week of 27 April

Hey all,
  Good to see you today!  So this week we are finishing up the evolution unit by doing the tiger lab to demonstrate whether a population is undergoing natural selection.  Wednesday and Thursday are essentially work days, with Thursday's focus being test review.

  As you hopefully remember, the evolution test is next Monday.  As always, please come to AFT if you need any help!

  Less than 8 weeks before the end of the year!  It is going to fly by.  While I of course always enjoy the advent of summer vacation, I will miss having you all as my class.  :)  Ms. L

DUE DATES:

• Evolution Unit questions - Weds 29 April
• Inner Fish Activity -- Thursday 20 April
• Evolution test - Monday 4 May

week of 13 April

Hi everyone,
  Today you did the human natural selection game and we talked about the three different types of evolution.  On Wednesday and Thursday we will look at some video clips on coevolution, talk about types of natural selection and also talk about speciation.

  As always, come to AFT if you need help!  No homework due directly after vacation as you have your usual homework:  you take a break, I take a break and we come back ready to work.  :)  Ms. L

NOTE:  to clarify about work due this week -- by the end of the day on Friday is fine.  However, be aware that I am going to blast out of here ASAP at the end of the day!!!! I will NOT be hanging around on Friday so please don't tell me you "came by at 3 to hand it in, but you weren't here".  That work would be counted late!

DUE DATES:
• Evolution Stations revisit -- Thursday 16 April (or before you leave for vacation)
• Human Natural Selection game -- Thursday 16 April (or before you leave for vacation)
• Evolution Unit questions -- Weds 29 April
• Evolution Unit test -- Monday 4 May

week of 6 April

Hi there,
  This week we'll continue with our evolution unit, beginning with watching the video "What Darwin Never Knew" in its entirety.  While it is lengthy, we feel that the information presented in it is very useful and the video is well done, so worth the time.  I hope you agree!  Thursday you'll be revisiting the evolution stations assignment for a follow up assignment.
  Remember AFT if you need help!  Please be keeping up with your reading and reading questions.  AFT is a great time to get help on these!  Also remember O-R defs are due on Thursday.  This week I'm doing one of those put all due dates even if they are far off...remember if that stresses you out, just ignore the distant ones.  Ms. L

DUE DATES:

• O-R definitions due Thursday 9 April
• Evolution Stations revisit due Thursday 16 April (or before you leave for vacation)
• Vacation = relax and HAVE FUN -- remember you get/do no work and I do the same!!!!
• Evolution Unit questions due Weds 29 April
• Evolution test Monday 4 May

week of 31 March

Hi all,
  Sorry am only posting now after we've already had 2/3 of our class for the week.  As I mentioned in class, I'm really struggling with migraines lately and am behind and overwhelmed.  I thank you in advance for your indulgence of my potentially very slow grading!

  This week:  Monday we talked about the tenets of Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. Make sure you understand this!  As I said today, this is THE CENTRAL idea of biological science.  As Theodosius Dobzhansky said in the title of a famous 1973 paper on evolution, "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution." I heartily concur!  Wednesday we talked about the evidence for evolution and tomorrow you will take the quiz on the Blind Watchmaker excerpt.

  As ever, please come to AFT if you need help!  Thanks, Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• Evolution Stations assignment was due Weds 1 April
• Genetics test corrections (optional) due Thursday 2 April
• Blind Watchmaker reading quiz Thursday 2 April
• Blind Watchmaker questions by Friday 3 April
• O - R word root definitions Thursday 9 April
• Evolution Unit reading questions Wednesday 29 April