Wednesday 4/27

Journal:

1. Compare and contrast the two organisms above.
2. What is the scientific name of each of the above organisms?

Today we took notes on the 6 kingdoms of life. Here is the chart that we used as a notes outline and here is the powerpoint.

HW:  bring a leaf or cluster of pine needles to class by tomorrow Thursday 4/28

Tuesday 4/26

Journal:

1. Write down one way of remembering the classification hierarchy (there are several examples on your notes).
2. What is a scientific name?

We turned in your Wacky Creatures assignment today. If you use the link from my blog, don't do "Treasures of the Barrier Reef" or "Harry Potter" just do the classification of wacky creatures in the middle.

Then we finished the classification notes we started yesterday. Here is a copy of the notes if you were gone.

HW:  none

Monday 4/25

Journal:

1. What are the 5 kingdoms of life?
2. Read the article about Carl Linnaeus and answer the following questions:
a. Who was Carl Linnaeus?
b. What did he study?
c. What was his profession?
d. When was his first paper on classification published?
e. How did he develop his system of classification?

After the journal, we took notes on Carl Linnaeus' classification system, which we still use today. If you missed class today, just read them and keep a copy in your folder.

HW:  none

Thursday 4/21

No journal today.

We made another dichotomous key in class today using "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans." Here is the assignment. If you missed class for this assignment, you will need to buy 35 jelly beans to classify and make a key out of.

HW:  anything left on the key

Wednesday 4/20

Journal:

When classifying a group of objects in order to organize them on a classification key, what sequence of steps do we usually follow?

Today we did an assignment classifying the class's shoes. If you missed class today, find 10 objects from home and make a dichotomous key using those objects.

HW:  finish key if needed

Tuesday 4/19

Journal:

1. What distinguishes living from nonliving things?
2. How are living things classified?
3. What is a dichotomous key? How are dichotomous keys used in science?

Today we took 5 minutes of class to finish Life in the Field and Living or Nonliving? then turned both assignments in.

Then we started a practice packet classifying "wacky creatures." Here's the worksheet for that, but DON'T DO the "Treasures of the Barrier Reef" or "Harry Potter" section.

HW:  anything left on "Wacky Creatures"

Monday 4/18

Journal:

1. Why do we use classification systems?
2. Describe a classification system you have used.
3. What characteristics do ALL living things possess? List at least 5.

We did an assignment to practice differentiating between living, non-living, and once-living things. Here is the worksheet.

Then we did an activity outside to practice further. Here is that worksheet. If you were absent just find a 1 foot square plot of ground that you can use at home and fill out the worksheet for that.

We will turn in both of those worksheets tomorrow.

HW:  none

Friday 4/15

Journal:

I collected your classification vocab (list on the new I can statements).

Then we worked on making classification keys using a "junk box collection" of objects. You can find about 5 sets of 10 objects (each set should be related but items not identical) at home and make a simple classification key (like the one used for the bell work today) for each set. You can also come after school and borrow the sets of objects I have. We turned that assignment in today.

HW:  none

Thursday 4/14

No journal today.

We shared with neighbors our Design an Organism assignment then turned it in.

Then we took the multiple choice/essay portion of this unit's assessment. If you missed class today you will need to set up a time with me to take the test at a later time.

You were then given the new I can statements and assigned the new vocabulary for homework.

HW:  Classification vocab from new I can statements due tomorrow.

Wednesday 4/13

Journal:

Give two examples of genetic traits in animals that have changed due to natural causes and two traits changed by man-made influences.

Today we finished working on the first half of your Reproduction unit mastery quiz:  Design an Organism. If you need an environment for the assignment come see me to choose one.

HW:  finish Design an Organism if not in class
Reminders:  Multiple choice portion of mastery quiz tomorrow in class

Tuesday 4/12

Journal:

1. Why must genetic changes occur in organisms?
2. Give one example of a species and how it might be different if it had not ever made any adaptations.

We finished the genetic changes powerpoint and notes then turned it in. It is officially due tomorrow so if you didn't finish you should bring it to class with you tomorrow.

We started the first part of your mastery quiz "Design an Organism." I have the environments you can choose from so if you missed class, see me to get one. Here is the worksheet for it.

HW:  anything left on the genetic changes ppt notes outline.
REMINDERS:  Mastery quiz on reproduction and genetic changes Thursday (traditional multiple-choice style test)

Monday 4/11

Journal:

Today we discussed the Genetic Variations assignment (see posts from last week) as a class then turned it in.

We then continued our discussion of unique genetic traits in organisms with this powerpoint and this notes outline.

HW:  none