November 20

See if you can create a Pedigree Chart for your family, using some or all of the inherited traits listed in the chapter:  tongue rolling, ears free or attached, freckles, widow’s peak, etc.  This is Experiment 7.2, pages 271-272.  I’ll count this as an extra lab, which helps if you’ve received a bad score on a previous one.

Otherwise, familiarize yourself with genetics by reading all of Module 7.  We’ll have a quiz next week on the Punnett Square.

November 13

This week, please study Module 6, “DNA, Proteins, and the Cell Cycle” for the exam next time.  Also, your vocabulary cards are due.

Today we extracted DNA from strawberries.  You’ll need to write a lab report for that one, and since it’s not in the book, call it “Strawberry DNA Extraction.”

Answer the Study Guide questions and turn those in next time also.

November 6

SOME OF YOU WILL RETAKE YOUR LATIN TEST NEXT WEEK.

Module 6, “DNA, Proteins, and the Cell Cycle” is our next chapter.  Read it this week, make vocab cards, etc.  We’ll extract DNA from strawberries next time, which is always fascinating.

October 30

Module 5 chapter exam is next week.  Its’ still a doozy…but still not impossible…especially if you create a great study sheet to use during the exam.

Due next week are your vocabulary cards, but not the lab unless you and your partners were able to share results.  That one is due for sure on November 6, however.

Also due is the chloroplast coloring sheet with answers to the two questions at the bottom.

ALSO, about that Latin Test.  Let’s retake it on November 13.  Make yourself vocab cards and study them!

October 23

Our next chapter, Module 5, is titled “Cellular Energy.”  It’s a doozy, but not impossible to learn.

Read the module this week, and make vocabulary cards.  Study those.

Your Module 5 exam will be on November 5.  Remember that this is an “open notes” test, which means you are welcome to bring ONE piece of notebook paper with notes on both sides and use it during the test.  Your notes must be in your own handwriting.

Lab 5.1 is due next time.

 

October 16

Test next week on Module 4, Cells and Cellular Function.

Please bring your vocabulary words (all gazillion of them) and turn in the answers to the Study Guide questions.

Also, be able to draw a section of the plasma membrane, including proteins, carbohydrates, and protein channels.

October 9

Please read Module 4, The Cell.  Make your vocabulary cards.  Answer the OYO questions as you go.

Write the lab report for Lab 4.1.

I always have more to say…but no time to say it today.  You’re welcome.

October 2

We’ve completed Module 2, “The Chemistry of Life”, so it’s time for a chapter exam. Here’s your list for this week —

1. Study for the exam.  Pay particular attention to the “infographic” on pages 56-57, as it distills information on those important organic molecules.
2. Write your lab report for Experiment 2.2, “How Effective is Your Antacid”.
3. Bring your vocabulary cards for grading.
4. Answer the Study Guide questions (skipping the vocabulary words because you’ve already done them on your cards).  Those are due.

You have a lot to do this week, so I wouldn’t expect you to want to take the Latin test also.  However, you must take it by 10/16, so don’t forget!

September 25

One exam down!  If you thought it was easy, good for you – this means you studied well.  If not…learn from your mistakes and press on!

This week we began Module 2, “The Chemistry of Life.”

1. Read the entire chapter.
2. Answer the On Your Own questions as you read.
3. Make your vocabulary cards. Find the words on page 83, question #1.
4. Write your lab report for Experiment 2.1, “Investigating Water’s Properties”

September 18

Okie dokie, biologists:  it’s time for your first exam!  And your first lab report is due!

Do these, please –

1. Read Module 1 for the second time, paying close attention to those concepts.
2. Answer the Review Questions on pages 35-36. You do NOT need to write the definitions for the vocabulary words (question #1) because you’ve already created flashcards for those.  Review questions are due next time.
3. Bring your vocabulary cards to class also.
4. You’ll take the exam first thing on September 25. Expect a vocabulary matching section, a multiple-choice section, and a true/false section.
5. Write your lab report according to the directions I gave you today. If you were absent, contact me for a copy.

Thanks!  See you next week.

September 11

Dear students (and hello parents!),

This is the “homework blog” space for our biology class.  Each week I’ll post your homework assignments right here so that you can know exactly what’s due next time.  If you don’t see it here, it’s not due.

Our textbook, Exploring Creation with Biology, contains 16 “modules” or chapters.  We’ll see each other for 28 weeks — from today through Wednesday, April 23 (with time off for Christmas break). To cover this pre-college biology course adequately, we’ll spend about two weeks per chapter.

Which brings up a problem:  we can’t cover the entire textbook with the time we have.  But never fear — I’ll do some wrangling to get us there.  If you simply keep up with your reading and homework, you’ll be fine.

In general, please establish these habits:

1. Read each chapter twice. Read it the first week for general understanding and quiz prep; read it again the second week for deeper understanding and exam prep.
2. Chapter exams occur at the beginning of class, the week after we’ve completed a chapter. After the exam we will begin the next chapter.
3. Lab reports are due the week following a lab. We’ll go over lab reports soon.
4. Biology relies heavily on vocabulary. When you begin a new chapter, make “vocabulary flash cards”; these help you learn chapter vocabulary and are due the day of an exam.
5. We’ll complete most of the labs in our textbook, plus some extra ones. If you happen to miss a lab, you cannot make it up; however, I’ll give you an “ex” for “excused” in your grade report, which won’t affect your final grade.
6. Get yourself organized with a 3-ring binder, plenty of lined notebook paper (NO spiral notebooks), and always have a pen/pencil ready.

Okie dokie.  Below is your first biology homework assignment, due next week:

September 11 HOMEWORK

• Read Module 1, “The Science of Life”, all the way through. Although I won’t ask for them to be turned in, make sure you can answer the “On Your Own” questions within the chapter.
• Prepare for an objective-type quiz (true/false, multiple choice, labeling) by having a general understanding of Module 1.
• Create vocabulary flashcards! I explained those in class today:  on 3 x 5 cards, write the vocabulary word on one side, and the definition on the other.  These are indispensable study aids!  You do NOT need to copy the definition word-for-word from the text.  If you can rewrite it sufficiently in your own words, do that.
• Today we did a “Comparing and Contrasting” lab in class, which is due next week. (No need to re-write it or type it; simply ensure you have answered each question adequately.)