Paper Pet Project

In this unit students learned about heredity and the ways that traits are passed from parents to offspring. We discovered ways scientist study heredity. We used information that we learned in previous chapters about cells and their functions to help us further understand meiosis, genetic probability, genotypes, and phenotypes.

The students worked hard on a project that tied all this information together. They created families (paper ones) and used probability to determine the traits that would be passed on to the offspring. They also created Punnet Squares to show scientific proof of the genetic possibilities.

My students were very creative and I believe they gained a solid understanding  of genetics and heredity through this project!


                                    Creating the Paper Pets

Writing the genotype and phenotype

Creating the Parent generation

A finished Parent

The Other Parent!

Some More

The family tree

The pets are hinged so one can

read the back to check

Phenotype and Genotype

Notice the

Punnet Squares

More Paper Pet families

Notice the Probability Chart

Punnet Squares

P-generation

f1- generation

 

Base Camp

We had the fabulous opportunity to go to the Base Camp at Fort Snelling! We got to rock climb, practice archery and did cooperative learning activities! The 7th and 8th graders had a blast, we were broke into 5 different groups and learned problem solving strategies and were fully engaged in learning the whole day! Here is the link to the Base Camp website http://www.explorebasecamp.org/.

                                     Here are some pictures of the activities we participated in!

Rock climbing (with the girls!)

Problem Solving (you had to figure out the path kind of like mine sweep)

Instructional Learning Climbing Vocab!

That's me in the middle (first time ever rock climbing

 I had the best cheering section)

Archery (I wasn't so great at this

 but my students were awesome!)

Problem Solving (the ship is sinking how to we get

everyone on an ever shrinking platform?)

"This is harder than it looks"

 (I heard my students say this a lot that day)

 

Jeffer's Journal Day: Activity Building a Nest

On this outing I decided we would focus on birds. We were talking about what birds we were seeing and the ones we no longer see in the late fall. We learned that birds are magnificent builders and their beaks are all unique for making different kinds of nest. Our objective for this activity was to build a nest out of natural materials we found in our school garden. We could only use the materials that were natural to the environment and  the nest must be able to hold 3 eggs (marbles) without falling through the nest. I have to say that my students were very creative and made some unique nest and most all of them were successful in the task. They all had a lot fun trying and testing new ideas. At the end of our activity we recorded information about our nest. We listed the materials we used, we recorded what we enjoyed most about the activity, was it hard to build a nest? and why? And we also discussed what we would do differently if we would try it again!
                                                  
                                              Here are some examples of their work!

nest in a bush

 

A use of multiple materials

 

Solid foundation

 

Great engineering

 

                                                                 with a roof :)

another in a bush

 

 

recording our data (along with a drawing of their nest)

Team Work!

 

 

 

Science standards 2.0

Science standards 2.0

Learning with Nature

http://www.jeffersfoundation.org/blog/?p=25

With the help of the generous donations made by the Jeffer's foundation I have transformed Fridays into a learning with mother nature day. The Jeffer's foundation donated journals, mechanical pencils, and "Lookits". With these materials we have been able to take learning to a whole new level with hands on learning my students enjoy. I teach 7th and 8th grade science and even though we are learning different parts of science throughout the week, on Fridays we head outside and let mother nature guide us on a lesson that is fun and interesting. We record our data in different forms each time we go outside. We will even write science poetry based on what we learned or what we want to learn more about that day. I will be posting pictures of the students working on projects outdoors through every season. We have had to stay in a few time due to the Minnesota cold winter but when we are able we go outside and the students love it. At first when I introduced the concept of going outside every Friday it was met with groans and rolling eyes, but after a few successfully fun trips outdoors they can't wait until Friday! The best thing I hear every day is our class is not long enough and they are not ready to leave science class...they truly love learning!

Warning: Flipping Your Classroom May Lead to Increased Student Understanding

Warning: Flipping Your Classroom May Lead to Increased Student Understanding