Mrs. Carroll

Project Checklist with points assigned

I will use the checklist with points to evaluate your project logbook and formal reports that are due on Monday.

Today students worked on their team's presentation for Monday.

Remember: project logbook, final report, and team presentation

Classification Unit (animals) Test

Thursday is the test over animal classification. Please review the sections (most of 4 chapters) that were assigned for reading and lessons.

Remember that I am allowing you to use your vertebrate comparison table, the study guide on mollusks and arthropods, and the visual organizers that you created for cnidarians, sponges, and 3 worm phyla. Of the 9 major animal phyla, you have a written resource on 8 of them to use during the test. There will be a few questions about phylum Echinodermata so review those pages in your book.

You may work on presentations following the test.

I will collect the Owl Pellet Lab activity and your bone cards tomorrow. Please review your answers to see that you have it completed.

We will watch our iMovies on Friday and you may bring a movie snack to enjoy if it is not too messy.

Checklist for Service Learning projects

A few students have selected service projects for their research this year. Here is the checklist for their final reporting:

Checklist for Project assignment

Today in class we watched a video about birds or mammals, depending on which class you were in. The Vertebrate Comparison Table final two sections on birds and mammals are due tomorrow. Most students have completed them already and I will check them tomorrow.

In class, we discussed what was due to me next Monday and students received a handout outlining the details.

Any students working with protist projects should check with me tomorrow as we hope to be able to capture digital video at that time.

I have cultures of paramecium, euglena, and amoeba for your use if needed. See me for help. Time is running out. This is not a project that can be done in one afternoon!

Project Research Continues

I am so pleased that most of my students are scheduling time to complete the data collection for their projects. Several students have stayed late to work on their experiments and most are finishing their work. Wednesday was our last visit to the park as a class to work on projects.

Next week I will be available on Monday 5/7, Wed. 5/9, and Thurs. 5/10 until 5:30 and every morning from 8:45 until 9:10 for project work. The final report is due on Monday 5/14 at the beginning of the assigned class.

Science is "all about" analyzing the recorded data. How scientific have you been in your record keeping? What do your data indicate about your project hypothesis? Please keep in mind that I am looking for evidence of scientific thinking as your analyze your data and evaluate your work. I will give you a reminder checklist of what to include in your final report during class on Monday.

This week we have been comparing animals and examining how they are classified. Students have been working on an oversized vertebrate animal comparison table Thursday and Friday. The last two sections on birds and mammals are due on Tuesday. The animal unit test will be next Thursday.

We will evaluate our imovies and vote for the Student's Choice winners in each class on Friday 5/11.

Here is the exoskeleton of a crayfish. Why did it exit from its outer protection?

What is this white blob that one of the student teams found? Is it alive? How can you tell?

Comparing Animals

Wednesday was a project workday outside. Many students are working diligently to collect data and finish their project work; others are not. The final report is due on Monday, May 14. I am available to help students after school until 5:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week.

Following DEAR time in class on Thursday, student groups sorted illustrations, labels, and facts about 8 major animal phyla into groups to create a poster using chapters 10-13. Groups will finish and evaluate their work next week as we continue to learn how animals are sorted scientifically.

Friday students will read chapter 10 and compare and contrast some of the invertebrate phyla using the following assignment:

Comparing Sponges and Cnidarians.doc

Comparing and Contrasting Three Worm Phyla.doc

The other activity for mollusks and arthropods is not available for posting. If you are absent, you will need to get one from me on Monday. We will finish it in class on Monday and examine some preserved specimens.

I am at a workshop today and will hand out progress reports on Monday.

Protist questions and after school research schedule

Classwork today-
For analysis, please add these questions to your lab activity on Observing Protists in your journal.
1. What characteristics do all protists share?
2. How are protozoans (animal-like portists) classified or grouped? Describe each and give an example.
3. What characteristics do algae share with plants?
4. How would you classify euglena? Explain.
As usual, answer in complete sentences and restate the questions.

We used some class time for project work and planning with teams today. Tomorrow all classes will go to the park. There are about three more weeks for students to collect data to answer their research question.

This week I am available after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Next week I am available on Monday(April 30), Wednesday (May 2), and Thursday (May 3). The following week there will be after school work sessions on Monday (May 7), Wednesday (May 9), and Thursday (May 10).

The final report is due on May 14. This counts as a test grade. Students will also be required to present their work to their class and post their reflections on their work to the Sweat Mountain Park science blog. Keep working and finish strong!

Project Work

We will work on our projects during class time inside tomorrow and outside on Wednesday. You have 3 weeks to complete your data collection and/or work on your project. The final report is due on Monday, May 14th.

For homework tonight please write out your research question (or project goal for a few student projects) and the details of what you will do to complete your research and when you will do it. Be specific about the details of what you need to do to answer your question.

Think like a scientist. Remember that you must base your conclusion on your data. Data should be recorded in quantitative measures or counts, organized in a table, and presented in a graph if possible. You should also describe your observations and findings with words.

I am available this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for after school work in the park. You may check out materials and work on your research with a parent supervising.

Observing Protists

Students practiced their microscope skills today to observe a variety of cultured protozoans and algal protists. We will continue this lab activity next week. How are members of this kingdom classified and sorted into smaller groups?

Here is an interesting link on Protista.

Are members of Kingdom Protista important to us? What would the world be like without them?

Little Books

Please complete thework on your "Little Books" so they can be checked and shared with others on Monday.

Grading Criteria:
Do you have a clear message relating to 7th grade science learning objectives? (30)
Are your facts sufficient and accurate? (30)
Is your work neat? (no smeary pencil, easy to read, etc.) (20)
Good use of color and illustrations? (10)
Is your book creative, unique, or interesting? (10)

I will be available to stay after school for students to work on their research / park projects on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week. Please make arrangements with me ahead of time if you plan to stay.

Thursday review

Today we discussed the diversity of life found in the plant kingdom and previewed chapters 8 and 9.

We also discussed and checked answers to skill and test prep questions found on pages: 271, 303,337,371,407, and 439.

There is no homework unless you have not yet completed all of the online practice tests.

Final CRCT practice due

Remember that you should complete the last three review tests tonight.

Online Review Tests

Remember that you have Teacher Assigned Tests- Carroll Review 6,7,8, and 9 due tomorrow. That means that you should do them tonight for homework.

EQ: What characteristics are most useful in creating and using a taxonomic key? Use a dichotomous key to classify organisms... (S7L1.b)
In class today, student teams created a taxonomic key for 10 items found at the table. Tomorrow we will swap keys and a different table will use them to identify two of the organisms. If you were absent today, try to catch up tomorrow during class.

Here is a good site to summarize some of the concepts that might be on your CRCT next week.
review site
Check out the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction in section 4. Sections 1,2,3,6, and 8 have a summary and questions that might help you remember what you have learned this year also.

CRCT review schedule

Here is the schedule for when I will check to record your practice test scores. Students should have their state assigned number written on the sheet that was given in class today.

CRCT Review table.doc

Video Project timeline

Student teams should complete the clean recordings of the voice over and download the desired clips from the server by Friday. Continue to edit your movie to marry the audio and video components.

A clean, edited copy of the script and bibliography with your team's rubric should be in your team folder at this time.

Please make a decision about your music by next Monday. You may bring in CDs, use some of the free share music that is available, or record your own music track in Garage Band.

The artistic impact and message of your movie can be enhanced with the "right" music, so give it some thought.

The Title and Credits should be added to go with the music track. Do not use last names of students in your credits and remember to credit your music and video sources.

Your project should be finished by Thursday (3/29) with a little time left on Friday for final editing (just a few tweaks), completing the self evaluation using your rubric, and copying to my external drive.

This research project counts as test grade.