Snowpocalypse Update!

Hello Students!  I hope you are enjoying your extended snow break!  While it is inconvenient academically and for getting around, we'll all remember this event for quite some time.  Enjoy the slower pace and the shear beauty.  We'll be back to the rain and your heavy workload in no time.

Some of you may be concerned about your Internal Assessments.  Don't worry about it too much.  As many of you saw on Tuesday, the plants grew like gangbusters and it is likely that many of you with plants will have to start over.  The good news is that we now know that the plants grow really well on that cart and you may have a few ideas about doing it differently next time.  Also, remember that starting over gives you more to talk about and more personal engagement!!   Hopefully you can all get your investigations done in the remaining class days before finals, but if people need more time, that is okay.  Basically, the labs need to be completely done and graded before Spring Break.  I'll have you turn in a rough draft the 3rd week of February, give you some feedback, and collect the final draft the first week of March.

Also, we have lost 5 B-days so far and while some may be made up at the end of the school year, the date of the IB Biology exam will not change, so we will need to move pretty quickly during the 2nd semester.  Be prepared for that.  I will give you the topics and readings in advance.  The remaining topics include:   Gas Exchange (6.4), Immunology (6.3 and 11.1), Muscles and Movement (11.2), the Kidney (11.3), Hormones and Human Reproduction (6.6 and 11.4), and Neurons, Neurobiology, and Behavior (6.5 and Option A).  As you can see, it is a lot!  In addition, last year we had review sessions during FLEX for different topics from first year.  I think that really helped some people and if enough of you are interested, we will do that again this year.

Finally, I have put a review sheet for the first semester on your website.  Book groups need to be discussed by Friday, January 27th (2 weeks from now) and turned in through turnitin.com by Monday, January 30th.  Any questions??  Let me know.

Stay warm and safe out there!
Ms. Kenny

Happy Winter Break!!

Hello Students!  Well, it happened, Snowpocalypse the Sequel!  I hope that all of you got home safely and are staying warm and safe during this freeze.  I just put in a turnitin.com assignment for IA procedure and materials.  I would love it if you could upload this in the next week (before Dec 24th) so that I can give you feedback and plan for the data taking we will be doing in January.  This is what I am thinking for January:

Tues, Jan 3:  Get situated for IA's.  In particular, get seeds planted and on the cart.  I will provide soil, various types of seeds like peas, beans, corn, and little pots that will fit well on the cart.  If you have specific seeds or soil or anything that you want, you can either try to request it with me now or bring it in yourself.  Remember also that it is mainly your job to figure out how to do your procedure.  I can help you by telling you what materials we have and give basic procedural advice, but you should also do your own research.  There are many helpful videos out there showing possible procedures.

Thurs, Jan 5:  Digestion Quiz and more IA set up.

After that, we will be doing IA's, writing up the lab, and preparing for the Semester Exam.  I will prepare a review sheet for the Semester Exam later during the break.

Please feel free to communicate with me over the break if you have anything you are concerned about, questions about the IA, or make up work.  And don't forget that Winter Break can be a great time to read extra credit biology books!

See you in 2017!!
Ms. Kenny

Snow Day Instructions

Hello Students!!  I know you are very disappointed that another snow day was called.  As I said earlier this week, the Circulation Quiz will still go on!  The only things we haven't covered yet are control of the heartbeat through the sinoatrial node, 2 nerves from the medulla, and adrenaline and a brief discussion of occlusion of coronary arteries.  A review sheet for this quiz and my notes are on the website.  Note that my notes (ha!) have some extra information that will not be on the quiz.  We will go over these concepts and play Kahoot on Tuesday.  The quiz will be on Thursday 12/15.

Also, I would love to get your Internal Assessment questions today or tomorrow.  I have put a turnitin.com assignment that you can submit it through.  I am doing it this way not because I am worried about plagiarism on this, but because I know how to give you electronic feedback this way and it is an organized way to keep track of who has turned in the question.

Finally, I had a great time with you on the Cadaver Field Trip!  I was very proud to have you as my students.  I hope that you enjoyed it or at least found it to be interesting in some way.  I got some photos that I will share with you next week in class.  Enjoy your week-end!!

Ms. Kenny

6.2 Questions: Do in your notebook after the Digestion Quiz. Due by Mon 12/5

1. What did William Harvey discover and teach people about the heart?  When was Harvey around?
2. What ideas of Galen did William Harvey help to overturn? (when was Galen around? you might have to look up)
3. Look at the Activity questions about William Harvey on page 291.  Pick one or two of them that you would like to discuss next week (and be ready to!).
4. Describe the structure and function of arteries.  Include the 3 layers of the walls.
5. Describe arterial blood pressure and how it is maintained.
6. Describe the structure and function of capillaries.
7. Describe properties and functions of veins.
8. Describe the function of valves in veins.
9. Study the chart on p. 294 that compares properties of arteries, capillaries, and veins.

December 2016

• Thurs 12/1:  Digestive System Quiz.  The blood system and blood vessels. Work on IA Question, due next Friday.   Read 6.2.
• Mon 12/5:   Cadaver Field Trip form due.  Structure of the heart and the path of blood.  
• Wed 12/7:  Cadaver Field Trip!!
• Fri 12/9:  Pacemaker and control of the heart beat. Atherosclerosis.   Internal Assessment question due.
• Tues 12/13:  Review for Circulation Quiz to be taken on Thursday.  Begin structure of the lungs.  Prep for Internal Assessment.
• Thurs 12/15:  Circulation Quiz.  More on the Respiratory System (structure of alveoli).  Are you ready for your IA to start in January?

Digestion Unit Outline: 6.1 in text

You should be able to:

1. Draw and label parts of the human digestive system (use coloring sheet to help)
2. Describe what happens to food as it goes through the system using appropriate vocabulary and describing the function of each part.  (use back of coloring sheet to help)
3. Identify tissue layers in transverse sections of the small intestine (p. 281 in book)
4. Describe the synthesis and contents of pancreatic juices.
5. Describe the digestion of food in the mouth (only 1 enzyme), the stomach (only 1 enzyme) and the small intestine (many enzymes)
6. Describe the structure and function and villi
7. Describe methods of absorption in the small intestine (see pp 284-285)
8. Use dialysis tubing to model the small intestine

Populations Lab Write-up Reminders

You should make sure you have the following in your Populations Lab.  Your first draft is due Monday 11/7 for Peer Review.

1.   Focused Question.  Typically you only have 1 focused question, but in this lab since we were pretty open-ended about looking at different factors to get more to talk about, you might have a multi-part focused question.
2.  Background.  This can be personal background, including why you chose the question, but could include class material, and will probably require some research.  Include citations for research!!
3. Variables.  Typically you have independent, dependent, and controlled, but as stated above, you may actually have more than one independent variable this time.  Controlled should be explained as to how you attempted to control them or why you didn't.
4. Methodology:  includes materials you used and specifically how you carried out the investigation.  Include number of subjects, number of trials, etc.  It is good to explain why you chose what you did.  Methodology is not just WHAT you did but HOW and WHY.
5. Data:  should be in a well-labeled and titled data table(s).  Must include uncertainty and qualitative data (observations).  
6. Data-processing:  calculations, graphs, charts of processed data.  Graphs should show uncertainty where appropriate.  Calculations should show the blank equation, equation filled in with numbers, and answer with units.  Use a good graphing program like LoggerPro for graphs!  If you need help with it, ask me or another student.
7. Conclusions:  interpret the data!  Use numbers to back yourself up.  Discuss relationships between variables.  Try to explain the data using science (possible evolutionary causes, maybe physics, etc).
8. Evaluation:  discuss causes of uncertainty or limitations, the degree to which that uncertainty impacts the data, and realistic suggestions for improvement.  This can be done in a chart if you would like. You should discuss at least 3 separate sources of uncertainty/limitations.
9. Communication:  Is your lab clear?  Does it have clear headings?  Are the units included?  Is it well-organized? Did you check for spelling and grammar errors?  
10. Personal Engagement:  Did you include your motivation for asking this question?  Do you show persistence in taking data and answering the question?  Are you thorough in your answers or somewhat dismissive or robotic?