Monday 2/23

Today, we are talking about extremophiles and where they might exist within our solar system and beyond! We will be doing an activity about light intensity and how it might affect life.

Wednesday, 5/18

Check out the link below. Click on the planet. They have discovered a "rogue planet" flying through space, seemingly without a star! Cool!

Tuesday, 5/17

We're going to finish our posters for our extremophiles and will be looking for just where in our Solar System and beyond life like this might survive.

Sunday, 5/1

Tomorrow, we will do Galileo's pendulum experiment. Students are working on their symposium projects. They have wonderful projects and I can't wait to see them!

Saturday, 4/23

Hope you all had a wonderful vacation! On Monday, we will be continuing our work with Galileo and his pendulum! You will also choose your final project of the year...the 3rd Annual Symposium! Remember, your choices are in Chapter 16 of the textbook entitled "The End is the Beginning." In brief, they are a research project (continuation of your long-term observations would qualify,) science fiction art, a science fiction story, or designing an astrobiology mission (say to Europa!). You will be signing a form of commitment like you did for the long-term observation, also to be signed by parent/guardian and me! See you Monday!

Wednesday, 3/30

Our long-term observation presentations will be Friday, April 8th. One of the authors of our textbook, Dr. Jeff Lockwood, will be on hand to hear about their projects. One member of each team will take notes that can be used from the final 3rd Annual Astrobiology Symposium!

Tuesday, 3/8

Today, students presented their 3-D cell models (mostly edible!) via Photo Booth. Tomorrow, we place them into our NoteShare journals. If you look in your students' journal, you should see both their executive summary and the movie of their presentation.

We wil then switch gears and will be working on the long-term observation project. They will present their projects at an event later this month. Hopefully, one of the authors of our book will be lending his commentary to their project.

Monday, 2/21

I hope all of you are having a wonderful vacation! Space Shuttle Discovery is all set to launch on the 24th! Part of its "crew" is Robonaut 2! Robonaut will do risky repairs to the International Space Station when needed.

Tuesday, 2/15

Today, students are labeling their cells as prokaryote and eukaryotes, clicking on the two cells to the right (or, for some reason at the bottom for the students). They will be doing an "executive summary" on cells and will make models of the prokaryote and eukaryotes for our chapter 6 challenge. For the last couple of years, students have made edible models. Students will do their presentations and models on photobooth and will place it in their NoteShare journal.

Thursday, 2/10

Today was the "half-way point" of the long-term observation notebook. It was only a 10 point project grade (like a test) but several students didn't have their biotic data (i.e. animal tracks, hair, burrows, etc.) and several didn't have their abiotic information (temperature, precipitation, etc.) They will try to recoup this from a website we found, but they need to go to www.weatherbug.com to find things like temperature, wind speed, etc. I had only a few who got a perfect score. They still have tomorrow to show their notebook to me for full credit. They were to have the signed proposal form signed by parent/guardian, me and by student, their schedule calendar of January, February and March, and 4 observation site-maps.

We also looked at several types of cells and sketched them.

I have extended the due date for the long-term observation to March 9th.

Monday, 2/7

Today, we had a special guest, chemistry professor, David Page over to do some chemical reaction demonstrations for students. Also, this week, we will move on to Chapter 6 - Cells. We'll be looking at different types of cells and their parts and functions.

Also, this week (Thursday), I will be conferencing with students to see that they are on schedule with their long-term observations. They should have about 4 observation sheets, with biotic and abiotic information.

Most students have chosen their backyards for their observation which, with all of the snow we've had, is probably a good thing!

In their notebooks, they should have:

1. Their original proposal signed by student, parent, and me!

2. At least 4 completed observation forms.

3. Hopefully photos of their sites

4. Measurements of snow, depth and size of snow cover

This observation assignment is a major one and is due to be completed in early March.

Wednesday (our FIRST Snow Day!) 1/12/11

I hope you all have enjoyed our first snow day! It will be interesting to see how your site has changed with all of the snow. Have the burrows changed position? It would be interesting to measure the snow depth now and see how it changes. Also, the tracks you see on the fresh snow will be more acurate size-wise!

Don't forget your site map. Your proposal and site map will be part of your long-term observation project, so if you haven't conferenced or still haven't given me a copy of your site map, you will need to make an appointment with me for lunch or study hall.

See you tomorrow!

Sunday, 1/9/11

Remember, your master site map is due tomorrow as well as your proposal SIGNED BY A PARENT or GUARDIAN!

After I sign it, you can begin your observations. IF the snow we had hasn't melted, we can go out BRIEFLY to look at our sites in the woods to look at fresh tracks.

Wednesday, 1/4/11

Today, we did a 2nd observation looking for ways we could collect data (something that's measurable)

Students chose partners (they can do it alone or with one other person). They will be looking for a site that they can access easily (maybe their yard, or in a woods near their homes. They will be observing this site once per week for about 9 weeks (they can have one week where they don't observe (that's because of winter break). They will be writing a proposal that they have to discuss with you AND ME! If they work in pairs, students will have their planning calendar so that they can work around their schedules to know who will observe the site each week. If you look to the right of this posting, you will see a couple of websites that will help

1/3/11 Wear something warm for the next couple of days!

Tomorrow, we will be venturing out into the woods next to the school for our observation site. Students will work in groups and will be looking for evidence of life. They will need to dress accordingly!

Sunday, 1/2/11 THEY WON!!

Be ready to take a trip outside to locate a site to look for signs of life. We'll be working with qualitative and quantitative observation and will be discussing biotic and abiotic evidence. We will begin with the woods bordering BJHS, but will then break into teams of 2 to choose a site that is one you can both observe.

Saturday, 1/1/11 Happy New Year!!

I hope you have had a wonderful, restful vacation! When we get back, we will be begin talking about our long-term observation.

We won't go outside on Monday, but will go outside to look for signs of life. I will let students know what day we'll be doing this so they can dress accordingly.

Have a great weekend and GO PATS!!!