Happy Halloween!

Even though my costume isn't very good - I thought I would get us into the spirit of Halloween by looking at some spooky, scary freshwater animals to start class.
Boo!

Scary Freshwater Animals

Biology 11 at the pond

Biology 11 Assignment - Be Curious!

Here is an idea - last week we had a great learning experience when Moeize showed us a picture of something interesting that he had found outside of his house... Just in case you forget, here is the link to the picture that he posted to his blog:

Moeize's interesting find

I thought that this picture was so cool, and it got me wondering what was going on - so I googled it...
Here is the greatest part of what I found:

Video: Slugs Mating

I found this day to be great in many ways - first, that a student had noticed something in the world around him, taken a picture because he thought it was interesting, and then shared it with all of us in class and then on his blog.  It seems like the curiosity that we have as children - always asking WHY? - gets put into the background as we are told what to learn and when to learn it in school.  The other great part is that the internet is amazing!  We are not the first people to wonder what is happening between two slugs - it took me no time to find out, watch an amazing video and learn something that I am totally going to remember, something that I didn't know before.  It's actually exciting learning interesting things!

So, here is your assignment for today - you can work in partners, but you will have to learn about 2 topics if you do (based on sharing computers in the library today).  This is an extension of your finding a peculiar animal post - although, you can learn about a completely different topic.  Your assignment is to be CURIOUS & to ask WHY.  Is there something in nature that you wonder about?  Can you expand on your research about your animal/organism with a peculiar trait and teach us why it is the way it is?  I would like you to create a blog post that includes your question about the world (can you find an interesting phenomenon in nature?) You will be presenting your assignment to the class (maybe on our popcorn friday) so have use of the projector - find an interesting nature youtube video that you can embed in your blog & relate to class?

Nature is amazing - find something that you are amazed about and share it with the class, and on your blog, with the world.

Bacterial Growth

We have grown bacteria in the incubator, and today we had a look at our results.  Please post a picture of your agar plate that clearly shows the bacterial growth.  Along with your picture, write a few sentences of written observations about the bacteria and provide the key or legend (where did you swab for each quadrant?).

Next, we should see if we can inhibit the growth of bacteria - Does hand sanitizer actually work?
Using a control and 3 different types of soap/sanitizer/bleach etc., do an experiment to see how effective each is at inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

We will check on them next week.

Reflecting on your progress

I would like you to write a blog post about your progress in Biology so far...

Please include the following:

• What are you proud of so far in Biology?  Give specific examples (3?) of your "best" work. Why did you choose those pieces?
• Look through your binder - what does your binder say about your work habits?  Do you have incomplete work?  Is it organized and easy to access?  Have you kept up with the work that has been assigned?
• Look at your blog - what blog posts (&/or comments) mean the most to you so far and why?
• What does engagement in class mean to you?  What are some examples of you being engaged and contributing to learning?
• Do you have any goals / improvements / hopes for the rest of the semester in this class?

Be thoughtful and honest in writing about your progress - the emphasis is on PROGRESS.  This is for you to think about where you are so far in this class, and where you would like to go.  How can you get there?

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

Albert Einstein

Viruses

Here is a link to get you started on your virus research:

http://biology.about.com/od/virology/ss/viruses.htm

Complete the following questions - you can either post the answers on your blog, or complete on paper...

Part One - 

1.  Describe the general structure of a virus.
2.  What is the genetic material that can be found in a virus?
3.  Draw & label (or find a really good picture to post) of a bacteriophage (a virus that infects a bacteria).  Make sure to include the capsid, DNA, & tail fibers.
4.  Find examples of both plant and animal viruses.
5.  Do you think that viruses are living or non-living?  Explain your answer.
6.  Are their beneficial viruses?

Part Two -

Research and describe an epidemic caused by a virus (be careful - bacteria can cause epidemics as well!)
Include the following:

• What is it's vector / way of being transmitted?
• What were the effects / symptoms?
• How many deaths were caused?
• When & where in the world was the epidemic?
• What were the circumstances that created the epidemic?
• Add pics / video / links to more information.

Read and comment on someone else's research.  Try to start a conversation - ask a question that shows you have thought about their post.  What else do you want to know?  Have they answered all the questions above?  Is the information clear?

Evolution Video

You can work in partners, but both of you must show your understanding of the topics... Use white boards, talk and draw, practice!!!! Prepare your answers before you record. Make sure you include enough information & use examples.

Evolution and Natural Selection

How did the giraffe get such a long neck?  Why do zebras have stripes? How can there be carnivorous plants?
Think about an organism with a special adaptation or characteristic (either plant or animal) - why do you think that characteristic provided that species with an advantage in their environment?  Come up with your own ideas - post what your thoughts are first.  Then, your second post will be your research - summarize your findings (a few paragraphs) and include pictures &/or video and website links that you used to do your learning.
Once that is done, read and comment on at least one other students blog post idea &/or research.
Can't wait to read your posts!  Yay learning!