Mrs. La Fayette's Grade 7 Science

Class Work:

• We used Smartboard technology to review the Sponge Bob Genetics worksheet that was assigned for homework last night. After going over all of the answers, students were instructed to turn their worksheets into their class tray for grading. Period 5 students did not finish reviewing the material and will do that tomorrow. Then their worksheets will be turned in for grading.

Homework: None

Class Work:

• Students took the Genetic vocabulary quiz today and turned in their Genetics vocabulary guides for grading.
• After the quiz, we reviewed the first page of their C4.1 two-column notes. We discussed Punnett squares and how they are used to predict possible outcomes of genetic crosses. Then we completed part of their homework assignment "Sponge Bob Genetics" to give students more practice. This file can be downloaded from the link below.
• Sponge Bob Genetics Worksheet

Homework: Complete the "Sponge Bob Genetics" worksheet for tomorrow.

Class Work:

• Students completed the mini lab on page C110  of their textbooks entitled "Explore Probability". Then we discussed their findings. This activity was used as an introduction to the next key concept of our genetics unit: "Patterns of heredity can be predicted."
• As we discussed the mini lab exploring probability, we reviewed all of the vocabulary terms from C4.1, which will be on the quiz tomorrow. Students were reminded that their vocabulary guide sheets will be collected for grading tomorrow when they take the quiz.
• After our vocabulary review, students began completing the C4.2 Two-column notes on probability and Punnett squares. A copy of these notes can be downloaded from the link below or from the files section of my webpage. They will continue working on these notes tomorrow.
• C4.2 Two-Column Notes

Homework: Finish (if not already done) and study your vocabulary guide sheet for the quiz tomorrow. Vocabulary guide sheets will be collected tomorrow for grading.

Class Work:

• Students turned in current event summaries that were due today.
• Students reviewed the C4.1"Living Things Inherit Traits in Patterns" notes and wrote summaried about the topic in their learning logs.
• Students worked cooperatively on the Genetics Vocabulary Guide. We developed working definitions together for as many terms as we could during class. Students must finish the definitions and create drawings to illustrate what the terms mean. This will be due on Tuesday when they take a quiz on the terms.

Homework: Finish the Genetics vocabulary guide and study it for a quiz on Tuesday, 11/17/09.

Class Work:

• Students reviewed the answers to their C4.1 Two column notes graphic organizers as we went through a powerpoint presentation on the topic, "Living things inherit traits in patterns".  This section provides a very important introduction to Mendelian genetics and many vocabulary terms students will need to master in order to learn more complex topics in the unit. We will continue to reinforce this topic tomorrow by developing working definitions for the most important terms as well as illustrations to help students visualize the material.

Homework: Current Event Summary #3 is due tomorrow.

Veterans' Day - no school

Class Work:

• Students did a gallery walk of the Traits Inventories completed for each class Monday. They compared the traits they had to the ones in each class to see which traits were most common among their class mates. Then they answered two questions in their learning logs related to the information. We continued to refine our definitions for dominant and recessive traits. Students found that dominant traits were not always the most common ones in a class.
• After the gallery walk, students cleaned out the science sections of their notebooks.
• When they were finished cleaning out their notebooks, students began completing the C4.1 "Living Things Inherit Traits in Patterns" Two-column Notes. You can download this file from the link below. These notes will be due on Thursday, 11/12/09
• Graded papers were returned as time permitted and missing assignments were collected.
• C4.1 Two-Column Notes

Homework: Finish the C4.1 Two Column Notes for Thursday. C. Event Summary #3 is due on Friday, 11/13/09.

Class Work:

• Students who were absent on Friday, took the atmosphere unit test.
• As an introduction to our new unit, Heredity, students played "Traits Bingo". This game introduced the students to some of the traits that we inherit from our parents such as pointed versus straight hairline, dimples, freckles, etc. It helped students begin to discover how much variety there is when we are discussing human traits or characteristics.
• After playing bingo, students completed a personal inventory of  some easily identified traits that are inherited. Then we created a class table of the number of students with each trait. Tomorrow we will discuss whether they are dominant or recessive traits and what that actually means. We will also determine whether a trait that is inherited as a dominant trait is actually the most common visible trait in their class. Students will then begin to hypothesize why that might be.

Homework: Current Event Summary #3 is due on Friday, November 13, 2009.

Class Work:

• Students took the Atmosphere Unit Test.
• If students finished with time left over, they were given the time to work on their current events that are due on Friday, 11/13/09.

Homework: Current Event Summary #3 is due on Friday, November 13th.

Class Work:

• Students played a game based on the old game show, "Hollywood Squares" to review material for the Atmosphere Unit Test tomorrow.

Homework: Study your test review for the unit test tomorrow. Current Event Summary #3 is due on Friday, November 13, 2009.

Class Work:

• Students took Blue Diamond assessment #2. Then they worked on their Atmosphere Unit Test Reviews if they were not finished.
• We went over all of the questions on their test reviews and retaught any concepts the students were having difficulty on.
• We spent several minutes reviewing how to read information on graphs and use them to answer questions. This is a very important scientific inquiry skill that students will see in science throughout the school year. All scientific inquiry skills are a big part of the science EOG test that students will take next year in 8th grade. We are continuing to build a strong foundation for future science classes etc.

Homework: Study your test review for the unit test on Friday, 11/6/09

Class Work:

• Students received the Atmosphere Unit Test review and spent about 15-20 minutes working on it. Another copy of this worksheet can be downloaded from this website under the files section or by clicking on the link below. Students should use their chapter notes or textbook to find the answers. They should continue working on it tonight for homework.
• Students received the Current Event Summary #3 grading rubric and prewriting graphic organizer. Current Event Summary #3 is due on 11/13/09.
• We used the Smart board to review highs, lows, fronts, and the weather associated with these items. We used weather maps saved from the internet over the past week. The Smart board is an interactive tool that allows us to draw on the maps and illustrate movement of the fronts and weather across the USA.
• Atmosphere Unit Test Review

Homework: Work on your Atmosphere unit test review in preparation for the test on Friday, 11/6/09. CE#3 is due on 11/13/09

Class Work:

• Students were assigned new seats and received new emergency passes to begin the Quarter 2.
• The date for the atmosphere unit test was announced: Friday, November 6th. Students will receive their study guides tomorrow. 
• The due date for current event summary #3 was announced: Friday, November 13th. Grading rubrics and prewriting graphic organizers will be handed out tomorrow. 
• We reviewed the relative humidity and air pressure graphs they created using the Excel and discussed how to answer the questions for this weather lab. Lab papers will be collected tomorrow for grading.
• As a class, students reviewed what they have learned about tropical storms, hurricanes, thunder storms, and tornadoes. Then they finished reviewing the notes on weather maps from A3.4 two-column notes using a power point presentation.

Homework: Weather lab due tomorrow. Atmosphere unit test is Friday, 11/6/09