March 4

Here’s the deal:

1. Write your lab report for Lab 12.1
2. Read Module 12.
3. Study Module 12 so that you can take the OPEN BOOK test next week.
4. Open book tests are tricky, though.  You probably think “what a piece of cake!”
5. But, no.
6. You will have 20 minutes only, so if you’re not familiar with the chapter, you’ll waste most of your 20 minutes trying to find the answer!
7. No vocabulary due this week.

February 25

Next week is your exam on Module 11, Plant Diversity and Reproduction.  Study the review questions and be able to label the flower diagram.

Lab 11.4 is due.

 

February 18

Today we started Module 11, Plant Diversity and Reproduction.  You did Lab 11.1 in class, which was called Flower Anatomy.  This lab report is due next week.

Read the chapter…begin learning the vocabulary…quiz next time on plant classification.

February 11

Study Module 10 for your exam, which will be February 18.  You’ll want to be able to answer the study guide questions well to do well on the test.

Be sure you can draw and label euglena, amoeba, paramecium, and a typical “mushroom”.

Vocab cards are due, along with two labs — one we’ll call Fungi Observation, and the other is Experiment 10.4, Yeast.

February 4

Module 10 is all about Kingdoms Protista and Fungi.  Please read the chapter this week and begin to learn the vocabulary.

Pay particular attention to three members of the Protista Kingdom:  amoeba, euglena, and paramecium.  You looked at these little guys through the microscope today, and you will need to draw and label their unique features on the test for this chapter.

For the lab report:

1. Call it Protozoa Lab.
2. Write a normal introduction.  The purpose of this lab was to observe three members of the protozoa group.
3. The Procedure section needs to explain what you did and why.
4. The Results section will be your drawings, which should include labels of any organelles you could see.
5. In the Discussion section, discuss anything that “went wrong” or was difficult.
6. For your Conclusion, discuss what you learned.  Especially important here is your comparison of the three protozoans, and you may certainly consult the book for help with this.

 

January 29

Yesterday we conducted a “virus spread” simulation; you do NOT need to write a lab report on that.

Test on Module 9 next time.  I gave you a packet of questions regarding bacteria and viruses; if you answer all the questions on all the pages you are welcome to use those during the test.

But, this is an all-or-nothing proposition!  Your packet must be completely finished, or you may not use it.

And, I’m almost certain that the answers to the questions are in the chapter.  I will double-check that this evening and update here if not.  The rule stands though — do NOT use the Internet to answer questions.

Vocab cards are due.  Also, remember to study the sections on taxonomy!

January 21

We have started Module 9, Prokaryotes and Viruses.  Read the chapter this week and begin your vocab cards.

Due is the Biological Key “lab” you were working on in class.  This isn’t a “normal” lab report; all you have to do is finish the chart.

January 14

Time for an exam on Module 7, Genetics, next week, folks.  Study the study guide (email me for the answers if you like).  Make sure you can draw Punnett Squares (monohybrid, blood types, sex-linked traits).

Also due are your vocab cards and your “Blood Typing Lab”.

For the blood typing lab, you can treat it like a regular lab report, with all of the same sections.  But, instead of a “drawing”, you can staple your card to the first page.  Go ahead and write in first person this time.

If you didn’t give me the “Switched at Birth” paper, make sure you bring it next time.

January 7

Today we reviewed genetics a bit and we created children!  If you didn’t draw your child and turn him/her in, please bring next time.

Also, complete the two worksheets titled “Monohybrid Mice” and “Sex-linked Genetic Traits.”  Next week I will ask you to solve a Punnett problem again, this time using sex-linked traits.

Otherwise, read and learn the chapter and work on your vocabulary cards.  Thank you!

January 1, 2026

Happy New Year!  Just a word for you today about Module 7, Genetics.

I’M GIVING YOU A QUIZ on January 7.  Would you like a hint?

• Recognize Mendel’s principles if you were to see them in a true/false quiz.
• Be able to draw and interpret a Punnett Square.

Also!  One of my favorite labs to do for this chapter is let you discover your blood type.  We’ll do that on January 14, but you’ll need a parent to sign the permission form, linked below.  Please print it, ask a parent to sign it, and bring it to class on the 7th.

Blood Typing Permission Slip

Thank you!

November 28

Before we see each other again on January 7, 2026, please make sure you have read Module 7, Genetics.  I will give you a quiz on this chapter!

Enjoy your break.

November 19

Next week is your exam for Module 6, DNA and the Cell Cycle.  Please answer the Review Questions at the end of the chapter because the test will cover those topics.  (No, I will not collect them; they are not homework.)  As soon as you’ve answered those, email me and I will send you the answer key.

Your vocab cards are due, as well as Lab 6.2.

Even though we’ll have a break from Thanksgiving until January 7, I will begin to overview the next chapter with you — Module 7, Genetics.  You’ll enjoy this one!

November 12

I humbly apologize for neglecting to update here, and thank you to the few people who emailed me about it.  Grrrr…so sorry.

Please read Chapter 6 and work on your vocabulary cards.  Also, I gave you a few handouts on transcription, translation, and a DNA model coloring page.  Those are due…so is your lab:  “Strawberry DNA” is what we’ll call it.

Thank you!

November 5

Part of my job is to take a gnarly, detailed chapter and give you the big picture.  I tried to do that yesterday with Module 5:  Cellular Energy.

Yes, it’s all IMPORTANT.  No, you don’t have to memorize the details yet, as you will certainly find this topic come up again when/if you pursue a degree in any life science.

So, the big deal:  ENERGY.

Plants get it through photosynthesis.

Animals get it through cellular respiration.

Your job this week is to read the chapter, focusing on the questions I gave you yesterday on the handout.  Those questions are your TAKE HOME TEST, and must be answered well and turned in next time.  You are allowed to use your book; but that’s all.

No vocabulary cards are due.

Don’t wait until the last minute to complete this assignment; I promise you will not succeed!

Your chromatography lab report is due.

October 29

There are many different ways of “taking notes”, either from a lecture or a textbook.  Since Chapter 4 contains so much information, I showed you one way of distilling it into an easier format for studying — the graphic organizer.

You are welcome to create and use a graphic organizer for your test next week.  I will ask you to show it to me before you begin your test, and to turn it in with your completed test.

The rules are simple:

1. Create a graphic organizer (circles/squares/rectangles) which captures the main ideas of the chapter, including as many details as you like.
2. Your graphic organizer must be done in your own handwriting.
3. Length doesn’t matter this time — it can be as long or as concise as you need it to be.

Otherwise, please turn in your lab report and your vocabulary cards.  Thank you!

October 22

Read and learn Module 4, Cellular Structure.  Especially focus on the vocabulary — parts of a cell and functions.

You owe me Labs 3.1, 3.2, and 4.1, plus the plant and animal cell coloring pages. I know some of you turned in today, so that’s good.

October 15

Test on Module 3 is next week.  Be sure you know your vocabulary, and understand the answers to the study guide questions and the OYO questions in the chapter.

Vocabulary cards and Lab 3.2 are due.

October 7

Read Module 3, Ecology, begining to make your vocabulary cards and understanding the material.

Keep track of the growth of your beans:  water them equally, keep them in sunlight, record what you see every day or two.

If you need to finish the “Prediator Prey” activity, so that also.  Please answer the questions thoughtfully and in complete sentences.

October 1

Next week you will take Test #2 on “The Chemistry of Life.”  Please do these —

1. Memorize those 6 biologically important elements.  You will need to write the names and symbols for each.
2. Bring your vocabulary cards for credit.
3. Write your lab report for 2.1 and 2.2 Be sure to follow formatting rules and include a diagram!
4. As you study, focus on those basics of chemistry (elements, atoms, compounds, etc.), and the properties of water, and very general information about carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleotides.

Thank you!

September 24

Test #1 is in the bag!  Well done.

Moving on to Module 2 now, I would like you to read the entire chapter this week.  Begin to make vocabulary flashcards; the vocab words are listed on page 83 (and throughout the chapter).  So that you focusing on the most “important” words, I will reduce this long list:  Define only words a – u.

You will take a 10-point, true/false quiz next time over the major points of the chapter.

Today you completed Lab 2.1, and I gave you a packet of directions about how to write your lab report.  Write the lab report for the lab you did today and bring it next week.

Also, I gave you a Scavenger Hunt worksheet on the periodic table of the elements.  You can do it at home if you have time; otherwise, we’ll do it in class next week with your lab partners.

September 17

Today you learned how to use a microscope, and I would like you to write your first lab report about your experience.  Call this Lab 1.1, Introduction to the Microscope.  Very soon I will instruct you on my special format for lab reports; for now, simply include this information:

1. What was the purpose of the lab? (Complete sentence, please.)
2. What specimens did you observe?
3. Include the drawings of each specimen.
4. Did you experience any difficulties using the microscope? What did you learn about preparing slides, focusing, etc. which will be useful to you in the future? (A couple of complete sentences answering these questions is just fine.)

Next week you will take Exam 1 on Module 1.  The exam will be an objective test – true/false, multiple choice, labeling a diagram of the microscope, vocabulary matching.  Remember that with vocabulary you only need to recognize the correct answer; you don’t need to write the definition.

Please also bring your vocabulary cards to class.  We will give you credit for doing them.

September 10 

It was lovely to see you all yesterday!  Thank you for working together so well on the comparison/constrast handout; I overheard some good discussion!

Please do these assignments this week:

1. Read Module 1.  Sometimes it’s easiest to read a textbook chapter in chunks, sometimes you may prefer to read it all at once.  Do whatever helps you to have a general understanding of the content.
2. Expect a 10-point, true/false quiz on your reading next week.
3. As you read, it is very helpful to answer the On Your Own questions (not necessarily in writing).  If you can answer them, great.  If not, you need to go back and find the answer in the text.  These are NOT due for homework.
4. Make “vocabulary cards.”  Buy a big pack of 3 x 5 cards.  Write the vocabulary word on the front, write the definition in your own words on the back.  Use these to study for the chapter exam.  Vocabulary words are always listed in the Study Guide at the end of a chapter.  This chapter has LOTS of words; I would like you to learn a – z this time (no need to learn aa – ff).  Remember, the vocabulary section on an exam is “matching”, so you’ll only need to recognize the correct definition, not write it out.
5. If you didn’t finish the handout in class, just make sure you do the very last question where you are supposed to place those living organisms into groups.

That’s it.  See you next week.