5/22

Students completed the very much anticipated Frog Dissection yesterday.  I am very impressed with the accuracy, precision, and patience I saw throughout this lab.  The students focused their time last week on understanding the anatomy of the frog and the functions of each organ. 
This week students are focusing the time on reviewing  for our final test of the year.  The test the Thursday will cover the Animal Kingdom, Vertebrates, Amphibians and Frogs. 

5/14

Last week students started the final unit of the year!  I cannot believe this year has gone by so fast.  Students are studying the Animal Kingdom now.  We completed a brief observation which included various species of invertebrates and vertebrates varying in simple to very complex organisms.  Students took very nice notes during this activity.  Now, we are primarily focusing on the vertebrates, more specifically amphibians and frogs.  Students are very excited about this unit as our lab later this week will be a dissection.  Students are preparing themselves to be ready for the 2 1/2 day lab starting this Wednesday.   

5/4

Today and over the weekend students are completing a take home assessment for science.  The 7th graders are able to use their notes (many organized packets to reference their information) and their book, though that is all.  Students are not allowed to work with one another, with parents, siblings or other family members or use online resources.  As I told the students in class, they should not have to use any of the later resources if they completed their notes and compiled their materials.  I have confidence in the 7th graders that they will do a great job on their assessments!
This week students did a really nice job wrapping up the Protist and Fungi Unit.  It seems that many are very eager for the next Kingdom....the Animal Kingdom!!  Have a great weekend.

5/1

Here are the directions to the "Quiz Corrections Homework". Quiz Corrections Homework

4/30

Wow! The students were amazed at the bacterial growth on their petri dishes last week!  Though there was a lot of bacteria growth, students did understand that not all bacteria is pathogenic.  After students viewed the various types of growth, we wrapped up our Bacteria Unit with a short quiz. 
Our next step into the various kingdoms are protist and fungi.  Last week, students did a Pond Water Observation and students were able to see all the critters, mostly protist, though some small animals too, in the water!  Students did a really nice job classifying the different organisms.
This week students will be learning more about protists and fungi!

4/20

Over this past week students really took a step into the two domains of Archaea and Bacteria.  We went over some various differences along with a few similarities both of these domains and their kingdoms share.  Additionally this week, students were placed on a mission to find bacteria around the school.  They designed their own lab starting with a question.  On Friday the students took their various samples and placed them into their petri dishes.  All members of the staff at Lakeview are eager to see the results the young scientists in the 7th grade will find!
At this time, I am very impressed with the questions the students came up with for the lab.  Students are beginning to realize that bacteria do in fact live all around us, whether they are harmful or helpful.  I think a lot of the students will really be surprised with the results!

4/12

This week students finished up on the Classification Unit with a longer quiz.  Next we will get right into learning about the individual kingdoms.  Students already have one kingdom completed, as it was one of our first units of the year, the plant unit.  Now students will proceed on with the rest of the kingdoms starting with Eubacteria and Archaeabacteria.   Students have done a nice job demonstrating their understanding for the core concepts throughout the year, and as we are taking steps into specific kingdoms, it will be necessary for students to retain all the knowledge they have gainedand worked so hard for. 
In class, students will be observing the different features and shapes of bacteria.  We will discuss where bacteria can be found, how they can be harmful and even helpful!