Biodiversity

Today started with a debrief of the test, parts 1 & 2.  The rest of the period was for notes & discussion of Biodiversity.

Guide for Soil lab FD

====USE THE RUBRIC

1.      Use the given Question

2.      Use the Hypothesis I approved for your RD

3.      No procedures; DO INCLUDE a Procedures section where you will have diagrams that illustrate the experiment for part 2 & 3

4.      You need three ruled Data tables for all soil samples from all groups

a.      Part 2 & 3 require additional observations each part should have 1-3 observations; see other groups (with weird data) for observations if needed

b.      1=D score, 2=B score 3=A score (x2, for part 2 & 3)

5.      You need to answer the Analysis questions for part 2 & 3

6.      For the Conclusion

a.      Be sure to use evidence from each part of the lab to support your statements about the lab results

b.      For error identify 1-3 observations from part 2 & 3 that are potential sources of error and how

c.       1=D score, 2=B score 3=A score (x2, for part 2 & 3)

Soil lab & Ecology/soil test

Students completed part 1 & 2 of the soil labs. We will finish part 3 of the soil lab on Wednesday. The open notebook test (~200 point) will be on Friday. The final draft of the lab will be due on Tuesday 12/7.

PSP environmental justice lesson

The PSP interns came and gave a phenomenal lesson on environmental justice which will be part of the unit following cycles. They divided the class into four groups and we had a role play around intrest groups and the use of DDT.

We will continue part 2 & 3 of the soil labs after Thanksgiving break. the lab will be due early the second week of December with the test to follow.

soil!

Today we finished notes on the soil cycle and started the three part soil lab. The soil lab will end at the end of November and will be due early December. More specifics on due date to come.

Mori Point Field trip

We outplanted native grasses and bee plant to restore habitat for the endangered SF garter snake.

Next Tuesday Megan will be coming to class to teach a lesson on biodiversity and environmental justice, an intro to our next unit.

Mori Point Field Trip 11/17

We are scheduled to outplant at Mori on Wednesday just for the duration *2. Dress for the weather; current prediction will be cold morning with clear skies. I dougbt it will be warm, but expect it to be bright and dry. In Pacifica the prediction could be very different by the actual field trip.

Field trips are required at 300 points for participation.

Cycle of matter in an ecosystem

Students had 20 minutes to complete food webs with three connections at each trphic level, due today. We started notes on cycling water, carbon and nitrogen.

I gave students printed term 2 progress reports. They do not require parent signatures.

E Flow in ecosystems

for Thursday 11/4

Finished notes and discussions on topic. Studnets had 15 minutes to construct a food chain for their species biography organism.

Species Interactions

We finished notes and discussion on this lesson. Students had 20 minutes to work on a connections web that connects an example of all the species interactions to their species biography organsim. The interactions are competition, predation, neutralism, inhibition and the symbiotic relations.

Due at start of next period.

5 Adaptaions

We continued notes/discussion of species interactions. Students completed a class work assignment listing and describing 5 adaptations that help their species biography organism to be a better predator or prey.

Sp Biography and Species Interactions

Most of the period students worked on their sp. bio posters. The posters are due at the start of class on Friday with the rubric.

The remainder of the period we started notes and discussion on species interactions.

Species Bio research

Students spent the period completing the research for the species biography. They will need to have print outs of the chapters and be prepared to create illustrations for a portion of the class next period. The sp. bio. is due at the start of class on Friday. 100pt.

Mori point

Great day removing the invasive Picris sp. (bristly ox-tongue)and viewing lots of endangered CA red legged frogs.

Species Biography MORI POINT FIELD TRIP

Students began class by doing an assignment where they describe their habitat and niche, due in class. Then students were introduced to the Species Biography, a short research project due on Wednesday 10/27/10.


MORI POINT FIELD TRIP THURSDAY 10/21/10; dress for the weather the prediction is for cool fog. We will be doing habitat restoration work so be prepared to get dirty.

Ecology 1

Today tests were debriefed and we started a new unit on Ecology. Students discussed and took notes on the orginization of ecosystems.

Botany/Environmental Issues/Restoration test

Students completed the 200 point test today. Next Class we are expected to have a pre-field trip lesson with the PSP. I will be sending the PSP's permission slip for field work at Mori Point and Milagra Ridge. Students need the permission slip completed to attend the Mori Point field trip on 10/21.

Vegetative Organography 3

Fruit and seeds were the focus of today's lesson. Notes and a survey lab. Test is on Friday.

Plant survey labs

Students looked at plant samples in the lab to apply their knowledge of plant organs (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and tissues).

There will be a ~100 point lab practical as part of Friday's test.

Plant Organography 2 & Lots of information!

Today in class students colored diagrams of flower structure and flower types. The garlic lab was debriefed. Finally there were notes/discussion on flowers.

I passed out detailed progress reports to students; they are not required to have them signed. Please feel free to discuss student grades.

The first test will be on 10/8/10 and will cover plant organography, Evnironmental issues and PSP introductions. The test will be ~200 points; I do not offer retakes or revisits on tests in this class. Students MUST study to earn successful test scores.

Garlic lab DUE & PSP Nursery field trip

I hope you dressed for the weather; mid-70s expected after the chilly morning.

PSP Intern introductions

Students collected garlic data and the Park Stewards introduced our restoration partnership.

Garlic Lab

Students used the rubric and an example of a lab write up I created for the capillay action investigation to check their understanding of the lab write up expectations.

We spent the rest of the period setting up the garlic lab experiment where students are testing how different solutions affect root growth in garlic cloves. They will need to come to my room to collect data on root length every day this week. Data collection on Tuesday and Thursday is worth 20 points each day. The experiment will end on Friday and students will have most of the period to complete the lab write up. Students worked in groups of three, but each student must complete their own lab write up. A group may share the same QHTMPD, but analysis and conclusion writing needs to be independent. The lab will be due on Thursday

Plant organography 1.4

Today we will finish the notes & discussion for plant organs 1. The garlic lab will be introduced and the scientific method and lab write up process will be reviewed. Students will need to make a rough draft for the lab today so that they will have enough time to complete set up of the lab next class and have time to do the the first plant organ survey lab.

Plant organography 1.3

Students had some time to work on group revisions to the plant observations, capillary action investigation and coloring diagrams. We then continued the organography notes/discussion on roots, stems and leaves.

Plant organography part 1.2

Today students worked to finish the coloring diagrams. Most of the period to finish the capillary action investigation. Finally we debreifed the plant observations.

Plant organography 1

Today we started notes/discussion on plant organs and started the Rough Draft for the capillary action lab investigation. The goal of the lab investigation is to review the scientific method and lab write up process. No assignments were completed for points, students should be able to finish the RD within the first 10 minutes of our next class.

Env Sci has no HOME WORK

This class is created so that students that use their time wisely in class will not have to complete work outside of class. To earn A or B grades you will need to study for tests on your own time:)

I will use this page to inform interested parties about what we are doing in class.