4/22-4/26 (Practice IB Tests this week!)

• This week we are getting ready for the IB exam!  Everyone will participate in these practice tests, even students who are not taking the test.  We are doing Papers 1 and 2 during class and you have an extended form of a Paper 3 as a take-home test (see documents section if you don't have it).  Turn it in through turnitin.com by Friday, 4/26.  You also have a data-based question that you need to turn in as a hard-copy by Friday.  
• Mon 4/22:  Practice Test of Paper 1.  This is 40 multiple choice questions.  You will get 20 points just for taking it (but do your best!  no 20 simply for filling in bubbles.  Put some thought into it) and then up to 5 more for doing well.
• Wed 4/24:  First part of Paper 2.  This is a long data-based question and then some random questions about the higher level syllabus.
• Fri 4/26:  Second part of Paper 2.  There are 4 sets of 3 essay-type questions and you need to answer 2 complete sets.  Answer as thoroughly as you can!   Your practice test for Paper 3 (evolution and Neurobiology and Behavior) is due by today!  Turn in essay part through turnitin.com and the data-based question as a hard-copy.

Cow Eye Dissection Assignment

Many of you have already turned this in.  If you did the dissection, you should turn in your observations of the dissection, as well as an explanation of the relationship between structure and function for the following eye parts:  sclera, cornea, iris, lens, retina, optic nerve.  You can turn in one of these per pair who did the dissection.

If you did not do the dissection, go to the virtual dissection linked on the website and do it.  You may also watch the video from the Exploratorium on Cow's Eye Dissections.  Then, explain the relationship between structure and function for the same 6 eye parts listed above:  sclera, cornea, iris, lens, retina, and optic nerve.  For people not doing the dissection, this should be done individually.  Turn in by Friday, April 19.

April 15-April 19

3rd Quarter Grades are Updated.  Check yours and see if you have any questions.  There is a SPARK lecture on Earthquakes on Mon 4/15.  All SPARK lecture write-ups need to be turned in by Friday of the week they are given and we are now asking that they be submitted through turnitin.com.

• Mon 4/15:  Finish up Neurobiology and Behavior.  Innate behavior vs. learned.  Pavlov's dogs.  Birdsong.  Turn in Eye Dissection if not already.  Hand out Review for Evolution and Neurobiology and Behavior.'
• Wed 4/22:  Review biochemistry, cells, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis.
• Fri 4/24:  Review replication, transcription, translation, biotech, and evolution.

April 1-11

• Mon 4/1:  Action Potential and Neurotransmitter Simulations on the computer.  Write down the steps of each and turn in as a pair.
• Wed 4/3:  Stimulus and Response.  Synapses.  Excitatory and Inhibitory responses.  Action of drugs. Cocaine and THC.
• Fri 4/5:  Parts of the human brain.  How do we know about the brain?  Pupil reflex, unconscious behaviors, and pain.  Animal behaviors:  foraging, rhythmic behaviors, social organization, exaggerated traits.
• Tues 4/9:  Innate behavior vs. learned behavior.  Birdsong.  Sensory receptors.  Structure of the human ear.  Structure of the human eye.
• Thurs 4/11:  Dissecting cows eyes.  Wrap up neurobiology.  

The Mind Project Simulation Website

Here is the link.

Go to this site and watch the section on Action Potential.  Watch it several times and write down the steps of transmission in order.  Then go to the Classical (chemical) Neurotransmitter part, watch it a couple of times, and write down the steps in order.