September 26

Hi Class today we talked about scientific inquiry
Here is the presentatiol:

http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=df5pkggb_230grp64q&fs=true

Homework was to answer the following questions:


1. Define the term scientific inquiry
2. A friend claims that corn plants grown in horse manure grows faster than in soil. Could you investigate this idea through scientific inquiry? Explain you answer.
3. What does it mean that a hypothesis is testable?
4. What is the difference between a dependent variable and an independent variable?
5. Is it important for you to be open minded and skeptical in your daily life? Explain your answer.

September 24

Hi Class
Today we learned about the skills all scientist need

Here is the lecture PowerPoint

http://www.scribd.com/doc/325747/Sept-24


Your homework questions are:

•Science is______________________.
•A ____________ observation involves numbers or amounts
•A model is a _________________.
•What is classification?
•What is the difference between an inference and a prediction.
•Give an example of a time you used the 5 skills of scientific inquiry.

September 19

Today in class we took test on taxonomy.
You each also received a homework log, which we will update each day.

Your homework tonight is to get caught up. If you are caught up, you did a good job so enjoy the weekend.

Parents please ask your student to see their logs, located at the front of their binders.

September 17

Today your taxonomic keys were due.
Each person presented their posters to the class.

On Thursady we will have a test on taxonomy.

Homework: Page 35 #2-4, 6-10, page 37 #1-4, 6. These questions will help you study for test.

September 13

Proposals due today.

We also took retest.

September 11

Today in class we did a little classification activity where we created a taxonomic key for your shoes. Remember, a taxonomic key involves asking a series of yes or no questions to place an item (or organism) into a category with similar objects. This is done until each item has a unique classification.

Homework: Study for retest on Thursday.

September 7

Hi Class,
Here is the PowerPoint from today.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/274447/sept-7

On the last page, you can find the homework, but just in case, here it is:
***2nd page of worksheets on classification
***Science Fair Proposal Due on September 13 ( see link to science fair to the right)
*** Work on classification chart (poster) of your chosen animal. I do have the list in my class in case you forgot.

Have a great weekend.

September 5

Hi Class,
It has been a few days since we all saw each other, due to the long weekend.
Today in class:
Bell Ringer: How do you classify items in your bedroom. For example, when you put your clothing away, what characteristics determines which items of clothing go in your closet, and what items go into which drawers?

In class we discussed:
Science fair proposals: due on 9/13/07

WHY DO SCIENTIST CLASSIFY?
-Makes it easier to study organisms
- Categories provide information on the organism.

Example: An animal
- moves on its own
- eats of things to survive
A Mammal
- warm blooded
-makes milk
A cat
- Retractable claws
- fur
- pointed ears
- good night vision
Carolus Linnaeus
- 1700's scientist who first proposed a naming system for living things
- Binomial Nomenclature
- 2 name naming system
- Genus: Group of similar living organisms
- Species: A sub group of living organisms. Each animal in the species has very similar characteristics. But they differ from other animals that are of the same genus, but different species
- Example: House cat : Felis domesticus
Cougar : Felis concolor

Same genus: Have claws, pointed ears, seee well in the dark
Diffferent Species: House cats smaller, purr, hunt small animals. Cougars large cats, roar, hunt larger animals.

Organisms of the same genus, when mated DO NOT produce offspring capable of having offspring. Organims of the same species can mate and produce offspring capable of reproducing.

Homework:
Page 1 of your worksheets on Why scientists classify.
Also be workingon you science fair proposals.