Class Evaluations, Notebooks & a preview of the rest of the semester.

Today students turned in their take home tests and completed a course evaluation. The idea behind doing a course evaluation earlier in the year is so that students have the opportunity to give feedback and hopefully see reasonable changes. I will look at these while we are on academic travel and give you my thoughts in class on Monday.

Here is the evaluation students were asked to complete:

Please answer the questions below honestly. I appreciate your thoughts and am doing this so that I can be a better teacher.

1. What are three words you would use to describe this class?

2. How often do you visit the blog?

3. What are three things you like about my teaching style?

4. What are three things you think I need to work on? Please explain your answers

5. If Mr. Ulku-Steiner asked you what this class was like, what would you tell him?

6. What is the most interesting thing you have learned in this class? Why?

7. What is the least interesting thing you have learned in this class? Why?

8. What has been your favorite assignment? Why?

9. What has been your least favorite assignment? Why?

10. Any thing else I should know? Write it on the back of the paper.

On Friday, students expressed a need to take time and organize their notebooks (this also became glaringly evident when they began to work on their take home tests). We will use the blog and a sample notebook to help get things in order.

Any remaining time that we have will be used to preview and brainstorm what students know about mitosis, the cell cycle and cancer.

Snails & Elodea Lab

Today (and tomorrow) we set up the following lab using pond snails and elodea. Note: in our set up we switched tubes C & D. We are examining the relationship between cellular respiration and photosynthesis. We also had a discussion about how to improve experimental design.

Take Home Test Due Monday

Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration Test

1. Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

2. Do not write on this sheet of paper.

3. TYPE your answers, using Times New Roman Font, size 12, with 1.5 spacing.

1. What is the chemical structure and function of ATP? (5 points)

2. Draw and label a chloroplast, include all structures and say where each phase of photosynthesis takes place. (10 points)

3. What are the two phases for photosynthesis? (2 points)

4. Describe the light dependent reactions in detail. Begin with a photon of light hitting a chlorophyll molecule and finish with the creation of ATP by ATP synthase. (20 points)

5. Draw and label a mitochondria, include all structures and say where each phase of cellular respiration takes place. (10 points).

6. What are the products and reactants of glycolysis?

7. What are the products and reactants of the citric acid cycle?

This is due at the beginning of class on Monday October 26^th. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Citric Acid Cycle & ETC

Today we reviewed the citric acid cycle and the ETC. We also listened to a song about the ETC. To see the lyrics, click here.

The Krebs (Citric acid cycle)

The ETC in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Homework: Read the lab sheet, put it in your lab notebook and update your table of contents.

Cellular Respiration

Today we started Cellular Respiration with a little trivia to see what students could infer about the process based on their understanding of photosynthesis and the parts of the cell.

Next students took notes on the overall process and the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Tonight for homework read and take notes on pages 221-227. You will have a reading quiz on Tuesday.

Calvin Cycle & Photosynthesis

Today we did an overview of the Calvin Cycle and students started the Photosynthesis Mini-Project.

To see the PowerPoint we used in class these past few days, click here.
To see examples of a tour map (one great and one terrible) click here.

Working with a partner (or in a group of three), you will complete the following two tasks which will be due on Tuesday October 20^th. This mini project will count as THREE homework assignments….So….Here is your chance to boost your grade.

Task 1: Create a map of the areas that visitors will see on the trip. Your map should include the following information

• How will you enter the plant?
• A labeled drawing of a plant cell (remember, plant cells are different than animal cells. Be sure to look at the diagram on page 175 for details).
• A close up labeled drawing of a chloroplast

Task 2: Write a script for a tour guide leading trips to the light dependent reactions and the Calvin Cycle. Your script should include the following information

• The general equation for photosynthesis
• A detailed explanation of what happens in the electron transport chain
• The reactants and products (key components) of the electron transport chain.
• Where the ETC takes place
• Where the Calvin Cycle takes place
• What are the reactants and products of the Calvin Cycle

You also need to remember to cite your sources. If you use only your notes include a citation that says "Information from class notes." If you used any other sources, even images from google you need to include the URL.

Electron Trasport Chain in Photosynthesis

For class on Wednesday/Thursday
Today students used a guided notes sheet which focuses on photosynthesis as a redox process, the two stages of photosynthesis and the ETC.

Homework:
Click the picture below to link to the video we watched in class. Finish watching it and take down the following steps (below the picture) to complete your notes on the electron transport chain.1. A photon of light hits a chlorophyll molecule (creating resonance energy).
2. When energy reaches the reaction center, an electron is released. One photon of light is needed for each electron.
3. Two electrons and two protons go into an electron carrier.
4. Electrons in Photosystem II are replaced by the splitting of water molecules. H+ ions are pumped into the lumen and O2 is released.
5. As electrons move towards Photosystem I, H+ ions are pumped across the thylakoid membrane to the lumen.
6. Electrons reach Photosystem I
7. Photons re-energize electrons
8. Two electrons and a H+ ion are added to NADP+ to form NADPH
9. The gradient of H+ ions is used by ATP Synthase to create ATP
10. The vital products of the electron transport chain are ATP, NADPH and O2

Intro to Photosynthesis

Today students had a reading quiz on 8-2 after which we went over their tests from yesterday. We started chapter 8 with an overview of photosynthesis.

We watched this song:



Click here to see a flash version of the poem we read in class. Click here for the images of the earth
"breathing" from SeaWiFS.

Homework: Read and takes notes on section 8-3. You will have a reading quiz next class. Confused about the electron transport chain in the light reactions? Click here.

Test today and starting Photosynthesis (chapter 8)

Today students had a test on chapter 7 (cells, osmosis and diffusion) and we started chapter 8 (photosynthesis) with some basic notes. Tonight for homework, students need to read and take notes on section 8-2. There will be a reading quiz tomorrow. If you did not finish the notes on 2-1 after the test, you need to finish those for homework.

Endocytosis, Chapter 7 Recap & Grades

Today we finished the chapter 7 packet and played Jeopardy to review. Students also received a grade breakdown. Hopefully this will 'inspire' some students to really study for the

test on Monday!

Osmosis and diffusion lab

Yesterday and today we did the lab below to learn about diffusion and to become familiar with the Vernier probes. There is no homework for tonight.

Diffusion Probes and pH Lab

View more presentations from ilanasaxe.

Cell Part Want Ads

Your WANT AD should include a description of the function of the cell part (consult your book to expand on what we talked about in class). You should also include a picture; either hand drawn or printed.

Parts of the cell

Today students were given a packet for chapter 7, which includes a comparison of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, parts of a cell, osmosis and diffusion.

Tonight for homework you will make a Want Ad for a part of the cell.

D block Lab data

D block, use the lab data for F block to graph. You can see their lab data below, or click here.

On Monday, each student will need to turn in the following information:

1. A table with the class averages for Hot, Cold and Room Temperature bubble height in cm (from part A)

2. A table with the class average for Acid, Base and Neutral bubble height in cm (from part B).

3. A well written paragraph, with complete sentences, which includes three sources of error for the experiment and three ways to improve the experiment.

If you are unsure about what to include for your sources of error you can read this article.

F Block Lab Data

On Monday, each student will need to turn in the following information:

1. A table with the class averages for Hot, Cold and Room Temperature bubble height in cm (from part A)

2. A table with the class average for Acid, Base and Neutral bubble height in cm (from part B).

3. A well written paragraph, with complete sentences, which includes three sources of error for the experiment and three ways to improve the experiment.

If you are unsure about what to include for your sources of error you can read this article.

Below is the data for you to analyze. You can click on the picture to make it larger.