Gulf Oil Spill Scrapbook

As we discussed in class, the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a catastrophe for that ecosystem.

To help with our study of Ecology, I am asking that you put together a scrapbook of articles that report on what happened, what effects these events are having, and what is being done to clean up the mess.

Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. The scrapbook can be real or digital (or a combination).
2. You can add other articles that help us to make sense of what is happening. For example, you can compare this spill to other oil spills. You can also report on what this ecosystem was like before the oil spill.
3. There are awards in the following categories:
a. Most number of articles
b. Most useful and detailed scrapbook
c. Most creative

Have fun. I look forward to seeing your work.

This is due this Monday, June 7th.

Build-A-World Project - 8th grade

Here are the requirements for the Build a World Project.
Build a World Project

Remember, your final projects are due on Thursday, May 27th.

More Data Visualization - Period 5

You have done such a good job working with visualizing data. And, then, I saw that the folks at Google had developed their own tool.

So, this week, I want you to play with it and then write a two-paragraph reflection on what you did, what you learned, and what you think might make it even better.

You can work with the tool here:
Google Public Data Explorer

This work is due by Friday, May 14th.

More Data Visualization - Period 3

You have done such a good job working with visualizing data. And, then, I saw that the folks at Google had developed their own tool.

So, this week, I want you to play with it and then write a two-paragraph reflection on what you did, what you learned, and what you think might make it even better.

You can work with the tool here:
Google Public Data Explorer

This work is due by Friday, May 14th.

Dealing with Data - Part 3 - Period 3

After exploring the Many Eyes site and playing with some of its visualizations, I thought it was time for you to make your own.

Your job for this week is this:
1) Go to the Many Eyes website: Many Eyes
2) Click on the link called "Data Sets."
3) Look at a bunch (between 6 and 10) of different kinds of data sets. As before, there is a search feature, so you can find a topic that interests you, like "sports" or "pets."
4) For the data sets you liked, create a visualization, save it, and post the link here. Then tell us about them on the blog. For each: a) put the link and b)say why you picked it and what you learned by visualizing it as you did.

This is due by Friday, April 30th.

Have fun!

Dealing with Data - Part 3 - Period 5

After exploring the Many Eyes site and playing with some of its visualizations, I thought it was time for you to make your own.

Your job for this week is this:
1) Go to the Many Eyes website: Many Eyes
2) Click on the link called "Data Sets."
3) Look at a bunch (between 6 and 10) of different kinds of data sets. As before, there is a search feature, so you can find a topic that interests you, like "sports" or "pets."
4) For the data sets you liked, create a visualization, save it, and post the link here. Then tell us about them on the blog. For each: a) put the link and b)say why you picked it and what you learned by visualizing it as you did.

This is due by Friday, April 30th.

Have fun!

Cells Alive Webquest - 7th Grade

This week, you will be working with a cool website called Cells Alive to begin to explore the parts of cells and how cells manage those COLs.

Here is a link to the activity:
Cells Alive WebQuest

You job is to put it into a Word document (or GoogleDoc) and work through this. It is due by Friday April 23rd.

Have fun!

Ecology Web Quest

As we begin our study of Ecology, I want you to work through this Ecology Web Quest.

You can download it here:
Ecology Web Quest

This is going to be due by Friday, April 23rd.

Have fun!

Dealing with Data, Part 2 - Period 3

After exploring the New York Times thingee showing data on cab rides at various times of the day, many of you suggested other data you would want to "see."

IBM has put together a website called Many Eyes, which will let you do exactly that.

Your job for this week is this:
1) Go to the Many Eyes website: Many Eyes
2) Click on the link called "Visualizations."
3) Look at a bunch (between 6 and 10) of different kinds of visualizations. There is a search feature, so you can find a topic that interests you, like "sports" or "pets."
4) Pick the three you like the most. Then tell us about them on the blog. For each: a) put the link and b)say what you like about it.


Have fun!

Dealing with Data, Part 2 - Period 5

After exploring the New York Times thingee showing data on cab rides at various times of the day, many of you suggested other data you would want to "see."

IBM has put together a website called Many Eyes, which will let you do exactly that.

Your job for this week is this:
1) Go to the Many Eyes website: Many Eyes
2) Click on the link called "Visualizations."
3) Look at a bunch (between 6 and 10) of different kinds of visualizations. There is a search feature, so you can find a topic that interests you, like "sports" or "pets."
4) Pick the three you like the most. Then tell us about them on the blog. For each: a) put the link and b)say what you like about it.


Have fun!

Dealing with Data - Period 3

I found this cool article and set of graphics in the New York times. 

They used data from taxi rides to create graphics that show the behavior of taxi riders over the course of a week.

You can find it here:

Taxi Flows

Your assignment this week is to play with this data and see what you can learn from it. Then, write a brief reflection (two paragraph) that address the following questions:

1) What did you learn from the data about people's behavior or how to display data that you have collected?

2) What type of data would you like to see represented this way?

This is due by Friday, April 9th

Have fun!

Dealing with Data - Period 5

I found this cool article and set of graphics in the New York times. 

They used data from taxi rides to create graphics that show the behavior of taxi riders over the course of a week.

You can find it here:

Taxi Flows

Your assignment this week is to play with this data and see what you can learn from it. Then, write a brief reflection (two paragraph) that address the following questions:

1) What did you learn from the data about people's behavior or how to display data that you have collected?

2) What type of data would you like to see represented this way?

This is due by Friday, April 9th

Have fun!

Genetics Story Book Project - 8th Grade

I have put together the requirements for your Genetics Story Book/Comic Book Project. You can find them here:

Genetics Story Book/Comic Book Project

Please look this over carefully.

Your book is due by Wednesday, March 17th

COL Project - 7th Grade

I have put together the requirements for our COL project.

You can find them here:
Characteristics of Life Project

Please look them over carefully.

The project is due by Wednesday, March 17th. Monday, March 22nd. Friday March 26th

Have fun!

Genetic Disease Project 2010-8th Grade

I have posted a link to the requirements for the Genetic Disease Project that you working on.
You can find it here:
Genetic Disease Project 2010

This project is due by Friday, February 12th.

Adopt a Critter, Part 2 - 8th Grade

Now that you have identified your critter, it is time for us to learn more in depth about it.

So, for this week, continue to research on the traits of your organism. Focus on its genetics and learn what you can.

Please keep adding what you have learned to our Google Site.

I am expecting substantial updates by Friday, February 5th.

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!

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 - 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!