Study Guides and Practicing with Microscopes

Today and tomorrow students worked on making their study guides to review for the Cell Cycle/Mitosis and Cancer quiz on Friday.

Here's what you need to know:
All the stages of the cycle cycle, the order and what the stages of mitosis look like
The differences in cytokinesis between plant and animal cells
Information from the cancer packet (the questions you answered)
What angiogenesis is and how it is related to cancer.

In addition to the content, you will be tested on your microscope skills.  I will ask you to find one of the stages in Mitosis using slide of plant cells.  You will have two attempts to do this successfully. Each attempt can take no more than five minutes.  This will count as a pass / fail laboratory grade.

Angiogensis & Cancer

Today ( for C period, tomorrow for G period), we reviewed the cancer reading.  After working in groups to compare the answers to the questions, we watched the TED talk below.  "TED is a nonprofit dedicated to Ideas Worth Spreading"  to learn more about TED click here. 

Click here to search through their library of talks.  Imagine how well informed you could be if you spent 20 minutes less per day on Facebook or playing Angry Birds, and instead watched / listened to a TED talk!

Cancer & The Cell Cycle

Today we started to learn about Cancer & the Cell Cycle.  Students worked in co-operatively in groups to come up with answers to questions about Cancer.   Students complied a list of questions (see below) as a class. 

Many of these questions will be answered in the reading you do over the weekend, and the questions you answer.  The remaining unanswered questions will be addressed next week.

Questions we have:
1. What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
2. Is cancer genetic?
3. What happens to your cells when you have cancer?
4. How do the number of deaths from cancer compare to other diseases?
5. How makes a cell sick?
6. How does cancer spread?
7. How quickly can cancer grow?
8. Can your emotional health impact your battle with cancer?
9. When do you call it cancer and when do you call it a tumor?
10. Are all types of cancer treatable or curable?
11. Which type of cancer causes the most deaths in the U.S.?
12. Which type of cancer is the most deadly?
13. What is the chance that a person gets cancer?
14. What does chemo involve?
15. Are all types of cancer malignant?

Mitosis & Microscopes Day 2

Today students worked on using microscopes to identify the stages of mitosis in onion cells and white fish blastula. 

C period homework for Monday: You have been emailed a four page reading on cancer.  You need to read this and answer the questions on the last page.  You should bring your answers to class on Monday.  The answers do not need to be typed.

G period:  You have no homework.

http://kvhs.nbed.nb.ca/gallant/biology/mitosis_phases.jpg

Mitosis & Microscopes

After completing the reading quiz on 10.1 / 10.2 and reviewing the open notes test from Friday, students used light microscopes to look at slides of plant cells under going mitosis. 

Onion root tip cells undergoing mitosis (http://tinyurl.com/c42amb3)

There is no homework for tonight. 

Next Topic: The Cell Cycle & Cancer

Yesterday you had an open notes test on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration.  Next week we will be starting the Cell Cycle & Cancer.  How do our cells divide?   Is there a link between how our cells divide and cancer?  These are just some of the questions we'll be addressing next week. 

C period classwork:

Mr. Schiff is your sub and he knows that you need to read sections 10.1 and 10.2 as well as take notes. There is a worksheet to help you review these sections.  You will have a reading quiz in class on Wednesday.

Open Notes Test Tomorrow

Tomorrow you will have an open notes test on cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

G Period:  Homework for class on Tuesday:  you need to read sections 10.1 and 10.2.  Take notes for a reading quiz.  Mr. Freddy will give you a handout to help you organize your notes.  NB:  Completing only the handout is not sufficient, you still need to read 10.1 and 10.2 & take notes.

C period: Please bring your textbook to class on Monday. 

Krebs Cycle & the ETC

Today G period learned about the Krebs Cycle and C period wrapped up cellular respiration by learning about the ETC.  Click on the tab at the top of the blog "Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration" for links to helpful animations.

On Friday you will have an open notes test on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, so make sure you bring your notebook to class!

Starting Cellular Respiration

Today (or tomorrow for G period) we started cellular respiration by playing team trivia to take notes.  For homework (C Period) please read and take notes on pages 221-225.  You will have a reading quiz on Tuesday.  G period you will complete this assignment for Wednesday.

We also listened to a song from Muscles and Magnets titled "Oxidative Phosphorylation."  Click on the lyrics below to link to the song file.

Don't forget that your lab write up is due Wednesday as well!

Elodea & Snails Lab Report Rubric

Now that you have had the chance to analyze your results and discuss weaknesses/limitations and improvements, it's time to write a lab report. Your lab report is due Wednesday November 16th at the start of class. You must bring a printed copy to class. The rubric is posted below and it has also been emailed to you.  Click on the picture to make it larger.

Elodea & Snails.... 48 hours later

Today students examined the results from their Elodea & Snails experiments.  Let's see what happened...

Elodea & Snails Lab

Yesterday students were given the opportunity to completely design their own experiments involving Elodea and snails to determine if we can see products of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Elodea & Snails Investigation

After reviewing photosynthesis and voting on the best photosynthesis mini project, students worked on designing an experiment using Elodea & Snails to look at photosynthesis.

Here are some hints for your experimental design:

Materials:
Large test tubes (~50mL volume)
BTB indicator solution
Elodea
Snails
Aluminum foil
Test tube racks
Electronic balances
Graduated cylinders
Straws

BTB turns blue in the absence of CO2, BTB turns yellow in the presence of CO2.

We will be analyzing these experiments in class on Friday (Wednesday schedule).

For homework you need to complete the experimental design.   Make sure to include your hypothesis and identify the independent and dependent variables.

Electron Transport Chain in Photosynthesis

Click the picture below to link to images and step-by-step details of what happens in the Electron Transport Chain in the light dependent reactions in photosynthesis.

Reminder: Your photosynthesis mini-project is due tomorrow

Photosynthesis Mini Project

 This mini project is counts for three homework grades.  It is due IN CLASS on Tuesday November 8th.

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.

Below are examples of A+ work and F work.

The A+ Work

The F work - why is this an F ... well for starter's it's a screenshot of a webpage!  Remember that Family Weekend is coming up, what would you like your family to see?

Photosynthesis - C period

Please watch the video below.  Click on the picture to link to the video.   You should take notes which describe what happens in the electron transport chain.

You need to have completed these notes for Monday.  Step 1 in your notes should say "A photon of light hits the reaction center in Photosystem II."