2/28 & 3/1

Today, students took a very short Mitosis quiz in which they identified what each stage of Mitosis looked like. Following the quiz, students were divided into 4 groups. Each group read articles about one of four Cancer topics: 1.) p53: The breast cancer gene/protein 2.) Oncogenes + Tumors 3.)Cancer Therapies 4.) Apoptosis: Cell Death!

Groups then worked to create a poster and mini-presentation on their topic. Most classes will be sharing their poster and presentations next class.

Article list: Cancer article links
Cancer reading worksheet:  Reading worksheet
Assignment description: Assignment overview

Mitosis Quiz Practice

Next week, we will have a super-short quiz.

1.) What are the 6 steps of Mitosis in order? Practice until you can do this without looking at notes. Come up with a fun acronym or pneumonic device for the steps: IPMATC

2.) Identify what stage of Mitosis is shown in the picture of Onion Cells:

2/24 & 2/27

Today, we started to examine different topics related to cancer. Cancer occurs when cells grow out of control. Typically, cells have a signal that tells them when it is too crowded to stop growth from continuing. Individual cells also have internal signals that tell them how many times to replicate before they die. In some types of cancers, this signal is missing and the cells continue to replicate forever.

We began by watching videos of our historical understanding of cancer, and then animations that explained our modern genetic understanding of cancer.

Worksheet: Understanding Cancer online video worksheet

Websites used:
Natl Institute of Cancer: News Alert Videos
Natl Institute of Cancer: Cell Cycle Animations

Students then were broken into four groups to learn about a current area of cancer research.  Groups include: 1) The P53 Breast Cancer Gene 2) Apoptosis: Cell Death!  3) Cancer Therapies  4) Oncogenes & Tumors.  Students will read articles about their current topic, then work as a group to create a mini-lesson that will be presented to the class during our next session.

Article list: Cancer article links
Cancer reading worksheet:  Reading worksheet
Assignment description: Assignment overview


Want more information about Mitosis & Cancer? This video has a good overview:

2/22 & 2/23

Onion cells (400x) showing different stages of the cell cycle.

Today, we completed the mitosis lecture notes packet from last class.  Students then worked through a series of practice activities.
Students used model kits to describe to the teacher the 6 steps of Mitosis. We then did an online Mitosis tutorial. And _then_ we used microscopes to view the 6 stages of Mitosis in onion cells.

The lecture notes and worksheet were posted for the last class. Please use those links if you need to see the power point.

Here is the website we used for the online activities, the worksheet link is below:  http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html

Mitosis Modeling activity
Mitosis Lab Activities: Computer & Microscope tasks

2/17 & 2/21

Today, we began our Cell Reproduction unit, in which we will learn about Mitosis & Meiosis. Mitosis is a 6-step process that results in a cell dividing to make two new cells that are identical copies of the original.

The warm-up was a quick pre-assessment asking students how they think cells make more cells. Students then worked in pairs to sort photos of a cell at different stages of Mitosis and make a prediction of what each stage would look like. We watched a short video clip of mitosis to see if their prediction was correct. Following this, we took notes to name, describe and draw each of the 6 steps of Mitosis. To finish class, we used model kits to build chromosomes and simulate each step of Mitosis. Absent students: please see Mrs. Polzin for the worksheets from today.

Cell Reproduction Pre-Assessment
Cell Reproduction lecture notes worksheet
Cell Reproduction power point
Mitosis Modeling Activity

Cell Membrane Video deadline extended

Due to a shortage of available materials (60 students to 10 model kits during Flex today!) we are going to extend the deadline for the cell membrane video project. Bad news: there is no more class time to work on videos and there is no flex time for awhile. However, Ms. Yee and I will be available every lunch for you to come in and use iPads and model kits. I will also be available on Wednesdays & Fridays after school. Please realize that if everyone waits until Friday the 3rd at lunch we will run into the same shortage of materials we experienced today, so please make arrangements with your partner to do this work sooner rather than later.

Deadline is Friday, March 3rd at 11:59 p.m. to Google Classroom. 

2/15 & 2/16

Final day of student work time for cell membrane videos! If you are not finished with your project by the end of this class, please plan on coming in during lunch or Flex Thursday/Friday.

2/13 & 2/14

Students took their Cell Membrane Quiz today. If you were absent, please study the vocabulary list and take your quiz during lunch or Flex.

The remainder of class was time to work on the Cell Membrane Video Project. All materials and resources for this project can be found in Google Classroom. Students will have one more full class period to work on videos in class. Model kits and iPads will be available during Flex on Thursday & Friday, at lunches and after school on Friday if you need more time. Videos are due to Google Classroom on Monday, 2/20/17 @ 11:59 p.m.

2/9 & 2/10

Students completed their Cell Membrane Video packet today. There will be a short quiz on Monday/Tuesday over the cell membrane structure and vocabulary for this unit. 

CM Vocabulary List study guide 

We then discussed the Video Project. The last page of our notes packet has the "Options for Cell Membrane Videos" description. Please read this for an overview of what should be included in each of the three videos. We also reviewed the rubric for the project. Read the rubric to make sure you are completing all the required tasks for your video. The expectation for the videos is that you will include all of the science information included in the notes packet, as well as do additional research to complement what we have learned.

Students will have two full class periods to work on the videos.  Videos will be submitted via Google Classroom and are due for all students on Monday, 2/20/17 at 11:59 p.m.

There are many resources for this project that are in Google Classroom, including the notes power point, project description, grading rubric in addition to links to videos and websites for more information on the cell membrane and cell transport. Please ask questions if you are confused by any aspect of this project!

2/7 & 2/8

Today, we set goals for the new semester as our warm-up. Following this, we worked with the cell membrane model kits to learn about passive and active transport through the cell membrane. Students  made predictions with the model pieces about how molecules would move through the cell, then wrote notes about how oxygen, glucose & water perform passive transport. We then learned about how nerve cells use active transport to pump sodium and potassium molecules to let our nerve cells send signals to the rest of our body. Next class, students will learn details about the CM Video Project.

Cell membrane model kit power point

Looking for more info? Check out this video!

2nd semester begins!

Today, we started second semester with a B-day schedule. The N-community watched my favorite science video, "The Hidden Life of Cells" in order to see how viruses invade cells to make us sick, and the defenses that our cells employ to keep us healthy. I can't post the whole video, but here is a small preview:

Next class, we will resume using the model kits to learn about different types of cell transport. Students will then create videos on iPads to demonstrate how the cell moves materials in and out of the cell. Projects will be submitted to Google Classroom and are due Monday, 2/20/17 at midnight. No homework tonight.