Final Exam Study Guide

Hello Students,

This will be my last post of the year. I have not posted anything for awhile since you are not allowed in the library to use the internet anymore this year. Ever since this rule went into effect, my page has only been visited one time, which tells me nobody is using this website from home.

The final exam for life science will be held on Monday 5/24 for periods 3 & 5, Tuesday 5/25 for periods 2, 4, and 6, and Wednesday 5/26 for period 1. I am creating the final exam from all of the quizzes from the quarter. I will select and reword about half of the questions we have seen. To prepare for this, please make sure that you know and understand the answers to every single question on these quizzes. Start by reviewing your graded quizzes or download the entire set of 8 quizzes here.

After you review all the quiz questions, prepare a "cheat sheet" as if you were allowed to bring a piece of paper with all of the information from quarter 4 with you on the test. By rewriting all of this information, it will stay fresh in your brain. Reword EVERY question and answer into a statement of fact, and write all of these statements onto one piece of paper.

For example, from the natural selection quiz, question one was as follows:

The correct answer is A.  A good statement of fact that we can make from the question and answer is, "Natural selection is when organisms with well-adapted traits survive and reproduce."

You can download MY completed "cheat sheet" here to see examples of fact statements from every single question.  I recommend that you look at this resources as a last resource because if you challenge yourself to understand each question and answer to the point that you can reword the information, you will have a better chance of understanding the concepts completely.  If you simply copy my examples, you will forget and this practice will not help you when you are taking the test.

As you know, I am moving to Denver soon.  I will miss Waianae very much, and I will miss all of you as well.  I will be changing my cell phone number as soon as I get to Denver in late June.  If you would like to get in touch with me, please use this contact form and I will get back to you as quickly as I can.

5/12 & 13: Competition & Niches

4/26 & 27: Evolution

Watch the INM (Introduction to New Material) presentation here:

4/21 & 22: Fossils

Download the fossils guided notes here.

Watch the presentation here:

4/19 & 20: Mutations

Download the mutation guided notes here.

Download the word map here and complete a word map for the key vocab words, "mutation" and "speciation".

Watch the presentation here:



Visit the Mighty Mutation Maker here.

HW: Read TeenBiz article, "Wolves in Dogs Clothing?", complete the activity and thought question.

Good Luck on HSA!

Good luck on the HSA test, students!  I am proud of how much you've learned this year and I know you will do your best.  Here are some ideas of things you can do to prepare yourself for the test this week:

3/24 & 3/25: Natural Selection

3/8 & 3/9: End of Quarter 3

All quarter 3 work is due by 3 pm TODAY (Monday 3/8 for odd periods or Tuesday, 3/9 for even periods).

Today we're wrapping up 3rd quarter.  I'll hand back all graded work.  We're going to have a fun mini-lesson that is a preview of quarter 4.  You're going to complete a survey to let me know how I'm doing.

Please click here to fill out the quarter 3 survey.

You can watch the tsunami presentation here:

2/18 - 2/26: Classification Lab Activities

We are working on looking at specimens of species from the five kingdoms in the lab this week.  Please see Mr. Trainer if you need to make up any of this work.

Make sure you log into TeenBiz to read some articles and complete the Activity, Thought Question, and Poll for each of the articles.

All work for quarter 3 is due by the time I leave school on Monday, 3/8 (for periods 1, 3, and 5) or on Tuesday, 3/9 (for periods 2, 4, and 6).

2/18 & 2/19: 5 Kingdoms

All missing work is due by the time I leave school on Tuesday, 3/9.

Today we are continuing our study of classification of living things by learning about the 5 kingdoms, or groups, of living things.  Please watch this presentation to see some of the diversity of living things.

2/10 & 2/11: Classification

Today we are doing a lab activity that will introduce us to classification of living organisms.  Please see Mr. Trainer for the materials and instructions to complete this activity and the Classification Notes.

If you need to retake the ALL OR NOTHING! (quiz) on respiration and photosynthesis, you may click here to retake the quiz.

2/8 & 2/9: Respiration and Photosynthesis Quiz

Today we are playing Qwizdom to review for a quiz.

We will then take the quiz.  This quiz will be on respiration and photosynthesis, but it will be graded in an unusual way.  This quiz will be an ALL OR NOTHING quiz, meaning you need to get them all correct in order to pass.  Please use your notes, textbook, or any other relevant resources to answer the questions.  YOU MAY NOT WORK WITH ANOTHER STUDENT.

Click here to take the quiz.

2/3 & 2/4: Respiration

Today we are learning about respiration. Please click here to view a voicethread presentation about respiration or download the presentation by clicking here. You should take notes by writing down anything that is written in the presentation.

After you watch the presentation and take down notes, please compare and contrast photosynthesis and respiration in a 5-paragraph essay. Your essay should include an introduction and conclusion, a body paragraph detailing the similarities between the two processes, and two body paragraphs detailing the unique properties of each process.

This is a difficult assignment, so please follow the steps described below:

1. Organize your information about photosynthesis and respiration into a Venn diagram. You can download and print out a Venn diagram here.

2. Print out and fill in the blanks on this sheet, which I call Mr. Fuller's Patented, 100% Guaranteed Easy Essay Solution.

3. Copy the essay from Mr. Fuller's Patented, 100% Guaranteed Easy Essay Solution to a separate sheet of paper. Put your finished essay into my basket.

2/1 & 2/2: Photosynthesis Test

Today we're taking a test on photosynthesis. Please study by taking the practice test here.

1/27 & 1/28: Teach a Kindergartner

Today we're continuing our group projects. We are teaching kindergartners about plants. Please read about the project and check the project rubric here before continuing.

Today I need your group to demonstrate progress on this project. Demonstrating progress is today's assignment and it is worth five points. Depending on the type of project you are working on, here is what you need to finish today to get credit:

You are filming a video. You need to show me your storyboard or a script.

You are singing a song. You need to show me your lyrics.

You are presenting online. You need to make a powerpoint presentation file.

If you are doing a video, here is an example of a storyboard:

The storyboard shows my plan for a video I intend to make.

I made this storyboard first, and then I filmed this video:

Here is an example of a presentation about plants for kindergartners:

1/25 & 1/26: Photosynthesis and Respiration

Opening:

Get out laptops and check your grades. Use your grade report to determine which assignments you still need to complete. Use this time at the beginning of class (approximately 20 minutes) to catch up on missing work.

You can click here for a complete list of assignments.

Worktime:

Listen to the Photosynthesis Song by clicking here.

We are starting a short group project today that is due next week (on 2/1 or 2/2). Your assignment is to teach a Kindergartner about plants on the computer. You can make a powerpoint presentation, a song, or a video. Please read more about the project by clicking here.

For the first part of the project, you must decide what you are going to teach and how you are going to teach it. Please complete this form to let me know this information by the end of class today.

Closing:

I will review the parts of photosynthesis with the class.

Homework:

There will be a test in class on 2/1 (periods 1,3,5) or 2/2 (periods 2,4,6). The project that we started today is due on 2/1 or 2/2.

1/19 & 1/20: Respiration, Photosynthesis, and Fermentation

First, please go to web.teenbiz3000.com and read both articles I have sent to you AND complete the multiple-choice "Activity" after reading each article (your score for this assignment will be based on the percentage answered correctly on your FIRST attempt).

Second, please read the instructions for #1 under the "Procedures" section on this site:

http://www.smm.org/heart/lessons/lesson8.htm

Complete the breathing experiment and record your data in the form below:

Third, you have a reading assignment. Please read Chapter 2, Section 2 (pgs 49 - 53) of Cells and Heredity. The section is called "Respiration." Read the section and answer the Section 2 Assessment questions #1 a,b,c,d & 2 a,b,c on page 53 AND the challenge question: "Using the idea of respiration, please explain why bikers have big hearts."

Fourth, please watch this animation all the way through:

http://www.johnkyrk.com/photosynthesis.html

Now, I want you to try to find a webpage or an animation about RESPIRATION. Visit a search engine website (such as google, yahoo, or bing) and search for "respiration" or "respiration article" or "cellular respiration" or "respiration animation". Once you have found a good one, please post the LINK to the site on this document by clicking here, finding your period and table number, and pasting the link.

After you have finished, please take a moment to check your grades here. If you're not sure how, please bring your computer to Mr. Trainer.

For HOMEWORK, please make sure that you have given Mr. Trainer your DonorsChoose permission slip. If you don't have a copy of this form, you can print it from here: http://www.donorschoose.org/docs/permission_slip.pdf

Quote of the day:

"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance."

-- Sir Claus Moser

1/13 & 1/14: Respiration

Now that you know about photosynthesis, respiration is easy to learn. Respiration is the process by which organisms turn food energy into cell energy that they can use for growth, movement, reproduction, and other activities that require energy. I am out sick today (Wednesday), so you will be completing the following with the substitute:

Read Ch. 2 Section 2 of Cells and Heredity. Answer the Section 2 Assessment questions (yes, ALL of them).

Watch Bill Nye's Respiration episode. Complete the quiz after the video and check your work with a neighbor.

1/11 & 1/12: Photosynthesis

Today's objective: State the products and reactants of photosynthesis.

Opening: Measure Plants (Plant Progress Report for period 5)

Worktime: Photosynthesis

Closing: Game!

HW: none

Today we are completing guided notes on photosynthesis, making posters about photosynthesis, and playing a photosynthesis game.

Here are some websites to look at to learn about photosynthesis:

Simple explanation

Complex explanation

1/7 & 1/8: Photosynthesis

Opening: What are Elements?

Worktime: Understanding Photosynthesis

Closing: Grade Check

For the opening activity, please watch this voicethread presentation by clicking here and complete the guided notes. The guided notes should go into your science binder.

Now that you've learned a little bit about elements and how plants grow, please read Section 1 of Chapter 2 of Cells and Heredity (on pages 44 - 48). Answer the Section Assessment questions (#1a,b,c & 2a,b,c on pg 48) on a piece of paper and hand them into the basket.

We're almost done! Now I want you to go check your grade online. To do this, click on this link and ask Mr. Trainer for your login code!

Please complete this brief feedback survey and then clean up your computer by putting it away in its box with its power cord and placing it onto your group's lab table. Thanks!

FINALLY, here is some optional homework: a crossword puzzle having to do with what you learned today. You may want to do the puzzle while watching the presentation OR while looking at your notes. Click here to download the puzzle and print it out. Click here to see the puzzle online and go down and click "Solve Online" to fill it out on the computer.

1/5 & 1/6: Seed Survey

Please click here to access the aquarist/zookeeper job application.

Please click here to complete the "SEED SURVEY" homework assignment (due 1/7 or 1/8).