Life Science 5/5 - 5/9

Objective this week:  Apply learned concepts to a reflection project.  Learning will be assessed through in-field questions, quizzes, and updates to their Google journals.

Monday
Outside for reflection project planning

Tuesday
Track meet - remaining students will work on reflection project.

Wednesday
Reflection project

Thursday
Reflection project

Friday
MAPS testing - all 7th graders.

Field Biology 5/5 - 5/9

Objective this week:  To apply concepts learned throughout the semester with hands-on field work.  Learning will be assessed through directed questions and completion of a field journal.

Monday
Aquatic field study - Emerson Lake

Tuesday
Aquatic field study - Emerson Lake

Wednesday
Marsh scavenger hunt field trip

Thursday/Friday
Field work and completion of field journals

Anatomy 5/5 - 5/9

Objective this week:  To apply concepts learned throughout the year to a dissected cat specimen.  Learning will be assessed through dissection packet questions/answers and lab quizzes.

Monday
Cat dissection - digestive system and lab quiz.

Tuesday
Cat dissection - finish digestive system and begin discussing cardiovascular system

Wednesday
Cat dissection - respiratory system (video 7th period)

Thursday/Friday
Cat dissection wrap-up and review for cat practical

Zoology 5/5 - 5/9

Objective this week:  To apply concepts learned throughout the semester to field work & animal identification, with learning assessed through quiz work and successful answering of directed field questions.  We will also introduce mammals this week.

Monday
Bird practical; there is a 100/85 performance objective on this test.  Begin the introduction of mammals.

Tuesday
Bird watching route today

Wednesday
Mammal discussion/assignment

Thursday
Field work - animal identification/application of semester concepts

Friday
Mammals of Kansas

Biology 5/5 - 5/9

Objective this week:  To understand the importance of Protista through a STEM activity where we will build filtered survival drinking straws.  Learning will be assessed through a quiz on Monday, as well as the overall plan developed by the group for the STEM project.

Monday
Protista quiz and STEM project

Tuesday
STEM - begin gathering materials

Wednesday
STEM project

Thursday
STEM project.  The project should be WELL underway at this point.

Friday
MAPS Testing first period

Biology Quiz Monday - Protista

Here's what to study for the protista quiz on Monday:

Protista Basics and Protozoans:

• Are they prokaryotic or eukaryotic?  What does this mean?
• Are they single-celled or multi-celled?
• Do they reproduce sexually, asexually, or both?  (you don't need to know the names binary fission or conjugation)
• Understand how amoebas feed (phagocytosis) and how they move
• Protozoans are "animal-like".  Why are they given this recognition?
• What are differences between cilia and flagella?

Radiolarians and Foraminiferans:

• Understand the importance of these creatures to our life/environment (limestone facts?)
• What are "tests"?

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly:

• Be able to explain how algae plays such a huge role in the lives of organisms around the world
• Be able to explain how malaria and South American Trypanosomiasis is spread

Sample Test Question:

List three ways algae is important to either you, oil companies, and/or other living things

Format:

• 15 - 20 points, short answer/multiple choice/fill-in (questions will show life relevance)

Zoology Bird Practical - What to Expect and Date Change

The date for the bird practical has been pushed back to Monday 5/5.   Here are some things to key in on for that test:

External Anatomy:

• Differences between feathers (contour, down)
• Anatomy of a feather (shaft, barbs, barbules)
• Be able to distinguish between primaries, secondaries, and coverts
• Uropygial gland - be able to locate it and give its function

Internal Anatomy:

• Respiratory system - locate trachea and general area of air sacs
• Digestive system - anything discussed in class is fair game here.....esophagus, crop and gizzard (plus functions of each), proventriculus, small intestine, cloaca (and any functions of these).
• Kidneys - Be able to identify.  
• Syrinx - identify and function
• Male vs. Female .... how to tell?  Identify ovaries and testes.

Critical Thinking Questions:

• There will be a couple of these .... be able to apply what you've learned to the bird's life; "If a bird was built differently, how would not having a ______________ affect the bird and how would it have to adapt?"  Several questions like these will be on the test.  Study the anatomy of the birds, how they are specialized for flight, etc to help answer this.