Week of February 22

This week in science we continue our unit on genetics. Days One and Two, will be doing guided reading from the book, with a section outlines. Day Three, I will review Punnett Squares and you will do some practice problems based on Spongebob Squarepants. Day Four, you will do an in-class lab that demonstrates the principles of probability (tossing a coin several dozen times). Bring a calculator to help with the associated math. If you are going to be gone on Friday, you must get the lab from the Class Documents folder and complete it in a timely manner.

For those of you who know you are going to be out days in advance, I want the lab turned in beforehand. If it does not come in early, a big big nasty zero will sit in the gradebook at least until Monday.

Don't forget, SNAs are back this week.

Hoorah For Embedded Videos!

This video illustrates how to use a Punnett Square.

Out on Friday?

Anyone who misses the DNA Extraction Lab on Friday will need to complete the virtual lab and the questions that go along with it. The link to the lab and questions is in the links bar (DNA Extraction Web Quest) and below.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZt-hp5FPwIDZGNra2Q5bThfM2Nid3dxeGQy&hl=en

Technical Difficulties

For some reason the Google Docs page containing the all the notes and handouts has become unavailable to users without a Google account. I am trying to figure out why that is. In the meantime, the contents of the page have been added to the folder "Gumpert Science" on the student shared section of the server.

Week of Feb 15

We have a short week due to Conferences. Day one, we will be introducing/reviewing vocabulary for the genetics and heredity unit. You will present their interpretation of the assigned word as a poster, a skit or a rap. Day two, we will be doing a DNA extraction lab. Using a few simple procedures, you will extract DNA from fruit. The accompanying questions will be due the following Monday.

Homework: Due the next class period- DNA Extraction Lab questions, if not completed in class

Anyone who is absent for this lab will complete a virtual lab. See me for details.

Since there are only two meetings, there is NO SNA this week. However, anyone who is still missing last week's SNA should plan on doing one to make it up.

Class Documents

Some of the class documents have been moved to the Student Shared volume of the server. They can be found in the "Gumpert Science" folder.

Notes

Power Point slide shows for Mitosis and DNA are both posted under Class Documents.

Also, the link "All Sorts of Animations" has animations of biochemical processes, including DNA structure and replication, which are absolutely amazing.

Eureka!

It turns out that paperclips do float and a penny can hold up to 2.5 milliliters of water, under optimal conditions. These pictures are from the Water Lab we did during Microscope Week.

Week of February 8

This week in science, we are making the transition for cells to genetics. This week will be heavy on notes, but light on homework.

Day one, we will be watching a video hosted by Bill Nye on the Greatest Discoveries in Genetics. Day two, students will read from the textbook about the cell cycle and answer questions on it. They will turn in the questions at the end of the period. Day three, students will take notes on mitosis to reinforce the reading. Day four, students will take notes on the structure and function of DNA.

All notes will be available under Class Documents.

Homework for this week: SNA (as always) and Mitosis coloring sheet, both due Friday.

There are only three lectures remaining in the Science for Alaska Series. They are worth 10 points of extra credit EACH. Bring in a summary of at least one half page and a pamphlet or handout provided by the speaker.

Finally (and this is very important) any students that are still missing work having to do with microscopes have until Friday to make arrangements with me. Thereafter, all zeroes become irreparable.

Grades

Grades are almost up to date, including the stuff we did this afternoon. Please check Power School to see if you are missing any work.

Week of Feburary 1

Apologies for the late post.

This week in science, we will be finishing up our unit on microscopes. Day one, students will have time for last minute work on their Microscope Task Sheets and will be taking a vocabulary quiz on microscopes. Day two, we will do some work out of the textbook on the history of microscopes. Day three, students will make a simple microscope using a pair of hand lenses, and take a few notes to reinforce the reading from day two.

If you were absent at any time during the microscope lab, you must make arrangements to make up the work.
There is time to do so during lunch, Contact next week, before school and after school.

Homework this week:

Microscope Task Sheet due Feb 1

Microscope Lab Write up (optional to replace a missing grade) due Feb 2

Remember that Science Fair and the Science for Alaska Lecture Series are still available for extra credit.