Monday November 18th - Wisconsin Fast Plants

Students were focused and working hard today as every science group built a planter and sowed both Wisconsin Fast Plants and radish seeds. We will be using these plants to examine the role of water and minerals in the growing system, look at at plant's life cycle, and explore the plant's connection to the cabbage white butterfly. We're hoping to see Fast Plant sprouts by the end of this week!

Please go to this link to read more about Wisconsin Fast Plants. Students should be reading "Nutritional Needs of Plants" on pages 47-49.

Wednesday November 13th - Microscopes!

NOTES FROM YESTERDAY:
Here are the notes we took yesterday (Tuesday Nov. 12th) in class on the parts of a microscope and also the different magnifications of the objective lenses.  

Today's goals for science were for students to:

• Understand the purpose of microscope parts.
• Understand and apply basic elements of a scientific sketch
• Explore and understand how to use a microscope

After some great work over the past few days, students were finally able to take what they have learned about microscopes--the history, the purpose, the parts, etc.--and apply it to a hands on activity.

We kicked it off by going over "How to Use a Microscope" and applied the instructions towards our microscope labs. 

Students used "Guidelines for Scientific Drawings" to create their own sketches.

The class was unleashed to apply all of their knowledge to the "e" lab.  They took newspaper cuttings of the letter "e" and examined it through the lens of compound microscopes.  Their sketches and observations were recorded here.

 Homework Tonight:  Continue reviewing material and handouts about microscopes and sketches.
Also read pg's 26-27 "Microscope Pioneers". Answer questions on Page 21 A-C.

Today's scientists at work...

Friday Nov 8th - Starting to work with Microscopes

Today our students revisited their definitions of "What does it mean to be living?"

After that, they moved onto using hand lenses.  They studied text in their book as well as pennies to try to find distinguishing marks.  Many were able to locate initials of the artist who created Lincoln's portrait.

  Next week we will explore light compound microscopes, how to focus into a specimen and what a good scientific sketch is composed of.

November 6th - Starting a New Unit - Macro to Micro

Today we started our New Unit- Macro to Micro.

The learning goals were:
1. Identify and list physical characteristics of organisms.
2. Understand how organisms earn there scientific name.

Students constructed a working definition of physical characteristics/traits.

They also learned new vocabulary:

• taxonomy
• nomenclature
• binomial nomenclature

Here is the link to today's reading - Macro to Micro Lesson 1.

Complete the reading on "What is an organism?" p. 8-11

Key for practice quiz

Here is a key for the practice quiz posted below. Check your answers and keep practicing!

Practice Quiz Key

November 4th - Study for Ecology Assessment!

Be sure to study tonight and review for tomorrow's assessment!

Final Study Guide-  Click here to acces.

Final Practice Quiz Worksheet - Click here to access