Week Four

Last week we began studying Ecology, and looking at how living things are organized ecologically. We also started studying populations and finding ways to find population sizes.

This week we continue looking at population studies, and we will also discuss the interactions that organisms have within an ecosystem. We will answer questions like: Why is it necessary for everything in an ecosystem to work together? How are organisms and their environments linked together?
A tentative schedule this week includes:

Monday - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday - Finish 22.2 Notes / Finish 4-Tab Book / Finish Populations Labs
Wednesday - Notes 22.3 / Lesson of the Kaibab
Thursday - Finish Notes on 22.3 / Symbiosis Activity / Finish Lesson of the Kaibab / Study Guide Handed Out
Friday - Designer Animal Activity

Homework this week includes:

Habitat/Forest Worksheet due Wednesday
Finish Whooping Crane Lab by Friday
Read the Online Article on Symbiosis by Friday
Checking for Unit 1 Key Words 1 - 15 and 30 - 35 by Friday
Chapter 22 Study Guide due Monday
Chapter 22 Test Wednesday 9/12

Online Article on Symbiosis
Part 1: The Lesson of the Kaibab
Part 2: The Lesson of the Kaibab
Chapter 22 Study Guide

Helpful Websites:
Animals on Defense
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Examples of Parasites
Franklin Institute
Creature World
Predator-Prey Graph

Designer Animal Research Websites:
Animal Adaptations
Matching Game

Week Three

What does it mean to be living??

Last week we took a look at the 6 characteristics and 4 needs of all living things.

We will begin this week looking at the individual organism and connecting it to the bigger picture of ecological organization.

A Tentative Schedule for the Week:

Monday - Density / Chromatography Lab
Tuesday - Species Activity / Kingdom Chart
Wednesday - Notes 22.1 / 4-Tab Book
Thursday - Notes 22.2 / Finish 4-Tab Book
Friday - Counting Turtle Lab / Lady Bug Lab

Homework this week includes reading section 22.1 and doing Unit 1 Key Words 10 - 15 by Wednesday, finishing the graph and data table for the Chromatography lab by Wednesday, finishing the Kingdom Chart by Wednesday, completing the 22.1 Worksheet on Ecosystems by Thursday, completing the Ecosystem Picture by Friday, and reading section 22.3 and doing Unit 1 Key Words 30 - 35 by Monday.

Links to Classroom Documents:
4-Tab Book Directions
Ecosystem Picture Directions

Useful Websites:
6 Kingdoms
Characteristics of Kingdoms
Number of Species
Click on Habitats
Living Things in Their Environment
Test: Habitats and Populations
Organisms in Their Environment
Test: Organisms in the environment

Week Two

Some of you were probably feeling a little like this frog last week. All wide-eyed and nervous, but not to worry you made it through your first week of 7th grade!

This week in Science we will be learning the Language of Science, working with more metrics, understanding the difference between observation and inference, and taking a look at what it takes to be alive.

Monday - Finish Measurement Lab / Finish Pre-Test and Read Metrics article
Tuesday - Language of Science / Read Sec.1.1
Wednesday - What Makes things Living?
Thursday - Observation vs. Inference / Chromatography and Density Labs
Friday - Quiz over Measurement, Metrics, Lab Safety, and Language of Science / Read and finish labs

On Monday I will be collecting the Metric Conversions Worksheet and Textbook Contracts, the Language of Science Worksheet is due on Wednesday, the What is Life? Worksheet is due Friday, by Friday you should also have defined 1-9 on the Unit 1 Key Words and read pages 18 - 25 in the Textbook.

Monday 8/28 the Top Secret Observations vs. Inferences is due. Tuesday of next week, 8/29, you need to have read pages 688 - 693 and defined 10 - 15 of the Unit 1 Key Words.

QUIZ on Friday - Covers Measurement, Metrics, Lab Safety, and Language of Science

Links to Classroom Documents:

Study Guide for Quiz 1
Unit 1 Key Words

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had an exciting and restful summer! This summer I didn't take any big trips like I usually do, but I did manage to make it to St. Louis, Springfield, IL, Lake Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the Outer Banks.







We also moved into a new home in July and are still unpacking boxes.

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, and a review of lab safety and metrics. A tentative schedule for the first week includes:

Monday- Syllabus and Expectation Discussion / Begin Lab Safety
Tuesday- Lab Safety
Wednesday- Metrics
Thursday- Metrics Lab
Friday- Pre-test and Textbooks

Homework the first week?? Yes, and it's a hard assignment too...By Friday you should have a science 3-ring binder with 2 dividers (one labeled Notes/Assignments, and one labeled Tests/Quizzes). In the binder, I should be able to find your Science Syllabus, and your Lab Contract all signed by you and a parent or guardian. By Monday you should have your Metrics Practice Worksheet, your book contract turned in and your book covered.

See you in Science!

Helpful Websites for the Week:

Metrics Matter
Metric Conversions
Conversion Calculator
Metric Prefixes
Lab Safety Rules
Science Safety Zone