10/25

This week students wrapped up the Cell Unit.  On Tuesday, students turned in their Cell Analogy Projects and presented on Thursday.  I am very eager to grade these creative assignments!  I am very impressed with the analogies that some students have come up with.
On Wednesday, students took their Cell Test.  I really feel students are ready for our next unit that we will really be getting into next week.  We will be starting the Cell Process Unit.  Here students will create labs and stories to elaborate their understanding of the topics included in the unit.
Keep up the good work 7th graders!

10/18

This week students focused on eukaryotic cells.  Seventh graders completed a discovery lab and viewed the differences between plant and animal cells.  Students created their own slides and viewed onion cells (plant) and cheek cells (animal).  Their understanding of the differences is a little more defined now that they were able to visualize the differences. 

On Thursday and Friday, students started their Cell Analogy Projects.  Students will be comparing each organelle to something with a similar function,  that they are more familiar with.  These familiar items will come from magazines.  As an extra challenge, some students have decided to base all their images around a certain theme.  I am very excited to view the final products on Tuesday before our Cell Test on Wednesday.

Have a nice weekend!

10/11

This week students explored the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.  Not only did we discuss them in class, students were able to visualize the differences in a short observation lab.  Next, students took a deeper look into the eukaryotic cell (i.e. plant cell, animal cell, etc.) and the organelles that enable them to work efficiently.  Students have started to think of ways to compare these organelles to structures or items that they are more familiar with in their everyday lives.

Below I have posted a picture of the extra effort one the 7^th graders put forth.  He compared each organelle to a part of a city in the form of a Lego city.

All students will use their creative sides to develop their own analogies for each organelle in the Cell Analogy Project that we start next Thursday.

Have a great weekend!

10/4

On Monday, students finished off the Chapter 2 and the Microscope Unit with a quiz.  

Throughout the past week, 7^th graders have started to explore the microscopic world of cells. Students have been utilizing microscopes quite often.  These are very important tools in the science classroom and I am impressed with how well students are handling them.  This week, students became experts in the Cell Theory, along with the various scientists who took part in creating the theory for us today. 

Next week, students will continue to explore the cell by identifying the similarities and differences of all cells.