week of 25 May & 1 June

Hey all,
  So we are really rounding the final turn and entering the homestretch here!  As I've probably said before, I will miss working with all of you.  While I certainly welcome and relish my summer vacation time, I always am sad to see my students go.  You all are truly the best aspect of my job and it gives me joy to work with you.  :)

  I thought I'd write for next week too, since that is the last week where you'll be doing new work.

  Here's the week of 25 May:

• Tuesday = do Biodiversity lab -- get data + work on questions

      ****NOTE****
the formula we provided for % change is INCORRECT in the version I initially shared with you!!!!  It has now been fixed in the document in your folder, but if you've made a copy, I want to make sure you know what the correct version is.  Here is the CORRECT formula:

       Percent change = ((final # - initial #)/initial #) x 100%

If you do it as originally written (initial - final/initial) x 100% doesn't make sense as it will generate + % changes in situations where you know the number is going down and vice versa.

• Thursday = discuss ecosystem ecology and start working with food webs

  Here's the week of 1 June:

• Monday = A - Z word root test + time to work if you have leftover time

• Wednesday + Thursday = time to work on Food Web project and Biome Builder

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

PLEASE NOTE:  regarding the evolution test corrections, I am entering this in the gradebook as out of 10 points, but excluding it from your grade.  This allows me to note how people did on it without affecting your grade.  Once all the points for the semester are totaled up, we will figure out how many points the extra credit is actually worth.  Talk to me if confused OK?

DUE DATES:

• Biodiversity Lab - graph and follow up qs -- Thursday 28 May
• A-Z word root test -- Monday 1 June
• Biome Builder -- Thursday 4 June
• Unit 10 Reading questions -- Thursday 4 June
• Food Web project -- Monday 8 June
• Final Exam (cumulative 2nd semester) -- Thursday 11 June

week of 18 May

Hi all,
  So this week we actually have a full week of school!  Wow!  Let's make the most of it.  The following is the plan for the week, plus updated due dates.  I will fix our due date board in the room today too.

Monday = finish population ecology, discuss r- and K-strategists, work on deer lab

Wednesday = notes on community ecology

Thursday = Nature video on beavers and their impact as keystone species in their ecosystems...very well done!

NOTE:  here is the link to the "Leave it to Beavers" movie since we missed the last 6 minutes or so.  It is worth finishing as they do a nice job showing the interdependent dynamics inside the lodge during the winter.  Plus the scenery is lovely.  I hope you enjoyed the movie.  :)
Nature: Leave it to Beavers

As ever, please come to AFT if you are missing work and/or need help.  Thanks, Ms. L

DUE DATES:

•Deer & Human population growth "lab" -- Thursday 21 May
• S - Z word root definitions -- Thursday 21 May
• Evolution test corrections -- Thursday 21 May (OPTIONAL S 2 EXTRA CREDIT)
• A - Z word root test -- Monday 1 June
• Biome Builder -- Thursday 4 June
• Food Web project -- Monday 8 June
• Final Exam -- Thursday 11 June

week of 4 & 11 May

Hi everyone,

  I forgot to do the blog last week.  Sorry about that.  Then I wrote this on Friday and posted the wrong thing!  Excellent work on my part.  The information below is now correct.  Really!

Week of 4 May:

Monday = Evolution test
Wednesday = Excerpts from "Emperor of All Maladies"
Thursday = Brief work with Taxonomy/Classification

Week of 11 May:  short week b/c of half day on Wednesday

Tuesday = start the ecology unit
Wednesday = long AFT -- PLEASE come in if you are missing work!!! The end of the year will be here before you know it!
Thursday = I-R quiz + continue population ecology

I'm going to list all major due dates for the rest of the year below. As always, please come to AFT to get caught up/get help.  Have a great weekend!  Ms. L

DUE DATES:

• I-R quiz -- Thursday 14 May
• Population graph practice -- Thursday 14 May
• S - Z word root definitions -- Thursday 21 May
• Evolution test corrections -- Thursday 21 May (OPTIONAL S 2 EXTRA CREDIT)
• A - Z word root test -- Monday 1 June
• Biome Builder -- Thursday 4 June
• Food Web project -- Monday 8 June
• Final Exam -- Thursday 11 June

week of 4 & 11 May

Hi everyone,
  So this week totally got away from me!  Sorry about that.  I figure at this point I'll just post retroactively about this week and then do next week.

  This week -- Monday  you took the evolution test, Wednesday we watched excerpts from "The Emperor of All Maladies" and Thursday we did a quick review of how and why taxonomy is used.

   Week of 11 May -- another weird week as Wednesday is a half day so I'll only see you 2x.  I totally forgot to mention the I-R quiz so it is NOT on Monday, it is on Thursday!!!

Monday 11 May = start ecology unit with basic terminology and potentially starting population ecology.

Wednesday = long AFT -- come on in!  Would love to help you out.

Thursday 14 May = I-R quiz and then continue ecology if time

As ever, come to AFT for help!  My apologies about the I-R quiz totally slipping my mind.  I'm sure you'll recover from the blow though as it gives you more time to study!  :) Ms. L

DUE DATES:

• I-R quiz -- Thursday 14 May