Accel+Sci+8

Accel Sci 8

Here is today's assignment to get you started on background on the life is. You will write a short paper (1 page) that answers the questions posed and summarizes the key ideas related to the reading. This is due Monday!
 * 9-7 Fri**

I have reposted the links outside of the document. See if this helps. [] [] []

Go outside and gather items to study in lab.
 * 9-10 Mon**

Continue with recording observations of the items gathered outside. Also write down any questions that arise as you observe the items. The items are to be cataloged and detailed as much as possible. Share your plans for your nature study and your year-long investigation. Questions?
 * 9-11 Tue**

Finish recording observations of items gathered outside. Split into work groups and categorize all items into 3 categories. Create a word document. In a text box, name each category and list the items in that category. Next to that, make another text box and give the parameters that were used to determine how or why the items are in that group. Save it to a folder in the S-Drive titled Classifying-(your first names). S-Drive>High School>Science>Kramerscience>Accel Sci 8
 * 9-12 Wed**

Complete recording observations of collected items. Complete the word document assignment described in the Wed entry above. Read about taxonomy on the following links. [|Taxonomy] [|More on taxonomy] Go to Quia and do the Classifying survey I have set up for you. As a class, we will need to decide on a name and a number to assign each item that was collected and record them.
 * 9-13 Thu**

As a class, you will need to assign a name and number to each item in our class collection.
 * 9-14 Fri**

Review the following sites to learn about dichotomous keys [|Dichotomous Keys - Basic Description] [|Dichotomous Key Example] [|Dichotomous Key Flow Chart]

You will then need to create a dichotomous key that will lead the user to the identification of each item. This can be done in groups of 2-3. Each person should write down the key and have it in his/her notebook.

Save all notes and drawings regarding your study of the items!

In groups, construct your dichotomous key that will allow someone who uses it to correctly identify any of the items we collected from outside. I am planning on giving you today and tomorrow to do this. A helpful hint is to stick to yes/no (either/or) questions or statements and work from general to specific observations.
 * 9-17 Mon**

Also, please go to Quia when you get a chance and let me know what you are thinking about for a long-term investigation this year. Enter your response on a survey titled "My Long-term Investigation".

Continue working on creating a dichotomous key for the items collected from outside. Also, please get the Quia survey from Monday done as soon as you can.
 * 9-18 Tue**

Go outside today to start individual collections of specimens. If you missed class today, you could go out and start collecting on your own and bring the items in with you. Any leaves should be press between sheets on paper to dry flat and stay intact.
 * 9-19 Wed**

Outside again today! We will take advantage of another wonderful day and collect more specimens while the getting is good.
 * 9-20 Thu**

Logan had a great idea - bringing extra zip-lock bags. This is really helpful if you want to collect leaf and bark sample (which are obviously separate) and keep them together so you know they are from the same tree. Brilliant Logan - way to advance our scientific study! You guys are really starting to show some creativity and innovation!

Complete your dichotomous keys today and hand them in.
 * 9-21 Fri**

You will start some background training that will assist you in your filed studies and cataloging your collections. Check out the following sites that will give you some background knowledge that pertains to your area of study. I want EVERYONE to check out both sites, even if you are focusing on only one area for your collection. Take detailed notes on anything that you feel will be helpful to you in identifying your specimens. [|Intro to "bugs"] [|Intro to leaves]

Continue with the two intro activities from Friday. Remember that I want you to go through both of them, but focus more on the area that you are including in your collection. Here is some information on preserving and displaying insect specimens. [|Keeping "bugs"]
 * 9-24 Mon**

Going outside today! We will take advantage of a little extra warmth today to gather some more samples.
 * 9-25 Tue**

Sort through specimens to discard duplicates and narrow down to the ones that will be used for display. Start searching for a good online key/guide to aid in identifying your specimens. Remember that I need to have your survey results regarding your long-term investigation. I need to have this by Friday!
 * 9-26 Wed**

Were are going outside again today to focus on trees! We will also gather any additional specimens along the way. AGAIN, remember that I need to have your survey results regarding your long-term investigation. I need to have this by Friday!
 * 9-27 Thu**

The nice weather holds and we investigate the park today. This is the last day outside for now. Collect samples and get them processes upon return.
 * 10-1 Mon**

Stemming off of your earlier look at leaves and leaves online, you will need to answer the questions posed in the document below.
 * 10-2 Tue**

Continue identifying and labeling your collections. Make them neat and well organized. All specimens should have a scientific name that identifies them. A scientifically acceptable common name will work, but try and find the genus species name for each.
 * 10-3 Wed**

I will be reading your entries on the Quia survey "My Long-term Investigation" and will be questioning you about your choice as we need to get this process started. If your Quia survey is not done, IT MUST BE DONE NOW!

Lastly, I have set up a new Quia survey that I would like you to take. The survey is called "Checkpoint 10.3.12"

Continue identifying your collection specimens. You will now take that process to the next level and the following document will help guide you in that process.
 * 10-4 Thu**

Continue working on identifying specimens and work hard toward nailing down the taxonomic levels for each specimen. Please take the survey titled "Taxonomy" on Quia when you are ready. To prepare for this, you need to know what binomial nomenclature is, some history leading up to the classification we have today and people who have contributed to the process of taxonomy.
 * 10-5 Fri**

Continued on collection taxonomy. Please review the past several Quia surveys that were required of you and get them done! Thank you.
 * 10-8 Mon**

Briefly discuss the "longest, fastest fall to Earth". An attempt at breaking the world skydiving record is occurring today in New Mexico! Get as close as possible to wrapping up collection taxonomy by the end of tomorrow.
 * 10-9 Tue**

[|Jolene's great plant site!] [|Bradyn's "bug finder"]
 * Here are some very helpful sites for processing your collections;**

Class is in the Ag room today due to testing Discuss preparation for Friday's field trip Continue working on collection taxonomy
 * 10-10 Wed**

To give more meaning to our discussions tomorrow, please work on the following document and get as far as you possibly can. When you get done, you can go back to your collections.
 * 10-11 Thu**

Here is the document for the second site which you apparently cannot access from the primer above.


 * 10-12 Fri**
 * FIELD TRIP!**

Felix Baumgartner did it! The world skydiving record has been broken after being aborted several days ago. I posted the original video of the jump in the Videos and Podcasts page link on this wiki. There are a couple of videos regarding the record jump from 1960 ahead of it, so make sure you look for Felix's name to get yesterday's jump. "Pop" Quiz on the material discussed on our field last Friday. You will have today and tomorrow to complete the taxonomy for your collections. Continue working on them after the quiz.
 * 10-15 Mon**

Last day for class collection work!!! Due Monday. Any left to do after today will have to be on your own.
 * 10-16 Tue**

TEST COMING ON CELL THEORY MATERIAL AND THE ITEMS FROM THE FILED TRIP! Discussion of testable material
 * 10-17 Wed**

Continued discussion of testable material. This has been a GREAT discussion with intriguing questions during our conversation. TEST MONDAY. This will be a "power test". You will start with a blank sheet of paper and go to it! I will have a list of terms that will need to be covered in your test. I am posting the prompt for the test here so you can prepare for it. Feel free to include diagrams to enhance your descriptions/explanations. The best approach if to
 * 10-18 Thu**

TEST!
 * 10-22 Mon**

Complete the test today.
 * 10-23 Tue**

Go to Quia and take the survey titled "Is This Thing Alive?" Then... Go to the following sites and generate a basic list in your notes of the __main__ characteristics of living things. What makes something "living"? [|Characteristics of Living Things] [|More Characteristics of Living Things] [|Still More on Characteristics of Living Things] [|The Last Link on Characteristics of Living Things]
 * 10-24 Wed**

Go to the following site and compile a list of basic cell terms and their functions in your notes. Include a drawing with each term. [|Cell Terminology]
 * 10-30 Tue**

When you are done with the cell terminology assignment above, address the following on a sheet of paper for me and hand in to the daily tray. 1. What topic have you decided on for your long-term investigation (LTI)? 2. What do you currently know about your topic? Share your background on it. 3. What are some things you would like to learn about your topic? Be specific as possible. 4. How will knowledge gained from this project help you in YOUR future? 5. Is your topic and the knowledge you gain from it impact your community or our society as a whole?
 * 10-31 Wed**

Read the info on the following sites regarding Super Storm Sandy. This is a major historical event in the world of weather. You may want to click on other links that relate to the storm. [|Sandy 1] [|Sandy 2] [|Sandy 3] ASSIGNMENT: Create a HAND-WRITTEN and well-organized paper that tells me about what you read and be sure to include the following elements. 1) What factors allowed this storm to develop so uniquely and become so damaging? __2) Specific things__ that you learned and/or found interesting about this big event. 3) Incorporate some of the far-reaching effects this storm has has beyond just the east coastal areas that were hit with the brunt of the storm?
 * 11-1 Thu**
 * Hand the paragraph into the Daily tray when done. This is due Monday.**

If have a passion for writing and would like to exercise your writing prowess in a competitive manner, you might want to check this out. **Let me know ASAP if you are interested.**
 * __// WRITING OPPORTUNITY //__**

Using the the list of cell structures that you already have as a guide, view the following site, [|Cell Tutorial], and read about prokaryotes v. eukaryotes and list the main characteristics of each. Then look at plant v. animal cells. Draw a diagram of a plant cell and an animal cell and label the position, structure and function of each structure in each cell. You can omit the extra structures that are not on your main structure list that you already have. Try constructing a cell at the end of the activity. Keep your cell notes and diagrams for review and discussion.
 * 11-5 Mon**


 * 11-7 Wed**
 * Hand your cell diagrams into the daily tray when they are completed. Make sure they are neat, orderly and that I can easily read them and follow the arrangement of them.
 * Today, you can start researching your LTI. I want you to create a log of your activity (i.e. articles, images, etc) in one form or another. You can do this in a notebook, electronically, or both. I will have checkpoints for you along the way to keep tabs on your progress. You can accumulate information, but you also need to break down, summarize or synthesize your information as you go. In other words, I do NOT want a mountain of copied information from which you think you will merely paste excerpts from and call it a project! As part of your log, you should have a summary of any key points you gathered from each session that you think will add to your investigation.

Standardized testing today.
 * 11-8 Thu**

Work on LTI research today. During your LTI, you should be compiling a daily log of your advancement/discoveries. This can be in your notebook or digital. You also should be saving images that you think you might want to use in your presentation and keep a list of sources that you will need for your bibliography. It would be wise to develop a system of organizing all of the material that you gather along the way. You can always weed out stuff you don't need later.
 * 11-9 Fri**

Today, you will work on how one cell becomes another. This should be a bit of a review from 6th grade science and Human Growth and Development. Read the short descriptions, view the illustrations and ultimately draw the progression of cell division for mitosis and meiosis. [|Cell Divsion] [|Mitosis and Meiosis]
 * 11-12 Mon**

11-19-12 Mon Remember that I should have these things from each of you thus far. If not, get them done first and give them to whichever Mr. Kramer is there. (?) Once I am notified that you have turned these in (my email link in on the Home page here, I can give you at least most credit for now until I fully review them later. Take Cell Quiz 1 on Quia. Continue your LTI research today and tomorrow. Use your time wisely! You will need every bit of that and more. I expect you to learn a lot and present it well as you teach the rest of us about your topic later in your presentation. Here are some additional thoughts I had about your research by general topic.
 * Energy
 * What is the impact of buying up of technology that should be helping us and delaying it implementation?
 * Is gas mining really going to be a savior for us or is it just prolonging our agony and keeping us from other answers?
 * How do other countries compare to us in the quest for solving energy demand and supply?
 * Try and apply the first two laws of thermodynamics to your research.
 * Hunting/Animal Management
 * Why are wolves being reintroduced in area?
 * Should they be brought in and then hunted?
 * Discuss trophic levels, food chains and niches.
 * Do coyotes serve the same purpose as wolves in the food chain?
 * What are both the positive and negative long term effects of the breeding of refined species.
 * Health
 * What is the physiological cause of the condition you are studying?
 * How much of the condition is attributed to nature?... nurture?
 * Is the condition you are studying related to a condition being studied by a classmate or other well-known conditions?
 * Can the issue of stem cells be tied into your research? Is there a role for them in treatment?
 * What are the zones of the brain and what does each zone do for us?
 * What is epigenetics and can it be related to your research?
 * How does the body produce its own electrical current that is use in brain and nerve function?
 * Weather
 * Include some economic impacts from natural weather disasters.
 * Global warming?
 * Explain the corollas effect and its influence on both our local and global weather patterns.
 * Include and apply some basic principles of pressure, temperature, humidity, energy, etc to your research.

I will allow and even promote some collaboration between you guys as part of your research. It will allow you to share info, enrich your results and enhance your final presentations. Although, I you are each responsible for doing your own projects, there are portions that you could overlap and do together and both you and we could benefit from a higher quality experience as a result of this process.

It is important to provide us with depth and understanding of your topic, so please make sure you grasp what you are gathering and relaying to us. Do not spew out stuff that you do not understand because that is pointless. Good luck!

Here is a nice animation of mitosis in which the viewer can control to speed of the sequence. [|Mitosis Animation]
 * 11-27 Tue**

Try these cell games to see how well you do. [|Animal Cell Game] [|Plant Cell Game] [|Bacteria]

DNA to protein. media type="youtube" key="983lhh20rGY" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="41_Ne5mS2ls" height="315" width="420" media type="custom" key="21589572" View the presentations linked above and answer the related questions below.
 * 11-28 Wed**
 * 1) What are the two types of RNA mentioned in these presentations and what is the role of each?
 * 2) What is transcription?
 * 3) What is translation?
 * 4) What are the four letters that are represented in the strands of DNA and RNA, and what do those letters represent?
 * 5) What is a codon?
 * 6) What is an anti-codon?
 * 7) What is an amino acid?
 * 8) What make up the “sides of the ladder” in the DNA and RNA structures respectively?
 * 9) What make up the “steps of the ladder” in the DNA and RNA structures respectively?
 * 10) What does it mean to say the DNA and RNA strands are complimentary?
 * 11) What is the role of the ribosomes?

Work through the links on this document. Take any notes you need to and do the practice problems in your notebook.
 * 12-7 Fri**

Continue working on Friday's punnett square assignment. Complete it for Tuesday.
 * 12-10 Mon**

Class discussion about "the big picture" - the connection between cell division, genes, protein synthesis, and the punnett square (heredity). It all comes together to common purpose - to build a biological individual. The following assignment is due for Wednesday.
 * 12-11 Tue**

We went over the worksheet on codominance from Wed. and engaged in a rather lengthy discussion.
 * 12-14 Fri**

In our discussion on Friday, I mentioned the concept of "epigenetics", which is of increasing interest and intrigue in the world of genetics and evolution. Watch the interactive audio slide show on the link below to get some background on this topic. [|Epigenetics]
 * 12-17 Mon**

Today we will be discussing and practicing crosses involving more then one pair alleles.

Notes on basic and applied scientific research were handed out in class. Also read the following articles on scientific research. It presents an interesting viewpoint. We will discuss this next week. It is the potential discussion that I had to bite my tongue on, so as to not chew up a lot of class time discussing due to the test.
 * 1-4 Fri**

Here is a video of the towel-folding robot... for whatever it's worth. media type="custom" key="21852684"

Here is a the semester test review item list for the final on Thursday.
 * 1-15 Tue**

We start the mini-engineering project today. Students have two class periods to make a round mint container roll down a ramp as far along a center line on the floor as possible. They will be graded on Friday. Deductions will be made for distance off of the center line. Other motion calculations regarding their rolling container will also be made as part of the lab report for this project.
 * 1-23 Wed**

Here is the worksheet for the Motion Mini-Project
 * 2-1 Fri**

Please open the following spreadsheet and carefully enter your data from your motion project on it in the appropriate places. Save your updated version to the Accel Sci 8 folder in the S-Drive titled "MMP-(//names)"//
 * 2-4 Mon**

Complete your Motion Mini-Project calculations. Enter then on the spreadsheet provided above and re-save it titled as described above. Then save a copy to the Accel Sci 8 folder in the S-Drive.
 * 2-5 Tue**

When done with that, view the power point on atoms and take notes on the progression of what humans thought of the atom and how the perception of the atom changed throughout time.

You should have your mini-project data and calculations completed, entered onto the spreadsheet posted above (Mon), and saved in the Accel Sci 8 folder in the S-Drive. After you have viewed and taken notes on the Power Point on atom models, work on the. This will be an extension of the introductory power point that was previously posted. After these two assignments, you should have a good basic understanding of the atom and its structure.
 * 2-6 Wed**

__//** OPPORTUNITY! **//__ If you have an interest in engineering and/or Legos, here is something that seems intriguing. Check out the document, save it/print it/etc, and check into it if you want.

Continue with the Atom Builder Web Guide today. Try building a stable atom at the end. It's a fun little activity.
 * 2-7 Thu**

As a result of studying the power point and the atom builder activity, I want you to submit to me a hand-written/drawn 1-page document (like a mini-poster, containing illustrations and text) that represents the evolution of human perception of the atom. It should include names, dates, atom models, and include concepts/terms such as nucleus, proton, neutron, electron, elementary/fundamental, quarks, energy levels, electron cloud and so on. The different models should reflect the major changes as well as ideas that lived on from one model to another.


 * 2-11 Mon**

IMPORTANT NOTES: [|Revised Motion Mini-Project Data]
 * Below is a link to a NEW spreadsheet on which you can enter your REVISED Motion Mini-Project data.
 * Do not re-enter your corrections (revisions) on the old spreadsheet and do NOT save it to the S-Drive.
 * Make sure your data is under the appropriate heading and do not enter anything in the blank columns. Just close out after your data is entered and and it will be saved.

Test of motion review items tomorrow - review sheet handed out in class. You can click on [|Motion Quiz 3 Review] and use this as additional practice. Your summary document that paraphrases each section of the epigenetics article is due today. We will briefly discuss the article tomorrow.
 * 2-12 Tue **

Motion Quiz 3 on Quia today. Scratch paper on calculator can be used, but no notes. After the motion quiz, take the Atom Quiz on Quia. No resources should be used for this quiz. If time is left over, check out the [|Orbit Simulator] link that has to do planetary motion. You can change some variables, including the eccentricity ("ovalness") of Planet X to see how it affects it motion. Also note the path of the comet. You can zoom out to see the relative sizes and shapes of the orbits.
 * 2-13 Wed **

If you have not handed in your one-page mini poster on the evolution of atomic theory, please get that done and handed in! View this great video by good ole Mr. Nye! media type="youtube" key="EeLL3yCea4c" height="315" width="420"
 * 2-14 Thu **


 * 2-15 Fri**

An asteroid will pass closer to Earth than some of the satellites we have out there! Pay attention to the story today! Check out the [|asteroid] link to read the full story!

Also, a meteor (unrelated to the asteroid) entered the atmosphere and exploded over Russia, showering pieces down to Earth, causing loud booms and some damage. I have posted a neat video of it below. Click on this [|meteor] link for more about it. media type="custom" key="22207188"

Great review and discussion this week! Our free-flow discussion on Wednesday really demonstrated your potential and ability to think critically! I was quite proud of your intensity and focus! We have our test on Monday on the following:
 * 2-28 Thu**
 * Atomic Theory
 * States of Matter
 * Pressure
 * Gas Laws
 * Fluid Principles
 * Archimedes'
 * Bernoulli's
 * Pascal's
 * Matter Concept Map

To help you prepare, you have many notes from last year of course, but I have also opened up the following items on Quia for additional practice.
 * Atom Quiz
 * States of Matter Quiz
 * Pressure Quiz
 * Gas Laws and Fluid Principles Quiz
 * Matter Concept Map Test

[|Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy]
 * Here is a neat little simulation for Archimedes' principle (thanks to Mrs. Kramer!)

We will also try something new. I will set up a Google Doc for you to post questions over the weekend and I will try my best to check it a few times and answer them for all to see. This will give you a jump on getting some answers on trouble spots before Monday. [|Test Questions for Monday?]

Particle Test today. It will be completed tomorrow.
 * 3-4 Mon**

Snow Day
 * 3-5 Tue**

Get started on the for now. This will lead into some fun labs in the near future.
 * 3-6 Wed**

We will be working on the Properties Lab this week. The P & C Properties Web Guide should be completed and handed in.
 * 3-11 Mon**

With the news of comet PANSTARRS, I want you to do the following assignment that is due for Monday. Go to the following links and read about comets. On the second link, click on the Read More tab for additional information. Also, check out the menu link on the left of the site to read a bit more about the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. [|Comets 1] [|Comets 2] [|Comets v Asteroids] Hand-write a short essay that covers the following:
 * 3-14 Thu**
 * What is a comet?
 * How is it different from an asteroid?
 * How big to they tend to be?
 * Why does a comet have a tail? Does it always have a tail?
 * Where do they come from?
 * Why does it take so long between their appearances to us on Earth?
 * What are some commonly know comets and their periods (the spans of time between their appearances).
 * Do they pose any potential threat to Earth, and if so, how?

Hand out notes on solubility and discuss them. Discuss how to use a solubility chart/graph. Hand out and assign solubility chart questions - assigned for Tuesday.
 * 3-18 Mon**

Go over the solubility chart assignment. Work on assignment for Wednesday.
 * 3-19 Tue**

Here is a preliminary outline of items you can look at to prep are for the final exit exam. Remember that this exit exam can determine whether or not you advance to Biology in 9th grade.
 * 5-25 Sat**

We have our LTI presentations this week, starting today with the 3 camp counselors who will not be with us for the next few days. We will resume with the rest on Wednesday. I will have questions and comments after the presentations. These may be addressed verbally in class or as a follow-up written response. I might even handle this through a wiki discussion forum.
 * 5-28 Tue **

There are a couple of items that need cleaning up before I wrap up grades and give my recommendations for advancement to Biology. 1) Do the __**LTI Presentation Questions**__ //__survey__// on Quia. This is required and it will be a part of your LTI grade. The content, accuracy and quality of your answer matters. Make sure you address all aspects what I posted for you. **Although I set it up for you to see each other's questions and responses, you should only address the question with your name on it!** 2) Do the __**"Now What?"**__ __//survey//__ on Quia. This is required. 3) I should have all of your notes, paperwork, etc. that serve as evidence of your research/work on your LTI in addition to your visuals, power points, etc. that were used in your presentation.
 * 6-3 Mon**

I hope everyone realizes that there are a couple of "clean-up" items that NEED to be done and are graded! They are posted above. I made it clear that there would be follow-up questions after the presentations that would be posted. The grades must be done by June 7, so any posts that are not done by that time will be zeros and entered on Infonow! The ones that are done were very interesting and of generally high quality.
 * 6-6 Thu**