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.