Wednesday, October 29, 2014

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

Monday, October 20, 2014

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

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

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!


Monday, October 6, 2014

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