Wednesday, 9/29

Today, we bookmarked the Astrobiology textbook website that has lots of related websites, some of which we'll be using with each chapter. Go to www.its-about-time.com and click on "curicula" then on Astrobiology (under high school courses!), then on "Chapter Support." Bookmark that page.

Today, we played Bingo and Pictionary about the planets, moons and other Astrobiology related bodies as an introduction to Chapter 2. We will be doing the other activities for this chapter in the upcoming week and will then be doing a project called "Location, Location, Location!"

The tabloids were awesome! They are now located on your child's laptop on NoteShare, so check them out!

Tuesday, 9/28

Today in class we read the beginning of Chapter 2 and discussed the Challenge - "Location, Location, Location."

Students are working on the Challenge for Chapter 1 right now (their Position Paper) using points on p 30 (Taking a Stand) They have to choose 2 of the statements and write a paper (using the constructed response format) stating their position. This would be a constructed response for two of the statements.

This position paper needs to be in their noteshare journal by Friday, October 2.

Sunday, 9/26

Friday, we applied the Drake Equation (click on Frank Drake to the right!) to try to estimate how many planets and moons might hold life. Monday, we will be debating some important points at the end of chapter 1 so that we can "take a stand" for the challenge!

YEAAAAA, PATS!! :)

Wednesday, 9/22

Yesterday, I collected the Time Capsules and they are now safely stored at my house until June! Students have set up their Winogradsky Columns in the back of the classroom. They are working on research teams and will study their columns for the entire year.

Today, students are finishing up their pseudoscience articles today and will present them tomorrow. Our last activities will be using the Drake Equation to estimate how many planets and moons might harbor life. Student will then debate in class some fundamental questions and will choose 2 topics (in the textbook) to write about.

I'm looking forward to meeting you at open house tomorrow!

Friday, 9/17

Monday is MUD DAY! Come prepared for your Winogradsky Column construction! I have some spoons, a couple of bowls, measuring spoons, etc, but other items are gratefully accepted. Wear something you can get dirty. I have some gloves, but if anyone has extras, I would love to have some, too!

I will bring some hardboiled egg yolks and I will round up some chalk for the calcium. Some students have asked about bringing in extra ingredients (charcoal briquette, sawdust, etc.) You'll have to send those items.

These columns will be studied throughout the school year. We've got some really creative and funny "pseudoscience" articles on the laptops. These will be presented on Thursday of next week! For more ideas for the column, go to http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/special_collections/winogradsky.html for some additional ideas!

Don't forget your time capsules! They are due Tuesday, 9/21!

Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday, 9/15/10

Today was a short day, so we finished up our journaling of the pairs of photos (of Earth and other worlds - Mars and Europa) and why they are similar. Tomorrow, students will be working with pseudoscience and how to look at articles to determine whether it is a legitimate article or pseudoscience. Students will then do an astrobiology "tabloid story" using pages (one of the programs on their laptops) These will be presented in class. They will have the period Friday to work on their tabloid article and/or to plan for their Winogradsky Column construction on Monday. Students have determined who will be doing what on Monday.

I will bring in some eggs and we can grind up some chalk for the calcium. There are many websites that have ideas for construction of the columns. I have already had a couple of students ask if they can add other items to their columns. They can check with me about this.

The time capsules are due on Tuesday, 9/21. I will not be calling for any other components. We will assemble them together on Tuesday. Remember, this will count as a project.

Monday, 9/13

Today, we watched a podcast of an astrobiologist constructing a Winogradsky Column. We are constructing their columns a week from today, Monday, 9/20. The Winogradsky Column is a "microbial mat" that they will study throughout the year. I will put the link to the right of this posting. Just click on the Winogradsky Column photo!

They have broken themselves into "research groups" and will work with the column for the entire school year with this group (this is only for the column!) Each group chose who would collect the mud and water, whether they would use a 1-Liter bottle or a 2-Liter bottle, who would do the Latitude and Longitude of where they collected their sample, whether the sample would be from a tidal area or pond/river area, who would be the "researcher" and collector of data, using the Proscope (a kind of "scope on a rope" that they use on the CSI shows, etc.

We also tried to open our Noteshare so that they could begin to write there. Hopefully, they will be able to show parents and guardians their journal soon. It didn't work period 1, but did period 2. Ahhhhh, technology! :)

Sunday, 9/12 (during the Pats game!)

Parents & Guardians, This week students began to think about just what Astrobiology IS and began to think about just what "life" is. They deciphered a "message from outer space." The message was really part of the Aricebo Message sent out in 1974. Students will need to get into "research groups" and will set up their Winogradsky Columns. Please start collecting 2-liter bottles and look for areas to collect mud and water. We will be building our columns next week.

I have set up a Noteshare file for each student. Ask your student to show you his/her folder! This is where they will do all journaling and where they will drop their projects for the year.

I'm looking forward to my third year teaching Astrobiology and I have 2 great classes this year!

Tuesday, 9/7

Today in Astrobiology we discussed and debated the 3 "initial questions" assigned last week. Each class came up with a tentative list of what constitutes life.

In Period 1, the characteristics were: locomotion, has cells, needs water, consume something to get energy, respiration, produces waste, and grows.

In Period 2, characteristics were: either predator or pray, has "natural instincts," has cells with a nucleus, "everything is life," adapts/evolves/grows/dies, eliminates waste, reproduces, has DNA, uses energy, and interracts with the environment.

Tuesday, 9/7

Today in Astrobiology we discussed and debated the 3 "initial questions" assigned last week. Each class came up with a tentative list of what constitutes life.

In Period 1, the characteristics were: locomotion, has cells, needs water, consume something to get energy, respiration, produces waste, and grows.

In Period 2, characteristics were: either predator or pray, has "natural instincts," has cells with a nucleus, "everything is life," adapts/evolves/grows/dies, eliminates waste, reproduces, has DNA, uses energy, and interracts with the environment.

Thursday, 9/2

Today, I gave students a LOT of ideas for their time capsules. They are to complete the 10 requirements and then can add things on their own. As I told all students today, this time capsule is for THEM in the future. I hope they enjoy it as much as my past students have! The time capsule is due on Tuesday, September 21. They will get it back the last full day of school in June, 2011.

Wednesday, 9/1/10

Today, we talked about our Time Capsule project (the first grade of the new school year). The time capsules are due on Tuesday, September 21st. They won't be buried, but will reside at my house until the last full day in June.

I think WE are extremophiles at this point with the temperature in Brunswick Junior High School! WHEW!