Links for Class Today--March 29, 2013

Good Morning Devils and Good Afternoon Tweeties!

Today in class you will be taking part in a webquest.  You should have a hard copy of the quest and here is the link to it:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/photosynthesis.html#

Once you have completed the webquest you may see Mr. Greg for the Photosynthesis Section Summary reading and questions.  This will help reinforce what we have learned this week.

Also, check out these helpful links:

Helpful Animation

Photosynthesis Song!

Chloroplast and Chlorophyll

Remember that you can also take some time to work on your Photosynthesis A-Z sheet!

I'd also like to reinforce that both groups did a wonderful job this week!  We are very impressed with your work ethic, positive interaction, and critical thinking skills.

Enjoy the Weekend!

Photosynthesis Notes

Hi All,

Here are some notes from class from Megan and a very helpful illustration made by Callie Decker!  Hope you find this helpful.

Notes from Class

Equation Illustration


Also here is a helpful link with a interactive illustration of photosynthesis:  http://lifesciences.envmed.rochester.edu/movies/photosynthesis.swf

Wednesday, March 28, 2013

The Chemical Equation for Photosynthesis

Today in class, our scientists constructed and solved the equation for photosynthesis.  At the start of class we thought that the equation for photosynthesis was this....

BEFORE

After posting our formula, we discussed what molecules and which ones are present in photosynthesis (water, carbon dioxide, glucose, and oxygen).  We then broke down the equation from the ground up and, thanks to our new knowledge of coefficients and subscripts were able to construct the equation!!

AFTER:

JOB WELL DONE SCIENTISTS!

Stomata Lab Sheet

When you have finished your scientific drawings....

Click on the following link to reflect and answer the Pots-Lab Analysis questions:

Stomata Lab Sheet

March 27th - Stomata Lab

Here are images of the Kale leave under 400 magnification.  The circled items are the stomatal openings on the leaf.  What do you think is happening when they are open?

Tuesday March 26, 2013

Photosynthesis: Exploring the Cell

During today's lesson we investigated further into the process of photosynthesis.  We even took a look into the plant cell and explored the organelles such as chloroplasts, which play a pivotal role in photosynthesis, by using the iCell app on the iPad.

Tonight, our scientists will be getting creative and finding a way to illustrate their understanding of photosynthesis.  Some options include drawing a picture (with color!), writing a story, or perhaps a poem.

At the end of class, Mr. Greg read "Oh Say Can you Seed?" from The Cat in the Hat's Reading Library.  Here are some clips from the book for inspiration!

Our students work to compare to Dr. Seuss.

Monday, March 25th 2013

Photosynthesis

Today in science we introduced our new unit on Photosynthesis.  Photosynthesis is the process by which a cell captures energy in sunlight and uses it to make its own food (a type of sugar called glucose).

As a class we focused on a few key terms to know when learning about photosynthesis such as autotrophs, heterotrophs, pigments, chlorophyll, and stomata.

Tomorrow, we will start to dive deeper into the the process of photosynthesis.  The reading for tonight will help reinforce our new understanding of how organisms get energy.  The reading will also introduce the two stages of photosynthesis.

Here is the link for the reading from our Science Explorer text.

We also took the time to watch this three minute video from Discovery's "Greatest Scientific Discovery" series and learned about the experiments that enabled Priestly and Ingenhousz to "discover" photosynthesis.

Wednesday -Thursday 20- 21st - Study Guide and Comparing Active and Passive Transport

Today we made a comparison between active and passive transport using a Double Bubble graphic organizer.

Here are some pictures of the carousel activity that we completed Wednesday.

Here is a link to the the online BBC Webquest.  I emailed this to your school accounts as well in a Pages format so you can type right into it.

Here is the Cell Transport Study Guide for Friday's Quiz.

Here is a final BBC Video that is very good on osmosis and diffusion.

Here are a few good review question on plant cell osmosis.

Here is a great visual of the effect of osmosis and blood cells.

Here is a look into today's review session using a cafe style review technique.

Egg Osmosis Lab

Here is the link to the Egg Osmosis Lab if you want to attempt it.
Download the directions here.

Active Transport - March 18th 2013

Today we were introduced to the second form of cell transport, active transport.
Active transport is when energy is needed to be used to move molecules from low concentration to high concentration across a cell membrane.  Often in this form of transport, transport proteins are used to aid the process.

Here is an image of active transport.

Here is a link comparing of active and passive transport.

Here is a video showing active transport in terms of the sodium/ potassium pump.

March 14th - Onion Cell Osmosis Lab

Here is the lab we completed today looking at osmosis and red onion cells.
Click here to access lab.

Background:

A substance that dissolves in another substance is called a solute, and the more plentiful substance that does the dissolving is called the solvent.  In living things, water is the solvent.  The mixture of solute and solvent is called a solution. Solute and solvent tend to diffuse from areas where their concentration is high to areas where their concentration is lower.  When water moves from higher concentration of water to lower concentration of water through a cell membrane, it is called osmosis. 

Here is the cell before the salt solution was added.

Here is the cell after the salt solution was added.

Notice the decrease in size of the vacuole as the water is diffused out of it.

March 12th - Diffusion Lab

Today we completed a lab on diffusion.

The essential question was - How do cells move molecules in and out of their membranes?

Here is the Introduction of the lab:

In this lab you will observe the diffusion of a substance across a semi-permeable membrane. We will model cell membranes using a plastic bag and explore movement of molecules when we change the concentration of substances.  Iodine is a known indicator for starch. An indicator is a substance that changes color in the presence of the substance it indicates. 

Here is a link to the lab.

Here are some photos of the before and after.  The iodine diffused through the bag and reacted with the starch turning it purple!

Students need to complete the post-lab for homework.

Monday March 11th - Cell Transport

Today we will be starting a Unit on Cell Transport (active and passive).

Here are the notes from today's class.  Click here to access.
Today in class we will add to these notes filling in examples of each of the vocabulary terms from demonstrations performed in class.


Here are some interactive links showing diffusion of molecules - a form of passive transport.

Wisc-Online - The Cell Passive Transport Demo

Northland College - Passive Transport Demo

Happy World Science Day!!!!

The World Education Games is an annual global online challenge to get all students (4-18 years of age) excited about learning, and to give the top students in all schools an opportunity to see how they measure up against the best in the world. Last year, over 5 million students were a part of what is now the world’s largest online education event. 

Here is the link to the competition - Click here

Question of the Day- March 4th

What was Sutton's breakthrough discovery in genetics?  Why was this discovery important to us?

Email Mr. Greg the answer.  First correct answer wins!

Meiosis vs Mitosis - Week of March 4th

When you are done your DNA models, check them with a teacher and then start work on the Mitosis vs Meiosis 
Webquest below.
Mitosis vs Meiosis Webquest Worksheet.

After you have completed the webquest view a few of the below videos.  Pay close attention to the following:
1. How many daughter cells are found at the end of each cell division?
2. What is the function of each division and which cells do they occur in?
3. How many chromosomes are found in the daughter cells compared to the mother cells?
4. How many divisions and interphases does each go through?

Visual showing mitosis vs meiosis - McGraw Hill

Nova Online- How Cells Divide

Homework study link and in class reference.
A great comparison chart of mitosis and meiosis

Interactive Games
Dragon Meiosis - Interactive Game
Please run in Safari so that it has the correct Adobe Flash

Snurfle Meiosis and Genetics
Cute Game

Fling the Teacher Meiosis
This is hard but fun!

Cell Division Study Guide -

Download the Study Guide Here

Link to Cell Division Study Guide Quizlet

Study Guide: Cell Cycle Assessment 

Prepare to answer the following questions:

1. What is the cell cycle & why does it occur?

2. What are the 3 major stages & at which stage do cells spend the most time?

3. What major events occur during interphase?

Mitosis: Prophase, metaphase, anaphase & telophase

•  Know mitosis stages by picture 
•  Know the order of the stages 
•  Know what occurs in each stage

4. What is cytokinesis?

• How does it differ in animals and plants?

5. What makes up a chromosome? The different parts. 

6. What makes up a DNA? The different parts. 

7. What is meiosis? Be able to compare and contrast meiosis and mitosis

• type of cells they occur in 
• # of cells they have at the end of division 
• # of chromosomes compared to the parental cell are they genetically varied?

Cell Division- Meiosis vs Mitosis- March 1st

Today we are completing the DNA Structure Models.
Here are some pictures from the construction stages.

When you are done your models, check them with a teacher and then start work on the Mitosis vs Meiosis Webquest below.

Mitosis vs Meiosis Webquest Worksheet.