Characteristics and Needs of Living Things

The last week in October was spent completing the first unit on ecology.  Students turned in a paper on Monday comparing and contrasting photosynthesis and respiration. 

Early in the week the students participated in  a brainstorm activity to set a purpose for reading about characteristics and needs of living things.  The students were given a choice of notetaking--outline, Cornell notes, or a concept map.  Class discussions were based on the notes.

The second benchmark test, the Unit 2 test, was scored and returned to students.  Target students excelled in meeting the standards that were taught.  Numerous regular education students did well and the ones that did not are taking a new benechmark test on Friday.

The students got to observe sewer slugs that came from Japan.  Ask them about the demonstration.

The week continued watching an Eyewitness Video about life which enriches the content taught in class.

The students are now reviewing the scientific method and reading about the first controlled experiment of Redi.  They are comparing and contrasting his experiment with Pasteur.  The students will work in pairs to illustrate how each scientist incorporated the scientific method.  Higher level thinking is required by having to create the problem, the hypothesis that was probably used, the experiment which included the manipulatives, procedure, observations with data, and a conclusion.

Further enrichment will take place when the students work with Bart Simpson and Sponge Bob figuring out the scientific method and the variables of various scenarios.

The students will work on the above activities after their holiday on Monday and Tuesday.