week of 15 December

Hi all,
  Update to today's class notes.

Sebum helps to block reproduction in bacteria, hence the "antibacterial properties".  There are other skin secretions that form what is called the "acid mantle" of the skin and make the pH of the skin lower than it would be otherwise.  This also helps to destroy bacteria.

Hope this helps!  Ms. L

week of 15 December

Hi everyone,
  Short week this week!  Today we will finish the notes on the integumentary system.  I will be giving you an article that you will write a summary for in class either today or Wednesday.  Wednesday is a work period for the skin disorder project or anything else that is useful for you besides totally goofing off and being loud and annoying.  :)

  As per usual, no homework due right after break.  My philosophy is that you (and I) should take the time to really recharge, have fun and relax, and enjoy time with friends and family.  When I see you in the new year, then we can get back to work.

  Come to AFT on Wednesday if you need help with anything.  I have a professional day on Thursday so won't be available for that AFT.  Thanks, Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:

• Skin disorder project + abstract -- Friday 9 January (please note amended due date, changed from                                                                                           Weds 7 Jan)

• "Does Race Exist?" summary, reaction, & questions -- Friday 9 January

week of 8 December

Hi there,
  This week we'll be continuing our discussion of the integumentary system.  You will also be getting started on a research project on an integumentary system disorder.  This is due after vacation on Wednesday 7 January.  We'll likely finish up the integumentary notes before vacation.  Next Wednesday is a work period for the project.
   Please come to AFT if confused!  Thanks, Ms. L

P.S.  If you are in p. 3 and missing class today due to field trip, please let me know your top three integumentary system disorders by p.3 if you can.  I've shared the document in your folder.  If you don't have a preference, please tell me this.  Also, if you just want to make sure you don't have to look at gross pictures tell me that!  Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• Integumentary coloring sheet - Weds 10 Dec NOT TODAY!!! my bad on last week's blog!
• nothing else before vaca...  :)

update 1 December post

Hey everyone,
  Se' found this brief TED talk on an advance in stopping bleeding quickly.  It is really amazing and presents a very interesting perspective on the extracellular matrix.  My fellow science fiction fans may also think of the Borg when you see the white cube in the animation. :)  Anyway, this is just cool, so I wanted to share with you.  Enjoy!  Ms. L

P.S.  Warning...there is a simulated wound with lots of blood.

Instantaneous blood clotting video

week of 1 December

Hi all,
  Monday we finished the tissue unit with you taking the lab practical exam.  The rest of the week, we will be beginning the unit on the integumentary system.  This is the last unit before the midterm and you will not be tested on this.  The midterm will be cumulative with a focus on the integumentary system.  Wednesday you will start some coloring and then Friday we'll start going over the questions you could have been working on in class today.
  I will do a make up for the tissue ID test on Wednesday during AFT.  Please plan to come in then if you were out today.  As always, see me for help as needed.  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• Integumentary questions due Friday 5 Dec.  (you can work together on these)
• Integumentary coloring sheet - Monday 8 Dec.

week of 24 November

Hey all,
  Short post this week.  By the time you read this, you'll likely be done with the test.  Yay!  Enjoy your break.  Take time to have fun and just relax and enjoy family and friend time.  Please remember the lab practical tissue ID test is Monday 1 Dec.  Bring your sketches!!

  See you in December, Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• tissue ID test Monday 1 Dec.

week of 17 November

Hi there,
  This week we are going to finish up the notes for the tissues test by discussing tissue repair.  We may finish that today, but certainly by Wednesday.  I will have your tissue sketches done by Wednesday and that way you can use class on Thursday/Friday to prepare for the written test OR review for the tissue ID test on Monday 1 December.  Please remember that you are welcome to review tissues at any time except per. 7 when all rooms are full.

   The written part of the tissue test is next Monday.  This is the first test where there will be multiple choice questions.  On my multiple choice tests, you must pick ALL correct answers (can range from one to all being correct).  This test is completely OPEN NOTE!!!  Remember if you know you are missing class on Monday and you want to take the test before you leave, you must give me notice so that I have a test prepared for you.

  Come to AFT if you need help!  I'm always here and happy to help out.  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• Tissue Test -- written section -- Monday 24 Nov.
• Tissue ID test -- Monday 1 Dec.

week of 10 November

Hello,
  This short week, we will continue with discussing the tissue focus questions.  I am going to shoot for getting your sketches graded by mid-week next week with an eye to having the tissue ID test on Monday 24 November.  Once we finish the tissue notes, we will discuss tissue repair and then you will have a test on this unit.  This test is NOT before Thanksgiving!

  As always, AFT is your friend if you are confused!  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:

• Vital Signs #2 due Friday 14

week of 3 November

Hi there,
  Today is the last in-class time for sketching the 8 tissue types you've been working on.  Those sketches are due by Friday 7 November.  Wednesday we will continue going over the notes and possibly also Thursday/Friday or I may give you another vital signs.  Still mulling that one over.
  The first quarter is over.  By the end of today I will have your quarter grades done.  If you then have below an 85, you have the option of doing extra credit.  If that applies to you, see me for details.  I then need that extra credit by Wednesday 6 November during AFT.  If I don't get the extra credit by the end of AFT, I will not grade it as my grades are due by noon on Wednesday.
  As always please come to AFT if you need help!  Thanks, Ms.L

DUE DATES:
• any extra credit for Q1 (only if grade below an 85) by Weds 6 Nov. DURING AFT
• epithelial and connective tissue sketches due by Friday 7 November

week of 27 October

Hi there,
  Monday was time to work on the tissue focus questions that are due on Thursday/Friday of this week. Wednesday is the last day of tissue sketching for this week.  You will get more class time next Monday (last in-class time) and then the sketches are due on Friday 7 November (you can always get an extension if you need it).  Thursday/Friday we are going to start talking about the tissue focus questions.  As we work our way through this, that will help you with labeling your sketches.
  As always please come to AFT if you need help.  If you want extra time for scope work, you can come in any period except period 7.  Thanks, Ms. L

DUE DATES:
• tissue focus questions -- Thursday 30 Oct (p. 3)/ Friday 31 Oct (p. 4)
• tissue sketches - Friday 7 November

week of 20 October

Hey there everyone,
  So today you obviously did the body orientation and evolution test.  As of Wednesday, we will be starting the next unit on tissues, specifically epithelial and connective tissues.  (We will cover muscle tissue in detail in the muscle unit and nervous tissue a tiny bit in the mini-unit on the brain.)  We're going to start this with some tissue sketching, so Wednesday will be a brief review of how to use a microscope and a discussion of which tissues I want you to sketch, format for the sketches, etc.  Then on Thursday/Friday you'll have one more period for sketching.  I will give you at least one more in-class period for these sketches (probably two), so please don't panic trying to get the sketches done this week!  There are 8 different tissue types and it takes time to make good sketches.
  Next Monday I am out, so I will give you class time to start working on questions about epithelial and connective tissues.  I grade these as a homework grade (for completion), so it is fine if you work together on these.
  As ever, please contact me if you need help.  You know where to find me during AFT!  Ms. Leary

DUE DATES:
• no homework for this week :)
• epithelial and connective questions - due Friday 31 October
• epithelial and connective sketches - due Monday 3 November

week of 13 October

Hey everyone,

  This week we will finish the conversation about hominin evolution and also watch the video "The Mind's Big Bang" about the evolution of abstract thinking in Homo sapiens.  As you know, the test on body orientation, vertebrate evolution, and human evolution is next Monday.  Please remember that the body orientation part of the test is NOT open note!  You MUST have all terms memorized and cannot have any of the following in your notebook: body orientation sheet, intro test, word root packet, alien critter.  The rest of the test is fully open note.

  Please remember that we have AFT both Thursday and Friday of this week in case you would like help.  Thanks, Ms. L

DUE DATES:

• resubmission of hominin research Wednesday 15 October
• no new homework :)
• test on 20 October!

week of 6 October

Hi there,
   So, this week, we will be discussing the six articles that you read and starting our conversation wrapping up the hominin evolution research on Wednesday.  Thursday/Friday I will show you the last episode of "Your Inner Fish" called "Your Inner Primate".

  Here are links from the articles for more information on some of the articles or interviews with different scientists in case you are interested.  Please remember that I am happy to make a copy of any/all of the articles with you.  Or I could share a PDF of all the articles with you if you'd like.

  Links:

evolution & climate: ScientificAmerican.com/sep2014/demenocal

project documenting major fossils in human fossil record: ScientificAmerican.com/sep2014/tattersall

mating habits of primates: ScientificAmerican.com/sep2014/coupling

how animals help one another: ScientificAmerican.com/sep2014/cooperation

interview with Michael Tomasello (evolution of cognitive abilities in humans v. apes):
ScientificAmerican.com/sep2014/stix-origins

how humans have recently adapted to high altitudes: ScientificAmerican.com/sep2014/hawks-origins

DUE DATES:
• none this week!
• remember, test is on Monday 20 October

Hello,
  As you know, Monday was the last day for in-class work on the hominin research.  Wednesday we will be watching the second episode of Your Inner Fish and I will be giving you an article to read for Friday 4 October.  Please read the article and be prepared to discuss it.  On Friday you will be working with two other people to prepare a short presentation on your article.  I'll give you about 30 minutes in class on Monday and then presentations will start.  The test on body orientation stuff, vertebrate evolution, and hominin evolution will be on Monday 20 October.  As always, find me in AFT or after school if confused!  Ms Leary

DUE DATES:

• hominin evolution research - Weds 1 Oct.
• have article read for Friday 3 Oct.
• be prepared to present article to class Monday 6 Oct.
• body orientation, vertebrate & human evolution test - Monday 20 Oct.

Howdy,
  This week we will finish the vertebrate evolution timeline and then start on the hominin evolution research.  You will get the remainder of this week to finish this research up + next Monday's class.  Mr. Wolotsky will be coming into class on Wednesday of this week to show you how to use a science database the library now has.  As ever, please come to AFT if you need help!  Ms. L

Due dates:

• Vital Signs #1 - by Wednesday 24 Sept. (sorry for confusion on last week's blog)
• Human Evolution research by next Weds 1 October.

Hi,
  This week we are going to watch an episode of "Your Inner Fish" and start our discussion of vertebrate evolution, leading us up to studying hominin evolution (human evolution).  On a side note, I have gotten an explanation of hominid vs. hominin:
Hominid = the group consisting of all modern and extinct Great Apes (that is, modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans plus all their immediate ancestors)
Hominin = the group consisting of modern humans, extinct human species, and all our immediate ancestors (including members of the genera Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and Ardipithecus)
Source: http://australianmuseum.net.au/hominid-and-hominin-whats-the-difference

So I will be making an effort to use the term hominin from now on, but will probably slip up and use hominid out of habit!

In addition, you will get your first Vital Signs assignment this week.  I will explain the protocol in class.  As always, please see me with questions. Ms. Leary

Due dates:
• Vital Signs #1 due Monday 22 Sept.

Hey everyone,
  This week we will be discussing the chordate reading and beginning to talk about vertebrate evolution.  We may finish the vertebrate evolution this week, in which case we will start human evolution next week.  As always, please come see me if you are confused.  Ms. L

Homework update:
• Alien critter due date changed!  Now due by Monday 15 Sept.  (you can obviously hand in early if you want to)

Hey there,
  Good to meet all of you today!  I look forward to an interesting year together.  I have fun teaching this class and hope you have a similar experience taking it! Ms. L

Here are your first due dates:

Body Orientation Sheet - Thursday 4 Sept (3)/ Friday 5 Sept (4)
Course Policy Sheet signed & Sign up for Blog - Monday 8 September
Random thoughts by Monday 8 September (not graded)
Chordate Reading read, be ready for discussion - Monday 8 September
Alien Critter - Friday 12 Sept. 

Hi there,
  You should get in the habit of checking this blog regularly for our class.  I will post about once a week and use this blog to share due dates, links to animations, etc.  I'd appreciate your feedback as to how this is working for you as this is a new thing for me this year. Thanks!  Ms. Leary