Investigations in Science 7 April 21, 2017
What we did this week:
We began the week by completing a reflection sheet about their progress
during quarter 3. Students looked at their grade sheet for science, and read a list
of important skills for learning and rated themselves. They checked whether they
felt that particular skill was a strength or something they needed to improve.
They then developed 3 goals for the last quarter of the year based on what they
felt they needed to improve upon. If you would like to see your childs reflection
sheet, feel free to email me and I will scan it and send it your way.
Then, students continued learning about artificial selection by finishing up
their corn inheritance lab. The corn seeds have the probability of carrying genes
for making chlorophyll or lacking this ability (albino). Those lacking the ability to
produce chlorophyll were produced by parents that have one gene for making
chlorophyll (G) and another gene for the lack of chlorophyll (g). Since the corn had
sprouted, we were able to observe the seedlings and see how many grew green corn
and how many grew albino corn.
We then came back to the clients students picked at the beginning of the
unit. Each set of clients had a genetic disorder (along with other traits) that they
are trying to determine if they will pass on to their offspring. Students already
researched the 4 disorders earlier (Huntingtons, sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, or
achondroplasia), but we looked at different people living with the disorders to
getting a better understanding of their life with the disorder.
Students then completed a microarray lab to determine if their clients
offspring has the genetic disorder. A microarray is a lab technique that they used
to determine the genotype for one trait of their clients offspring.
A microarray works by allowing you to visualize what genes are expressed in
a cell. This is done by placing DNA samples on a plate that contains wells. If a
person is homozygous dominant, the sample will be the color PINK on the plate. A
person that is homozygous recessive will show the color BLUE on the plate. An
individual that is heterozygous will show a mix of both colors and appear PURPLE on
the plate. (See picture below)
Announcements:
Come support our student interns Ms. Mason and Ms. Doermann at Maryland
Day as they finish up their graduate studies at University of Maryland! They have
tons of activities planned throughout the day with other science interns in the
county. Please visit the website below to learn more about Maryland Day and all it
has to offer! https://marylandday.umd.edu/
We will be beginning our last unit either late next week or early the week
after. The new unit will focus on Earths history and biological evolution. Look in
your childs agenda book for when they can clean out their science section. They
should not be cleaning it out just yet, but very shortly.
If your child will be attending, Take Your Child to Work Day, students were
given a form for you to fill out in order for the absence to be excused. They
received it on Friday during period 1. Please ask your child for it. A link to an
additional form can be found here.
So in other exciting news, I went to the speaking series last night at the
Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD to see Bill Nye speak. I was
surprised by Ms. Baldini and Mrs. Leibowitz with a meet and greet with Bill Nye
after the speaking engagement. It was so exciting to get to meet Bill Nye in
person.
Coming Up:
Topics:
Gel Electrophoresis
RFP
Dates:
April 24-28 Roadrunner Week
Monday Assembly
Tuesday Super Hero Day
Wednesday SMOB Elections in Social Studies Classes
Thursday Take Your Child to Work Day
Friday Give someone a Compliment Day
April 26 Spanish Classes Field Trip
April 27 Take Your Child to Work Day
April 28 Roadrunner Night 6:30-9:00 pm
May 2-4 PARCC ELA
May 7 Social Studies Family Field Trip
May 11 Career Day
May 11 NEC Parent Meeting @ 7:00 pm
May 16-18 PARCC Math
May 16 PTA Meeting @ 7:00 pm
May 19-20 Band Field Trip to Pittsburgh
May 25 Spring Music Concert at Blake HS @ 7:00-9:00 pm
May 29 No School
May 30-June 5 Map-R and Map-M in English and Math Classes
June 14 7th Grade Fun Day
June 16 Last Day of School Early Dismissal
