Hello!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and break. We only have around 12 instructional days left before Finals and the Christmas Break. Needless to say, we are going to be working hard to get everything done. I am going to list this weeks events and focus for each class.
Biology:
We are finishing up our Bacterial Growth Lab with a Gram-Staining of the cultures on Tuesday. The test over Bacteria will be next Tuesday, Dec. 6th. As is normal, the test will be comprehensive over all material covered this year.
End of Course Tutoring Session will be Wednesday after school. This weeks topic will be Organism Classification System. Any student attending will be fed a snack, gain some great knowledge, and recieve 3 bonus points. See you there!
ESP:
We are diving further into our study of Earth Processes. On Friday, Dec. 2 we will have a Test over Ch. 21 Section 1: Plate Layers, Tectonics, and Boundaries.
Start studying now...
Have a great week!
Ms. Gardner
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Weekly Updates
Biology: Ecology Test Retakes will be on Wed and Thursday in after school tutoring this week. We have started our unit on Bacteria and will have a Vocab Quiz over Ch. 23 terms on Thursday 10th. Also, Biology Tutoring to prepare for End of Course Assessment will be held on Wednesdays starting next week the on 16th. There is as always tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week as well.
ESP: We are finishing up our "How the Earth Was Made" video and will take our assessment on Friday the 11th. Tutoring for anyone who needs extra help will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
ON THURSDAY NIGHT we will have our TEST SCORE ANALYSIS NIGHT beginning at 5:30 in the gym. Students and parents that attend will receive one bonus point for 9wk average or a homework pass to use in each class. Hope to see you!
Ms. Gardner
ESP: We are finishing up our "How the Earth Was Made" video and will take our assessment on Friday the 11th. Tutoring for anyone who needs extra help will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
ON THURSDAY NIGHT we will have our TEST SCORE ANALYSIS NIGHT beginning at 5:30 in the gym. Students and parents that attend will receive one bonus point for 9wk average or a homework pass to use in each class. Hope to see you!
Ms. Gardner
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween Week
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Halloween weekend. There will be no school on Monday, but come Tuesday its back to business.
Biology: We will be finishing up Community Ecology and will take a test on Thursday Nov. 3rd. Reminder that tests are cumulative in Biology so Ch. 20, 19 and 18 will be assessed. For students who are going on the Drama Field Trip that day, the Test will be given in After School Tutoring that afternoon. Below I am inserting a few pictures of the Owl Pellet Lab we did on Thursday Oct. 27th. The kids really enjoyed it.
ESP: Test Retakes for Ch. 20 will be given on Tuesday Nov. 1 in after school tutoring. Any student scoring in the low 70's or below are encouraged to retake the test for a new score averaged with the previous one. On Tuesday we will be moving away from Astronomy and centering ourselves on the Earth and its processes. A vocabulary quiz over Ch. 21 will be on Thursday Nov. 3.
Biology Lab Pictures
Have a Fun-Filled Halloween!
Ms. Gardner
Biology: We will be finishing up Community Ecology and will take a test on Thursday Nov. 3rd. Reminder that tests are cumulative in Biology so Ch. 20, 19 and 18 will be assessed. For students who are going on the Drama Field Trip that day, the Test will be given in After School Tutoring that afternoon. Below I am inserting a few pictures of the Owl Pellet Lab we did on Thursday Oct. 27th. The kids really enjoyed it.
ESP: Test Retakes for Ch. 20 will be given on Tuesday Nov. 1 in after school tutoring. Any student scoring in the low 70's or below are encouraged to retake the test for a new score averaged with the previous one. On Tuesday we will be moving away from Astronomy and centering ourselves on the Earth and its processes. A vocabulary quiz over Ch. 21 will be on Thursday Nov. 3.
Biology Lab Pictures
Have a Fun-Filled Halloween!
Ms. Gardner
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Apologies!
I had to be unexpectedly out on Wednesday so this has caused Wednesday's activities to be pushed to today. But as we learn in science, "Life happens so we must Adapt!" :) Therefore, here are the changes:
Biology: We will be doing the Lab today in class. So far the kids have really enjoyed digging into their owl pellets and discovering the small skeletons of rodents, moles, birds, and shrews. They are connecting the concept of ecological food chains with real world evidence. Seriously, they are having so much fun. Ask them about it tonight. Because we are a day behind, the test may or may not be pushed back next week as well. It will depend on how much ground we can make up until then. I should have a better idea the beginning of next week.
ESP: We will be taking our test over the Universe today. The students were given a whole class period in my absence to study so they should do well; Hopefully, if they took advantage of the extra time. Retakes will be given on Tuesday Nov. 1 in after school tutoring.
Have a great Halloween Break!
Ms. Gardner
Biology: We will be doing the Lab today in class. So far the kids have really enjoyed digging into their owl pellets and discovering the small skeletons of rodents, moles, birds, and shrews. They are connecting the concept of ecological food chains with real world evidence. Seriously, they are having so much fun. Ask them about it tonight. Because we are a day behind, the test may or may not be pushed back next week as well. It will depend on how much ground we can make up until then. I should have a better idea the beginning of next week.
ESP: We will be taking our test over the Universe today. The students were given a whole class period in my absence to study so they should do well; Hopefully, if they took advantage of the extra time. Retakes will be given on Tuesday Nov. 1 in after school tutoring.
Have a great Halloween Break!
Ms. Gardner
Monday, October 24, 2011
ESP Test Change of Date
I have pushed back the ESP Universe Test to Wednesday, Oct. 26th to give us more time to review. Students need to make sure to study the sections, notes, organizers and constructed responses over the Universe chapter.
Ms. Gardner
Ms. Gardner
Friday, October 21, 2011
October 24-28
*Reminder that Tutoring is on Tuesday and Thursday for anyone who needs extra help.*
Biology: On Wednesday 26th we will be having a Lab that demonstrates Species interactions in an Community. The Community Ecology chapter we are on is a short one. We will be having a cumulative test over it as well as Ecology and Populations content previously covered on Wednesday Nov 2nd (tentatively).
ESP: Test over Ch. 20 The Universe will be Tuesday Oct. 25th. Test Retakes will be on Thursday Oct. 27th for those who scored in low 70's or below. They will be able to retake the test for a new score that is an average of the two tests. On Wednesday we will be moving away from Astronomy and begin a new content area over the Earth and its processes.
Have a safe weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Biology: On Wednesday 26th we will be having a Lab that demonstrates Species interactions in an Community. The Community Ecology chapter we are on is a short one. We will be having a cumulative test over it as well as Ecology and Populations content previously covered on Wednesday Nov 2nd (tentatively).
ESP: Test over Ch. 20 The Universe will be Tuesday Oct. 25th. Test Retakes will be on Thursday Oct. 27th for those who scored in low 70's or below. They will be able to retake the test for a new score that is an average of the two tests. On Wednesday we will be moving away from Astronomy and begin a new content area over the Earth and its processes.
Have a safe weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Weekly Summary
*Tutoring for both Biology and ESP will be on Tuesday and Thursday each week. When the End of Course Assessment materials become available, I will set aside special days for Biology Tutoring. I will keep you posted.*
Biology:
This week Biology is finishing up Chapter 19 with a test they took on Monday and we will begin Chapter 20: Community Populations, on Wednesday.
Ch. 19 Test Retakes will be given Thursday 20th in After-School Tutoring. Any student who made in low 70's or below that wish to retake it needs to be here on Thursday afternoon. This is the only day and time it will be offered.
Ch. 20 Vocabulary Quiz will be on Friday 21st.
ESP:
This week we are finishing up Ch. 20 on the Universe. Today we will be doing a lab that demonstrates how the universe may be expanding.
Our Ch. 20 Universe Test will be Tuesday 25th.
Biology:
This week Biology is finishing up Chapter 19 with a test they took on Monday and we will begin Chapter 20: Community Populations, on Wednesday.
Ch. 19 Test Retakes will be given Thursday 20th in After-School Tutoring. Any student who made in low 70's or below that wish to retake it needs to be here on Thursday afternoon. This is the only day and time it will be offered.
Ch. 20 Vocabulary Quiz will be on Friday 21st.
ESP:
This week we are finishing up Ch. 20 on the Universe. Today we will be doing a lab that demonstrates how the universe may be expanding.
Our Ch. 20 Universe Test will be Tuesday 25th.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Back to Business
I hope everyone had a great and much needed break over Fall Break. But time is now ticking away and it will be Christmas before we know it! I going to outline what each class will be doing now and in the near future.
Biology: We are finishing up our chapter on Populations. We have several out on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday for various activities so we will have the Cumulative test over Populations AND Ecology on Monday Oct. 17th. All tests are cumulative because we are preparing for the End of Course Assessment at the end of the year. Seeing it and studying it all year long is going to payoff in the end!
ESP: We are still working on our Universe chapter. This week we will be reading, taking notes and answering questions about our universe. On the creative side, students are preparing a short story about possible alien life forms that come straight from their imagination and incorporates all they have learned about space. It should be interesting. I will be giving extra credit for the students who wish to share their stories with the class.
Have a great week!
Ms. Gardner
Biology: We are finishing up our chapter on Populations. We have several out on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday for various activities so we will have the Cumulative test over Populations AND Ecology on Monday Oct. 17th. All tests are cumulative because we are preparing for the End of Course Assessment at the end of the year. Seeing it and studying it all year long is going to payoff in the end!
ESP: We are still working on our Universe chapter. This week we will be reading, taking notes and answering questions about our universe. On the creative side, students are preparing a short story about possible alien life forms that come straight from their imagination and incorporates all they have learned about space. It should be interesting. I will be giving extra credit for the students who wish to share their stories with the class.
Have a great week!
Ms. Gardner
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
This Weeks Events!!
Fall break is near! But we still have some unfinished buisness to take care of, so no resting yet! :-).
Biology: On Monday (Today) Notebook 1 orders will be given out. You know the drill :) They will be due on Wednesday. They are worth 195 points. Tuesday is Library Promo Day with Ms. Stairs. The rest of the week we will be finishing up Ch. 19 Populations.
ESP: On Monday (Today) Notebook 1 orders will be given out. Since this is your first notebook, we will go over together how to put it together. Soon you will be old pro's just like my Biology students are. They will be due Wednesday. They are worth 160 points. Tuesday is Library Promo Day with Ms. Stairs. On Friday, there will be a Constellation Quiz over the 88 Constellations. Make flashcards to study with!
A Break is close at hand...hang in there for one more week!
Ms. Gardner
PS: I will post pictures of the Science Club Trip to St. Louis Museum within the next day or two. :)
Biology: On Monday (Today) Notebook 1 orders will be given out. You know the drill :) They will be due on Wednesday. They are worth 195 points. Tuesday is Library Promo Day with Ms. Stairs. The rest of the week we will be finishing up Ch. 19 Populations.
ESP: On Monday (Today) Notebook 1 orders will be given out. Since this is your first notebook, we will go over together how to put it together. Soon you will be old pro's just like my Biology students are. They will be due Wednesday. They are worth 160 points. Tuesday is Library Promo Day with Ms. Stairs. On Friday, there will be a Constellation Quiz over the 88 Constellations. Make flashcards to study with!
A Break is close at hand...hang in there for one more week!
Ms. Gardner
PS: I will post pictures of the Science Club Trip to St. Louis Museum within the next day or two. :)
Monday, September 19, 2011
Busy Week!
We have a busy week ahead!
Biology: We are getting ready for the PLAN test that is Thursday. We have been taking practice tests and will be taking our last practice test on Tuesday. I am confident the students are going to try their best and will attack the PLAN test using the strategies and techniques we have been learning and using in class. Please encourage your child to try their best and to have confidence in themselves. Confidence can go a long way. :). Also, the school is buying each sophomore breakfast on the morning of the test (THURSDAY)
Each student is to go to the cafeteria and get breakfast in a to-go container and take it directly to the gym.
Wish us all Luck!!
ESP: We are beginning a new chapter. THE UNIVERSE! We will be starting off with vocabulary and will play the VOCAB GAME on Tuesday 20th and take VOCAB QUIZ on Friday 23rd. We will also have a research assignments on Constellations that we will begin on Wednesday and finish up after the quiz on Friday.
Have a great week!
Ms. Gardner
Biology: We are getting ready for the PLAN test that is Thursday. We have been taking practice tests and will be taking our last practice test on Tuesday. I am confident the students are going to try their best and will attack the PLAN test using the strategies and techniques we have been learning and using in class. Please encourage your child to try their best and to have confidence in themselves. Confidence can go a long way. :). Also, the school is buying each sophomore breakfast on the morning of the test (THURSDAY)
Each student is to go to the cafeteria and get breakfast in a to-go container and take it directly to the gym.
Wish us all Luck!!
ESP: We are beginning a new chapter. THE UNIVERSE! We will be starting off with vocabulary and will play the VOCAB GAME on Tuesday 20th and take VOCAB QUIZ on Friday 23rd. We will also have a research assignments on Constellations that we will begin on Wednesday and finish up after the quiz on Friday.
Have a great week!
Ms. Gardner
Friday, September 9, 2011
Biology and ESP Upcoming Events
Back to School Night will be Tuesday 13th. All parents are encouraged to attend. I will be awarding bonus points to students who have parents attend.
Biology
There will be a Ch. 19 Population Vocab Quiz on Wednesday 14th. Look over your vocab every day!
The PLAN test will be given to all Sophomores on Thursday, Sept. 22nd. We have been preparing for the science part and will continue to do this on Monday and Tuesday.
As of right now, my plan is to have Ch. 19 Population test during the last week of September. Students, start preparing now.
ESP
We will be having the Ch. 19 Solar System (Part 2) test on Wednesday 14th. Students, start preparing now. Study all notes, section reviews, handouts and organizers.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Biology
There will be a Ch. 19 Population Vocab Quiz on Wednesday 14th. Look over your vocab every day!
The PLAN test will be given to all Sophomores on Thursday, Sept. 22nd. We have been preparing for the science part and will continue to do this on Monday and Tuesday.
As of right now, my plan is to have Ch. 19 Population test during the last week of September. Students, start preparing now.
ESP
We will be having the Ch. 19 Solar System (Part 2) test on Wednesday 14th. Students, start preparing now. Study all notes, section reviews, handouts and organizers.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Biology Ch. 18 Ecology Test Retakes
The Biology test over Ecology was given Friday. Any student who scored a 70 or below has the option to retake the test. The two test grades will then be averaged together for a new test grade. Progress reports will go out Wednesday so only the first test grade will be included in that average.
Retakes will be given Thursday, September 8th in after school tutoring.
Ms. Gardner
Retakes will be given Thursday, September 8th in after school tutoring.
Ms. Gardner
Biology Ecology Lab
Last Wednesday my Biology students performed an ecology lab. They went to the breezeway and selected their own ecological site. While in this selected site, they observed ecology happen, literally, right under their feet! With these observations they used the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) parts of the ecosystem and created from it the 5 levels of ecological organization (organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere) food chains, and predicted how changes in abiotic factors can have major impacts on the biotic. Then they took their ecological site and incorporated it into the 4 biogeochemical cycles we learned in class (Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous Cycles). I am including pictures of them thinking hard and putting all the pieces of ecology together.
Ms. Gardner
Ms. Gardner
Monday, August 29, 2011
ESP Lab: Planetary Distances
Today in ESP we did a lab where the students had to take the distance of each planet from the sun (measured in Astronomical Units) and line them up according to distance. For lab purposes and space constraints, 1 AU was equal to 1 meter stick. One AU is actually equal to 93 MILLION MILES! As the students discovered, the Terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are very close together. Whereas the Gaseous planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are spaced very far apart. I am attaching some photos of the students as they discover the difference in distances between the planets. It was a beautiful day to be outside on planet Earth. :)
Enjoy!
Ms. Gardner
Enjoy!
Ms. Gardner
Friday, August 26, 2011
Biology and ESP Upcoming Events
Biology will have a test over Ch. 18 Ecology on Friday September 2nd. They need to be studying nightly the ecology concepts we have covered in class.
ESP has a Solar System Project due on Friday September 2nd. They drew an object from the bowl and are to write a one-page paper and create a visual of the object. Directions were given to them earlier this week. It is a blue paper. Ask to see it! It is worth 150 points.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Gardner
ESP has a Solar System Project due on Friday September 2nd. They drew an object from the bowl and are to write a one-page paper and create a visual of the object. Directions were given to them earlier this week. It is a blue paper. Ask to see it! It is worth 150 points.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Thursday, August 18, 2011
ESP Test and Inquiry Lab
ESP students will have a test over the Introduction to the Solar System on Monday Aug. 22nd. It is important that students begin studying now in preparation of this test. Items to be studied are as follows:
Ch. 19 Section 1 Reading and Notes
Ch. 19 Vocabulary
Planetary Name Origins Organizer
Planetary Characteristics Organizer (Green sheet)
Planetary Illustrations with Characteristics Sheets
An Inquiry Lab will also be assigned and given today. It is to be done at home and is due by Tuesday August 23rd.
Study! Study! Study!
Ms. Gardner
Ch. 19 Section 1 Reading and Notes
Ch. 19 Vocabulary
Planetary Name Origins Organizer
Planetary Characteristics Organizer (Green sheet)
Planetary Illustrations with Characteristics Sheets
An Inquiry Lab will also be assigned and given today. It is to be done at home and is due by Tuesday August 23rd.
Study! Study! Study!
Ms. Gardner
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Being Prepared for Class
It is very important that students are prepared each and every day for class. This includes having all supplies required. We use all of these supplies for various assignments and reinforcement activities. Today Biology students are creating Ecological Models, and ESP students are creating Planetary illustrations. Several students did not come prepared to class with their supplies and therefore are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to complete the required assignment. Parents, please encourage your child to come to class prepared every day. Each day they are not prepared they receive a 0/5 for daily grade. These 5 points add up quickly and can cause their grades to suffer. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Ms. Gardner
Ms. Gardner
Friday, August 12, 2011
Binder Reminder
It is very important that science binders be brought to class each day. They are a tool that we utilize. Those that did not bring theirs to class missed out on utilizing them on the vocabulary quizzes. Bring binders and keep them up-to-date at all times. Quiz grades will all be on Infinite Campus by Monday at noon.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Gardner
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Labs Galore
I thought you would enjoy seeing my Biology and ESP students in action! Biology did a Pond Micro Lab where they observed and identified pond organisms. ESP created models of a lunar and solar eclipse to recreate the shadows made by the position of the sun, moon and Earth.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Biology Vocab Quiz Changed
Ch. 18 Ecology Vocab Quiz will be Friday the 12th instead of Thursday the 11th.
Friday, August 5, 2011
BIOLOGY Summary for Aug 8-12
Monday: Vocabulary Ch. 18 Ecology Exercise
Tuesday: Vocabulary Game, Read Ch. 18 pgs. 359-362, Questions.
Wednesday: 5 levels of Ecology Illustration, Vocabulary Game.
Thursday: Vocabulary Ch. 18 Quiz, Notes: Ch. 18 Sect. 1 Intro to Ecology.
Friday: Notes continued, Article Group Work: Cockroach Brains.
Tuesday: Vocabulary Game, Read Ch. 18 pgs. 359-362, Questions.
Wednesday: 5 levels of Ecology Illustration, Vocabulary Game.
Thursday: Vocabulary Ch. 18 Quiz, Notes: Ch. 18 Sect. 1 Intro to Ecology.
Friday: Notes continued, Article Group Work: Cockroach Brains.
ESP Summary for Aug 8-12
Monday: Vocabulary Ch. 19 Exercise
Tuesday: Vocabulary Game, Read Ch. 19 pages 653-660, Questions.
Wednesday: Quick Lab, Vocab review, Notes over Sect. 1 Sun, Earth and Moon
Thursday: Vocabulary Quiz for Ch. 19.
*Friday: Research over Planetary Name Origins.
*All 4th period students must have all parent forms filled out and returned by Friday.
Tuesday: Vocabulary Game, Read Ch. 19 pages 653-660, Questions.
Wednesday: Quick Lab, Vocab review, Notes over Sect. 1 Sun, Earth and Moon
Thursday: Vocabulary Quiz for Ch. 19.
*Friday: Research over Planetary Name Origins.
*All 4th period students must have all parent forms filled out and returned by Friday.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Class Supply List
The following supplies will be needed for both my ESP (9th grade) and Biology (10th grade) classes.
- 3 Ring Binder (at least 1-inch and any color)
- 4 Binder Dividers
- College Ruled Paper for Binder
- Colored Pencils or Markers (your choice)
- Glue (stick or liquid)
- Pencil/Marker Pouch for Binder (the kind with 3 holes built in)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Welcome To My Blog Spot!
I want to welcome all of you to my new blog. I will be posting a wide range of information pertaining to a plethora of interesting subjects. First and foremost this will be a blog where both parents and students can come to see what science content will be explored in my classroom. Weekly updates will be made available pertaining to assignments and announcements. From time to time there will also be additional posts given for fun stuff like science curiosities and things I personally find interesting. I hope each of you enjoy this blog and it gives an insight into the adventures we are having in the classroom!
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