11/28 & 11/29

Today we began our Biochemistry unit. We took lecture notes on remembering some basic chemistry, then made models of molecules using Play-dough that we made from scratch.

Absent Students: Copy the lecture notes from a friend or the power point below. Make up the Play-dough Lab during Flex this week, or after school Tuesday - Thursday.

Chemistry Reminder power point
Chemistry Lecture outline
Play-dough Molecules Lab

11/21 & 11/22

Today we played a Kahoot! then followed it up with our Organelle Quiz! Following the quiz, students took the Biochemistry Survey as a pre-assessment for our upcoming Biochemistry unit that will start after Thanksgiving. Following that, we completed the notes packet to add information about Endosymbiotic Theory, or how organelles may have entered Prokaryotic cells to form the earliest Eukaryotic cells. Lastly, we used the microscopes to look at different Protists. They were fun to see swimming around. See below for some photos of Protists.

Absent students: Study then come take your Organelle Quiz! Complete the Biochemistry Survey with Mrs. Polzin or Mrs. Yee. Copy the end of the lecture notes from a friend. The Protist lab was for fun and you do not need to make this up.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Volvox

Euglena

Organelle quiz next class!

Students have a study guide and their blue & white "magic" foldable. Study the 16 organelles and their job or function. Practice the labeling on the study guide. If you are missing the organelle functions, check out the power point below. For extra fun, check out the Crash Course video on cells!

Organelle study guide
Organelles power point

Answer Key for Study Guide labeling:

11/17 & 11/18

Today we delved into Origin of Life theory, or how could the earliest cells have possibly formed on Earth 3.5 billion years ago? While this information will not be on a quiz, it is pretty fascinating the learn about. To this end, we took some notes and watched a video clip that examined Origin of Life theories.

Origin of Cells Power point
Origin of Cells lecture notes

Announcement: There will be a quiz on the cell organelles next class! Students received a study guide. You should use your blue & white foldable to practice the 16 organelles and the jobs they do.

Organelles study guide

11/15 & 11/16

Kidney cells (400x)

Today, we completed lecture notes that compared Plant vs. Animal cells. We then completed a microscope lab. Students looked at their cheek cells, as well as other Eukaryotic cell slides (plants, animals, protists & fungus). They compared them to Prokaryotic bacteria cell slides. Labs were completed in class and turned in.

Insect wing (100x)

Ecology tests were passed back so students could see how they did. I reviewed the test, showed examples of strong answers, and we discussed study strategies. We also talked about the recent election in class. See the Grant HS website for activities this week that continue to support our equity work.

Homework: The organelle foldable should be complete with 16 organelles on the outside and definitions/functions on the inside. Start studying! There will be a quiz Monday/Tuesday.

Absent Students: Please copy the lecture notes from the power point. Come in during Flex or after school to make up the microscope lab.

11/8 & 11/14

Today we started class with a quickwrite in our lab notebooks: How are bacteria cells different from animal cells? Following this, we took lecture notes to identify and compare Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic cells. Students then began a microscope lab to survey eukaryotic (plants/animals) and prokaryotic (bacteria) cells. 

Absent students = Please copy pages 1-2 of lecture notes. Plan on making up microscope lab during flex or Wed - Fri after school. 

Different types of cells power point

Different types of cells lecture worksheet

Announcements: Ecology tests have been entered into Synergy. We will spend time reviewing the test in class. If you did not do your best, please plan on retaking the test during Flex or after school. If you would like a closer look at your test come see me!

Organelle Foldable Homework

We made a foldable in class with 16 spaces. On each of the blue & white squares, list one of the organelles from the organelle coloring station notes. Write the definition, or function, for each organelle in the secret-center of your foldable. I will check these off in class next week!

Organelle Stations worksheet

Parent Conferences!

This week is parent conferences! Teachers will be available Wednesday (11/9) and Thursday (11/10). The schedule for Grant's conferences is below. In addition, I will be unavailable on Thursday from 12:30 -2, as I will be attending my children's conferences. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

• Parent/teacher conferences 
  • 8:15 – 11:30                Conferences
  • 11:30 – 12:15               Lunch Break
  • 12:15 – 4:30                Conferences
  • 4:30 – 5:30                  Dinner Break
  • 5:30 – 8:00                  Conferences

Thursday, November 10, 2016

• Parent/teacher conferences
• 8:15 – 11:30                Conferences
• 11:30 – 12:30               Lunch Break
• 12:30 – 6:00                Conferences

Teachers are in classrooms, and this is done as a drop-in style (i.e. no scheduled appointments). We encourage students to come with their families so we can all conference together, but this is not required. If you are unable to come to conferences, feel free to email me to check in.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Amy Polzin

apolzin@pps.net

x75641 

11/3 & 11/7

Today we completed station notes about organelles. At each station, students labeled, defined and colored the organelle on their notes worksheet. Following the stations, students worked at their tables to find emojis that represented the function for each organelle. Lastly, students made a foldable. This will become a study guide that lists the 16 organelles and their functions.

Absent students: Finish the stations. Mrs. Polzin will be available at lunch and after school Monday & Tuesday.

Organelle station definitions

11/1 & 11/2

Today, students took their very large Ecology Test to celebrate the end of the Ecology unit and the end of the quarter.

Our next unit will be studying Cells. Following the test, students colored, defined and labeled organelles to build reference notes for the different parts of the cell and their functions.

Absent Students: Make up the test at lunch or after school this week or next.

Announcements: There is no school on Friday for students, as it is a teacher grading day. Next week, there are only two days of school (Monday & Tuesday), due to parent conferences (Wednesday & Thursday) and the Veteran's Day Holiday on Friday. We will have a full week of school (and Flex tutorial time) again the week of the 14th.