Welcome 7th Grade Life Science Students!

Welcome to OJHS 7th graders! It is sure to be an exciting and dynamic year of science!

Please take a couple of minutes to familiarize yourself with the class website. Notice the calendar where you can find up-to-date information about homework, projects, tests and quizzes. Also take a look at some of the links I have provided to help you explore your own interests in Life Science and study the topics we are covering in class.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to most effectively use this site feel free to contact me via email, phone or by leaving a comment at the end of this post.

I look forward to getting to know all of you as the brilliant scientists you are! Its going to be a great year.

~ Mrs Koessler

Cell Processes

Day 16: Wednesday, 12/23 Photosynthesis quiz

Day 15: Quiz review
Finish photosynthesis labs

Day 14: Finish discussion of photosynthesis: why do leaves change color and van Helmont's experience
Due tomorrow: Complete review questions and definitions 5-10

Day 13:Continue discussion of photosynthesis: pigments and light capture
Continue photosynthesis lab

Day 12: Begin photosynthesis lab

Day 11: Photosynthesis: energy from sunlight

Day 10: Discuss photosynthesis: ingredients and products
Due tomorrow: Review questions 1-4

Day 9: Begin discussion of photosynthesis- parts of the plant involved

Day 8: Cell Transport Quiz
Work on completion of osmosis lab analysis and graph

Day 7: Finish discussion of cell transport, class drawings of the mechanisms of diffusion, osmosis, protein pumps and engulfing. Review for quiz

Day 6: Discuss active transport in the cell and work collectively on data analysis graph

Day 5: Continue osmosis discussion and work on diffusion worksheet and osmosis lab analysis

Day 4: Discuss Osmosis, the movement of water across the cell membrane
Work on analysis of osmosis lab

Day 3: Discuss Diffusion as a means of transporting material in and out of the cell
Continue work on osmosis lab

Day 2: Review Cell Anatomy Test and continue work on the osmosis lab
Test Corrections due Tuesday 12/1: mandatory for anyone who did not pass the test

Day 1: Begin discussion of the cell membrane and how it functions
Begin Osmosis of a Chicken Egg Lab

The Cell Unit

Day 17: 11/20 Cell test

Day 16: 11/19 Class review on the structures and functions of the cell and cell theory

Day 15: 11/18 Cell Memory review game and class work completing cell review sheet

Day 14: 11/17 Discuss structure and function of the mitochondria, chloroplast, golgi bodies and cytoskeleton
Begin work on cell review sheet - Due Thursday
Day 13: 11/16 Discuss the structure and function of the lysosome and vacuole
Review cell math worksheet

Day 12: 11/12 Presentations on cell organelles and construction of ceiling cell

Day 11: 11/11 Construction of cell organelles - BRING YOUR MATERIALS!

Day 10: 11/10 Continue computer research on chosen organelle for cells on the ceiling project

Day 9: 11/9 Introduce Cells on the ceiling project and begin computer research
Project and Presentations due Thursday

Day 8: 11/06 Continue discussion of cell organelles: nucleus, chromosomes, nucleolus
Work on completion of microscope lab
Cellular mathematics worksheet - due Monday

Day 7: 11/05 Began discussion of the structure and function of the organelles of the cell: Cell wall, cell membrane, and cytoplasm
Viewed cheek cells under the microscope

Day 6: 11/04 Continued work on microscope lab

Day 5: 11/03 Discuss the scientists who contributed to the cell theory, identify the postulates of the cell theory, begin Using the microscope lab

Day 4: 11/02 Review the structure and function of the microscope and take microscope quiz

Day 3: 10/28 Continue work on Microscope Lab Microscope quiz on Monday

Day 2: 10/27 Begin work on Microscope Lab: Investigating the Anatomy of a Microscope

Day 1: 10/26 Began discussion of Chapter 3: What is a cell? Who discovered cells?

Intro to Life Science and Scientific Method

9/30/09
Today in class we discussed measuring length in the metric system
Began length lab

9/29/09
NWEA testing - no class

9/28/09
Today in class we discussed the metric system and how to convert units in the metric system
Worked on metric mania conversion practice

9/25/09
Today in class we worked on creating posters for our chosen lab safety rule
Posters due Monday 9/28

9/24/09
Today in class reviewed lab safety rules and procedures and worked on lab safety assessment activity

9/23/09
Reviewed and corrected sci method quiz and we began work on lab safety
- Due Thursday: Read pg 29-30 and answer questions 1-3 on pg 30

9/22/09
Scientific Method Quiz

9/21/09
Today in class we reviewed the scientific method in preparation for the quiz tomorrow

9/18/09
Today in class we worked on data analysis of thumb war data
- Due Monday: Pick either the sci method crossword puzzle or simpson's review to do for Monday
- Quiz on scientific method Tuesday

9/17/09
Today in class we continued to work on our thumb war labs and practiced identifying variables and writing hypotheses.

9/16/09
Today in class we began work on scientific method lab: Thumb War Champions

9/15/09
Today in class we discussed variables: independent and dependent and learned how to write hypotheses in an if-then format

Arthropods

Today in class we discussed the common characteristics that all arthropods share.
Discussed characteristics of crustaceans

Introduced arthropod diversity mobile project - began research

Next Friday:
Bring art materials to construct your mobile in class