Week of 10/25

On Monday and Tuesday, students spent time working on a "Cell Analogy Project." In this project, students had to find pictures that represented analogies of the important cell organelles. In doing this, the students were able to make connections about how organelles function like everyday objects. We also had the chance to observe cheek and onion cells under the microscope in order to view a few differences between plant and animal cells.

We have finished our microscope and cell chapter, so we will be taking our second chapter test on Monday of next week. Students have been given a study guide in order to help them prepare. Remember, students should not have to go back to the textbook in order to study! As long as they review the notes listed on the study guide, they will be in good shape for the test.

Week of 10/11

This week, we discussed how to use light microscopes and we spent two days reviewing and practicing how to use them. We discovered how the microscope changes the position of an image, what our hair looks like when magnified 400x, and we also had the chance to explore other interesting prepared slides. I am impressed at how quickly the students are becoming accustomed to using the microscope. This is great, because we will use our microscopes a LOT this year! On Friday, we discussed what it meant to "be alive." After our "is fire living?" discussion, we finally agreed that fire was NOT living because it did not have cells or DNA. Next week, we will talk about cells in more depth, and we will have the opportunity to view our own cells under the microscope!

Week of 10/4

This week, we did a flower dissection in order to view the reproductive parts of an angiosperm. Students were required to cut open the flower and identify the main portions of the stamen and the pistil. Many were surprised to find lots of eggs inside of the flower's ovary! Students were also asked to measure and record the differences between flowers. We spent time reviewing the chapter on Wednesday and Thursday, and we took our first test on Friday.

Remember that leaf collections are due on TUESDAY! Roughly HALF of the 7th graders have already turned in their projects! I am quite impressed with those numbers!

Week of 9/27

This week, students were required to design a "wind-dispersing seed structure" using the materials that I provided for them. As a class, we tested each structure (using a fan) to see which design traveled the farthest. Congratulation to all of our class period winners, and a special congratulations to our overall winning structure, which was designed by Hannah R. and Kally S.! The students came up with some rather impressive and unique ideas for their structures!

We ended the week by discussing plant parts and reproduction. On Friday, we spent time reviewing our plant knowledge by viewing a BrainPOP video clip and doing some virtual plant labs. Next week, we will dissect a flower to review plant reproductive structures. We will have our first test of the year on Friday. Remember that leaf collections are due on Tuesday, October 12th!