Lesson 1 - Monday, Feb 2 (40 min)
Today in science: Both B & H periods received KWoW #2 (Cell) and completed steps 1 and 2 with the help of the the yellow box at the bottom of this page.
B period was then shown the new Driving Question for Unit 7.4 before then completing two Preparatory Assessments (one called “Growth” and the other called “Life Cycles”) on Exam.net. In the final 5 minutes, students were asked to answer the Driving Question on a half-sheet of paper.
H period was then shown the new Driving Question for Unit 7.4 before then retaking–due to question errors in last week’s versions–the two Preparatory Assessments (one called “Growth” and the other called “Life Cycles”) on Exam.net. In the final 10-15 minutes, students were asked to answer the Driving Question on a half-sheet of paper and/or begin working on this week’s KWoW.
Homework: Students were assigned KWoW #2 (Cell), which is due at the start of Lesson 4.
Lesson 2 - Tue, Feb 3 (B) & Wed, Feb 4 (H)
Today in science: Most of today’s lesson was devoted to a new investigation, INV#7 – Seed Description (Castanea sativa), in which we aim to create a scientific description of a chestnut seed. Today’s investigation involved describing characteristics (or ‘properties’) of a whole chestnut seed such as mass, size (dimensions), volume, texture, color, shape, typical/atypical physical features, sounds, and smells. Students were also asked to make 1:1 scale drawings of their chestnut recording all six sides: top/bottom, front/back, and left/right. All of today’s work was done in the Science Notebook.
In addition to INV#7, B period students also completed an Exam.net assessment (Gravity).
Homework: KWoW #2 (Cell)
Lesson 3 - Wed, Feb 4 (B) & Thu, Feb 5 (H)
Today in science: Students were asked to continue INV#7 – Seed Description (Castanea sativa) by adding a “Dissection” element to it. After an important discussion of what scientific dissections involve, students dissected the same chestnut seeds–albeit a slightly more dried version of them–they first described in Lesson 2.
Homework: KWoW #2 (Cell)
Lesson 4 - Thu, Feb 5 (B) & Fri, Feb 6 (H)
Today in science: Dr. M collected this week’s WoW (Cell) at the start of the lesson. He also showed students 1) where they could find the information required on the bottom of document, 2) the rubric he uses when grading this assignment type (and which is now visible on the large supply cabinet the back of the lab), and 3) where they can find–and thus print–blank KWoW sheets and/or the KWoW grading rubric in the “Class Resources” section of the Google Science Classroom.
In the remaining time, B & H period students prepared their Science Notebooks for INV#8 – Seed Dissection (Phaseolous vulgaris) and were introduced to some photographs of previous year’s bean seed dissections to help guide them in their dissections of 1) white beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. B period* had enough time to perform their white bean dissection and will dissect the other beans on Monday. H period…
* Since the sun was out during B period, Dr. M took the class on a special Solar System walk he had prepared that used the inflatable Earth (featured on campus during International Week) as if it were our Sun. He then used other scale objects (e.g., a ping-pong ball and a marble) and scaled distances to show students where our Earth–and Moon–would be IF the inflatable Earth was actually our Sun.
Homework: As per the TASIS MS school homework policy, there is no weekend science homework (due on Monday).
Announcements...
The DRIVING QUESTION of UNIT 7.4 (Plants) is: How does a small seed become a large tree?
B period homework collection days: Tuesday & Thursday.
H period homework collection days: Wednesday & Friday.
CELL - The smallest unit of life that can perform all the processes necessary for life such as taking in nutrients, converting them into energy, and reproducing.