week of 15 December -- IMPORTANT UPDATE

Hi there,
  Just to provide evidence for you that I TRULY need a vacation, I have royally messed up the due date I wrote for the "E.coli to Elephants" summary!!!!! My bad, as they say.  Please note that the correct due date is:

Friday 19 DECEMBER!!!!

NOT

Friday 19 January as I erroneously wrote.  Mea culpa, Ms. Leary

P.S.  All part of my program to remind you that I too am human, and make mistakes!  :)

week of 15 December

Hi there,
 Short week this week!  You are taking the unit 5 test right now.  Wednesday, you will take the brief quiz on the E.coli to Elephants reading and then the rest of the period is yours for a work period.  I suggest test corrections, but you could also be working on your summary.

  Please remember that the summary is due by 2:30 PM on Friday 19 January.  You may rest assured that I will be beating feet out of here very quickly Friday afternoon! :)  So, if you plan on handing in a hard copy, find me before then.  Please remember also that you should self score on the rubric.  You could do this electronically or you could print a rubric and then give me a hard copy of the rubric.  If you submit the summary electronically, please remember to put your name ON the page that I would print.  If not, I will be taking points off.  There is AFT on Wednesday, so if you need help on the reading, come in.  I will not be in school Thursday due to a professional day, so make sure you find me before then if confused.

  As per usual, this means you have no homework over vacation.  Please have fun, relax, make good decisions, and enjoy time with friends and family!  I will be doing the same.  Then we will meet again in the new year and get back to work.

  Thanks, Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• "E.coli to Elephants" reading quiz - Weds 17 Dec.
• "E.coli to Elephants" reading summary + rubric - Friday 19 Dec. by 2:30 PM -- anything received                                 after that counted as late

week of 8 December

Hello all,
   Today we finished genetic control mechanisms and you had some time to get work done.  On Wednesday, we will watch a DVD called Ghost in The Genes which is about epigenetics.  Thursday is a work period for the test.  Remember the test is next Monday!
   Please come to AFT for help as needed.  Friday's AFT I will offer a review session for any interested honors students and clear the room of everyone else so we can focus.  If you need me to stay after on Friday I can do that too.  Thanks, Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• unit 5 reading questions - Weds 10 Dec
• epigenetics activity - by Friday 12 Dec
• unit 5 test - Mon 15 Dec
• "E.coli to Elephants" reading done + short quiz - Weds 17 Dec
• "E.coli to Elephants" summary by Friday 19 Dec at 2:30 PM -- if you are leaving early, make sure you share with me by this time/date!!!!!

week of 1 December update

Hey everyone,
  Here is a link to a video that Mrs. Magnuson shared with her class.  It is a nice overview of epigenetic mechanisms that we started talking about in class today...methylation and acetylation.  There are things I don't love (there's no such thing as a "lip" cell but he's just trying to make it simpler).  It also has WAY more information than you need (ex: you don't need to know that methylation happens on cytosine, you don't need the enzymes that do acetylation).  But...it is a good general overview.

  ALSO...for now...SKIP the microRNA stuff!!!!! PLEASE DON'T CONFUSE YOURSELF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND microRNA.

Enjoy!  Ms. L

Methylation/Acetylation video (epigenetics)

week of 1 December - transcription and translation

Hey there,
  Welcome back!  I hope you had a restful break.  This week, we are talking about transcription, translation, mutations, and gene regulation.  You are getting two different practice sheets for transcription and translation and then will also be getting a project on transcription and translation.
   I highly suggest reading ahead on translation for Wednesday and also reviewing the links listed below.  Please come to AFT if you need help!  Thanks, Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• unit 5 reading questions - Weds 11 Dec.
• transcription/translation project - Thursday 11 Dec.
• unit 5 test - Monday 15 Dec.
• "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" reading & discussion questions done by Weds 17 Dec.  -- discussion will be in class that day in lieu of a quiz

LINKS:

Basic Transcription video

Simple Transcription diagram

Alternative mRNA Splicing diagram

Alternative Splicing video -- pretty basic -- seems to segue into 2nd video with woman narrating...I suggest skipping her as it gets very technical

Basic Translation video

Real-time animation of both Transcription and Translation

Another video of both processes

Hi all
  Here are the links I told you I'd put in here for DNA structure.  I have also included the link for the James Watson's TED talk (I said it was Crick in class...brain glitch).  Highly suggested!  He's one of the eminent scientists in this field.  Enjoy your holiday!  Remember...I give you no work, I do no work, and we come back rested and ready to work hard again! Holidays should be for friends and family and recharging.    
   Please remember also that your lab is due by 2:30 Tuesday 25 November at the latest.
 Thanks, Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• Yeast lab -- Tuesday 25 November by 2:30
• Unit 5 reading questions - Weds 10 December

LINKS:

DNA structure diagram

DNA structure video

James Watson's TED talk

week of 17 November -- updated protein structure links

Hi everyone,
  I completely forgot to include any links to protein structure in this week's blog.  Sorry about that.  Anyway, here goes.  I hope you find these useful.  As always, please come see me if you are confused!  Ms. Leary

Links for Protein Structure:

20 Amino Acids w/ different R groups

Primary through Quaternary Structure

Animation on Protein Structure

week of 17 November

Hi all,
  So today we had partial chaos doing the yeast cellular respiration lab.  On Wednesday I'll explain how to write this up and  you will get time to work on that write up.  Please remember that this is due before you leave for Thanksgiving.  Monday is fine, but it you want to give it to me on Tuesday that is OK also.  Thursday we are going to start with the notes for proteins and nucleic acids.

  I'll do next Monday's blog here too since we only have the one class next week.  You'll be doing a fun lab where you extract your own DNA during class on Monday.  This is just really for the experience and there is no significant write-up involved.  If you already know you are missing class on Monday, no worries, you don't have to make this lab up!

  Please remember that you are always welcome in AFT.  If you are struggling with any of your test corrections, that is a great time to find me!  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• test corrections - Weds 19 Nov
• Yeast lab write-up - by Tuesday 25 November (or before you leave for vacation...if you're not here at all next week it is due by Friday 21 Nov.)

week of 10 November

Hello there,
  Short week this week!  Today you are doing test corrections in class.  That will be entered as a separate assignment worth 20 points.  I am sharing some tips for test corrections in your class folder. Tomorrow is the A-H word root quiz, so please remember to study for that!  You are also getting a yeast lab pre-lab that should be done by Monday 17 November
  Next week, you are doing the yeast lab on Monday.
  As ever, AFT is a great time to find me for help.  Ms. L

DUE DATES:

• Diffusion lab rewrites - Weds 12 Nov.
• A-H word root quiz - Thurs 13 Nov.
• Osmosis lab revisions - Mon 17 Nov.
• Test corrections - Weds 19 Nov.
• Yeast Lab write-up - Mon 24 Nov. (or before you leave for Thanksgiving break)

week of 3 November - REVISED PLANS

Hi everyone,

  Based on today's class, I am altering some of what I had planned for this week and next.

  Tomorrow, after we go over the D-H definitions, I will finish conferencing with the rest of the lab groups.  The rest of you can be working on your diffusion rewrites.  I'll also give back your osmosis labs so you can review them and decide if you want to do revisions before I grade the osmosis lab.  Please remember there are no rewrites on the osmosis lab.

  Wednesday of next week you will get in-class time to work on test corrections.  I should be able to give you your tests by Friday.  I will enter your test grades once all Honors students have taken the test.  Please remember that this is your FIRST test and that taking these tests is a skill that you will build over time.  I am very happy to go over your test with you individually regardless of your score.  You just need to set up a time with me for that. 

  Thursday of next week is the A-H quiz.

  Please let me know if you are confused, or you need help with your rewrites beyond the in-class conference.  YOu are welcome to come to AFT Friday for this.  I can also stay after school tomorrow or Friday if you wish.  Please let me know via e-mail if you'd like to stay after.  Thanks, Ms. L

P.S.  I don't know how to fix this annoying white highlighting thing in the blog.  Thankfully it is OK in the e-mail version!

DUE DATES:

• D-H definitions Thursday 6 November

• diffusion lab rewrite due Wednesday 12 Nov.

• osmosis lab revisions due Monday 17 Nov.

• A-H quiz Thursday 13 Nov. 

week of 3 November

Hi all,
  Today you have obviously taken the unit 3 & 4 test.  Give yourself a break tonight!  D-H word root definitions are due on Thursday this week (we will go over the definitions) and there is a D-H quiz next Thursday 13 November.  On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, you will have a chance to start rewrites on your diffusion lab (and potentially revamp the osmosis lab before I grade it) as well as to do test corrections on the test you take today. Due dates for those labs TBA.  Don't worry about any of this until we discuss it in class, OK?
  As always, please come to AFT for help if you need it!  Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• D - H word root definitions due Thursday 6 November
• Test corrections due by Friday 7 November
• D - H word root quiz Thursday 13 November

week of 27 October

Hi everyone,
  This week, we are wrapping up photosynthesis and cellular respiration.  Wednesday's class we will finish up fermentation (both lactic acid & alcoholic) and do a final overview of energy in both photosynthesis & cellular respiration.  Thursday is a review/work period for the test.  I have put a document in your folder on test prep tips as well as one I wrote up last year about managing test/study anxiety.  Your snail/elodea lab is due this week as well as your unit 3 & 4 questions.  Because I was out Monday and Tuesday, I will take both of these on Friday instead of tomorrow when we last meet.  Friday during AFT I am running a review session for the test...come with questions!  I am also happy to stay after tomorrow or Friday to help out if you have specific questions.  Please remember that "I just don't get this." is not useful for either of us.  The more targeted your questions, the better I am able to help you.  Thanks, Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• Unit 3 & 4 questions - no later than Friday 31 Oct.
• Snail/Elodea lab - no later than Friday 31 Oct.
• Unit 3 & 4 test - Monday 3 November

week of 20 October

Hi there,

  This week we will be discussing photosynthesis and cellular respiration in detail.  To help yourself out, I highly recommend reading about both processes before class.  On Monday, I will lecture on the light reactions of photosynthesis, and potentially go over the Calvin cycle as well.  There will be some time to work on review sheets and/or the unit 4 questions as well.  We will continue working our way through photosynthesis and cellular respiration during the week.  Monday 27 October I will not be at school and you will have time to work on an assessment about photosynthesis and cellular respiration as well as your review questions.

  This stuff is complicated!  You WILL need to spend time outside of class to understand it fully.  Below are links to animations that will help you visualize these abstract, complex concepts.  As always, come to AFT if you need help.  I see VERY few of you!! Ms. Leary

PHOTOSYNTHESIS:

Overview of photosynthesis (ignore terms we haven't discussed)

Light reactions

 Another view of light reactions

CELLULAR RESPIRATION:

Overview of cellular respiration

Overview of ETC in CR

ETC in CR -- again ignore terms we haven't discussed

Overview of ATP synthase and concentration gradients vis a vis CR

DUE DATES:

• Osmosis lab - Monday 20 Oct

• Unit 4 questions - Friday 31 Oct.

week of 13 October

Howdy all,
  Today we started unit 4 on carbohydrates, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration.  Please read about photosynthesis for Thursday as we will be getting started with that in class. I will be sharing the unit 4 questions by tomorrow at the latest.  In addition, you will be doing some peer editing with the rubric on your draft of the osmosis lab write up.  Remember, it's a short week!  Don't have any stress about the PSATs please, it's just not worth it.

  As always, please come to AFT (we have it both Thursday and Friday morning this week) if you need help or would like a place to work on your lab write-up.  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:

• draft of egg lab (osmosis) write-up - Thursday 16 October
• final draft of egg lab (osmosis) write-up - Monday 20 Oct.
• Unit 4 questions - Friday 31 Oct.
• Unit 3 & 4 test - Monday 3 Nov.

October 6 - 10 -- diffusion and osmosis labs

Hi everyone,
  Monday we did the diffusion lab and I set up the demo for the egg lab.  On Wednesday (a very short class) I explain how to write up the diffusion lab and you will get some time to start that write-up. We will also get the egg lab set up to demonstrate osmosis and take the mass data for time 0.  Thursday you will get the mass data for the egg lab after roughly 24 hours.  There will also be more class time to work on the diffusion lab write-up as well as the osmosis demo lab write-up.  Please note:  there is NOT a quiz on unit 3 on Thursday!!!  There will be a multiple choice test on unit 3 and 4 after we are done with unit 4.

Please be mindful of keeping up with your reading.  You should be done with the unit 3 reading by Thursday at the latest.  Next week, we will start unit 4 on carbohydrates, including photosynthesis and cellular respiration.  In case you really like long-distance planning, the unit 3 & 4 test is on Monday 3 November.

As always, please come to AFT or make an appointment with me after school if you would like help on anything or are concerned about your grade in any way.  Remember, it is your job to seek help!  Thanks, Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:

• Unit 3 questions - Thurs 9 Oct.
• Diffusion lab write-up - Tuesday 14 Oct.
• Egg lab (osmosis lab) write-up - Monday 20 Oct.

29 September - videos for cell transport

Hello,
  On Monday you should have filled out your lipid section of the organic molecule note-taker.  We will go over this quickly on Wednesday.  On Wednesday and Friday we will be talking about cell transport and the properties of the cell membrane.  You will also start designing a diffusion lab that you'll be doing next week.  As always please come to AFT if you are confused.  Notice it's a pretty light week for homework...that means you should do some extra reviewing or work on your unit 3 questions!  Thanks, Ms. Leary

UPDATE -- here are the links for the animations I showed in class today
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owEgqrq51zY -- a good overview
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v0MRZxU2bc -- very simple diffusion overview
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0p1ztrbXPY -- facilitated diffusion
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdiJtDRJQEc -- osmosis
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prfMUwjobo8 -- excellent overview of both passive and              active (you can ignore the concept of "cotransport")
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuDmvlbpjHQ -- endocytosis and exocytosis

DUE DATES:

• lipid note-taker filled out for Weds 1 October (not graded, but it will sure help if it's done!)
• cell membrane tutorial due Thursday 2 October
• unit 3 reading questions due Thursday 9 Oct.

Greetings,
  So this week, you will do the water lab on Monday.  Please be sure to use the skills you have gained in writing good scientific explanations to craft quality answers.  Wednesday is the Unit 2 reading quiz AND A-C quiz.  On Thursday, we will start unit 3 by talking about what makes a molecule organic, the functional groups, and possibly start on lipids.  As always, please make use of AFT if confused.  Ms. Leary

Due dates:

• "Thinking Scientifically" writing - OPTIONAL Monday 22 Sept.
• Unit 2 + A-C quiz Wednesday 24 Sept.
• Water lab observations + question Thurs. 25 Sept.

Hi,
  This week we are covering basic chemistry, including the properties of water as well as information about energy.  Check your folder for the new unit guide and reading questions for unit 2. You are also getting your first non-fiction reading today in class called Thinking Scientifically by Natalie Angier. Remember that you are responsible for reading all non-fiction readings, but only need to do the writing assignment for one reading per semester. As always, please see me if you are confused.  Ms. Leary

Due dates:
• Thinking Scientifically reading quiz - Thursday 18 Sept.
• Thinking Scientifically writing assignment due Monday 22 Sept.
• Unit 2 questions due Weds 24 Sept.
• Quiz on Unit 2 and A-C word roots - Weds 24 Sept.

Greetings,
  So, this week we will be covering experimental design, how to write good scientific explanations, and the basics of the characteristics of living things.  Please finish the reading for unit one by the end of the week. Feel free to come to AFT with any questions, Ms. Leary

Here's this week's new homework (all due dates from last week unchanged):
• 2nd practice explanation due Weds 10 Sept
• revised answer to 2nd summary question for "What a Plant Smells" due Weds 10 Sept
• Unit 1 reading questions due Monday 15 Sept.
• Quiz on Unit 1 and course policy sheet on Monday 15 Sept.
• "Are Viruses Living?" response - Monday 15 Sept. OPTIONAL

Hey there,
  I enjoyed meeting all of you today!  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: 

"Do Plants Smell?" questions - Monday 8 September
Random Thoughts sheet by Monday 8 Sept. (not graded)
Course Policy Sheet signed by Monday 8 Sept.
Book covered & blog registration complete - Weds 10 Sept.
A-C word root definitions filled out - Thursday 11 Sept.

Hi there,
  You should get in the habit of checking this blog regularly for our class.  I will post about once a week and use this blog to share due dates, links to animations, etc.  I'd appreciate your feedback as to how this is working for you as this is a new thing for me this year. Thanks!  Ms. Leary