Kingdom Animalia

In today’s class we took up the homework on the plant kingdom that was assigned yesterday and then we covered the Kingdom Animalia.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson 11 p. 96 – 107. Do Q. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11
• Submit your mushroom dissection sheet tomorrow
• Permission slips for Monday’s trip to Osprey Marsh are past dues
• WE Day Trip takes place tomorrow
• Guest speaker from Credit Valley Conservation Authority visiting on Friday
• Monday: Trip to Osprey Marsh
• Friday, October 9 – Test on chapter 3 (Fungi, Plants, Animals)

Kingdom Plantae

In today’s class we took up the homework on the fungi that was assigned on Friday. We then tackled the Kingdom Plantae.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson 11 p. 86 – 95. Do Q. 1 – 6
• Come in early to complete your mushroom dissection
• Complete questions on the mushroom dissection sheet
• Remember to bring in your permission slip for Monday’s trip to Osprey Marsh by tomorrow
• Tomorrow  is Casual Day and the Terry Fox Run
• WE Day Trip takes place on Thursday
• Guest speaker from Credit Valley Conservation Authority visiting on Friday

Spore Print

In today’s class, students wrote a test to cover Eubacteria, Archaea, viruses, and Protista. The remainder of class time was used to examine the spore print that developed over the weekend from a Portobello mushroom that we set up, setting up a bread experiment where we will track mould growth, and finishing up mushroom dissections.

Homework & Reminders

• Complete questions on the mushroom dissection sheet
• Remember to bring in your permission slip for Monday’s trip to Osprey Marsh
• We will take up the Fungus homework from Friday tomorrow
• Wednesday is Casual Day and the Terry Fox Run
• WE Day Trip takes place on Thursday
• Guest speaker from Credit Valley Conservation Authority visiting on Friday

Fungi

We took up yesterday’s homework questions on protists and the Self-Quiz at the beginning of class. We began work on chapter 3 and covered the fungi. Students then began a mushroom dissection lab. They will get class time to finish up this lab on Monday.

  Homework & Reminders

• Nelson Biology 11: Read p. 80 – 85, Do Q 1, 4, 5, 6
• Monday: Test on chapter 2
• Look at Mystical World of Mushrooms in Pictures

Protists & Conferences

In today’s class, we took up the homework assigned on viruses. We then watched a video that showed the diversity in the protest kingdom, before reviewing alternation of generations. Students then had class time to work on textbook question while waiting for their conference time.

Homework & Reminders

• Nelson Biology 11: Do Q 1 – 7 on p. 67 (protists) for tomorrow
• Nelson Biology 11, Complete self-quiz on p. 71 for tomorrow

• Monday: Test on chapter 2

Kingdom Protista

We spent time taking up yesterday’s homework on Archaea and Eubacteria. Students that completed the research questions shared their findings with the class. We reviewed concepts on viruses, such as the lytic and lysogenic cycle. We then spent time learning about the Kingdom Protista. Students are challenged to come to class being able to describe the alternation of generations in algae.

Homework & Reminders

• Nelson Biology 11: Do Q 1 – 8, if you did not complete this yesterday
• Nelson Biology 11, read p. 60 – 67. Be prepared to describe alternation of generations to the class tomorrow
• Friday: Test on chapter 2
• Watch the videos and animations on yesterday’s blog post
• Watch the videos below
• Protist Video
• Alternation of Generations Video
• Malaria Life Cycle

Bacteria and Archaea

Students learned about the Archaea and Eubacteria in more detail today.

Homework & Reminders

• Nelson Biology 11: read. p. 46 – 53. Do all except 6 (Shiva), 11 (Ahmed), 13 (Karan), 15 (Shakeel)
• Nelson Biology 11: read. p. 54 – 59. Do Q 1 – 8. Come with any questions you may have about viruses, prions, and viroids
• Watch the following videos and animations:
• Bacteria
• Bacterial Conjugation
• Binary Fission
• Archaea
• Viruses

Test & Peer Assessment

Students wrote their test on Chapter 1. They exchanged their dichotomous key with another student, who tested and assessed the key. They also offered suggestions for improvement.

Homework & Reminders

• Research how you would sample biodiversity. Be ready to contribute ideas to a discussion on Monday

Review

We took up yesterday’s homework on kingdoms and domains as well as the self-quiz. Students are receiving a grace period on their dichotomous keys. These are now due Monday. We spent the rest of class time reviewing chapter 1 in preparation for Mondays test.

Homework & Reminders

• Study Nelson Biology Chapter 1. Quiz on Monday, September 21
• Dichotomous key assignment due on Monday. A peer will test and assess your key. You will get class time to reflect on this.
• Research how you would sample biodiversity. Be ready to contribute ideas to a discussion on Monday

Domains

We finished our lesson on Kingdoms and Domains which included the differences and similarities between the 6 kingdoms. We discussed how we might go about sampling diversity in a habitat. Students received class time to work on homework and begin reviewing chapter 1.

Homework & Reminders

• Study Nelson Biology Chapter 1. Quiz on Monday, September 21
• Dichotomous key assignment due tomorrow. A peer will test and assess you key. You will get class time to reflect on this.
• Nelson Biology 11  Do Q 1 -5  on p. 29  and self-quiz on p. 37 for tomorrow
• Research how you would sample biodiversity. Be ready to contribute ideas to a discussion on Monday

Kingdoms

Students tested and peer-assessed each other’s dichotomous keys today. They reflected on what is meant by phylogeny. Students began applying and creating new dichotomous keys. These are due on Friday and will be evaluated. We then began discussing the characteristics of the 6 kingdoms.

Homework & Reminders

• Study Nelson Biology Chapter 1. Quiz on Monday, September 21
• Dichotomous key assignment due Friday
• Read Nelson Biology 11 p. 26 - 29
• Welcome BBQ is tomorrow, 4 – 7 pm

Phylogeny

Biology students practiced using a dichotomous key to identify and name alien creatures scattered through our class. They used this activity to generate the criteria for a dichotomous key. They then created a dichotomous key of their own. In the second half of our lesson, students were introduced to modern taxonomy – phylogeny. They examined phylogenetic trees.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson Biology 11 p. 14 - 20,  & Do Q 2, 5 – 7 (if you did not get done yesterday)
• Complete your dichotomous key for Thingies and Whatzits
• Read Nelson Biology 11 p. 21 – 25, Do the practice problems on p. 23
• Welcome BBQ, September 17, 4 – 7 pm

Taxonomy

Biology class began with students writing a review quiz on Grade 10 biology and safety concepts. We took up last Friday’s homework on biodiversity. We then began a new lesson on classification. The learning goal for this lesson was: explain what is meant by taxonomy.  We also began discussing and using dichotomous keys.

Homework & Reminders

• Read Nelson Biology 11 p. 14 - 20,  & Do Q 2, 5 - 7
• Welcome BBQ, September 17, 4 – 7 pm. Forms are due tomorrow
• Welcome BBQ, September 17, 4 – 7 pm

 

Biodiversity

There was a feisty debate in Biology class this morning, and it was an excellent picture of the real disagreements biologists have when placing organisms in categories or deciding on categories.

 

We got stuck into what is meant by diversity in the remainder of today’s class. The learning goal for students today was to explain why biodiversity is important to maintaining viable ecosystems.

Homework & Reminders

• Quiz on Safety, organelles and their functions, and asexual reproduction on Monday
• Complete Biodiversity mini investigation questions A – C
• Read Nelson Biology 11 p. 8 – 13,  & Do Q 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 20, 13, 14, 15
• Welcome BBQ, September 17, 4 – 7 pm. Forms are due on Tuesday.

 

Grade 10 Review

We took up yesterday’s Safety in Science worksheet. Students received their Biology textbooks for this course. We spent time reviewing important Grade 10 biology concepts. Students labelled the organelles in an animal cell. They described the process of mitosis.

To start our Biodiversity unit, students worked in groups to brainstorm organisms that fit into given categories. Students will be defending their ideas in tomorrow’s class.

Homework & Reminders

• Sign and return your safety contract if you haven’t already done this
• Use your textbook to complete questions 1 to 3 at the bottom of the Safety in Science Worksheet
• Review the animation clips on mitosis:
•  Animation: How the Cell Cycle Works,

·         Animation: Mitosis and Cytokinesis,

·         Animation: Mitosis

·         Asexual Reproduction

• Hot Lunch orders are due tomorrow
• Pizza slices are being sold tomorrow at $2/slice
• Friday is Spirit Day, come to school dressed in house colours
• Quiz on Safety, organelles and their functions, and asexual reproduction on Monday

First Day of Grade 11

Grade 11 students will have biology class each morning from 9:00 - 10:30 am during semester 1.

Our first biology class was comprised of time spent getting to know each other and organising tables and supplies in our new science class.

We reviewed the course outline and how students will be assessed in this course. Students read and signed the safety contract and then worked on their student profile.

Homework & Reminders

·         Review the course outline

·         Sign and return your safety contract

·         Complete and return student profile

·         Visit WHMIS 2015 and complete the Safety in Science Worksheet

·         Sign up as a follower of the blog

·         Homeroom tomorrow from 8:45 -9:00 am

·         Return a signed copy of your handbook form

·         Bring in your lock & combination

·         Hot Lunch orders are due Friday

·         Pizza slices are being sold tomorrow and Friday for $2/slice

·         Friday is Spirit Day, come to school dressed in house colours

·         Welcome BBQ, September 17, 4 – 7 pm

Welcome Back

Dear Grade 11 Students and Families,

I am happy to inform you that I will be teaching the Grade 11 class Biology in the first semester. I look forward to getting to know students and their families and to experiencing this fascinating course together.
There are many changes to look forward to this year. The first and biggest is the new building. I encourage families to attend the Orientation Night, on Tuesday, September 8, at 7 pm. Here you will:
-hear about changes to policies and procedures such as the dropping off and picking up of students
-tour the new school facilities
-meet teachers and ask any questions you may have

The class blog is a great communication tool between home and school. My class blog can be found at http://haagsjamyp.blogspot.ca/. I ask that each family sign up as a follower of my blog. This can be done on the blog site. Once this is done, you will receive the blog as an email each day. The blog is updated daily, and it is where you will find information on: 

• Homework 
• Videos to support learning 
• News and Events 
• Important Dates 
• IB Learner Profiles 
• Units
• Pictures

The first week of school is Neophyte Week. We will take some time to get organised in our new rooms, become familiar with the layout of the new building, boundaries during recess, the new schedule, play some house games, and end the week with Spirit Day where students come to school dressed in house colours.

SJA will not be offering our traditional HOT LUNCH program during the first week of school (September 9-11). Pizza slices may be purchased at $2.00 a slice daily in the first week only. September Hot Lunch forms will be sent home the first day of school with many new items being offered. Please look for the new menus in your child’s agenda. All forms are due Friday, September 11^th (no exceptions).

Mark September 17^th, from 4-7pm, on your calendars. SJA will be holding a Welcome BBQ for all families to attend. Pre-order forms for food will be provided on Friday, September 11^th.

I look forward to seeing you at the Orientation Night (Tuesday) and at the first day of school, Wednesday, September 9. Enjoy the last few days of summer until then.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Haag