Week 9/21 - 9/24

First of all, a big thank you to all who helped and worked hard to divert a larger disaster that could have occurred with the fire. I also am very impressed with our students, and their ability to continue on in the face of this event.
This week we will be starting the Carbon Cycle and introducing the movement of matter through an ecosystem. We are also finding our "BUDDIES" in an activity that explores symbiotic relationships between organisms. The students are doing great at acting out their relationship in charades.
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT: "The Meatrix" activity internet sheet is due on Friday October 1st. Please work on that over the next week and a half. It will introduce some debatable practices in the commercial food market.

Week 9/13 - 9/17

This week we have finished our WILD SELF FOOD WEBS AND ENERGY PYRAMIDS. Parents, your students do great work, you will see a sample of their WILD SELF ACTIVITY in their students led conference portfolio. We have also been modeling energy pyramids using starbursts and homemade trophic level hats! Parents if you are curious about what this means, please ask your students.

Weekly assignments (succession lab is due today) and a new assignment will be given out next Monday! Have a great week and weekend...

Week 9/7 - 9/10

Sad news...over the long weekend many of the seedlings unfortunately dried out. It was a little too much sun. However, despite the 50% loss, about 50% are recovering. We will have to come up with a novel way to keep the plants watered over long weekends.

This week we are going to be delving into our ECOLOGY unit! Energy transfer, food webs and pyramids, cycles of matter...what isn't there to love about it? This weeks WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT is the "Observing Succession" take home lab. Students should start this on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest; they need seven days for the lab and it is due on the 16th! Have fun and remember to keep those milk jars away from younger siblings and pets...

Joke: What is always at the end of "The Food Chain?"

...the letter "n"...