Week of Mid-Winter Break

Well it's the last week of February already. There is no school on Friday. Hopefully your child has been working on finding their three resources on their topic for stem cell use. This week we will be working on getting the summary written. Some students already have this done, good job!
We have visitors from the federal government here this week on Tuesday. I can't wait to show them and the kids the lesson we will be doing on DNA extraction. I did the experiment this weekend, it was so cool!
You should also be getting a progress report home in the mail this week.
Let's have a great week.

Here's the schedule:
Monday, February 23
Science
B1.1d Identify patterns in data and relate them to theoretical models.
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will turn in a completed lab report demonstrating their knowledge of the scientific method.
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have chosen statements that are true statements about DNA.
Students will be completing their lab report from Friday's Cheek Cell lab. They will turn them in. Next, we will do a short review of DNA using an Anticipation Guide and video. We will then talk about the lab for tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 24
Science
B1.1f Describe what would happen if variables were changed.
B4.2B Recognize that every species has its own characteristic DNA sequence.
B4.2C Describe the structure and function of DNA.
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, students will be able to tell that all living things have DNA.
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to describe what DNA looks like.
Students will be starting in the classroom and going over the basics of the lab. We will then move into the lab and completing a DNA extraction from strawberries.

Wednesday, February 25
Science
B1.2B Identify and critique arguments about personal or societal issues based on scientific evidence.
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, students will be able to write about their opinion on stem cell use using the CDV, common good.
We will be going over the results from our DNA extraction lab. Then we will go over an article that gives both sides of the argument of stem cell use. Students will then work through a graphic to help them to view both sides of the debate and then take a position. They will write a position statement.

Thursday, February 26
Science
B1.2C Develop an understanding of a scientific concept by assessing information from multiple sources.
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, participants will have their graphic aid for their summary completed.
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to successfully complete their summary for multimedia project.
We will work on finishing our Multimedia Science Graphic and then writing our summary of the articles. Students should have their official summary typed by next Tuesday.

Friday, February 27
No School!

Multimedia Project Started

Well, we began our four content area multimedia project last week. Hopefully your child has talked with you about it and showed you the packet. There was a required parent/guardian signature piece also. It is worth 10 homework points in science. Please get these in ASAP, they were due Friday, February 13th.

Here's the schedule:
Monday, February 16
Science
B1.2 Scientific Reflection and Social Implications.
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have completed most or all of a graphic to help them write their science portion of their multimedia project.
We will begin by a short reading activity on what Multiple Sclerosis is. Then we will view a short video on a new breakthrough using stem cells to stop the cycle of MS. Next, we will work on putting together our science portion of of the multimedia project using a mind map to organize our ideas. Students should keep this organizer to help them to complete their project.

Tuesday, February 17
Science
B1.1 Scientific Inquiry
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will identify the variables of the scientific method with this demo.
Class demo: we will create a lab that will demonstrate adhesion. Together, we will put together a lab to encourage cell growth. We will be using the scientific process. When we are finished, we will use the rest of the time to work on our multimedia project.

Wednesday, February 18
Science
B1.2E Evaluate the future career and occupational prospects of science fields.
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to identify a career in studying cells and the work that a researcher does.
We will use the textbook on cells to read about a career in science studying cells. We will complete questions to go with it.

Thursday, February 19
Science
B1.2 Scientific Reflection and Social Implications
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have a basic understanding of the term "quality of life" and form their own opinion on it.
We will view a short video on a child who had severe epilepsy and had stem cell used on him and show what his progress was. Then we will be looking into the idea of "quality of life". There will be a class definition created and an article to read.

Friday, February 20
Science
B1.2 Scientific Reflection and Social Implications
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have a written statement about their own opinion on the use of stem cells.
Students will be reading an article that presents both sides of the argument on Stem Cells. Students will then be using a graphic aid to help them view both sides of the argument. From this point, students will take a position and write a brief paragraph on it.

Wow! What great weather we have today. Hopefully we can get rid of a lot of the ice on the roofs and sidewalks. Last week in Advisory, students began working on preparing for their Student-Led Conference. They looked at their GPA from 3rd marking period and set their goal for what they would like their GPA to be for the next marking period. Students also looked at their Tier level. They set a goal for what Tier they would like to be on at the end of the 4th marking period. I am really hoping to meet with all Advisory students and their family to look at the progress your child has made.

Last week we worked on Surface Area to Volume ratio of cells. This week we will be continuing our learning about stem cells and beginning to work on our multimedia project on stem cells that overlaps all four core classes. Students will have one project that they will demonstrate their learning for math, science, social studies and English for this marking period with. More information will be coming this week. On Wednesday, please look for the packet on the assignment from your child and sign the sheet stating that you know about the project. Thanks.

Here's the plan:

Monday, February 9
Science
B2.4B Describe how various cells have different specializations and accomplish a particular function.
L2.p1C Describe growth and development in terms of increase in cell number, cell size, and/or cell products.

Objective:
At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to describe the basics of stem cells.
At the completion of this activity, participants will take detailed Lancer Notes and write a complete summary.
Turn in Surface Area to Volume Ratio worksheet.
Last day for the Cell Cycle Comic to be turned in is today.
In class today, students will be gathering information on stem cells from a PowerPoint presentation. We will be taking Lancer Notes.

Science Connections
Today we will begin class with a written warm up piece and then a listening activity. Students are getting really good at these. Then we will be viewing a short video on stem cells using Lancer Notes to gather our information.

Tuesday, February 10
Science
B2.4B Describe how various cells have different specializations and accomplish a particular function.
L2.p1C Describe growth and development in terms of increase in cell number, cell size, and/or cell products.

Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will create a headline that sums up their learning from today on encouraging cell growth.

We will begin by completing the Anticipation Guide: Body on a Bench. Next, we will view the video, "Body on a Bench". Students will be able to change their mind on any statements that they made on the Anticipation Guide throughout the video. Hopefully, we will be able to then complete a class demo on "Encouraging Cell Growth". We are looking for aquariums that are overgrown with algae to acquire 5 cups of water from for this activity to work. Got any ideas, let me know! :) We will end this class with a "Headliner" activity.
Watch the video:
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1209/video/watchonline.htm
Wednesday, February 11
Science
Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will understand the expectations for their multimedia project are.
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have narrowed down or decided on the topic for their multimedia project.

B2.4B Describe how various cells have different specializations and accomplish a particular function.
L2.p1C Describe growth and development in terms of increase in cell number, cell size, and/or cell products.

Today we will introduced to the multimedia project with a special guest. Look for the packet of material coming home and the sheet to return with your signature.

Science Connections
We will begin with our writing warm up and then completing a listening activity. Students will read an article on Cell Specialization and then work on Lancer Notes as we go through them.

Thursday, February 12
Science
B2.4B Describe how various cells have different specializations and accomplish a particular function.
L2.p1C Describe growth and development in terms of increase in cell number, cell size, and/or cell products.

Objective:
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have gathered information on their topic for their multimedia project.
At the completion of this activity, the participant will have chosen their topic for the multimedia project.
Students will be working on their stem cell multimedia project. They will be gathering research on their topic.
Collect Parent/Guardian signature sheets.

Please feel free to find your own sites also. :)
Sites to help you:
http://www.stemcellnews.com/index.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/
http://stemcells.nih.gov/StemCells/Templates/StemCellContentPage.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7bBBA86040-3C88-45A1-A1A0-F998F9F8AD09%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2finfo%2fresources%2easp&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#educ
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/07/science/sci-stem7
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-415156/Stem-cell-cure-heart-attacks.html
http://www.stemcellresearchcures.com/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1637528.ece
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/health.asp
http://www.xcell-center.com/treatments/overview.aspx?gclid=CPaK3vf80pgCFQkwgwodr1vo0Q
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/stemcells/index.html
http://www.bio-link.org/news.htm
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/
http://www.stemcellscience.org/
http://www.stemcells.wisc.edu/research/
http://www.stemcellresearchnews.com/
Friday, February 13
Science
B2.4B Describe how various cells have different specializations and accomplish a particular function.
L2.p1C Describe growth and development in terms of increase in cell number, cell size, and/or cell products.

Objective:
At the completion of today's activity, the participant will have found two to three research articles on their stem cell project.
At the completion of today's activity, the participant will have taken notes on the research they found for their topic.

Students will be working on disseminating the research that they found for their topic. This will be the last in class work date for a while. Be sure to continue working on this project and take it with you to each of your classes.

Science Connections
We will complete our writing warm up and then a following directions activity. Then we will work on reading Super Science, February 2009. We will begin with free reading time and then read the skit together and complete the experiment to be able to solve the mystery.