Week of 12/15/14

Biology- This week our focus is on respiration, another difficult topic. We will lecture anaerobic respiration on Monday. Muscle Fatigue lab will be Tuesday with the report due by the end of class Wednesday. Wednesday we will lecture aerobic respiration and plan for a 50pt test for Friday this week. Thursday will be work time as well as a review periods 1-4 you are on your own if you are involved in the elementary concert. AP biology- Monday will be a work day to prepare for your presentation on who came to dinner. Tuesday will start with the presentations and follow with a discussion on speciation. Wednesday will include an activity on speciation. Thursday lecture primate evolution and an activity on the human species. Friday Test Evolution.

Week of 11/24/14

Biology-We have a short week this week guys and we will be starting a new topic. Photosynthesis. This is one of the most difficult topics of the year. I hope you are up for the challenge! Monday will be an intro lecture on how organisms get energy and the electromagnetic spectrum. Tuesday will be research questions on the spectrum that are due for Tuesday. Have a nice Thanksgiving! AP Biology- Well we made it to Thanksgiving. We are working on cladogram worksheets and will have some time in class to finish them off. I plan on spending a little time reviewing for Tuesday's quiz. Wednesday we will practice some AP test questions. Happy Thanksgiving!

Week of 11/17/14

biology...Lots of lecture this week as we finish our big topic of cells. We still have the cell cycle cancer connection which will be our topic on Monday. Make sure you have your cancer RS ready to hand in! Tuesday we will focus on meiosis comparing the process in males and females and providing reasons for those differences. Wednesday we will finish our cell topic with how genetic variations are introduced during meiosis. We will end class with a review work sheet. Be sure to have it finished for Thursdays jeopardy review day. Remember Cell Test is Friday!

Week of 11/11/14

BIOLOGY...Lots going on this week that will interrupt class schedules. We are working with the stages of cellular reproduction and managed to complete lecture last Friday. Tuesday we will pick up with a lab activity that will test your ability to identify the stages of the cell cycle in an onion root tip. The lab will run 2 days and be due Thursday. Wednesday is a 2 hour delay schedule for the board meeting so we will finish our labs in that 1/2 hour period. Thursday we will look at the cell cycle connection in lecture first and then reinforce with a reading strategy that must be finished for homework. Friday is a pep rally schedule but we will make the most of class time and lecture on meiosis. No tests or quizzes are scheduled for the week.

Week of 11/3/14

Biology- Hopefully everyone worked over the weekend on their portfolios masterpieces. I look forward to grading them! This week we continue our discussion of cells with the topic of transport on Monday and Tuesday. Monday will be lecture on active transport followed by lab set up for potato osmosis. Tuesday will be a transport quiz remaining time will be for reading lab results and answering analysis questions. Completed labs are due on Wednesday. The plan for Wednesday is a movie Segway between transport and cell reproduction processes. It is a discovery school production and a perfect fit with our topics. Thursday will be lecture on the cell cycle followed by a worksheet if time allows. Lecture and worksheet will carry over to Friday if we need additional time. AP Biology....This week our focus is Gregor Mendel and the science of genetics. Following lecture we will spend some time refreshing our memories on how to solve Punnett squares. I'm planning on a punnett square quiz Wednesday. Thursday will be lecture on short cuts to predicting offspring traits followed be research on techniques used in modern genetics laboratories. Friday we will discuss our research findings and watch a video on the science of genetics.

Week of 10/ 27/14

Biology- The first 3 days of this week will be lab days. We are working with our microscopes and viewing cells from a variety of plants, animals and fungi. The finished lab is due at the end of class Wednesday. We will be using Wednesday as a work day for anything that needs your attention...portfolios, labs, research or organelle worksheets. Thursday we will introduce and lecture cellular transport...passive. We will follow up with a worksheet. Friday lecture will be active transport with time to complete the worksheet. If time allows we will set up a lab that we will read on Monday. AP BIOLOGY DNA is our focus for the week. Monday will be lecture on Replication followed by a reinforcement worksheet due Tuesday. Tuesday lecture on protein synthesis. Wednesday will involve DNA research. Thursday we will watch the movie GATTACA very appropriate for our lecture topic. It will take a little extra time on Friday So after the quiz we will finish it as a nice way to head into the weekend.

Week of 10/13/14

Well guys we made it through the organic chem topic and are now heading into more familiar topics on cells. This unit will take us aprox. 4 weeks and includes a lot of labs ,research etc. so I hope you are up for the challenge! More info will follow but for now... Tuesday- Lecture History of cell discovery and the cell theory. Time line assignment( due Friday) Wednesday- Most students will be taking the PSAT...those who are with me will have class time to work on their timeline. Thursday- Lecture cell organelles- Portfolio assignment will be discussed. Friday- complete organelle discussion for animals-WS organelle chart(to be included with portfolio. AP BIOLOGY Topics this week will revolve around cell reproduction...No tests or quizzes are scheduled. Tuesday-Lecture Binary fission. Work sheet on the cell cycle. WEDNESDAY- Lecture Meiosis...Research questions assigned Thursday I will be at honor society induction practice. Students in class can continue with research questions. Friday review for test scheduled for Monday!

Week of September 29, 2014

Hey everybody, Hard to believe we are half way through the first marking period already. I hope things are going well. We are right on track with our topic of biochemistry and our week in Bio will look something like this... Monday-Jeopardy review for Properties of water test Tuesday- Test Day- Chemistry of life from atoms to pH Wednesday-Introduce organic compounds follow up with RS on organic compounds due Thursday Thursday Lecture organic compounds and life Friday- Pep rally schedule complete lecture-ws organic chem due Monday AP BIOLOGY- Monday-Lecture the Calvin Cycle- time to complete calculations on Rf and chromatography...Lab report due Tuesday. Tuesday- Lecture Anaerobic respiration...Lab Muscle fatigue Wednesday Start with a quiz on photosynthesis some time to finish lab as needed lecture aerobic respiration Thursday-Set up lab on seed respiration Friday read seed lab...Muscle Fatigue lab due

Week of September 22, 2014

Biology- We are working with biochemistry topics this week ranging from properties of water to pH. Monday and Tuesday we will discuss properties of water and reinforce our topics with a hands on lab activity. The finished report is due Wednesday. Tuesday will also be a Quiz on elements, and compounds( be sure you know how to complete a Bohr Model. Wednesday we will lecture Intro to pH. We will then do a short in class activity applying pH to everyday solutions from coffee to bleach. The activity sheet that goes with the assignment is due Thursday. Thursday we will complete pH topic and worksheet. Friday will be Jeopardy review for Mondays Test. AP Biology. We wrap up our discussion of cell this week with a test scheduled for Wednesday. The enzyme lab report is due Tuesday. Notes have been sent for the next topic, photosynthesis, which we will start Thursday. We will set up Chromotography lab Thursday and read results on Friday.Lab report and calculations will be due Next Wednesday.

Week of 9/15/14

BIOLOGY- We start our week with a TEST on Chapter 1. Be sure to study! Tuesday we begin our new chapter " THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE" This will be a lot of review of concepts covered in 8th grade. We will begin with lecture on matter and the periodic table. We will end class with a worksheet on how to read the table. Wednesday will start with a worksheet check and follow with a discussion on compounds and how they form. Worksheet on Bohr models to be completed at home if needed. Thursday-Our discussion will be on properties of water and the importance of water for living things. Friday We will start a 2 day property of water lab with report due next Tuesday. AP BIOLOGY-Mondays lecture focus will be Enzymes. Follow up enzyme labs Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday the coacervate lab is due. Our enzyme labs will be due next Tuesday in notebooks with conclusion! Thursday lecture on composition and function of the cell membrane. Including active and passive transport. As we lecture there will be a surface area to volume demo using potatoes with conclusion for the activity due Friday end of class. Friday's lecture will be the sodium potassium pump with 2nd period for lab calculations and analysis.

Week of 9/8/14

Biology- This week we will see how scientists improve their ability to make observation by using tools such as microscopes. Monday- Lecture-history of the microscope. Follow up with RS on scope development. Lab report from Fridays activity due. Tuesday- Begin working with the microscope...worksheet on parts and their functions. Begin working with microscopes if time allows. Wednesday- complete microscope lab...letter "e" and pond water. Completed lab report due Thursday. Thursday Wrap up lab Friday- Jeopardy review for 1st test. Monday will be test day AP BIOLOGY Monday will wrap up our discussion of organic compounds. Follow up with worksheets and molecule identification, Tuesday-Lecture Theories on the origin of life. Follow up jeopardy review for test. Wednesday-Test Day Chapters 1-3 Thursday Coacervate Lab...Begin cell research. Friday- Lecture/ discussion cellular organelles and functions. Completed Polymer Labs Due.

Week of 9/2/14

BIOLOGY- Short week this week... Hope everyone had a good week. We are continuing to work with scientific method and variables. The week should go something like this... Tuesday- Lecture how to distinguish between independent and dependent variables. Worksheet practice that will be finished for homework. Wednesday- In class poster activity ...Using scientific method to problem solve. Thursday- We'll start the day with a quiz followed by time to complete the posters. Friday- Each class will do a gallery walk to critique the posters. We will also spend some time practicing dependent and independent variables. AP Biology Tuesday- Cabbage lab due! Full day lecture introducing organic chem. Wednesday- We will start class a quiz on themes and properties of water. Second period will be spent continuing lecture on organic compounds critical to life. Remember water potential lab is due on Thursday. Thursday- Hand in water potential lab- complete lecture with nucleic acids and begin polymer labs. Friday complete polymer labs. Due next week.

August 25 2014...Welcome back

Hope everyone had a great summer. I want to welcome you to A joyous year filled with biology starting with: Monday- classroom rules, requirements for class and overview of objectives for the year. Tuesday What is science? lecture followed by as reading strategy on the topic that must be completed for homework. Wednesday in class we will practice distinguishing between real and pseudoscience ..no homework. Thursday- Lecture Observation/Inference followed up with a worksheet to be completed as homework if needed. Friday-lecture scientific method what is it and why is it important. Ap Biology Hope you had a great summer. Now it's back to work! Monday- Lecture themes of biology. Application worksheet complete for homework if needed. Tuesday-Intro lecture properties of water followed by research on water related concepts. Wednesday- Lecture- What is pH, lab red cabbage as a pH indicator. Due Tuesday 9/2 Thursday- Lecture water and homeostasis Set up of water potential lab. Lab results will be read on Friday. Completed lab report due Thursday 9/4

Week of 4/7/2014

Biology- Evolution is our topic for the week with a plan that should go something like this... Monday- Lecture Darwin and Natural selection Tuesday- Activity on fish selection.Due Thursday Wednesday-lecture supports for evolution and finish fish lab. Thursday Activity...The Great fossil Find Friday Quiz and complete Lab AP Biology will continue with the topic of Evolution Monday lecture-Population Genetics follow up with Natural selection activity Tuesday-Lecture the history of biodiversity....cladogram activity...Planning a Genetics Quiz for today! Wednesday- Lecture the evolution of behavior...Lab beaks of Finches.

Week of 3/24/14

Bio classes will start the week with the blood typing lab.You should have time in class on monday to finish the hands on part...Tuesday in class will be to finish the analysis. I have a field trip Tuesday so it is up to you to finish the lab report. There is also a Designer Baby reading strategy that will be assigned. It is part of your packet have it by Wednesday. Wednesday we will lecture Genetic engineering and you will be given reasearch/presentation assignments that will be due starting next Monday.There will be some class time to work on assignments no tests or quizzes this week. AP Bio we will complete replication and protein synthesis in class on Monday. Most students will be with me on a field trip to surgery live on Tuesday . Wednesday we will check worksheet on replication and spend a little time reviewing for Fridays Test. The last of this marking period. Thursday we will introduce Genetics which will be a short topic since I know you had tons in 10th grade.

Week of 2/17/14

Monday-Our Current topic is Human Genetics and we start the week with a discussion of twin types and reasons for studying.Hope everyone did their homework! assignment on pedigree's due today. Tuesday lecture on history of blood types followed by worksheet on blood type punnett squares. Wednesday Blood typing lab.Blood Worksheets due. Thursday Quiz on human genetics....complete blood type lab. Friday-RS designer babies AP Bio- Monday we will set up our respiration lab and take a little time to review for Tuesdays respiration Quiz.Labs on muscle fatigue due today. Tuesday- Quiz will start the day followed by lab result analysis and write up. WednesdayWe introduce the history of DNA maybe alittle of photo 51.Thursday Replication with follow up worksheet.Seed respiration lab due. Friday Lecture protein synthesis.

Week of 3/9/14

Academic Bio This week we will be wrapping up our work with Punnett Squares. Monday- We will go over Punnett square worksheet and learn our last type which is sex linked inheritance. Tuesday-Review and Punnett Square Races. Wednesday- Test day...remember over 50% involves solving squares! Thursday-Intro to Human Genetics Lecture "Are humans good or bad subjectsfor study and Why" Friday- Lecture-Techniques used in the study of humans AP Bio- Photosynthesis starts our week. Monday Lecture the light Reaction followed by reinforcement worksheet. Tuesday- Lecture the Calvin Cycle and Chromatography lab with Rf calculations. Wed Lecture-C3/C4 Plant and Cyclic verses non cyclic photophosphorulation.Followed by review Thursday Quiz Photosynthesis...Intro to respiration lecture Set up respiration Lab.

Week of 2/17/14

It been really difficult keeping up with a blog with all the disruptions this month. Hopefully things will get back to normal now. Bio classes are wrapping up DNA topic. All notes will be completed by Wednesday. I am planning a quiz on thursday focussing on mutations, about 5 pages of notes. Following the quiz we will complete a worksheet on the same mutation topics. Friday is a Jeopardy review day.With DNA test scheduled for Monday 2/24. It is a big test so be prepared! I will have after school review on Friday. AP Bio is moving right alo0ng into cells.We had our first test Tuesday and lab notebooks are due by Wednesday with enzyme labs.research and 1 conclusion tying both labs together. Thursday we will focus on cellular organelles With a fractionation lab scheduled for Friday.

Week of 1/26/2014

Wow is it hard to schedule with all this wild weather...but I'll try to give you an idea of what to expect. Biology- DNA is our topic this week, you have the background already including discovery and structure now we are getting into processes of replication and protein synthesis. Monday- Lab on DNA extraction with analysis questions due Tuesday. Tuesday Lecture Replication...study for Quiz tomorrow. Wed-DNA Quiz...worksheet DNA due Thursday Thursday-Lecture protein synthesis Friday activity Protein Synthesis AP Bio Well we are off and running only 89 days to go. This week we will be working on properties of water and organic molecules Monday- continue lecture on water properties to pH- Complete water lab report due Wednesday along with research questions. Tuesday-Lecture pH followed up with property of water worksheet Wednesday- Red cabbage Lab.Report due, in lab notebook, Friday Thursday-Quiz properties of water Intro Organic Chem lecture Friday lecture Carbs and lipids...start polymer lab.

Week of 1/20/2014

week of 1/11/14

GOOD LUCK ON EXAMS EVERYONE!