Thursday, September 30, 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

EXTRA CREDIT

For 5 extra credit points, please take a couple of minutes to complete my online survey at the following link:

Technology Survey here

You have until October 11, 2010 to complete it.  Thanks!

September 29 (B Day) and September 30 (A Day)

OBJECTIVE: Students will compare symbiotic relationships in order to describe how they affect ecosystems.

WARM-UP: Give an example of a negative relationship among organisms.

VOCABULARY:
1) competition
2) predator
3) prey
4) relationship

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up and Vocabulary
2) Video
3) Activity
4) Closure

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Due Thurs/Fri: Read section 1-3 and do assessment on pg. 22
Also, foldables are due if you didn't show it to me during class.

HOMEWORK DUE:
Section 1-3 assessment

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lab fees are due NOW!

Monday, September 27, 2010

September 27 (B Day) and September 28 (A Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will observe and discuss a variety of objects in order to identify and describe the characteristics of life.

WARM-UP: What makes something "living"?

VOCABULARY:
1) cell
2) DNA
3) reproduce
4) develop

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up and Vocabulary
2) Discussion of characteristics of life
3) Living or non-living activity
4) Foldable
5) Closure

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK (DUE THURS/FRI)
Read and take notes Section 1-3 and complete Assessment on pg. 22

HOMEWORK DUE:
Chapter 3 Notes

Thursday, September 23, 2010

September 22 (B Day) and September 23 (A Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will perform an activity in order to analyze how populations approach carrying capacity.

WARM-UP: What factors affect the size of a population?

VOCABULARY:
1) Owl pellet
2) predator
3) autotroph
4) producer

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up and Vocabulary
2) Activity
3) Closure

HOMEWORK DUE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY:
Chapter 3 notes

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK:
none

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Extra credit if your parent attends BTS Night

Monday, September 13, 2010

September 13 (B Day) and September 15 (A Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will identify the characteristics of the Bay in order to prepare to study it this year.

WARM-UP:  List 3 facts you learned last class about the Bay.

VOCABULARY:
1) organism
2) habitat
3) watershed
4) brackish
5) geology

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up and Vocabulary
2) Collect lab fees
3) Check bar graphs, discussion of diagnostic test
4) Discussion of Bay chart from last class
5) Complete Organism cards- quick facts, put info on dry erase boards
6) Closure

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Read all of Ch. 1, take notes or outline, minimum of 1 page of notes, due Thurs/Friday

HOMEWORK DUE:
none

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Check last post for extra credit.

Friday, September 10, 2010

September 7 (B Day) and September 10 (A Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will identify the natural characteristics of the Bay in order to study it for the year.

WARM-UP: What comes to mind when you hear the words "Chesapeake Bay"?

VOCABULARY:
Identify the steps of the Scientific Method.

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up/Vocabulary
2) Give out textbooks
3) Collect lab fees
4) Discussion of the Bay
5) Copy Bay Chart and get into groups to "Presearch"
6) Closure

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Read Chapter 1 and take notes- due Thursday/Friday

HOMEWORK DUE:
none

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
For extra credit, before 9/17, read the following article and turn in a summary of the article (at least one paragraph) for five extra credit points.  http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63098/title/FOR_KIDS_Poop-sniffing_mice_to_the_rescue

Monday, August 30, 2010

August 31 (A Day) and September 1 (B Day)

OBJECTIVE: Students will perform an activity in order to practice the scientific method.


WARM-UP: What is the phrase we talked about to identify independent and dependent variables?
VOCABULARY:
1) Independent variable
2) Dependent variable
3) Control
4) Constant

CLASSWORK:
1) Review Warm-Up and Vocabulary
2) Pre-Lab discussion
3) Laboratory Activity
4) Graph individual data
5) Share Data and Draw Conclusions
6) Closure

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK
Study for test on Thursday and Friday of this week, it will cover all of Unit 1- Scientific Method and Lab Safety

(Due Tuesday 9/8 and Wednesday 9/9):
Write out an experiment to test which fertilizer (gro-more, nutri-plant, or feed-me) causes plants to grow the most. Make sure to identify the independent and dependent variables.

HOMEWORK DUE:
none

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Test on Thursday and Friday of this week.  It will cover all of Unit 1 (Lab Safety and Scientific Method)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

August 27th (A Day) and August 30th (B Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will perform an activity in order to practice lab safety and proper procedures for investigations.

WARM-UP: Write out the directions for tying your shoe, be specific.

VOCABULARY:
1) Independent variable

2) Dependent variable
3) Control
4) Constant

CLASSWORK:
1) Review Warm-Up and Vocabulary
2) Following Directions Activity
3) Lab Safety Manipulatives
4) Scientific Method Discussion
5) Sponge Bob Activity
6) Closure

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Write out an experiment to test which fertilizer causes plants to grow the most. Make sure to identify the independent and dependent variables.

HOMEWORK DUE:
BEE Book and Word Find (For period 1A)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
For extra credit, bring me magazines with pictures that we can use in class. 1 extra credit point per magazine (no newspapers or catalogs, please). Up to 5 points can be earned and this offer expires on 9/10/10.

Monday, August 23, 2010

August 25th (A Day) and August 26th (B Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will define Biology and review the scientific method in order to prepare to conduct their own investigations in class.

WARM-UP:  What does Biology mean to you? How does it relate to your own life?

VOCABULARY:
1) Accountable Talk
2) Biology
3) observation

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up and Vocabulary, Discussion
2) Think-Pair-Share- Get a partner and share your answers with your partner, then with the whole class.
3) Reading Activity- Each groups will read an article.  Answer questions and share with group.
4) Introduction to Biology as a sensory science- making observations with your senses.
5) Closure

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Get BEE Books, period 1A needs to complete Word Find

HOMEWORK DUE:
Word hunt definition (from School Max)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Don't forget, BEE Books due next week.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

August 23rd (A Day) and August 24th (B Day)

OBJECTIVE:  Students will review course policies and procedures in order to apply them throughout the year and be successful in Biology.

****Period 1A did not get to do the lesson today due to a shortened period.
WARM-UP:  Tell me three things about yourself that I cannot tell by just looking at you.

VOCABULARY:
1) Accountable Talk
2) Biology

CLASSWORK:
1) Students receive seating assignments.
2) Students will  discuss the characteristics of good teachers, classes and students.
3) Review classroom procedures and rules.
4) Outline materials for class. Discussion of BEE Book.
5) Discussion of "Accountable Talk".
6) Sink or float?
7) Closure- review online resources

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Go to School Max, look under the assignment "Word Find", and bring in the definition of the word you see.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Start checking this blog daily- extra credit will be posted soon!!!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Welcome Back!!!

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year in HSA Biology!!!  I am so excited abou this school year.  We have a lot of changes that will make this year especially great.  First of all, we have a new principal who will be supporting us on this scientific journey.  Also, my class will be piloting a new curriculum that is focused all around the Chesapeake Bay.  Hopefully, this will give us lots of opportunities to get really dirty and explore nature while learning all about Biology.  Please check this blog often as I frequently post special announcements and extra credit here.  Thanks for checking and see you in class.

For extra credit- bring me your old magazines.  I will not take newspapers or catalogs, but everything else is fair game.  As long as it has some good pictures in it, I will give you 1 point for every magazine up to 5. This offer expires on Septemberr 10, 2010 so hurry up.

For another 2 extra credit points, join my facebook fan page called "Ms. Lynch's Biology Class". That's just one more way to keep up on what we are doing in class.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

May is HSA MONTH!!!

For the next several weeks, we will be focusing on HSA Review only. The Biology HSA is on May 17th. During class, we will be working on practice tests and reviewing material from earlier in the year. At home, you can take the practice online tests at http://www.mdk12.org/assessments/high_school/index_d.html

Print out the answer sheet with your score at the end of the test (they are short, only about 10 questions), and turn it into me for 3 extra credit points per test!!! This is a great opportunity to bring your grade up while preparing for the HSA! Happy studying!

April 29th- May 2nd

Students will complete the Unit 10 Review in order to prepare for the HSA

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

April 26 (A Day) and April 27 (B Day)

OBJECTIVE: Students will perform an activity in order to understand and simulate the theory of evolution by natural selection.

WARM-UP: What is the difference between artificial and natural selection?

VOCABULARY:
1) fossil
2) adaptation
3) descent with modification
4) common descent
5) homologous structures

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-up and vocabulary
2) Activity
3) Closure

HOMEWORK DUE: Graphs from lab

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
15-2 notes

April 26 (A Day) and April 27 (B Day)

OBJECTIVE: Students will perform an activity in order to understand and simulate the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

April 22 (A Day) and April 23 (B Day)

OBJECTIVE period 2A and B Day students: Students will perform an activity in order to analyze how adaptations lead to evolution by natural selection.

OBJECTIVE periods 3A and 4A: Students will take a test in order to gauge progress towards success on the HSA.

WARM-UP: What is the difference between natural and artificial selections?

VOCAB:
n/a

CLASSWORK:
1) Warm-Up
2) Activity
3) Closure

HOMEWORK DUE:
15-1 notes

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
Read and take notes on 15-2

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
none

April 21 (B Day)

OBJECTIVE: Students will take the Unit 9 test in order to gauge progress towards success on the HSA.

HOMEWORK DUE: 13-2 notes

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK: 15-1 NOTES

April 20 (A Day)

OBJECTIVE PERIOD 2a: Students will take the Unit 9 test in order to gauge progress towards success on the HSA.

OBJECTIVE all other classes: Students will perform an activity in order to understand and simulate the theory of evolution by natural selection.

VOCABULARY:
n/a

CLASSWORK:
1) Revew Warm-Up
2) Activity
3) Closure

HOMEWORK DUE:
Notes on 13-2

TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK:
NOTES ON 15-1

April 19 (A Day)

Students will complete the Unit 9 Review Sheet as I am out this day. Test next class.