Spirit Day

Despite the excitement in the air at SJA We finished up review work today. Try spend time studying for Monday's unit test on Ecosystems.

Review Continues to Continue

Students worked to finish up all their review practice work in preparation for Monday's unit test on Ecosystems. All should complete review questions to the end of p. 163. Don't forget to bring in your science fair supplies.

Review Continued

In science class, we took up the review work that students completed yesterday. New review work was assigned, up to q. 41on p. 159 & 160.
Students also worked on preparing for the science fair.

Unit Review

Grade 9 students worked on their Ecosystem unit review to prepare for next Monday's unit test. They also worked on their science fair project.

Homework & Reminders

• Review for Monday's Ecosystem unit test
• Bring in supplies to begin the testing phase of your science fair project

Urban Ecosystems

We had our last lesson on ecosystems today. We compared the features of an urban ecosystem with the features of a natural terrestrial ecosystem. I met with students to check on their science fair progress.

Homework
Write up you hypothesis, materials, and procedure

Issues with Pesticides

In today's class we learned about the pros and cons of using pesticides. We also learned how persistent synthetic pesticides don't breakdown and bioaccumulate in individual organisms and bioamplify in ecosystems.

Homework
Complete the variables and hypothesis worksheet for science fair

Apple Store Trip

We did not have science class today as the Grade 9s were away at the Apple Store trip. Students should work on completing the first draft of their background research by tomorrow.

Background Research Organiser

Grade 9 students worked on creating a graphic organiser to help them structure their research paper. They then worked on writing the first draft of their research paper.

Homework & Reminders
 Background research first drafts are due Thursday, October 23

Pests and Pesticides

Grade 9 students learned that there are no pests in natural ecosystems, but that this is a term created by people to label organisms that annoy them. Students also learned about natural/synthetic pesticides and whether they are broad- or narrow based.

Homework & Reminders
Find another source for your science fair background research. Read the source and make jot notes.

Background Research

Grade 9s used their class time to locate, read, and summarise more sources that relate to their science fair project.

Homework & Reminders
Finish up the jot notes of the source you found today.

Science Fair

Grade 9 students began working on their science fair projects. Today they composed their question and began doing their background research by taking jot notes.

Homework & Reminders
Complete the jot notes you began in class today.

Managing Soils

We learned about the importance of soils to people and plants. We discussed the ways that farmers manage soils through the application of fertilizers and by controlling the flow of water in soils.

Homework
Complete yesterday's learning tracker of agroecosystems

Agroecosystems

Grade 9s learned about agroecosystems in science class today. We discussed why people are able to transform natural ecosystems so quickly today. We also compared natural and agroecosystems.


Homework
Complete your learning tracker for agroecosystems

Constructing Graphs

Grade 9s continued with yesterday's activity of constructing data collected from forest areas that are managed in different ways. Remaining work will need to be completed for homework and submitted on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day/weekend!

Comparing Forest Management Practices

Grade 9s worked on an assignment where they compared data related to forestry management practices. They were challenged to represent the data provided in bar graphs and pie charts. This got tricky when some nutrients were measured in mg and others in μg.

Reminders
Bring in your devices tomorrow

Natural Resource Management

Grade 9s took an active part in today's science class. They participated in a Jig Saw activity. Each was responsible for becoming the expert on forest or wildlife management and then teaching classmates about concepts learned.

Reminders
Bring a device with graph-generating software such as Excel to class tomorrow.

Pollution

We learned about different forms of pollution and their effects in Grade 9 Science class today.

Homework & Reminders
Complete questions on p. 101

Invasive Species

In Science class we learned about how non-native species are introduced into Ontario, their impacts, and what measures are used to control them. Grade 9s are to write a report about Ontario's invasive species.

The following are  Helpful Websites

Species Information:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/10-invasive-species-threatening-canadian-habitats-1.950951

 

http://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/

 

http://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/species/

 

Invasive Species Distribution Map:

http://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/distribution/

 

What action is the government taking to combat invasive species?

https://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/how-government-combats-invasive-species

 

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/02/26/ontario_introduces_canadas_first_invasive_species_law.html

 

What action can you take to help control invasive species?

http://www.eddmaps.org/Ontario/report/index.cfm

 

WE Conference

We did not have a science class today as all students are away at the WE Conference.

Homework & Reminders

• 2 x Learning trackers (Field study & Habitat loss and fragmentation) - due tomorrow
• P. 65 a-e to be answered as part of the field study report - due tomorrow

Habitat Loss & Fragmentation

Grade 9s learned about human activities that cause habitat loss and fragmentation in Southern Ontario in today's class. They also worked on their field study data, to convert them into graphs that can be analysed further. One of the challenges was determining which tropic level the species we saw fell into. Field Study reports are due on Friday.

Homework & Reminders

• 2 x Learning trackers (Field study & Habitat loss and fragmentation)
• P. 65 a-e to be answered as part of the field study report