9/29 & 9/30

We continued to examine the interactions of living things & their environment today. Students completed a quickwrite warm-up in their lab notebook to start class. We then took lecture notes and practiced identifying which type of interaction was occurring in different scenarios.

Quickwrite prompt
Ecology Lecture Notes Presentation
Ecology lecture worksheet
Interactions Activity

Absent students: Complete the quickwrite in your lab notebook.  Use the presentation to complete your lecture notes worksheet. Tape your lecture notes into your lab notebook.  Make up the Interactions activity during the next flex. 

Announcements: I started passing back papers in most classes. Remember, for in-class activities everyone is working towards at least 80% proficiency. Doing additional tasks or extensions can earn you the 100% grade. If you get a stamp on the 80% line, you will get an 8/10 in the gradebook. If you want to earn a better grade, please bring your assignment in during Flex to complete the additional pieces of the assignment and I will change your grade.

9/27 & 9/28

As we begin our study of Ecology and human impacts on the environment, we read an article about lead in the water in our schools. Students completed a "3-2-1" graphic organizer as they read their article, in which they wrote down 3 facts or ideas, 2 questions they now have, and 1 conclusion or reaction they had about the article. We discussed the article with a partner, then had a whole class discussion. As a class, we brainstormed as many questions as we could about this situation that we would like answers to. These questions will be researched and the topic of lead will be used throughout our Ecology unit.

The second part of class was spent constructing hierarchies. In ecology, we frequently organize groups in order from largest to smallest, or vice-versa. Students completed an activity to construct geographical and biological hierarchies. 

Absent Students: Read the lead article and complete the 3-2-1 graphic organizer. Come in during the next flex to complete the Biological Hierarchies activity. 

3-2-1 Graphic Organizer

Lead in the water Article

Announcement: Today marks the first 6-week grading period. Teachers are entering grades today for the first progress report to be mailed home. This is not a transcripted grade, and is just a quick snap-shot of how students are doing so far. If you are missing assignments, please finish and turn them in! I am available during Flex and after school Tuesdays - Fridays until 4 p.m. 

9/23 & 9/26

We had a great field trip and saw tons of salmon on the Zig Zag river today. Thanks to those students who went on the field trip! For those students not on the field trip, we started our Ecology unit by looking at different types of interactions in ecosystems. Students read and took notes about Predator/Prey, Parasitism, Herbivory, Mutualism & Commensalism interactions. Then, with a partner,  students made a poster about one of the interactions. Absent Students: Please use a Biology textbook to complete the Interactions worksheet during Flex on Thursday or Friday this week.

Interactions Reading Worksheet

9/21 & 9/22

Today, was a work day to finish all work on microscopes. During the work time, Mrs. Polzin did 1-on-1 conferences with students to grade lab notebook assignments. As students finished and turned in their microscope labs, extension activities were available to look at pond water organisms using the microscopes. Absent students: please see Mrs. Polzin during Flex on Thursday to complete the microscope labs.

Announcements: The (optional) Salmon Watch field trip is this Friday, 9/23. I currently have 15 students signed up to go. If you are going on the field trip, please dress in layers and bring a rain coat as it can be cool in the trees. Also, please bring lunch & water. We will meet at the front of the school at 8 a.m. to load the buses and depart at 8:15. Please be on time! You do not need to check in with your 1st period teacher. I am looking forward to the field trip!

9/19 & 9/20

Today, we continued learning about using microscopes. We reviewed the parts of the microscope, how to focus and how to make a slide in listening teams. Students then used the microscope to examine the fibers of different types of fabric. For advanced proficiency, students examined fibers from a "crime scene" and three possible suspects under the microscope to see if a match could be made. Absent students, please make up this lab during Flex this week.

Announcement: Salmon Watch Field Trip Forms must be turned in by Wednesday, 9/21! I need to have at least 15 students signed up by Wednesday or the field trip will be cancelled :-(

9/15 & 9/16

Today, students collected 4 specimens from the park to observe with dissection microscopes. We discussed the scientific practice of making observations & inferences about the natural world to better understand it. Students completed the "Lab: The Diversity Around us" handout.

Announcements:  I have entered grades for the first quiz into Synergy, so you should be able to see your grade in Parent/StudentVue. We will review the quiz in class Monday/Tuesday.

Field Trip Opportunity: If you would like to go on the Salmon Watch Field trip, Friday, 9/23, please take a permission slip home to have adults sign. Then turn it in to Mrs. Polzin!

Lab: The diversity around us

9/13 & 9/14

Today, we played a Kahoot review game to review for our Quiz on Living Things, then took the quiz. After the quiz, students read about viruses and wrote a paragraph about whether they believed viruses should be classified as living or non-living. We also spent a little bit of time organizing our lab notebooks and finishing any work because lab notebooks will be graded during the next class.

If you were absent, please study your foldable and flashcards for this unit and take the quiz during Flex on Thursday or Friday this week.

Are viruses alive?
Ebola Article

9/9 & 9/12

Announcement: There will be a quiz next class on Tuesday (A-day)/Wednesday (B-day)!
Homework: Make flashcards, or a Quizlet on your phone, for the vocabulary on your stamp sheet. 

Today, we did lots of activities to wrap up our practice of the 6 characteristics of living things. Students completed a study guide Foldable, then read pages 17-19 in the textbook and took Cornell Notes. Students practiced all of the information at study stations around the classroom. Finally, we taped stamp sheets into our lab notebook that explain the activities and vocabulary for this first unit. 

There is an online copy of the textbook! Please visit this website: http://my.hrw.com
Student login = sstudent6727
Password = p2f6x

Living Things Stamp Sheet
Living Things Foldable
LT Study Stations

9/7 & 9/8

Today, students worked in pairs to complete a squid dissection in order to see if we could observe the 6 characteristics of living things in this organism.

9/2 & 9/6

Today, we went outside to observe living and non-living things in the park in order to determine what characteristics make a living thing. Students set up their Biology lab notebooks & took lecture notes on the 6 characteristics of Living Things.  Finally, all students logged in to Google Classroom to take a technology survey.
Living Things LN Outline
Living Things Power Point