ThinkDoLearn Biology Blog - WordPress

ThinkDoLearn Biology Blog

Just in case you forget, the blog address on the syllabus is incorrect. DeKalb is now blocking blogger, so I have migrated the blog to http://wordpress.thinkdolearn.com

Mr. Martin

Last of the Friday Updates

1. Exam on Thursday/Friday. It will cover Ecology and Biodiversity (6 kingdoms)

2. There is an opportunity for some extra help on these chapters using a web based program. I cannot release details on the web but if you e-mail me I can get you the log in information; be sure to have your correct e-mail address and name in the e-mail.

3. Fourth period - Palm pilots return on Wednesday

4. What you should do this weekend:
- Study for the test
- Finish the lab handout
- Finish the concept maps on animals
- relax

I will only see each of you for four more days this year. That's it! Have a good summer!

Sub on Thursday 5/17/2006

First and fourth period Magnet Biology: There will be a sub on Thursday.

Assignments: Complete the concept map packet for Animals. These are the topics and corresponding chapters:

1. Animals Ch 28
2. Porifera (Sponges) Ch 29-1
3. Cnidaria (Jellyfish and their kin) Ch 29-2
4. Platyhelminthes (Flatworms) Ch 29-3
5. Mollusca Ch 30-1
6. Annelida Ch 30-2

While it is important to complete all of these by Monday (quiz, maybe?), the Annelid map is most important to complete on Thursday because on Friday we will conduct the earthworm dissection. I will try to make all these handouts available soon, but not tonight.

The handouts all require drawings. There is a stack of blank paper for you to do this. The handouts are double-sided so drawing on the back is not an option. Use the spare blank paper for this.

Standard warning applies: You will behave in a proper fashion and do all your work. I don't have to remind you of the consequences if the sub writes your name down, but I was asked in 4th period about having to give you a warning. So here's your warning.
Consequences:
1) Referral to 9th grade administrator
2) Zero for the assignments
3) No bathroom passes for the rest of the semester
4) Parent contact
5) N in conduct for the semester; potentially a U if you have received an N this semester already. (This will affect honor roll.)

Have fun!

(Ps - two people from each class should print this out and give to the sub, then reply here that you done so.)

Biomes Project

Five projects were not turned in. I need these turned in ASAP, by first period tomorrow. Questions should be e-mailed to me ASAP.

I have:

Kamille Williams B Desert
Jonathon Jones B Desert
Leandria Nolton B Desert
Robert Truitt D Temperate Deciduous Forest
Derek Sealy D Temperate Deciduous Forest
Jami E Temperate Grassland
Ashley Evelyn E Temperate Grassland
TREYANA F Taiga
SYMONE F Taiga
Savanna H Temp Forest
Vanecia H Temp Forest
Breeanna Williams I Marine
Briana Hill I Marine
Kristian A Tropical Rain Forest
Sasha A Tropical Rain Forest
Atiya Eliott C Savannah
Shanease C Savannah
Candice Freshwater
Caelin D Freshwater
Danniella D Freshwater
Amal E Temperate Grassland
Shakira E Temperate Grassland
Bryan F Taiga (need questions)
Phillip F Taiga (need questions)
Gabriel F Taiga (need questions)
Neesha H Freshwater
Elaine H Freshwater
Romae I Marine
Kim I Marine
Alex I Marine

If your name is not on the above list then you are potentially hindering the learning process of your fellow classmates. This will hinder your grade, of course, so get it in.

Schedule change - 4th period only

First period - no change. You may have a change in teacher but not in activity.

Fourth period - we will have to delay flowers until Friday. This is unfortunately an unavoidable issue, we have to take a mandated 9th grade survey in the computer lab.
if you bring flowers we may be able to preserve them in water overnight.

Friday Update

What should you be doing this weekend?

1) Forming a group for the biome project and e-mailing me so you can get your assignment. Groups of two's and three's only. You can get a jum on this if you want. Due date: May 15th.

2) Checking the communities portion of the web page for the web quest and species interaction map. The practice thing is a broken link now but I will fix it later.

3) Blogging about genetic engineering under the appropropriate post. this is not optional. do 10 minutes of research, read something, talk about it, read what others have posted. Form an opinion about what goes in your world or "the deciders" of the world will do it for you.

4) Relax some and be safe...it's prom weekend, so as the principal says, respect yourself as well.

Parent Conference Night

Thursday is Parent Conference Night for the school.

I have a mandatory meeting at the county that night so I cannot make it. SWD's make-up night is Monday, but I have class and cannot make that night either.

I will stay late Friday, April 21, from 4PM to 6PM to meet with any parents that want to meet with me. Parents can also contact me through the usual channels to set up a conference. I am unable to set up conferences for Mondays and Tuesdays.

Mr. Martin

Genetic engineering

Required reading.
Credit for writing.


Read the story about the low fat pigs. Find some resources, either web based or not, about genetic engineering. It should either summarize a technique or provide your opinion on a specific genetic engineering topic. Cite properly.

For example: do you think we should add genes to crops so that they are resistant to herbicides? Farmers can then use very harsh weed killers and their crops would survive without inhibition from weeds. Why is this is a good/bad thing?

DNA Model Assignment

DUE: Monday April 17

Checklist:
Has four rungs minimum
All parts are labeled (one set, or a legend)
One nucleotide is circled and labeled
It must be three dimensional

Mr. Martin

Assignments for Monday

On Monday, you will have a substitute.

You will go to the computer lab across the hall and work on your assignments independantly. If you need a key, see Ms. Mann (in 3205 next door to the lab) or Mr. Davidson (next door, 11th/12tyh grade office) or Ms Thomas in 3211.

Your assignments:
Turn on the computer and login, there is no password to login.
Go ot my web site: http://www.thinkdolearn.com/Biology/11DNA.htm, or http://www.thinkdolearn.com/Biology/ and click on the link for DNA: "The Genetic Material."

I've added some of the personalities as vocabulary words. You should know what they each did, and in which order they were done (dates are not important). You should understand how each person/team contributed a key piece of information to the final important discoveries: 1) That DNA, and not protein or any other substance, was the molecule of heredity and 2) The structure of DNA and why it ois in fact complex enough to be the molecule of heridity, and yet simple enough to be replicated.

There are several web sites for you to enjoy on the "DNA, From the Beginning" web site; check out the concept, animation, and problem links for each one.

After the three pages are examined and all activities complete, do the DNA lab bench activity on DNA replication.

You must then complete the quiz before class is over. It contains 15 questions; your scores will get automaticaly e-mailed to me so you must provide your full name.

If you finish early, start the DNA workbench activity for protein synthesis, and use the scilinks resources in your textbook for further understanding. If you find a cool link, post a comment here so your classmates can benefi as well.

That's it. I'll see you all on Tuesday! (Ps - two people from each class should print this out and give to the sub, then reply here that you done so.)

Mr. Martin

Midterm

Your midterm is Friday, March 17th. We will review some in class, go over your notes and the web site reviews. Don't stress too much over it.

Mr. Martin

Friday Update - Chromosomes

Read Chapter 6.
Quick lab on chromosome mutations is on today's outline.

6-1 - Chromosomes

6-2 - Cell cycle (veryy important)

6-3 - Stages of mitosis

The Math lab for 6-3 are aligned with the Biology Projects Onion lab. That is a mandatory lab next week (link is on the web site), but you can do it early. Your task is to add up the number in each category and calculate the amount of time the cells in each stage. Put it into Excel. Do the other activities on the web as well for enrichment.

Next week: Karyotype lab, bring Friday's assignments with you for review.

Mr. Martin

Anonymous postings

From here on out, all anonymous postings will be deleted. You MUST sign your name to your post or comment if you did not log in. Only first names are needed.

Chromatography data

We are about to start the lab in fourth period. Here is the actual data I collected in 3rd period (AP Biology).

Figure out R_f values:

Data (distance in mm):

Solvent traveled: 111mm
carotene: 109mm
xanthophyll: 43mm
chlorophyll a: 21mm
chlorophyll b: 11mm

To calculate the value: the distance pigment traveled divided by the distance the solvent traveled.

By Monday (the day after break) turn in the following:

Your Rf values (or calculate using mine)
A paragraph (5+ sentences) on how chromatography is used by actual people in the real world (scientists, CSI's, etc.)

Sub assignments 2/8/06

Someone please print these out, and comment so only one copy comes to class. You can help facilitate for the class.

I would like to continue the class project, but we'll have to do that Friday. Also, Palms are in and I want to kick that off too - Friday.

For Thursday, you have a sub. I hope. If not, you still have work.

1. Microscope - label the parts (from appendix)
2. Design experiments (back of microscope sheet) - form groups of 2-3 and design three experiments. Don't forget that a proper experiment has:

proper controls
only one variable
multiple sets
proper measurement methodology

3. Diagrams to label

A. Energy flow
B. Structures of photosynthesis

4. Diagram to use in group project

Photochemical (light) reactions

You may or may not be able to get your head around this one; it is complex. Do your best because this diagram is basically what you have to understand for the group projects due Monday.

I will be in the building; you can best get in touch with me through e-mail or the blog. Let me know how this goes.

Mr. Martin