Alien Bugs homework: 9/28 & 9/29

Yesterday and today in class we completed the following activity simulating Limiting Factors.  We did not have enough decks of cards so we substituted with dice.  Most every student was able to have the data collected prior to the end of class, but if that isn't the case for your student they are able to complete this at home.  All work should be completed in the students interactive journal and please ensure that the conclusion is not only completed but supported as well.

Worksheet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NqXT4MtQ9nWEpZUlN2UjM2Z2c/view?usp=sharing

Oh deer here come the wolves!!! Due 9/28 & 9/29

Today in class we began working on an activity detailing the predator and prey relationship as well as carrying capacity within an ecosystem.  Students were given 2 scenarios and were tasked with determining which would be the best long term for the population of deer in question.  They were also provided with 2 data charts they had to produce graphs for as well as answer 10 analysis/conclusion questions.  Students need to be sure to set their graphs up carefully with appropriate labels and be detailed in their conclusions being sure to provide support from the activity.

Worksheet:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NqXT4MtQ9nRVplcFZoVUNVZEU/view?usp=sharing

Food Web and Energy Pyramid Homework due 9/22 & 9/23

In class on Friday and Monday students took a quiz that covered standard 17.1 (Lessons 10.1 and 10.2 in the book).  Once the quiz was completed we graded the quizzes in class and grades were entered that period.  For the remainder of the period students began researching an ecosystem of their choosing and were tasked with creating a food web and energy pyramid for the ecosystem they decided to research.  Below are listed the expectations for the web and pyramid, and any work not completed in class was to be done for homework.

Food Web and Energy Pyramid:

1. Create a food web with 15-20 organisms that live in your ecosystem.  Be sure to label the arrows correctly

2. Create an energy pyramid based on the food web you designed.  Be sure to have the correct distribution of organisms (1-2 Tertiary consumers, 3-4 secondary consumers, 5-6 primary consumers, and 6-8 producers).

3. Be creative in the way that you put everything together and be sure to color your organisms as well.

Quiz covering 10.1 & 10.2 from the book!!!

Just a last minute reminder that students will be taking a 10 question checkpoint quiz covering standard 17.1, which deals with information in lesson 10.1 and 10.2.  Please be sure that you students spend time reviewing that information prior to coming to class on either Friday or Monday.

Food Chain Gizmo Homework: 9/16 & 9/17

Today in class students began working on the Food Chain gizmo.  Any work that wasn't completed in class is expected to be finished at home and turned in at the start of the next class.  The due date for A day classes is 9/18 and the due date for B day classes is 9/21.

Please be sure that students are being detailed in their responses, 1 word answers aren't acceptable!  Along with the exploration guide they were provided, they are responsible for completing the 5 assessment questions below the gizmo for credit as well.  If by chance a student can't find their exploration guide once they leave class they are able to print one from the website.  They just need to click on the gizmo assigned and click the tab/link that says lesson info, there they can download the for to be printed.

Gizmo homework: Growing Plants

Students were logged in and signed up for their Gizmo accounts yesterday and today in class and began working on their first Gizmo of the year, Growing Plants.  Students were given the exploration guide in class and any work that they were unable to finish in class is expected to be completed as homework.  If students have any problem logging on please email me and let me know at johnsonc7@duvalschools.org  This assignment is due at the start of the next class.

Gizmo class sign up information

Yesterday and today in class students signed up for their gizmo accounts and worked on their first assignment, Growing Plants.  Below I am going to post the class codes each class will need to register.  Students should have completed this prior to the end of class as they had at least 30 minutes to get signed up and begin working on the gizmo.  If for some reason a student wasn't able to get signed up in class below are the codes along with instructions.

2A: RBTXBGHN8Y

3A: BR5G34QQCM

4A: J52AYEZGMK

5B: 5EELMHGDTH

6B: 97KJFJJ9YV

7B: J2UA3GLAXD

8B: Gizmo's only allows me to have 6 class periods so students in this class were divided up into the other sections based on last names.  When students enter their appropriate class code I want the students in this section to create a new username and password so that when they have to enter their name they put 8B before their first name so I can differentiate them easily from the other students within that section.  For example: 8BJohn Smith, below you can find the breakdown by last name and what sections they should be registering for.

          A-C          Register with 2A
   
          D-G          Register with 3A

          H-K          Register with 4A

          L-R           Register with 5B

          S-Z           Register with 6B

First Quiz!!!

Students will be taking their first quiz on Tuesday and Wednesday.  It will cover all Scientific Knowledge/Investigation skills.  Students should focus on the information covered in Lessons 1 and 2 from unit 1.  There will be an option for a retake for those that don't do well on the quiz.

Homework due 9/8 & 9/9

In class we introduced our shark tracking activity.  Students learned about the group OCEARCH and the role that they play in marine conservation, specifically sharks.  They have a website that shows real time data for sharks they have tagged around the world, which we will use throughout the year.  Students were asked to choose a shark from their website and record basic information onto the worksheet provided to them in class.  If this wasn't completed during the time given in class students are expected to complete it at home.  Parents if you are interested please take the time to go to their website www.ocearch.org and have your students tell you about what we are learning.  It is a very interactive and fun website!

Also students were asked to read lesson 1.1 in their book (it starts on page 6) and complete the lesson review, which will need to be turned in at the start of their next class.  For this lesson I am not requiring students to answer the questions that are embedded within the text, only the lesson review.

Science baseline and Homework for 9/1 & 9/2

Today in class students took the 7th Grade Science District Baseline assessment.  As soon as we receive the results students will get a print out detailing how they did.  This is a very important tool for us as it helps to guide the instruction your children will receive throughout the year.

Once we completed the baseline a worksheet was handed out the detailed 4 different scenarios.  Students were asked to identify the Independent/Dependent variables as well as control groups.  If a student was unable to complete the worksheet they need to open the link below and be sure to have this completed in the Right hand side of their Journal prior to the next meeting of class.

Identifying Variables worksheet:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NqXT4MtQ9nTkFUVWZkNDlkMGs/view?usp=sharing