Hi there,
  Today we watched the vaccine program to give you some sense of the importance of vaccination as well as people's concerns about them.  Please make sure you give me those questions by Thursday.  The rest of the week we will be getting started on the cell unit, beginning with the two major types of cells (prokaryote and eukaryote) on Thursday and then moving on to eukaryotic cell parts on Friday.
As always, please come to AFT if you need any help!  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:

• water properties lab (penny + wax paper) by Friday 3 Oct.
• Vaccines: Calling the Shots questions Thursday 2 Oct.

Hello,
  This week you are getting time today to work on your ice melting lab write-up and also to prepare for the quiz on the nature of science concepts in our first unit.  The quiz on that material is on Thursday of this week.  On Friday we will be covering some information on the properties of water and you will be doing a brief lab (no write-up required).  Please come to AFT this week if you need any help!  Ms. Leary

Here's a practice problem for the quiz.  If you know how to do this, you should be in good shape for the experimental design concepts. 

You want to find out if fish fed more food will lay more eggs.

Tell me the following:
     • the hypothesis
     • the control group
     • 2 experimental groups
     • independent variable
     • dependent variable
     • 5 constants (unchanged variables)

Due dates:

• Quiz on Nature of Science Unit due Thursday 25 Sept.
• Graphing re-do? by Thursday 25 Sept
• Characteristics of Life activity (supposed to be done already) by Friday 26 Sept
• Ice Melting Lab due Friday 26 Sept

Hi,
  This week you will be designing and doing a controlled experiment on Tuesday.  You will be investigating which of several substances makes an ice cube melt the fastest.  You will then take your data and write up your results.  I will explain how to do this in class on Thursday.  You will have class time on Thursday and Friday to work on this.

Due dates:
• Rough draft of ice lab write-up by end of class - Friday 19 Sept.
• Ice Melting lab write-up final due - Friday 26 Sept.

Hi there,
  This week, we will be working on how to design a controlled experiment, how to write a good scientific explanation, as well as a quick review of graphing.  This will set us up to be able to do a lab next week that will allow you to practice all these skills. Please remember you are always welcome in AFT if you are confused.  Ms. L

Homework this week:
• Sign up for blog by Friday 12 Sept.
• Make sure you got your course policy sheet signed! By Thursday 11 Sept!
• Scientific Method practice sheet for Thursday 11 Sept.
• Simpson's Scientific Method for Friday 12 Sept.
• Similar Liquids explanation for Friday 12 Sept.
• Graphing Practice Monday 15 Sept. - new!

Hi there,
  I've enjoyed meeting all of you!  I really have fun teaching this class and hope that you enjoy your experience in here and learn a lot. Let's have a fun year together!  Ms. L

Here are your first due dates:

Random Thoughts sheet by Tuesday 9 Sept. (not graded)
Course Policy sheet signed - Tuesday 9 Sept.
Sign up to receive blog by e-mail - Thursday 11 Sept.