03.30.15
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March 30th Plan

Sorry I can’t be there today. No, I am not taking an extended spring break… lets just say I can’t be there because of Cooper and leave it at that. Anyways, heres what I need you to accomplish during my absence.

Biology

today you’ll start a week long project on evolution. You and your group must come up with an idea and impliment it. Your goal is to teach a 6th grader the idea of what evolution is and the mechanisms behind it. Use the hand outs I’ve provided to guide you. Keep the following in mind:

  • What is the challenge question (what do I want them to be able to answer by the time they’re done)?
  • How can I get/keep their attention?
  • How will the information be delivered?
  • What information do they need to know? what vocabulary will they need to know?
  • How will they prove they have learned anything?
  • This is a chance for you to ‘be the teacher’. Think about good teachers you have had and use the strategies that work best on you.
  • Choose 10 words from the list below as your ‘vocab list’. Create simple definitions a 6th grader could understand for each term.
    • Evolution
    • The Big Bang
    • Biogenesis
    • Theia
    • Natural Selection
    • Artificial Selection
    • Galapagos
    • Divergent
    • Convergent
    • Coevolution
    • Fossil
    • Homologous
    • Analogous
    • Vestigial
    • Darwin
    • isolation
  • Using my youtube page (youtube.com/mrkubuske), checkout some of the projects from last year.
  • Work hard, work together, and have fun!

SEHS

Finish your Unit 5 IAs and turn the in! Once turned in, start 5.1 on your websites.

03.20.15
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Speciation & Cladistics

Today is the last day of our Evolution Discussion. During our last discussion, we talked about types of evolution/selection and how it leads to new species… Today, we’re discussing how a new species is formed by a process called speciation and how we can illustrate relatedness of species using an instrument called a cladogram.

Watch the video below for more information and examples. Enjoy!

 

03.19.15
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What Did a T-Rex Taste Like???

trexIt may seem like a silly question, but there is a way we can make a pretty significant guess as to what a T-Rex may have tasted like. We can do it using derived characteristics, or homologous structures as you and I call them, and something called a cladogram.

Cladograms are an illustrated way to show relatedness of species both current or extinct. Today we’ll be introduced to cladistics using an online module. The good news is by the end, you will be able to predict with great certainty what a T-Rex most likely tasted like.

Use the link below to reach the online module from the University of California, Berkley. (Please note, if you are using an iOS device you will need to open the link below using the Puffin App)

What Did A T-Rex Taste Like

03.09.15
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Evolution Simulations

Since evolution cannot occur before our eyes in a class period, today we’ll be ‘simulating’ evolution with a game and a simulator. For each, their are directions and questions you must answer. Click the image below to be taken to the weblink. (*iPad users: You must download and use the Puffin web browser to run these simulations)

Who Wants to Live a Million Years

Million

Choose variations in a population to try to survive for a million years. Watch out for environmental changes and mutations!

Evolution Simulation

Simulation

Watch how small changes in populations can have big impacts. You can also change settings to see how these animals would fair when their food source behaves differently.

02.26.15
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Common Assessment #3

Hopefully we had some good study time over the last few days to prepare for Common Assessment #3!

As a reminder, here is the information included in the 35 (for honors, 30 for academic) question assessment:

  • Unit 7 – Reproduction
    • Types of Reproduction
    • The Cell Cycle, Stem Cells, & Cancer
    • Mitosis
    • Meiosis
    • Karyotyping & Genetic Disorders
  • Unit 8 – Genetics
    • Mendel (& his laws)
    • Advanced Genetics 
      • Codominance, Incomplete Dominance, Multiple Alleles, Sex-Linked
    • Pedigrees
    • Dihybrd Crosses

The Link below will take you to the answer sheet. Answer all questions on the answer sheet, do not write on the test. When you finish, there is an option to go back and review your work. Do not ever press the back button on the browser, you will have to start all over. Good Luck & Think Spring!

Link  – Common Assessment #3

02.20.15
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One more day I promise

Sorry guys. I know you’re excited to hear about baby Cooper and get back to our normal routine, but I’ll need one more day at home supporting our new family.

On the plus side, its a pretty easy day to celebrate winterfest. Here is the gameplan:

Biology

You’ll be watching the movie Gattaca today. Here is the trailer:

In the back of the room is an assignment I’d like you to fill out as you watch. Please keep it in a safe place because we’ll be watching the movie over about 3 class periods. Its a great movie and will start some pretty interesting convo (for example, keep an eye on the staircases).

If for some reason you cannot play the movie, you can work on your study guide for Common Assessment #3. Here is the link.

** Word on the street is you had trouble with the answer sheet for yesterday’s quest. We’ll discuss this on Monday so don’t worry about it too much.

SEHS

Keep working on those Nutrition plans. We start Unit 5, Biomechanics, on Monday.

Since I’m not there, I’ll throw one more pic your way. See you Monday!

IMG_0850

Yes, those are Ohio State socks. The kids got good taste.

 

02.19.15
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Thursday, February 19th agenda

This is you walking from Kelly Hall to Loretto

Hey, sorry I can’t be there. My wife and newborn son Cooper had a little longer stay in the hospital, everyone is healthy and happy, but I’ m going to take just a little more time to attend to them. That being said, I’m going to make some adjustments to the plans we had discussed before I left last week. Here is the gameplan:

Biology:

1. Instead of a Unit 8 Test, we’re going to do a “quest” (not as long, not as many points). I’m also going to allow you to use notes and ask each other questions. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER OR SHARE ANSWERS. But you can ask each other for clarifications, explanations, or double checking work.

2. Use the link below to be taken to the answer form for the quest (we’ll do this quest on the iPad so I can grade it from home. Keep in mind the class period is shorter and you cannot “save” progress. You will want to have a piece of paper and pencil to work on punnett squares.

Link → Unit 8 Genetics Quest

3. Next week week, we’ll be watching a movie AND preparing for your common assessment. If you would like an early copy of the study guide you can find it on the biology semester 2 page.

SEHS:

Good news… I’m going to give you an extra week to turn in your nutrition guide. However! We will still be working on Unit 5 and following the daily goals for that unit as scheduled. I just figured it wasn’t fair to give you a huge assignment then disappear the week it is due. So continue to work on it but if you have questions you don’t have to panic about me not being there.

All:

I’m sure this is what you were waiting for…
IMG_0805Cooper thanks you for sharing his Dad with him. And he wants you to stay warm out there!