11/24

On Monday, we took our "Chapter 4 and Cancer" test. Students were assigned a directed reading activity as a preview for our next chapter: genetics and heredity. This is one of my favorite life science topics, and students generally enjoy it as well! Soon we will be doing Punnett squares to calculate the probability of inheriting certain traits and learning about genetic disorders.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break!

11/20

On Monday we discussed the processes of mitosis and apoptosis. We learned the importance of each, and we discussed how the regulation of each process is necessary in order for a cell to function properly. On Tuesday and Wednesday, students learned more about cancer and how this disease is related to problems with cell processes. We discussed the types of tumors, treatment methods, and possible causes of cancer. On Thursday, students used computer activities to review all of the cell processes that we had discussed in class. Students watched videos and animations of active and passive transport, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, mitosis, apoptosis, cancer, and the cell cycle. We reviewed for our cell processes test on Friday, and we will take our Chapter 4 test on Monday. This will be one of the first grades entered for the new trimester.

11/13

On Monday, we viewed the results of our carrot osmosis lab. Most students observed that the carrot in fresh water got larger and more firm, and the one in salt water got smaller and more flexible. Students were asked to explain their lab results by recalling the properties of diffusion and osmosis. This week, we also discussed the important processes of photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and fermentation. We wrote equations for photosynthesis and respiration, and discussed how each process depended on each other. We did a lab to demonstrate cellular respiration in yeast cells. In this experiment, we determined whether different amounts of sugar would affect the carbon dioxide production of yeast cells. We used balloons to "catch" the carbon dioxide that was being released from the process, and we measured the circumference of each balloon to determine how much gas was produced.

Next week, we will discuss the processes of mitosis and apoptosis. We will relate this discussion to cancer, which is a result of these processes not working properly.

11/6

This was my first week back from my maternity leave. We spent time this week finishing our cell analogy projects and reviewing for our cell and microscope test. In our next chapter, we will focus on processes that allow cells to obtain resources, produce food and energy, and reproduce. We began our "Carrot Osmosis Lab" on Friday, in which we submerged baby carrots in fresh and salt water. We will see how our carrots have changed on Monday and also discuss how osmosis works. Next week we will explore the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and fermentation.

I just wanted to thank the students for making my first week back a great one! I have enjoyed getting to know the 7th graders, and I look forward to a great year with them!