5/24/10 End of Year Schedule

Today we will be working on an Ecology project for presentation tomorrow. Go to this site for instructions.

• On Tuesday June 1, 2010 we will take out final unit test on Ecology. A makeup will be posted on Castle Learning .
• On Monday and Tuesday June 7 & 8, we will take a class final test. This will include material from the entire year. It will count as a test grade for the fourth quarter. Additionally, it can count as a makeup for the midterm. If students score higher on this test than the midterm test, I will replace their midterm score with this one. There will be no makeup for this test.
• On Thursday, 5/27, we will do our final lab of the year. This will be the NYS lab on making connections.
• The Regents test is on Wednesday June 16 at noon.
  

Students that have to make up labs can use this list to help search for the actual labs in order to make up any missing lab reports. All lab reports must be turned in by June 1 and be satisfactorily done to be eligible for the Regents test. I have calculated that students may be missing up to 4 labs and still have enough lab time to take the test. Students have been notified in class as to which labs they are missing.

5/21/10 Energy Pyramids

We took the state field test in Living Environment. This is a NYS test to asses the questions that will be used on future Living Environment Regents tests. It is not scored for a class grade.

Students that have to make up labs can use this list to help search for the actual labs in order to make up any missing lab reports. All lab reports must be turned in by June 1 and be satisfactorily done to be eligible for the Regents test. I have calculated that students may be missing up to 4 labs and still have enough lab time to take the test. Students have been notified in class as to which labs they are missing.

Notes for the unit, Populations & Communities, are available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing.
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing.
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 41 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 11 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on Populations & Communities unit.

Homework

• Students should complete for Monday:

1.

1. Observe a system that includes living things.
-Backyard
-Pond
-Aquarium/terrarium
2. Construct a diagram to show the relationships between the living and non-living things.
At least 12 things must be listed, with at least 3 abiotic

• Finish the worksheet on Populations & Communities. This workshet will be due on Monday 5/24.
  
• Continue to enter data for the long term data collection project.
• The final May project is online. You are required to do one of the two projects, each month. If you do both projects you can get credit. This must be completed by Tuesday 6/1.

5/17/10 Biomes

We went over the first of four sections of the Ecology unit as we discussed biomes.

Notes for the unit, Ecology , are available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing.
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing.
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 111 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 17 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on the Ecology unit.

Students that have to make up labs can use this list to help search for the actual labs in order to make up any missing lab reports. All lab reports must be turned in by June 1 and be satisfactorily done to be eligible for the Regents test. I have calculated that students may be missing up to 4 labs and still have enough lab time to take the test. Students have been notified in class as to which labs they are missing.

Notes for the unit, Populations & Communities, are available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing.
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing.
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 41 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 11 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on Populations & Communities unit.

Homework

• The worksheet on Ecology is due on Wednesday, 5/19.
• Begin the worksheet on Populations & Communities. This workshet will be due on Monday 5/24.
  
• Continue to enter data for the long term data collection project.
• Students should read and review the section on evolution in their review books. They should answer the question in the back of the unit "Questions for Regents Practice" p 92 - 96. This is due on Friday 5/21.
  
• The first May project is online. You are required to do one of the two projects, each month. If you do both projects you can get credit. This must be completed by Tuesday 5/18.

5/14/10 Ecology

We are doing the Ecology unit. Notes for the unit, Ecology , are available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing.
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing.
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 111 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 17 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on the Ecology unit.

Students that have to make up labs can use this list to help search for the actual labs in order to make up any missing lab reports. All lab reports must be turned in by June 1 and be satisfactorily done to be eligible for the Regents test. I have calculated that students may be missing up to 4 labs and still have enough lab time to take the test. Students have been notified in class as to which labs they are missing.

Homework

• The worksheet on Ecology is due on Wednesday, 5/19.
  
• Continue to enter data for the long term data collection project.
• The first May project is online. You are required to do one of the two projects, each month. If you do both projects you can get credit. This must be completed by Tuesday 5/18.

5/13/10 Medicine Man

Today we started watching the movie "Medicine Man" starring Sean Connery. This movie is an excellent portrayal of the interactions of man and the environment and directly applies to many of the concepts that we will be addressing in the Ecology section.

This is a list of the labs that we have done, to date. Students that have to make up labs can use this list to help search for the actual labs in order to make up any missing lab reports. All lab reports must be turned in by June 1 and be satisfactorily done to be eligible for the Regents test. I have calculated that students may be missing up to 4 labs and still have enough lab time to take the test. Students have been notified in class as to which labs they are missing.

Egg Osmo = Egg Osmosis lab

Skin Cel = Skin Cell Lab

Diff Mem = Diffusion through a Membrane

Elodea = L Elodea leaf cells

Enzyme = Lab Enzymes & Jello

Pulse & = Lab Pulse & Respiration

Blood Ce = Lab Blood Cells

Reaction = Reaction Time

L T/TSH = Lab thyroxine feedback simulation

Reflex = Reflex arc lab

Urine = Urine analysis lab

Infec = Simulating infection epidemic

PPt Imm = Powerpoint Immunity

Flipbook = Mitosis flipbook

Mitosis = Microscopic mitosis

Mit Mei = Mitosis & meiosis table simulation

Flower = Flower dissection

Visembry = Visembryo

DNA Ori = DNA origami

DNA Stra = Extracting DNA from strawberry

Mend Gen = Mendelian Genetics Coin toss

Pedig = Pedigree

Karyo = Karyotypine simulation

Blood Ty = Simulated Blood Typing

Rel&Bio = Relationships & biodiversity Pt1

5/12/10 Ecology

Today we will start the ecology unit. This is the last section of material we will cover this year.
For today we will be working on a data sheet in class. You should use the Internet to fill out the information and bring it into class for a reference. It is important that you find correct answers and do not merely fill in something to make it look like you did something.
The sheet has six categories that you should fill out for each of seven biomes:
Rainfall is the average amount of rain per year and whether the environment is wet/dry or intermediate
Sunlight is the way light fluctuates throughout the year. Everywhere on Earth averages about 12 hours of sun per day, but some locations have about the same, each day, all year long and some vary considerably.
Temperature; again you should note the way temperatures vary throughout the year and if there are daily fluctuations.
Soil conditions refers to whether the soil is rich (good for growing) or poor (bad for growing). You might be surprised be some of these findings.
Fauna means the kinds of animals that are characteristically found in the area.
Flora means the kinds of plants that are characteristically found in the area.

5/10/10 Tests Returned

The Genetics & Inheritance tests were returned today and the labs on Relationships & Biodiversity were collected.

The makeup for the Genetics & Inheritance test is online. Log into Castle Learning to take the test. students have until class time on Monday, 5/17, to complete this test. If you score 80% or above and higher on this than your Genetics & Inheritance test, both of your grades will be averaged to give you your final grade.

We will continue the Biotechnology unit. Notes for the unit, Biotechnology , are be available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
  
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 16 MB) format.
• Worksheet on the Biotechnology unit. This worksheet must be completed for Wednesday, 5/12.

Homework

• Continue to enter data for the long term data collection project.
• The first May project is online. You are required to do one of the two projects, each month. If you do both projects you can get credit. This must be completed by Sunday 5/2.

5/6/10 Field trip today, Test Friday

Today, most students will go on a field trip to RPI and the Albany Museum
Friday - Take the test on Genetics & Inheritance

Students that don't go on the trip have several options. They can choose to review for the test with resources outlined below, or they can do a makeup assignment to get participation credit for the missed field trip. For the makeup they should go to the Albany Museum site and pick three of the exhibits that you choose to write on. You may pick from any current or ongoing exhibits. You will then write a 250 word review of three different articles. This must be in your own handwriting to recieve credit. If you submit a typed paper, no matter how complete, you will not receive credit. You should write about the exhibits, not only as it is described on the museum site, but you should look up additional information about this material. You must site at least two sources for each of the three exhibits you write about. This will be due on Monday, 5/10.

We have finished the Human Genetics & Inheritance unit. Notes for the unit, Human Genetics & Inheritance, are available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 16 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 4 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on the Human Genetics & Inheritance unit.
  

We will finished the Inheritance unit. Notes for the unit, Inheritance, are available in several formats:

• Color notes with 2 slides per page, large format for viewing
• 6 slides per page in B&W, for economical printing
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
  
• The entire PowerPoint with all media and a viewer in compressed (approx 8 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 10 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on the Inheritance unit.

5/4/10 Genetics & Inheritance test coming

This week we will:
Tuesday - review for the test on Friday Students may select from the materials listed below to review in class, or on their own. I recommend using the textbook links to enhance the material. The worksheets are also a good place to work on review. It is important that you have correct answers to these questions. If you are going to study from the worksheets, make sure your answers are correct. Additionally, these sites may be useful:

Genetics Worksheet – Types of Inheritance

Using karyotypes to predict genetic disorder with animations

Genetically Inherited Human Disorders
Genetics Basics

Wednesday - Finish the chemical tests from the Relationships & Biodiversity Lab
Thursday - Go on the field trip to RPI and the Albany Museum
Friday - Take the test on Genetics & Inheritance

We have finished the Human Genetics & Inheritance unit. Notes for the unit, Human Genetics & Inheritance, are available in several formats:

• Notes 2 slides per page in color, large format for viewing
• 6 slides per page in black and white, for economical printing
• The entire presentation, with the media and a viewer in compressed (approx 16 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 4 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on the Human Genetics & Inheritance unit.
  

We will finished the Inheritance unit. Notes for the unit, Inheritance, are available in several formats:

• Color notes with 2 slides per page, large format for viewing
• 6 slides per page in B&W, for economical printing
• 3 slides per page in black & white with room for notes on one side.
  
• The entire PowerPoint with all media and a viewer in compressed (approx 8 MB) format.
• Link to a textbook for the current unit (approx 10 MB)that follows the course presented in class.
• Worksheet on the Inheritance unit.