Saturday, January 30, 2010

DNA Essay Content- 8th Grade

As I mentioned in class, an organization is sponsoring a DNA Essay Contest.

Here's a link to the rules, regulations and prizes(!):
DNA Essay Contest

Friday, January 29, 2010

Adopt a Critter Project - Next Steps - 8th Grade

The next step in the Adopt a Critter Project is to post your findings (so far) to the Google Site we have set up. You will need to sign into your school Google account to be able to do this.

You can find it here:
Adopt a Critter Project

By Monday, please post what you have discovered so far.

Fantastic Voyage Essay - 7th Grade



Your essay on Fantastic Voyage is due on Monday, January 25th.
You can find the requirements here:
Fantastic Voyage Essay

Have fun!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Test Corrections

If you are planning on turning in corrections to our last test, here's what you do:
1. For each question you got wrong, you explain why your answer was wrong.
2. Then, indicate the correct answer.
3. Lastly, explain why the correct answer is correct.

In order for you to get credit for these corrections, YOU MUST do the corrections on separate paper and attach them to your test.

I will accept these by Monday.

Adopt a Critter Project - 8th Grade

Genetics Project -- Adopt a Critter

Overview
As we study genetics, you are going to become an expert on one particular living thing. As we work through how traits are passed on, you are going to continue to research how these things happen in your "critter."

The Project
1. Choose an organism that is mostly unknown to you.
2. Do some research about that organism. You are trying to answer questions like:
a. What are some of its key traits?
b. What are the variations of those traits?

As you work, keep track of your research. We will be working on this for a while.

For Monday, you will come in with:
a. The name of the organism.
b. A picture of your critter.
c. At least two traits and their variations.

Here are two resources that you might find useful:
Encyclopedia of Life
Tree of Life Web Project
If you find others that are good, please post them here.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Weekly Report #6 - Cool Traits - Period 6


We are just beginning to look at how traits are passed from parent to offspring.

Your mission this week is to do some work about cool, unusual, or especially threatening traits that are passed from parent to offspring.

Please do some research, then share what you find with us here.

Have fun!

Weekly Report #6 - Cool Traits - Period 1


We are just beginning to look at how traits are passed from parent to offspring.

Your mission this week is to do some work about cool, unusual, or especially threatening traits that are passed from parent to offspring.

Please do some research, then share what you find with us here.

Have fun!

Weekly Report #6 - A Cool Chemical Reaction - Period 5



This week, fellow scientists, your blog assignment is find a super cool chemical reaction, learn a little bit about it, and share it with all of us.

Have fun! Be creative! Find weird reactions!

Weekly Report #6 - A Cool Chemical Reaction - Period 3



This week, fellow scientists, your blog assignment is find a super cool chemical reaction, learn a little bit about it, and share it with all of us.

Have fun! Be creative! Find weird reactions!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Study Guide - Atoms and Molecules

The study guide for your test on Friday is done.

You can get it here:
Atoms and Molecules Study Guide

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Bear Cam

If you go this site:

You will see a bear in its habitat, 24/7.
 
From Lily the Black Bear's facebook page:
 
"Lily the Black Bear is part of a long-term research project run by the North American Bear Center (http://bear.org) and the Wildlife Research Institute (http://bearstudy.org) out of Ely, Minnesota."

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Reproduction Study Guide - 8th Grade



I have put together a study guide to help you prepare for our test on Reproduction.

You can find it here:
Ardito Reproduction Study Guide

Please see me if you have any questions.

Weekly Report # 5 - Dealing with Data - Period 3



On Sunday, there was an article in the New York Times which displays a lot of data about what DVDs are in people's NetFlix queues in various parts of the country.
You can find the article here:
A Peak into Netflix Queues

Your job this week is to do two things:
1. Play with this data and see what trends you can find. Write about what you find here.
2. Find some other interesting displays of data on the web and share at least one of them here.

Both of these things are due by Friday.

Have fun!

Weekly Report #5 - Dealing with Data - Period 5



On Sunday, there was an article in the New York Times which displays a lot of data about what DVDs are in people's NetFlix queues in various parts of the country.
You can find the article here:
A Peak into Netflix Queues

Your job this week is to do two things:
1. Play with this data and see what trends you can find. Write about what you find here.
2. Find some other interesting displays of data on the web and share at least one of them here.

Both of these things are due by Friday.

Have fun!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Visible Embryo Lab

Here is a link to the lab we are doing:
Visible Embryo Lab

Remember, the lab is due on Tuesday, January 12th.

Have fun!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Cool Ant Colony Video

This video is amazing!
(thanks, Ben).


Giant Ant Colony is a World Wonder - Watch more Funny Videos

Do TV Products Work?

Alex passed along this article in the NY Post about a magazine called Consumer Reports investigated the claims of products advertised on TV.

Check it out:
TV's Late Night Schlock Market

Enjoy!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Weekly Science Article Report #4 - Period 5

With the New Year comes New Challenges.

This week you are going to do your first Weekly Science Article Report of the New Year. The guidelines are the same with one exception:
You MUST choose your article from a website called Science News. This site publishes articles about all kinds of science, so pick what you like. You can get to the site here:
Science News

And, as a reminder:
For a reminder, here's what to do for this assignment:
1) Citation: Here you will put the name of the article, the author, and where you found it (for example, the New York Times or Science News for Kids).
2) A brief summary: Here you will summarize the article in one or two sentences. This is to give your readers (including me) a sense of what you have read.
3) Reflection: This is the biggest part of your report. I am interested in your response to the article. Please address the following questions in your reflection:
a) What did you think about the article? Did you like it or not? Why?
b) What interested you or surprised you about the article?
c) What questions do you have about what you read? What would you like to know more about what you’ve read?
4) Comments. You are going to comment on the work of at least three other students.

All of this is due by Friday.
Have fun!

Weekly Science Article Report #4 - Period 3

With the New Year comes New Challenges.

This week you are going to do your first Weekly Science Article Report of the New Year. The guidelines are the same with one exception:
You MUST choose your article from a website called Science News. This site publishes articles about all kinds of science, so pick what you like. You can get to the site here:
Science News

And, as a reminder:
For a reminder, here's what to do for this assignment:
1) Citation: Here you will put the name of the article, the author, and where you found it (for example, the New York Times or Science News for Kids).
2) A brief summary: Here you will summarize the article in one or two sentences. This is to give your readers (including me) a sense of what you have read.
3) Reflection: This is the biggest part of your report. I am interested in your response to the article. Please address the following questions in your reflection:
a) What did you think about the article? Did you like it or not? Why?
b) What interested you or surprised you about the article?
c) What questions do you have about what you read? What would you like to know more about what you’ve read?
4) Comments. You are going to comment on the work of at least three other students.

All of this is due by Friday.
Have fun!

Weekly Science Article Report #4 - Period 6

With the New Year comes New Challenges.

This week you are going to do your first Weekly Science Article Report of the New Year. The guidelines are the same with one exception:
You MUST choose your article from a website called Science News Daily. This site publishes articles about all kinds of science, so pick what you like. You can get to the site here:
Science News Daily


And, as a reminder:
For a reminder, here's what to do for this assignment:
1) Citation: Here you will put the name of the article, the author, and where you found it (for example, the New York Times or Science News for Kids).
2) A brief summary: Here you will summarize the article in one or two sentences. This is to give your readers (including me) a sense of what you have read.
3) Reflection: This is the biggest part of your report. I am interested in your response to the article. Please address the following questions in your reflection:
a) What did you think about the article? Did you like it or not? Why?
b) What interested you or surprised you about the article?
c) What questions do you have about what you read? What would you like to know more about what you’ve read?
4) Comments. You are going to comment on the work of at least three other students.

All of this is due by Friday.
Have fun!

Weekly Science Article Report #4 - Period 1

With the New Year comes New Challenges.

This week you are going to do your first Weekly Science Article Report of the New Year. The guidelines are the same with one exception:
You MUST choose your article from a website called Science News Daily. This site publishes articles about all kinds of science, so pick what you like. You can get to the site here:
Science News Daily


And, as a reminder:
For a reminder, here's what to do for this assignment:
1) Citation: Here you will put the name of the article, the author, and where you found it (for example, the New York Times or Science News for Kids).
2) A brief summary: Here you will summarize the article in one or two sentences. This is to give your readers (including me) a sense of what you have read.
3) Reflection: This is the biggest part of your report. I am interested in your response to the article. Please address the following questions in your reflection:
a) What did you think about the article? Did you like it or not? Why?
b) What interested you or surprised you about the article?
c) What questions do you have about what you read? What would you like to know more about what you’ve read?
4) Comments. You are going to comment on the work of at least three other students.

All of this is due by Friday.
Have fun!