Biology Dino Project

Here is a website about the Permian time period fossils found in our area.

Prehistoric CSI

Biology: Deep Time Project, Ch. 12

Click here for the timeline.

The information you must find is:
-What happened during your assigned period in each of the three categories (transformations, geology and extinctions)
-When exactly did each event happen

Make a bulleted list on your colored sheet of paper describing the details and date of each event you find, then illustrate your time period on the class timeline.

Biology - Genes to Protein

Click here for today's webquest.

Biology - Transciption and Translation

Click here to transcribe and translate a strand of DNA.

Karyotyping - Biology

Click here for the karyotyping website.

Tuesday

Biology - Click here to experiment with different kinds of cells to see how they are affected by various signals. Write the results from your experiment in the table I have printed out for you and turn this in. Remember that these signals can be actively or passively transported into the cell.

Also, don't forget that you will have a Chapter 4 quiz tomorrow.


Chemistry - You get to show the class your scientist interviews today. After that, we will discuss section 2 out of chapter 4 and play a game if we have time.

Monday

Chemistry: Finish your scientist interviews. These are due on Tuesday.

Biology: Chapter 4, section 1 (Osmosis). Then we will try to squeeze in two osmosis labs - one where you will see osmosis on a large scale and one where you will see it at the cellular level.

Click here for a good review on osmosis.

Thursday's Class

It's test day! Every class is taking a chapter 2 test. Good luck!

Wednesday in Class

All classes are preparing for a Chapter 2 test today. In my public folder on the server, you can find all of the powerpoints from this chapter and download them to study or find answers to your review.

Tuesday

First of all, we have short classes today, so get ready to work fast when you get in class!

Also, you should be able to access all of my power points from class by going to my public folder at school.

Here is how to access my public folder:

Open your "Finder". (It's the icon with two faces on it).

On the left side of that box, click "All" to see all of the shared folders. Scroll until you find the one with my last name at the end of it.

Then click on your class folder and find the file you want to download.

Only ten people can access my folder at once, so make sure you "eject" my folder once you are through with it by right clicking on the driver icon (it has little people on it) that's on your desktop, and choosing "eject."

Chemistry - 1st period: you still need to learn about significant figures in Chapter 2.3 and then we'll move on to 2.4, which is about graphing. Don't forget to keep looking at the class calendar at the bottom of this page - you have a Ch. 2 test coming up!

Everyone else in chemistry: You are starting Chapter 2, section 4 (about graphing) and making a kind of graph that is about you and different than any you've seen before, I bet!

Biology - Your Label Tables are due today (put them in my class drop box) and then you will cover chapter 2, section 4. We'll test out the public folder for this class too so that you know how to use it in the future. Then you need to update your vocabulary word list so you'll have it ready to study when your test comes along. Be sure you are watching the class calendar at the bottom of this page so that you know in advance when tests are coming up.

Friday

Today, chemistry classes are starting section 3 out of Chapter 2, which is about accuracy, precision, calculating percent error and determining the degree of confidence in a number by counting significant figures. Then we'll play a game to review what you've learned.

For biology - Great job on your biologist interview projects! I saw some pretty cool movies! Today we will start section four out of chapter 2 and then practice reading food labels. You will make your own tables in excel or numbers and then add two more foods from home this weekend before you turn the table in to me on Monday.

That's all for today! Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Thursday's Class

In Chemistry, we are going to travel to Pluto in Ms. Beck's magic school bus (and finishing the section in Chapter two about unit conversions, scientific notation and building models to scale.)

In Biology, you are presenting your biologist interviews, finishing the water lab from yesterday and starting section three out of section 2. It's gonna be a busy day!

Wednesday in Class

In Chemistry today, you are going to finish Ch. 2, section 2, which is about building models to scale. The model we are going to build of the class is over the solar system! Your calculations can be recorded here:

1st period click here. 2nd period click here. 3rd period click here.

In Biology, 

Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

First of all, don't forget that your project proposal forms are due tomorrow!

Today in Chemistry, we are hitting chapter 2, section 2, which is about scientific notation and unit conversions for measurements. Then you are going to prepare for a flight to the moon...who said chemistry has to stay in the classroom??

Today in Biology, you are starting Chapter 2, which begins with a quick review on atoms, the building blocks for all things, including living things. Then we will play a game to see how well you know atoms! Don't forget that your biologist interviews are due on Thursday.

Monday

Here we go with Week 2!

In Chemistry, you are going to start chapter 2 with a review over types of measurements you will use throughout this class, including density. Then you will do a lab about Den City. Think about that a minute....get it? :)

Here is something else for you to think about: What is "nanotechnology"? Find me an article about how scientists are using nanotechnology these days, and I'll give you three bonus points on your Ch. 2 test.

In Biology, we are going to quickly look at the types of issues in the field of biology that our world is facing today. Then you are going to "interview" a biologist of your choice (click here for the choices) and present your interview to us on Thursday.

Finally Friday!

It looks like we have all survived our first week of class! Here's what stands between you and the weekend. :)

In Chemistry and Biology, your safety contracts are due and you will take your safety test today.

After that, chemistry classes will move on to Chapter 1, section 4, which is about types of research. Don't worry. It's short.

In Biology, you will hit Chapter 1, section 1, which is about our definition of living things.

Thursday's Class

Biology and Chemistry: You will both start chapter one in your books today, starting with Scientific Method. Then, you will go to the www.sciencebuddies.org website to pick out your science fair project.

Don't forget that your science contracts are due on Friday and that you will take your Lab Safety test is on Friday too. You must make a 100 on this test to do labs in this class!!

Today in Class

Today in class we are going to review those beloved safety rules in the Safety Contract. In chemistry, however, you are going to take knowing the rules a step further by improving the contract! There will be a test over the safety rules on Friday, so keep them fresh in your mind!

Next, we will look at three examples of communication in the field of science and we will look at their similarities, differences, purposes and apparent credibilities. 

Picture This!

Today you will identify lab equipment that we will use in class and you can prove you know your stuff by taking a picture of each piece of equipment and matching it with the correct name. Download the Google Document named "Lab Equipment" and save it to your computer (Click "File" and "Download As") before you start copy and pasting pictures onto your page. Then save this file and keep it to study for your test next week.

We will also cover the lab safety rules today!

What's New in Room 130?

Well, first of all, I've changed the class website yet again! After all, part of being a good scientist is experimenting and changing the experiment where change is needed! So on this blog, you should be able to find announcements and assignment descriptions for class each day (any files you need for class can be accessed on the school server, not here) and lots of other stuff like pictures and good website links.

Today in class, we are all covering the same things. Here is the outline:

• Introduction to Room 130
• Where is everything? 
• Introduction to this blog and how to use it
• Be thinking about your own blog, if you don't have one already (you will need a username, password and email address)
• We will use that password and username for any free account we use in this class
• My rules
• Be respectful
• Be ready for class (get here on time and with your stuff! This includes having your laptop charged.)
• Be safe in the lab
• What to expect from this class
• Where your grades come from
• Daily grades: labs, quizzes, assignments
• Tests
• Project

Today's Music: "Get Ready" by the Temptations

CurioCity

In your down time today, check out this website. It has answers to all kinds of science questions, experiments, and a place to learn about new and cool jobs in the field of science. Let me know what you find that really interests you!

What do you think?

There sure are a lot of changes going on at our school this year! Think about what you think class will be like, and then think about what school was probably like when your parents were in school. Do you think that the difference in technology truly changes the things you will learn this year? Or does it only change the way you learn? Will you be able to learn more than students from years past? Post a comment and in no more than two or three sentences, tell me what you think!

Meet Your New Classmates!

Albert

Darwin

Albert and Darwin are African Dwarf Frogs! (Can you tell the difference between them?) Click here to read a Wikipedia article about them. If you can find a good website or article about this kind of frog (especially how to take care of them!) please post a comment on this page or let me know about it!

First Photo Contest!

This six week's photo contest category is "In the Lab." Your photos are allowed to be digitally altered for this contest and includes equipment used in the field of science. Lab equipment used in our class is fair game, but remember that science happens in lots of places besides our classroom. Please send a digital copy of your picture to me if you can (email it to kimberly.beck@seymour-isd.net), and if you do not have a camera, talk to me. You can enter up to two photos for this contest and the top 5 photos (voted on by you, of course) will be automatically entered into this year's Photo Fair at Science Night! So get clickin', shutterbugs! Talk to me if you have questions!