OMSI Opportunity and In-class Mitosis Work

Lincoln students and their families have the opportunity to go to OMSI for free (w/ student ID) on Monday 12/17 from 6:00-8:00 pm.  There is a special exhibit called "Race:  Are We So Different?"  You can get extra credit for this class by writing a 1-2 page summary of what you see at the exhibit and what you think about it.

Mitosis In-Class Assignment for 12/13:
When done with the test, pick up an old text and go to Chapter 12 (pages 206-216)

Define the following terms:
genome, somatic cells, gametes, chromatin, sister chromatids, centromere, mitosis, cytokinesis, meiosis

Now, list the following phases of cell division and state what happens during each phase:
interphase
prophase
prometaphase
metaphase
anaphase
telophase
cytokinesis

The Week of 12/10-12/14

Remember that the Respiration Lab (also called Metabolic Rate) is due on Tuesday.  Check the document on this blog for tips on this lab.  The 9+10 Test is on Thursday of this week and the 9+10 Review should be turned in before the test.

• Mon 12/10:  Get Mitochondrion/Chloroplast worksheet checked off.  Finish up notes on Photosynthesis, Limiting Factors, and Factors that Affect Photosynthesis.  SPARK Lecture on pediatric nephrology in room 169 at 3:30pm.
• Tues 12/11:  Turn in Respiration Lab.  Questions on 9+10 Review Sheet?  Jeopardy Review in class.  Work on 9+10 Review in groups.  Do you have enough detail in your answers?
• Thurs 12/13:  Turn in 9+10 Review.  Take 9+10 Test. 

Have a fantastic Winter Break?  Do you have time to read?  Check out the extra credit book list and see if something strikes your fancy.

The Week of 12/3-12/7 + What's on the quiz?

• Mon 12/3:  Cellular Respiration Quiz.  Start coloring sheet for mitochonria and chloroplasts.  Anaerobic Respiration.  Overview of Photosynthesis.  Read 9.5.  SPARK lecture on Engineering today at 3:30 in 169.
• Tues 12/4:  More details on Respiration Lab (see document section for details). Parts of chloroplast, and overview of Photosynthesis.  Hand out 10.1 and 10.2 Worksheet and do with class textbooks.  Get checked off when completed.  Read 10.1 and 10.2.
• Thurs 12/6:  Get 10.1 and 10.2 WS checked off if not already.  Notes on the Calvin Cycle.  Show simulations.  Finish Chloroplast and Mitochondrion WS and get Checked Off.  Hand out Chapter 9+10 Review.  Test next Thursday 12/13 (but take it early if you know you will be gone.)  Read 10.3 (10.4 optional).

What's on the cellular respiration quiz?
For each of the 4 parts of cellular respiration:
1)  Know what molecules go in (including number of carbons)
2)  Know types and numbers of molecules that come out (including # of ATP, energy carriers, CO2, water, etc.)
3)  Know specifically where each part of cellular respiration occurs

The Week of 11/26-11/30 and what you need to know for the quiz

This week FLEX will be on Tues/Wed instead of Thurs/Fri as it usually is.

• Mon 11/26:  Cell Tests Back and Recollect.  Test corrections this week.  Summary of Cellular Respiration.  Read Chapter 9.3.
• Tues 11/27:  More on Electron Transport Chain.  Do some trials of the Respiration Lab, getting the protocol down. 
• Thurs 11/28:  Decide as a class what kind of data we want to take for Respiration Lab.  Take Data.  Enter data into spreadsheet.  Review Cellular Respiration.  Quiz on Monday.

Know for the Quiz:
For all 4 parts of cellular respiration:
1)  Know what goes in (names of molecules, how many carbons)
2)  Know what comes out (including net amount of ATP, NADH, CO2, etc.)
3)  Know where each part occurs, be specific (as in inner membrane of mitochondrion for oxidative phosphorylation)

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences: Please Read!!

As you know, Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are coming up next Monday and Tuesday.  I want you to know that I will not be there for the morning session on Tuesday because I will be meeting with the teachers of my own kids acrosss town.  Generally that doesn't take the whole morning session and I arrive at Lincoln by 10:15 or so, but I definitely won't be there at the beginning.  Thanks for your understanding.  I look forward to meeting with many of you next week!

The Week of 11/13-11/16: Agar Cubes Write-Up

Grades have been updated.  Check yours and ask me on Tuesday if you have any questions.

• Tues 11/13:  Turn in Agar Cubes Lab.  Questions on Cell Review?  Start Cellular Respiration.  Read 9.1 and 9.2 in the text.
• Thurs 11/15:  Turn in Cell Review.  Take Cell Test.  More on Glycolysis/Citric Acid Cycle.  Read 9.3 in text.

Agar Cubes Lab:  Due Tues 11/13:  This is what you need.
1)  Completed data table (provided to you)
2)  Sample calculations:  show work (including equation) for 1 of each type of calculation.  Surface area, volume, surface area to volume ratio, volume penetrated, and proportion of cube penetrated by NaOH (%).
3)  Conclusion:  How does this relate to a cell?  Be specific and use numbers to back yourself up.  What is the importance of the surface area to volume ratio for a cell?  Should the ratio by high or low?  Explain.

The Week of 11/5-11/9: End of Quarter

Remember that there is a SPARK lecture on the history of radiation treatment at 3:30 on Monday, November 5th in Room 169.  Get there early if you want to attend because I know it will fill up fast.

• Mon 11/5: Turn in Osmosis/Diffusion Lab if not already.   Finish up membrane proteins and transport across membranes.  Hand out Cell Review.  Work on outlining the points of Chapter 3 using the class textbooks and the review.
• Wed 11/7:  Deadline for late work and extra credit.  Agar cubes surface area lab.  Questions on Cell Review?  Cell Test is next Tuesday 11/13.  Bring your completed Cell Review outline and turn in before the test.

Enjoy your 4-day week-end!!

The Week of 10/29-11/2

• Mon 10/29:  Turn in Paramecium Lab if not already.  Endomembrane system and cytoskeleton.  Start membranes.  Work on Cell Model Project.
• Tues 10/30:  Present cell models.  Walk around evaluation.  Turn in cell model write-ups.  Cell membranes and Bubble Lab.
• Thurs 11/1:  Transport across membranes.  Osmosis Lab.  Turn in Membrane worksheet.

The Week of 10/22-10/26

Mon 10/22:  More on Microscope Lab.  Observe and draw Volvox, Hydra, Paramecia, Euglena, and Amoeba.
Tues 10/23:  Oil Immersion Lenses and observing bacteria slides.  Finish drawing critters.  If time, paramecia eating yeast lab.  Turn in drawings today or Thursday.
Thurs 10/25:   Finish up microscopes.  Overview of cells:  prokaryote vs. eukaryote.  Plant vs. Animal.  Cytoskeletons.  Start Membranes.  Cell Models due next Tues 10/30.

The Week of 10/15-10/19

• Mon 10/15:  A Day.  Questions on Biochem Review?  Take Biochem Test.  Finish Cells Worksheet after the test.  Pickup of "How to Use a Microscope" and read it for tomorrow.  Start reading Chapter 6 in your text.
• Wed 10/17:  Test Day.  20 minute classes.  Turn in Cell Worksheet.  Introduction to Microscopes and Cell Model Project, due October 30.
• Thurs 10/18:  Start working with microscopes.  Make drawings of cork, onion, elodea, and start looking at critters.  Calculate magnifications.

The Week of 10/8-10/11

Remember that there is no school on Friday, so I will see you for full blocks on Monday and Wednesday this week!

Mon 10/8:  Food Tests Lab.  Bring in food to test if you like.  Otherwise, I will have a variety of foods to test.
Wed 10/10:  Review for Biochemistry Test, to be taken on Monday, 10/15.  Discuss Food Lab.  Write-up due Thurs 10/18.

The Week of 10/1-10/5

Mon 10/1:  Finish notes on Lipids and Take Notes on Nucleic Acids.  Finish highlighting your Dictionary of Organic Molecules.  Short quiz on Chemistry Review and types of organic molecules tomorrow.  Read 5.5.
Tues 10/2:  Quiz on Chemistry Review and types of Organic Molecules.  Making clay models of monomers.  Linking monomers to form complex molecules (2nd half of class).
Thur 10/4:  Finish linking clay models if necessary.  Perform 4 tests for detecting different types of organic molecules.  Prepare for food tests next week.   I will provide some basic foods to test, but you may bring in your own to make it more interesting.

Next week there is no school on Friday (October 12), so we will have Full Blocks all week.  See you Monday and Wednesday!

SPARK Lecture on Monday! (extra credit available)

Dr. Linda Lester

Endocrinologist and Nutritionist.

Iodine deficiency, a world-wide health problem.

Monday, October 1st in 169 from 3:30-4:15. To get extra credit, fill out the speaker evaluation and submit to Meg Kilmer and write a summary of the presentation and your response to it. Please do not just hand in your notes.

The Week of 9/24-9/28

• Mon 9/24:  Water Olympics Lab.  Turn in when complete.  Chemistry Review Worksheet to be checked off tomorrow.
• Tues 9/25:  Check off Chemistry Review worksheet and go over.  Carbon, organic chemistry, and functional groups.  Start coloring functional groups in "Dictionary".  Read Chapter 4.
• Thurs 9/27:   Identifying sugars, amino acids, fats, and nucleic acids.  Finish coloring "Dictionary".  Dehydration synthesis.  Start reading Chapter 5.

What Do I Need to Able to Do on the Test on Thursday?

1)  Be able to use a TI-84 calculator to find the mean, median, and standard deviation of a data set.
2)  Be able to use the TI-84 to run a t-test between 2 sets of data.
3)  Be able to use a table of Critical Values to be able to interpret the result of a t-test.
4)  Be able to calculate the average and uncertainty for several trials of data.
5)  Be able to estimate the number of organisms in a grid given the numbers of organisms in several of the quadrats.
6)  Explain what a frequency distribution is showing, including the number of organisms within 1 and 2 standard deviations.

Brine Shrimp Write-Up

Although the type of labs we do will vary quite a bit, these are the general requirements for a "full" lab write-up and should be followed as well as possible for your Brine Shrimp Lab due on Thursday 9/20.  See Survival Manual pages 5-6 for more details.

Background:  Background info. should be relevant to the lab you are doing.  Include preliminary observations where appropriate and reasoning for why you chose to examine the variables that you did.  Do not just copy and paste from the internet.  If you do include research information, cite it!

Question:  Simple.  Question should include what you are changing and what you are measuring.  For example, "how does light intensity affect the movement of the brine shrimp?"

Variables:  List independent (manipulated), dependent (responding), and 3 or more controlled (constants).

Materials:  (sorry 1st period, I decided to include this after all)

Labeled Diagram:  helps to show the procedure visually

Step-by Step Procedure:  Should be detailed enough that it can be followed accurately by someone who did not perform your lab.  Include amounts, tools used, number of trials, etc.

Reasoning for the choices you made in the procedure/control of variables:  Explain why you chose the amounts that you did and explain how you kept controlled variables constant.  This can be worked into the step-by-step, but it needs to be somewhere.

Data Table:  Neat, organized, title, labels, units, uncertainty.  "Raw" data should be presented.   Observations (qualitative data) can be listed underneath the data table.

Data Processing:  Include any calculations (show a sample for each type), statistics done (show sample calc.) and generally a graph or graphs.

Conclusion:  Interpret your data.  What does it mean and how does it relate to your question?  Use numbers to back yourself up.  Discuss the size of the uncertainty.

Evaluation:  Discuss sources of uncertainty.  Be specific, not general.  Do not use the term "human error" as a blanket cause for all uncertainty.  Discuss realistic ways that you could reduce the uncertainty for the sources that you listed.

First 2.5 Weeks of School

I'm sorry it took me awhile to get this updated.  In the future you should expect to see this site updated (hopefully) before we do the activities!  I'm thrilled to have all of you in class and am looking forward to a great year in IB Biology.

• Wed 9/5:  Meet and Greet.  Demonstrate Early Work.
• Thurs 9/6:  Hand out Classroom Expectations.  Hand out Safety and Academic Honesty Contracts to be signed by next week (9/13).  Use dissecting microscopes to count brine shrimp cysts and estimate the number in the whole grid (show your work on the hand-out).  Hydrate brine shrimp, label, and leave out.  Bring TI-84 calculators on Monday.
• Mon 9/10:  Take a look at your brine shrimp.  Complete TI-84 Activity up to the t-test.
• Tues 9/11:  Go over statistics that will be used in IB Biology and the meaning of the t-test.  Count hatched brine shrimp by putting 1 mL of your sample on the petri dish lid.  Do at least 4 different samples and have each person in your group count.  Estimate the number of hatched brine shrimp in your sample and the percentage hatched.  Complete Brine Shrimp Count/TI-84 Worksheet and turn in today or Thursday.  Hand out Brine Shrimp Inquiry Planning and discuss what will you will do with your group.  Fill out Planning Sheet as well as you can before the next class.
• Thurs 9/13:  Carry-out Brine Shrimp Inquiry.  Take careful data, do multiples samples, and then clean-up.  Read pages 5-6 of IB Survival Guide and then discuss lab write-ups.  Brine Shrimp Inquiry write-up due next Thursday, 9/20.
• Mon 9/17:  Finish discussing inquiry write-up.  Start statistics packet (pages 1-3).  We will finish the packet and grade in-class on Tuesday (tomorrow).
• Tues 9/18:  Finish statistics packet and exchange for grading.  Go over what you need to know in statistics for IB Biology.  Short Test on IB Biology statistics on Thursday 9/20 (topics will be posted on this blog by Tuesday).  Work time.
• Thurs 9/20:  Turn in Brine Shrimp Inquiry.  Short statistics test.  Finish Statistics Packet and turn in.  Work on "Chemistry Review" worksheet using chapters 2-3 of the text and your knowledge from chemistry class.  Worksheet is due Tues 9/25.

I recommend reading Chapter 1 in your text as an introduction to IB Biology.

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!

This is where you will come to get important information about the class.  I regularly update this blog, so you can rely on it to be accurate MOST of the time.  You can get class worksheets, find useful links, determine due dates, and accomplish many of your classroom needs.  Feel free to e-mail me (mkenny@pps.net) if you have any questions.  I usually respond the same day, although for you night owls who have questions at 11:30 pm...maybe not.  I'm looking forward to having you in my class this year and to getting the year and this website into full swing!