Mrs. Clements' Super Science Blog

This week in science we have started a new unit on Evolution. Monday we looked at a short Bill Nye on evolution. Tuesday we had some group discussions about traits that are advantageous to organisms, and we took some notes on basic evolution definitions and theories. Today we took some notes on evidence for evolution and then we read an article about a whale fossil that had leg and foot bones. We are looking at fossils and how they provide evidence that living things have changed over time.

We had our Cell Processes test, except if you are in 6th period science. We sat in the science prep room for the whole class due to a tornado warning. Better safe than sorry; thanks for your patience while we waited out the storm. Sixth period will take the test tomorrow. Since you were ready today, you should be more than ready tomorrow!

Today we looked at wilted plants and how they get water into their cells from osmosis. Then we reviewed the venn diagram on mitosis and meiosis. After this we reviewed for our Cell Processes test, which is tomorrow. Some of you played jeopardy and some of you did an activote review. I’m sorry for the technical difficulties we had today. Please study your vocabulary words. Out next unit will be genetics!

Tuesday: We reviewed photosynthesis and cellular respiration by looking at the molecules on the Active board and then going outside to be the molecules.

Wednesday: We did a “Feeding Frenzy” lab, illustrating fermentation in yeast.

Thursday and Friday: We learned about mitosis and meiosis, and how these 2 processes differ.

HW: test next week on Wednesday, November 16th!

Photosynthesis internet activity was due on November 7th!

We were in the computer lab today. We worked on an interactive simulation of photosynthesis. Students answered questions about the process of photosynthesis and saw how the molecules broke apart and recombined.

TAG classes also read an article on how leaves change color in the fall, and the pigments involved in this process. These questions are due tomorrow.

OL classes: Please finish reading section 4.1 or 4.2 on your online book. Pick the section you did NOT research at the beginning of this unit. Answer the questions in the section review for homework.

Last day of the Eggsperiment! Our eggs swelled to great size in the colored water. We washed them, measured them, and then destroyed them! Some lucky students picked randomly got to dispose of the eggs in the trash can. They were really starting to smell by the end of the day! We then answered the questions that went with the lab.

TAG classes also finished the potato osmosis questions. Did you figure out which solution was which?

HW: finish the Eggcellent Eggsperiment questions if you did not today. This is due Monday!

Eggs, day three! The eggs shriveled in the cornsyrup. We washed the eggs, measured them, and put them in colored water. Wait till you see them tomorrow!

TAG classes set up and observed potatoes in salt water, sugar water, and regular water. We were observing osmosis.

OL classses went over the answers to the moving molecules worksheet.

Day 2 of the Eggcellent Eggsperiment! We saw that our eggs swelled a little in vinegar. The circumference was greater, and the volume of vinegar in the beakers went down. We washed the eggs, measured them again, and then put them in corn syrup.

TAG classes then went over the moving molecules worksheet. Cell tests were handed back.

Ol classes took notes on cellular transportation, worked on the moving molecules worksheet, and got their cell tests back.

More on cell processes- thanks for those who sent in eggs! We started our Eggcellent Eggspreiment today. We measured eggs and placed them in white vinegar overnight. The room smells a little like vinegar, but we will wash it out tomorrow. What will happen to our eggs? It will certainly have something to do with osmosis or diffusion!

TAG classes took some notes on cellular transportation and worked on the “Moving Cellular Materials” worksheet.  Please finish this for HW!OL classes wrote down some more notes from our expert groups last week.

Cell tests will be returned tomorrow.

I was out today planning with the other science teachers, but everyone worked on a vocabulary assignment for cell processes. There are 12 words. We used a strategy called the Vocabulary Dozen. These cards will be checked by me on November 9th, Wednesday. If you did not finish in class, please finish before next Wednesday.