Winter Break Assignment

Over break students should be working on the construction of their science fair project boards. For a copy of the science fair board assignment, click here
Science fair boards due: Thursday, January 8th
Science fair: January 14th

Science Fair Review

Today in class we:
Went over all the requirements for science fair projects
Reviewed old projects and critiqued them according to grading criteria

Science Fair Final Papers due in ONE WEEK - Dec 8

- Find Final Paper Checklist on sidebar

Homework:
Bring all science fair materials to class on Wednesday

Seeds and seed dispersal

Today in class we discussed
- The use of pollen and seeds in plant reproduction
- The structure of seeds
- Methods of seed dispersal


Homework:
Finish science projects over Thanksgiving break and work on final paper! Due December 8th

Seed Plants

Today in class we:
- Handed back plant intro tests
- Began discussion of seed plants
- Worked on vacuole lab

Stomata Lab and Plant Review

Do Now:
Describe the role of each of the following plant structures:
- Chloroplast
- Vacuole
- Roots
- Stomata

Today in class:
Reviewed material for test on Tuesday
Began Observations of Stomata lab

Homework due Tuesday
- Intro to Plants Review Sheet
- Intro to Plants Note Sheet

Ongoing: Work on your science fair projects!

The Photosynthesis Equation

Do Now:
What ingredients do plants need to undergo photosynthesis? WHere do they get these ingredients?

Today in class we:
- Discussed the photosynthesis equation
- Reviewed checkpoint for science fair. To be included in science fair folder on Friday:

• Most recent and complete proposal (this is now turning into your rough draft for your final paper)
• Data from any experimentation you have conducted, preliminary analysis and conclusion statements
• IF NO EXPERIMENTATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED YOU MUST INCLUDE A TIMELINE FOR YOUR EXPERIMENT THAT INCLUDES START AND END DATES, MATERIALS YOU NEED TO GATHER, LOCATION YOU WILL BE EXPERIMENTING IN.

Homework due Friday:
- Photosynthesis worksheets
- Checkpoint for science fair

The Chemistry of Photosynthesis

Today in class we:
- Discussed how photosynthesis works, what ingredients are involved, and the byproducts that are produced.
- Completed and discussed chromotography lab
- Worked on photosynthesis worksheets

Homework due Wednesday:
Photosynthesis worksheets

Chromotography Lab

Today in class we:
- Discussed the roles of the pigments chlorophyll a and b, carotene, and xanophyll in the process of photosynthesis.
- Continued work on chromotography lab

Chromotography Lab

Today in class we:
- Discussed the light spectrum and how plants use chemicals called pigments to absorb sun's energy
- Began chromotography lab

Homework:
Complete Plant Kingdom/Desert Adaptation worksheets

Plant Adaptations to Life on Land

Do Now:
How are plants classified? List the two types of plants, what characteristic is used to classify these plants.

Today in class we:
- Discussed adaptations plants have to sustain life on land

• Water aquisition and retention
• Support
• Reproduction

Homework: due Friday
- Plant Kingdom worksheet and Desert Adaptation worksheet

Introduction to Plants

Do Now:
What characteristics do plants need to survive on land?

Today in class we:
- Reviewed classification test
- Began unit on plants:

• Characteristics of plants: Autotrophs, multicellular, plant cells
• Classification of plants: Nonvascular, Vascular: Gymnosperms, Angiosperms, Seedless Vascular Plants

Homework:
Read Chapter 4 Section 1, Answer questions 1-4 at the end of section 1 as well as the data analysis questions in the section

Classification of Living Things

Do Now:
List the cell type, cell number, and means of obtaining food for the four kingdoms in the domain eukarya

Today in class we:
- Reviewed characteristics of the domains and kingdoms
- Began work on animal classification lab

Homework due Thursday:
- Classification Unit Review - test on Thursday!
- Animal classification lab extra credit due Thursday

Classification of Living Things

Today in class we:
Handed back and discussed science fair proposals - Revisions due October 17th if not sooner!
Reviewed pg 24 homework
Discussed characteristics used to classify organisms:

• Cell Type: Prokaryote vs Eukaryote
• Cell Number: Unicellular vs Multicellular
• Acquisition of food: Autotroph vs Heterotroph

Worked on classifying alien creature activity

Classification

How do you organize information? What aspects of your life do you organize, how do you do it?

Today in class we:
Returned and reviewed retake test
Began discussion of classification systems

• Classification and taxonomy
• Carolus Linneaus and Binomial nomenclature
  

Cell Retake Test

Today in class we:
Reviewed the anatomy of the cell using cell memory game
Retook the cell portion of the test

Science Fair Proposal

Today in class we:
- Handed back and reviewed cell anatomy tests

• All students will be retaking the last page of the test together in class on Monday

- Worked on science fair proposals in computer lab


Due MONDAY:
- Test corrections on a separate sheet of paper
- Science Fair Proposal
- ALL MISSING WORK DUE BY 3:00pm

Cell Anatomy and Microscope Test

Today in class we took a test on cell anatomy and microscope anatomy and use


For Thursday: Come to class prepared to work on science fair proposal

Review of the cell

Do Now:
List the organelles of the cell that are involved in Energy, Storage, Transport, and Construction/Structure

Today in class we:
- Reviewed the structure and function of the organelles of the cell
- Reviewed microscope parts and uses
- Handed out and discussed Science Fair Project Proposals (find copy on sidebar) - Due Sept 29

Organelles of the Cell

Today in class we:
Continued discussion of the organelles of the cell
Worked on cell review sheet


Homework:
- Complete the section review at the end of Chapter 1 Section 2 pg 24

Inside the Cell

Today in class we:
- Began discussion of the organelles that compose cells
* Cell wall and cell membrane
* Nucleus, nucleolus, chromatin, nuclear envelope


Continued work in the lab on introductory microscope use

Cell Theory

Today in class we:
Discussed the cell theory and the contributions of Schleiden, Schwann and Virchow
Began work on Using Microscope Lab
Turned in Anatomy of Microscope Lab Worksheet and Quiz

Microscope Quiz

Today in class we:
Reviewed the anatomy of a compound microscope and took a quiz on its parts
Began work on writing hypothesis for science fair project

Due Thursday:
Hypothesis and resources for science fair project - see handout on links bar

Introduction to Microscopes

Do Now:
Name two scientists who contributed to our knowledge of the cell.

Today in class we:
Discussed science fair topic ideas
Discussed compound microscopes, magnification, resolution
Worked on Anatomy of Microscopes Lab


Homework
Study for anatomy of microscope lab quiz

Introduction to the cell

Do Now:

Homer notices that his shower is covered in a strange green slime. His friend Barney tells him that coconut juice will get rid of the green slime. Homer decides to check this this out by spraying half of the shower with coconut juice. He sprays the other half of the shower with water. After 3 days of "treatment" there is no change in the appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower.

1.1. What was Homer’s observation?

2.Identify the Control Group

3. Independent Variable

4. Dependent Variable

5.What should Homer's conclusion be?

Today in class we:
Turned in old text books and received Cells and Heredity textbooks
Began discussion of cells, and first observers of cells
Worked on graphing activity: The mass of different dog breeds

Homework: Due Friday
Complete graphing activity, analysis and conclusion statements

Introduction to Science Fair Project

Today in class we:
- reviewed the components of the science fair project and set due dates for each part
- worked in the computer lab researching potential ideas for science fair project


Due Wednesday:
1. Signed science fair letter
2. Completed project brainstorm worksheet with science fair topic idea.

Organize!

Today in class we:
- Made corrections to Scientific Methods Test
- Prepared our binders for Thursday's Binder Check; students should have the following items in their binders, organized into the appropriate section to be handed in on Thursday
* Do Nows
* Metric Mania and Volume Lab
* Hypothesis Writing Activity
* M&M Lab
* Scientific Method Review

Also due in class on Thursday:
3 possible topic ideas for science fair project

Quiz Day

Today in class, we took a quiz on the Scientific Method. It wasn't an easy quiz, but I was generally pleased with how the class performed on it. For many students the process of thinking scientifically is an entirely new concept, but most are grasping it well. We will continue to stress this concept throughout the school year, until it becomes second nature.

Homework: If you are considering doing a science fair project this year, think of three topics you would like to investigate - and bring them to class on Tuesday. Ms. Virkus will help you choose a topic and get you started on your project.

Quiz Review Session

Today in class we finished reviewing the material for our Scientific Method quiz. The students discussed scientific questions, came up with hypotheses, identified experimental variables, analyzed data, and wrote concluding statements. We also discussed possible ideas for their science fair projects. The 7th grade class is full of inquisitive students, hopefully their science fair projects will be a way for them to scientifically answer some of the many questions they ask me every class period.

Homework: Study for the quiz!

Scientific Method Review begins, and a Volume measurement lab

Today in class we reviewed most of the steps of the scientific method. Many of the students are now able to define the different steps from memory. We will continue to review in more detail on Wednesday, in preparation for a quiz on Friday. In the second half of the class period, we moved across the hall to the lab room and reviewed how to measure water volumes. The students calculated the average number of drops that make one mL, and used displacement of water to determine the volume of marbles. Finally, they calculated the volume of a rectangular solid by measuring its three sides and multiplying them.

Homework: Use your book and notes to finish the review sheets that you were given, and come to class with any questions you may have concerning the material we have covered up to this point in the school year.

More of the scientific method

Today in class, we spent most of our time getting a handle on all the parts of the scientific method. We worked on a couple different exercises in class that strengthened our knowledge of this topic. We also discussed the different ways in which tables, graphs, and charts present data and the advantages of visual presentation.

Lab review and Leonardo da Vinci

Today in class we reviewed our findings from the M&Ms lab, and determined that a large enough sample size would have produced an equal percentage of each color of M&Ms, on average. We also reviewed the material in Section 1-1, the characteristics and needs of all living things. Finally, we did an in-class exercise where we wrote backwards and with our opposite hands. The students came up with some great hypotheses as to why Leonardo da Vinci wrote backwards from right to left!

Homework: Read section 1-2 for next class.

Common characteristics of living things, and how to test a hypothesis

Today in class we talked about what all living things have in common, and what all living things need to survive. These topics are in Chapter 1, section 1 of your textbooks, and we will be discussing this section in greater detail on Monday. We also learned how to test a hypothesis and gather data by doing an in-class exercise using M&Ms! Educational and tasty!

Homework: Review section 1-1 in your textbooks, and answer the writeup questions on the back of today's lab exercise. We will review our findings on Monday.

An Introduction to the Scientific Method

Today in class we reviewed the steps of the scientific method, with particular emphasis on the first two steps. Students learned what a hypothesis is, and about independent, dependent, and control variables. Afterwards, they completed an exercise that reinforced their knowledge of this material.

Homework: Read section 1-1 in your textbooks and be ready to discuss the Section Assessment questions for Thursday.

The Beginning of Life...Science

Aloha students and parents, and welcome to 7th Grade Life Science! Today in class we all got to know each other and reviewed the syllabus and class rules. We also gave out textbooks, reviewed the basics of the Scientific Method, and started a worksheet on the Metric System of measurement.

Homework: Over the weekend, parents and students should both read and sign the letter that was distributed in class today. Also, check the syllabus and make sure that you have all the binder and divider materials required for this class. In addition, you need to put a cover on your book over the weekend. This is your first homework grade and should be an easy way to earn a few points!

Mahalo,
Mr. Eric Haskins (substitute for Ms. Virkus until August 25)

Welcome Back Students

Welcome Cardinals to the 2008-2009 School Year.
Check the sidebar for syllabus and introduction letter.