading?

Guiding Questions: How do cells make new cells?
How are cells organized into more complex structures?

This week is conference week and I look forward to meeting all of Dickerson's wonderful parents.

Monday- Cell Division Quiz / Word Puzzle / Article Reading
Tuesday- Read p. 473 - 475 / Make 4-tab book of Organization of Living Things
Wednesday- Organization of Living Things Powerpoint
Thursday- Human Body Graphic Organizer and Vocabulary / Human Body Notes
Friday- Human Body Video / Article Reading

We will be having our 2nd vocabulary quiz on Friday the words will include autotroph, heterotroph, producer, consumer, decomposer, eukaryote, prokaryote, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism.

We will also have a notebook quiz this week, most likely on Wednesday.

Week Nine

This week we will continue our quest to understand the process of cell division. Look to last week's post to find some good websites to use for learning about cell division. I'd also like to add a couple more sites to supplement your learning:

Web Quest in Class Lab
Mitosis and Meiosis in Action

Monday- Meiosis Notes / Comparing and Contrasting Mitosis and Meiosis
Tuesday- Meiosis Notes continued / Cell Division Web Quest
Wednesday- Cell Division Web Quest Continued / Work on Study Guide
Thursday- Vocabulary Quiz / Review for Cell Division Quiz on Monday
Friday- NO SCHOOL FOR YOU!

Homework for this week will include Compare and Contrast Mitosis vs. Meiosis due Wednesday, a Vocabulary Quiz (12 words listed in class) on Thursday, the Cell Division Study Guide due Thursday, Chapter 2 Vocabulary (Part 2) due on Thursday, and a Quiz over Cell Division on Monday 10/16.

Week Eight

Only 2 more weeks before report cards come out!

Don't forget your Cell Analogy Project is due on Monday and so is your Chapter 2 Vocabulary (Part 1)

Monday- Stomata Questions / Photosynthesis Video / Work on Study Guide
Tuesday- Review Questions / Go over Study Guide
Wednesday- Quiz over 2.1 - 2.4
Thursday- Cell Cycle Notes / Work on Vocabulary
Friday- Go over Mitosis W.S. / Meiosis Notes

Homework for this week will include the Cell Processes Study Guide due on Tuesday, studying for the Cell Processes Quiz Wednesday, next Chapter 2 Vocabulary (Part 2) dueTuesday 10/10, the Mitosis Meiosis W.S. due Friday, and the Compare and Contrast W.S. for Mitosis/Meiosis due Monday 10/9.

This week after the Cell Processes Quiz, we will be learning about Cell Division (Mitosis and Meiosis). Some helpful websites for this topic include:

Cells Alive: Cell Cycle
Cells Alive: Mitosis
Cells Alive: Meiosis
The Division of Plant and Animal Cells
Onion root cells in cell division
Biology in Motion

Week Seven

Sorry that I didn't get this post on sooner, but I was out of town for a family funeral and just got back to town last night.

The students completed a test over Chapter One last Friday. So we are now moving into Chapter 2, which we will break down into 2 parts. Today we began by reading section 2.1 in class and making a graphic organizer of the material.

A tentative schedule for the week includes:

Monday- Read 2.1 / What's in cells? graphic organizer
Tuesday- Read 2.2 / Notes over the cell in its environment / Iodine & starch demo
Wednesday- Discussion Questions for Iodine & Starch / Begin Carrot Lab
Thursday- Finish the Carrot Lab / Read 2.3 - 2.4 and work on Ch.2 vocabulary
Friday- Photosynthesis & Respiration 2-column notes / Compare and Contrast Activity

Homework for this week will include getting the Cell Analogy Project Directions Signed (due Tuesday), finishing the Chemical Compounds in Cells worksheet (due Tuesday), Working on the Chapter 2 (Part 1) Vocabulary (due Tuesday 10/3), Cell in its Environment worksheet (due Wednesday), finishing the Carrot Lab (due Friday), Cell Processes Study Guide (due Tuesday 10/3), and the Cell Analogy Project (due Monday 10/2).

Some Websites to help study the first part of Chapter 2 are:
Basics of Chemistry
Ingredients for Life
Passive and Active Transport Explained

All of the sites that I could find on Photosynthesis and Respiration were very advanced, these are the few that were a little more simple:
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
Animation of Photosynthesis

Week Six

Last week we started looking inside cells and even got to look at some of our own under the microscope.

This week we will be looking even further into cells through songs, riddles, analogies, on-line tutorials, and videos.

Monday- Cell Song / Compare and Contrast Animal vs. Plant Cells / Cell Analogies and Riddles
Tuesday- Virtual Cell On-line Lab / Labeling the Cell / Cell Test Study Guide
Wednesday- EARLY RELEASE / Discovering the Cell Video
Thursday- Cell Review
Friday- Cell Test

Progress reports go home on Monday and need to come back signed by Wednesday!!

Homework this week will include; Labeling the Cells Worksheet due Wednesday, the Cell Test Study Guide due Thursday, studying for the Cell Test on Friday, and working on the Cell Project due Monday, October 2nd.

There are some great websites to use for reviewing material in this unit:

cellsalive.com
The Virtual Cell
Touring a Cell
Labeling the Cell Quiz

Week Five

We are really starting to get into the first chapter of our textbook, which introduces us to the basic unit of structure and function in all living things, the cell.

A tentative schedule for next week:

Monday - Read Sec. 1.2 in text / Notes on Sec. 1.2 / Cell Theory Article
Tuesday - Looking Inside Cells Power Point / Cell Parts Chart
Wednesday - Animal Cell Lab (looking at cheek cells)
Thursday - Plant Cell Lab (looking at onion cells and elodea leaves) / Cell Riddles
Friday - On-line Cell Lab or Cell Video

Homework for this week will include working on and finishing the Chapter One Vocabulary, due Friday, finishing the Cell Parts Chart due Wednesday, and the Looking Inside Cells Worksheet, due Wednesday.

To help you learn about cells, there are some great websites on the Internet. One that I have found with some good links is the science spot kid zone

Week Four

This week in Science we will be starting the first chapter of our textbook, and learning how to use microscopes.

Tuesday - Active Reading Lesson / Graphic Organizer
Wednesday - Microscope Lesson
Thursday - Microscope Lab
Friday - Microscope Quiz / Notes on Sec. 1.2

For homework this week, you will need to finish the What is Life? W.S. due Wednesday, work on Chapter 1 Vocab 1-14 due Friday, study for the Microscope Quiz on Friday, and read Section 1.2 and do Chapter 1 Vocab 15 - 16 by Monday.

QUIZ this FRIDAY!!

Today in class we took a vote and the students decided by a landslide that they would rather take the scientific method/graphing quiz on Friday, instead of the Tuesday we get back from the Labor Day weekend.

A study guide will be provided to the students Thursday in class, and I will hold a 30 minute review session Friday morning at 8:15 am.

Good Luck!!

Week Three

This week in Science we will be reviewing the steps of the Scientific Method.

Monday- Notes on the Scientific Method
Tuesday- Chromatography Lab and Inferring Activity
Wednesday- Practice with the Scientific Method
Thursday- Graphing Activities continued
Friday- Graphing Activities continued

The homework for this week includes the "Top Secret" Weekend Work due Tuesday, the "Three Kinds of Variables" W.S. and the "Scientific Method in Action" W.S. due Thursday, and the "Graphing Packet" due Monday.

I look forward to meeting as many of your parents as I can on Tuesday night! Have a great week!

Week Two

Well, we made it through our first week of 7th grade. Congratulations!

This week in Science we will be finishing up Lab Safety and the Language of Science, and moving into Metrics, Graphing, and the Scientific Method.

Monday - Discussed Safety Symbols and Lab Equipment
Tuesday - Metrics Review and Started Gummy Bear Lab
Wednesday - More Metrics and Finishing Gummy Bear Lab
Thursday - Metrics Lab and Metrics Challenge
Friday - Safety / Equipment / Metrics Quiz and Science Reading

On Tuesday I collected the Language of Science Worksheet (10 Points) that was handed out last Friday. By Thursday 3rd - 5th period should have their Gummy Bear Labs (15 points) completed and turned in for a grade. 6th period will not need to turn in the Gummy Bear Lab until Tuesday, August 29th.

Weekend homework will include Top Secret Observations and Inferences that are due on Monday.

Enjoy the rest of your 2nd week!

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had an exciting and restful summer! I had a wonderful summer because I was able to travel to Ireland for 2 weeks. The 1st picture to the right is of me on the edge of a cliff where I was watching seals playing in the surf, and the 2nd picture is of my husband and I on top of a very old round tower that overlooks the city of Kilkenney.

As much fun as I had this summer, I am looking forward to getting this year off to a good start and getting to know each of you.

The first week of school will be reserved for understanding and explanation of the layout and procedures for 7th grade Life Science. A tentative schedule for the first week includes:

Monday- Learning Style Inventory / Syllabus Discussion
Tuesday- Pre-test and Textbooks
Wednesday- Finish Syllabus Discussion / Lab Safety
Thursday- Check out Blog and Textbook website / Finish Lab Safety
Friday- Homework Check / Language of Science

Homework the first week?? Yes, and it's a hard assignment too...By Tuesday you should have a 3x5 card with 2 questions for me, by Friday you should have your book contract turned in and your book covered, and a science 3-ring binder with 2 dividers (one labeled Notes/Assignments, one labeled Tests/Quizzes). In the binder, I should be able to find your Science Syllabus, your "I Understand" form, and your Lab Contract all signed by you and a parent or guardian. If you have completed this assignment you will not get any points deducted from your perfect grade. Remember, you all start out with an A in my class!

See you in Science!