Daily Recap: Tuesday, 9/8

Anatomy and Physiology:
We took notes over epithelial tissues. The assignment was to construct a graphic organizer listing the name, cell shape, number of layers, locations, and functions of each type of epithelium discussed (except for glandular, which we'll discuss later).

6th period was interrupted by construction noise and didn't get all of the notes taken. We'll finish them tomorrow before we begin the epithelium lab.

Biology:
We reviewed the scientific process.

Daily Recap: Wednesday, 9/2

A & P:
Unit 1 Test!

Biology:
We took notes covering the nature of science. These can be downloaded from the course website.

Daily Recap: Tuesday, 9/1

A & P: Test prep day! We went over the first unit's progress report, and briefly discussed what will be on tomorrow's exam. The rest of the period was work time to prepare for the test.

Biology: We read Section 1.3 and completed a "contextual redefinition" worksheet over the key vocabulary.

Daily Recap: Monday, 8/31

A&P:
We reviewed the major organ systems of the body, covering the major organs and functions of each. After that, there was some work time to begin preparing for Thursday's exam. A new Physio-Phocus was also passed out.

Biology:
We spent most of the period reviewing the 8 characteristics of living things, including learning the mnemonic device "HOG RACER" to help remember them. (Homeostasis, Organization, Growth, Reproduction, Adaptation, Cells, Energy, Response) The rest of the class period was work time to get started on the section and chapter assessment exercises from Chapter 1.

Daily Recap: Monday, 5/11

Anatomy and Physiology:
Work day for portfolio assembly and final exam prep.

Biology:
Portfolio assembly

Daily Recap: Friday, 5/8

Anatomy and Physiology:
Today we worked on assembling our 4th quarter reflective portfolios.

Biology:
Ecology test

Daily Recap: Thursday, 5/7

Anatomy and Physiology:
Digestive system exam

Biology:
We took a few minutes at the beginning of class to discuss what will be on the ecology test tomorrow. The rest of the period was work time to get ready for it.

Daily Recap: Tuesday, 5/5

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Anatomy and Physiology:
We took our last (tear) set of notes for the year. All of the notes from the digestive system are available here, here, and here. We also gave a brief overview of the entire digestive process, looking both at the process by organs, then by nutrient. The last Physio-Phocus of the year is available in the classroom or can be downloaded from the class website.

Biology:
Students were to read either section 4.2 or 5.1 and share information with a partner as described yesterday.

Daily Recap: Monday, 5/4

Anatomy and Physiology:
Since only a few students were here today, we had a work day.

Biology:
Each student was given a new Bio-Bulletin in class. On the back of it is a progress report that needs to be signed and included in their portfolios at the end of the quarter.

We took quiz 4.4, which is our second quiz covering ecology. The rest of the period was work time, but the reading assignment for tomorrow was introduced so that students could get a jump start on it if they wanted to. The assignment is to pair up with another student. Each student in the pair should read EITHER section 4.2 or 5.1 and complete a "Science Notebook" reading guide. After both partners are done, they are responsible for sharing the information from their section with their partner.

Daily Recap: Thursday, 4/30

Anatomy and Physiology:
We took notes over the small intestine, pancreas and liver.

Biology:
Notes over textbook section 4.1, "Population Dynamics".

Daily Recap: Wednesday, 4/29

Anatomy and Physiology:
A new Physio-Phocus is available. It is, as always, chock-full of useful information. We spent most of the class period today talking about the H1N1 "swine" flu.

Biology:
Read textbook section 4.1. The reading strategy is students' choice.

Daily Recap: Tuesday, 4/29

I'm sorry I haven't gotten to this until now. I'm behind in just about everything due to the state testing earlier in the week...

Anatomy and Physiology:
Another work day since half of each class is in the library taking the physical science portion of the state science tests.

Biology:
We spent some time discussing swine flu, followed by a brief review of the water cycle and the carbon/oxygen cycle.

Daily Recap: Monday, 4/27

First day of KSA science testing!

Anatomy and Physiology:
Half the class (anyone who's a junior) is testing. The rest of the class has work days both today and tomorrow.

Biology:
Case study: "Using Predators to Manage Populations". This activity analyzes the relationship between predators and prey in a community.

Daily Recap: Friday, 4/24

Anatomy and Physiology:
We watched a two part video called Body Story: Spreading Menace. In the first part, we were introduced to Mike, who unfortunately ate some bad chicken and came down with a case of food poisoning. In the second part, we spent some time with George, who, in order to impress a certain special lady, went on a crash diet to try to lose weight. These stories supplement the digestive system material that we're currently covering in class.

Biology:
Owl pellet dissections.

Daily Recap: Thursday, 4/23

Anatomy and Physiology:
We continued our discussion of the digestive system with a short section of notes covering the structure and function of the stomach.

Biology:
Today was a work day to allow students to finish up their ecological cycle posters.

Daily Recap: Wednesday, 4/22

Earth Day!
Happy Birthday Josh!

Anatomy and Physiology:
We began taking notes over the organs of the digestive system. Today's focus was the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.

Biology:
1. We took our first quiz of the ecology unit (quiz 4.3).
2. Students, working in small groups, began making collage posters to represent their choice of either a nutrient cycle (water, carbon dioxide/oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon) or a food web for a particular ecosystem.

Daily Recap: Tuesday, 4/21

Happy Birthday Derrick!

Anatomy and Physiology:
We took a few notes that gave an overview of the digestive system. The rest of the period was work time to start on Lab Exercise 41: Organs of the Digestive System.

Biology:
Read textbook section 2.3 over the cycling of matter. The assignment that goes along with this reading is the "Science Notebook" study guide worksheets.

Daily Recap: Monday, 4/20

Investigating Technologies:
Today is the first day in our new harbors! Interval 1 should take about one week.

Anatomy and Physiology:
Each group of students paid tribute to their rat during our rat memorial service. There was time at the end of the period for anyone that didn't finish the exam on Friday. This officially concludes our rat unit.

Biology:
We took notes covering the flow of energy through ecosystems (text section 2.2). These are a continuation of the notes we started last week and are available on the class website as "Intro to Ecology".

Daily Recap: Friday, 4/17

Investigating Technologies:
Today was the last day of the current harbor rotation. Groups will be rotated into their new harbors on Monday.

Anatomy and Physiology:
Rat test. Anyone who didn't finish will have an opportunity to complete the test on Monday. Also...don't forget that Monday is the "rat funeral". You will be expected to come up with some sort of a tribute to your furry little friend.

Daily Recap: Thursday, 4/16

Anatomy and Physiology:
Today we had a short review/information session for the rat exam that's scheduled for tomorrow. The 80 question multiple choice test breaks down like this:

Unit	Questions	Labeling	Total
Introduction	4	-	4
Skeletal	4	5	9
External	4	-	4
Muscular	3	8	11
Digestive	6	5	11
Cardiovascular	5	11	16
Respiratory	4	-	4
Urogenital	6	6	12
Nerve/Endocrine	5	4	9
Total	41	39	80

You will be allowed to use your lab notebook and instruction sheets on the first half of the exam (the general questions), but not on the second half (labeling). You should study figures 2.2, 3.5, 3.15, 4.7, 5.3, 5.14, 7.2, 7.4, an 9.1 to prepare for the labeling section.

Biology:
We began our ecology unit by reading section 2.1. The assignment for this reading is a "contextual redefinition" worksheet.