Finally! An Update for the New Year!

Welcome Back for the 2012-2013 School Year!  I am so excited to have you back in my class.  You can see our projected topics for this year in the documents section.  We have a little less than half of the IB Syllabus to complete (including our 2nd option of Neurobiology and Behavior) and we also will be focusing on 3-4 solid inquiry labs that can be used for your IA (internal assessment) score. 

First 2.5 weeks of school:

• Wed 9/5 (25 minute classes):  Welcome back to class.  Look at topics for the year.  Reminder of Class Expectations (see document section to remind yourself of these).
• Fri 9/7:  Overview of domains + kingdoms.  Fish dichotomous key activity.  Turn in Fish Key (can be pairs or individuals).  Hand out dichotomous key project, due Wed 9/12.
• Mon 9/10:  Lab on identifying phyla for animals (mostly invertebrates).  Read Chapter 33 in text.
• Wed 9/12:  Exchange dichotomous keys, do them, and evaluate them.  Turn in.  Notes on classification (if you missed them, see documents).  Finish up Identifying Phyla lab and turn in today or Fri.  Hand out Animal Poster Mini-Project.
• Fri 9/14:  Go to library or computer lab to research animal project.  Return to class to work on poster.  Read Chapter 34 to get more information on chordates.  Animal Mini-Project due Wed 9/19.  Short Test on Classification also on Wed 9/19.
• Mon 9/17:  Classification activity:  identify animal orders and make a phylogenetic tree (for hand-out, see Documents).  Work time for Animal Project.
• Wed 9/19:  Display animal posters and do a walk-around evaluation.  Give a formal evaluation to 6, trying to choose from a diverse group of animals (evaluation form will be provided).  Short Test on Classification.
• Fri 9/21:  Begin plants!  Evolution of plants.  Introduce plant collection activity.  Skim Chapters 29+30.