Spirit Day

Halloween/Spirit Day celebrations bit into a third of our biology class time today. We spent time taking up yesterday’s homework. This involved debating the cloning of pets and humans. The last portion of class time was used for students to test each other on their knowledge, understanding, and communication of the process of mitosis. They were assessed by a peer.

Homework & Reminders

·         Optional aon Disappearing Pollinators (p. 600) due by midnight, Saturday, October 31

·         Friday, November 6 is a PD Day – No school for students

·         Wednesday, November 11 – Remembrance Day – No School. Students are encouraged to visit a cenotaph

Clones

We continued the new genetic processes unit. We covered asexual reproduction and its applications in cloning and GMOs.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson 11: Read p. 142 - 151, Do Q 1 – 13

·         Optional Assignment on Disappearing Pollinators (p. 600) due by midnight, Saturday, October 31

·         Friday is Halloween/Harvest Spirit Day

Genetic Processes

We began a new unit on genetic processes this morning. We covered heredity, genetic material, asexual and sexual reproduction. Students had class time to reinforce concepts by reading on their own, and working on homework questions. Students received their biological drawings, freakiest organisms, and plant unit test grades during individual conference time. Students also heard their grade for the course so far.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson 11: Read p. 138 – 141, Do Q 1 - 6

·         Bake sale continues tomorrow

·         Friday is Halloween/Harvest Spirit Day

Plants: Unit Test

Students used today’s class time to write a unit test on plants. We begin a new unit tomorrow.

Homework & Reminders

·         Tomorrow is Casual Day

·         Friday is Halloween/Harvest Spirit Day

Freakiest Organsims

Students presented their Freakiest Organism assignments today. A highlight of the lesson was how ‘freaked out’ students felt by some of the organisms presented. We used the remaining class time to take up the self-quiz work that was assigned on Friday.

Homework & Reminders
·         Study for tomorrow’s unit test on plants, Chapter 12 & 13
·         Tomorrow is Picture Day – wear full uniform
·         Wednesday is Casual Day
·         Friday is Halloween/Harvest Spirit Day

Study Hall

For study hall, I met with each student. They received feedback on how they did in their biological drawing assignment and the written component of their Freakiest Organism assignment. Students used remaining time to work on review to prepare for the Plant unit test on Tuesday, October 27 as well as work on their second biological drawing. Students will be presenting their Freakiest Organism to the class on Monday.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson Biology 11, Do Chapter 13 Self-quiz on p. 623  and Unit 5 Self-Quiz on p. 632 & 633

·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins
·         Tuesday, October 27 –Unit test on plants, Chapter 12 & 13

Plant Growth Regulators

We learned about plant growth regulators in today’s class.  Students had class time to work on today’s homework or study for Tuesday’s unit test on plants.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson Biology 11, Read p. 613 - 618, Do Q. 1 - 5
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins
·         Tuesday, October 27 –Unit test on plants, Chapter 12 & 13

Plant Growth

We covered primary and secondary growth in plants in today’s class. Students had class time to work on homework, their freakiest organism assignment, or study for Tuesday’s unit test on plants.
Homework & Reminders
·         Nelson Biology 11, Read p. 605 – 612, Do Q. 1 - 5
·         Tomorrow – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins
·         Tuesday, October 27 –Unit test on plants, Chapter 12 & 13

Sexual Reproduction in Angiosperms

We finished up the lesson we started yesterday on sexual reproduction in angiosperms. We discussed appointment times for study hall on Friday.
Homework & Reminders
·         Nelson Biology 11, Read p. 595 – 902, Do Q. 1 - 11
·         Thursday, October 22 – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins
·         Tuesday, October 27 – Possible date for Unit test on plants

Sexual reproduction in gymnosperms

We took up Friday’s homework on succession and asexual reproduction. We then began working on sexual reproduction in plants, but only got as far as gymnosperms.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson Biology 11, Read p. 595 – 597, Do Q. 1 - 5
·         Thursday, October 22 – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins
·         Tuesday, October 27 – Possible date for Unit test on plants

Succession & Asexual Reproduction

We took up a lot of homework today, including transportation in plants, bio mimicry, and the self-quiz students worked on yesterday. We did a great job in covering lots of ground today on succession and asexual reproduction in seed plants.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson Biology 11, Read p. 592 – 594, Do Q. 1 - 7
·         Nelson Biology 11, Read p. 588 – 591, Do Q. 1 - 6
·         Thursday, October 22 – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins
·         Tuesday, October 27 – Possible date for Unit test on plants

Biological Drawings

Students had a work lesson in biology. In this time they worked independently to learn about mimcry. They also worked through a self-quiz and drew a biological drawing of plant cells. We took up yesterday’s homework on roots.

Homework & Reminders

·         Nelson Biology 11 Read p. 571 – 572, Do Q. 1 – 5

·         Nelson Biology 11, Complete Self-Quiz on p. 579

·         Choose Freakiest Organism – your choice is past due
·         Thursday, October 22 – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins

Plant Roots & Transport

In today’s class we took up yesterday’s homework on the structure and function of plant stems. In our new lesson we covered plants roots and the transport of water, nutrients, and sugars through the vascular tissue.

Homework & Reminders
·         Read Nelson 11 Read p. Read p. 558 – 563 Do Q. 1 – 5, 8 – 10, Read p. 564 – 570, Do Q. 1 – 4, 6
·         Choose Freakiest Organism – your choice is past due
·         Thursday, October 22 – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins

Plant Stems

In today’s class we took up Thursday’s homework on plant leaves and then completed a new lesson on plant stem importance, function, and structure. Students received back the tests that they wrote last week Thursday. I had conferences with students to discuss their tests and term average so far. Many students have chosen to complete an optional assignment to improve their average. The written component is due Thursday, October 22, and the oral component will take place on Monday, October 26.

Homework & Reminders

·         Read Nelson 11 p. 552 – 557. Do  Q. 1 – 6
·         Choose Freakiest Organism by tomorrow – let me know what your choice is
·         Thursday, October 22 – Freakiest Organism written component due
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night
·         Monday, October 26 – Freakiest Organism presentations – 2 mins

Test

Students wrote the last test for the Diversity unit today. We used the remaining class time to finish up yesterday’s lesson on plant leaves.

Homework & Reminders

·         Read Nelson 11 p. 546 – 551. Do  Q. 1 - 7
·         Tomorrow – PD Day, No school for students
·         Monday, October 12 – Thanksgiving Day. No school
·         Friday, October 23 – Study Hall and Movie Night

 

Plant Characteristics and Leaves

In today’s class we took up last week’s homework on the animal kingdom. We then reviewed the independent work students were assigned on the characteristics of plants before taking up yesterday’s homework. We got through a good portion of learning about plant leaves. There is no assigned homework today. Students should focus on preparing for tomorrow’s test on chapter 3.

Homework & Reminders

·         Tomorrow – Test on chapter 3 (Fungi, Plants, Animals)
·         Friday, October 9 – PD Day, No school for students
·         Monday, October 12 – Thanksgiving Day. No school

Plant Pressing

Biology students used class time to look for life in the pond water we collected yesterday. They placed their plant specimens into a plant press. Students received their dichotomous keys and tests back. We used some class time for conferences while students began working independently on the characteristics of plants.

Homework & Reminders

·         Read Nelson 11 p. 542 – 545. Do  Q. 1 - 6

·         Thursday, October 8 – Test on chapter 3 (Fungi, Plants, Animals)

·         Friday, October 9 – PD Day, No school for students

·         Monday, October 12 – Thanksgiving Day. No school

Sampling Trip

Biology class was held at Osprey Marsh today. Students collected plant specimens and water samples. Some students also collected arthropods and molluscs.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson 11 p. 96 – 107. Do Q. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 if you did not complete this work on Wednesday
• Thursday, October 8 – Test on chapter 3 (Fungi, Plants, Animals)
• Friday, October 9 – PD Day, No school for students
• Monday, October 12 – Thanksgiving Day. No school
  
  

Credit Valley Conservation Authority

Students spent part of today’s class time reviewing for Thursday’s test on chapter 3. We then had a guest speaker, Sarah, From Credit Valley Conservation Authority talk to the class about the work that they do. She also informed the class about the Youth Corps programmes that run during the summer. Students would get field experience and 36 hours would count towards their volunteer hours.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson 11 p. 96 – 107. Do Q. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 if you did not complete this work on Wednesday
• Permission slips for Monday’s trip to Osprey Marsh are past due
• Monday: Trip to Osprey Marsh
• Thursday, October 8 – Test on chapter 3 (Fungi, Plants, Animals)
• Friday, October 9 – PD Day, No school for students
• Monday, October 12 – Thanksgiving Day. No school

WE Day Conference

Most of the Grade 11 class attended the WE Day Conference today. Students who remained behind used clast me to finish up their mushroom dissection and lab. Students also used this time to get caught up with homework or missed work. Some began studying for next week’s test using mind mapping.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson 11 p. 96 – 107. Do Q. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 if you did not complete this work yesterday.
• Submit your mushroom dissection sheet tomorrow
• Permission slips for Monday’s trip to Osprey Marsh are past due
• Guest speaker from Credit Valley Conservation Authority visiting tomorrow
• Monday: Trip to Osprey Marsh
• Thursday, October 8 – Test on chapter 3 (Fungi, Plants, Animals)
• Friday, October 9 – PD Day, No school for students
• Monday, October 12 – Thanksgiving Day. No school