Charity Fair Project blog 12/9/16

This week we had the charity fair. My partner was Elizabeth Felchlin. We worked well together. Our charity was SHCS. Sacred Heart Community Service helps by gathering special things that the homeless need to survive. They gather food and clothes and other things. Sacred Heart has a volunteer service where you can spend some of your Saturday to come in and just help put together meals, or fold outfits or clean up all around so others can work. I have actually been to the volunteer service a couple of times, so this is why I thought this would be such a great charity to choose.

Backward looking: How much did you know about the subject before we started?

Last year I was at the charity fair and I knew a little bit about what to do this year because this charity fair was different from last year’s charity fair.

Inward looking: What did/do you find frustrating about it?

I found the ignite presentation about the charity frustrating. I started with some pictures that I didn’t like and then after my first practice round, I changed them. But they kept changing back to the ones that I didn’t like. So that’s what I found very frustrating.

Outward looking: If you were the teacher, what comments would you make about this piece?

If I were the teacher I would say ‘This may not have been your best work. What can you do better? What did you think you did well?’ Because it wasn’t my best work. I could’ve spent more time on my Ignite presentation so it could’ve been better.

Forward looking: One thing I would like to improve upon is …

My Ignite. As I said, that was the hardest part.

Genetics 12/1/16

This week we were studying about genetics. We had different vocabulary that we needed to learn the meanings of. Some of them are:

• Genotype
• Phenotype
• Allele
• Homozygous
• Heterozygous
• Dominant
• Recessive

Genotype

The sum total of genes passed from parent to offspring.

Phenotype

The traits in a person you can see.

Allele

Several types of the same gene.

Homozygous

Having the same pairs of genes for any pair of characteristics.  💜=💜

Heterozygous

Having two different genes in a pair for a characteristic.  💛_💜

Dominant

The one in a pair of different alleles that blocks the effect of the recessive trait when both are present in the same cell or organism.

Recessive

Recessive is the one in a pair of different alleles whose effect is blocked by dominant if both are in the same cell or organism.

S&EP: SP7

Did you participate in a class discussion providing evidence for your answers, and/or used the ACE strategy in your work?

Yes, I did. In class, we had a discussion about these words and their meanings. We used some other kids answers to make a sentence frame for the questions Ms. Garcia asked in class.

Genetics 11/18/16

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This week we were learning about genetics. This included DNA, genes, chromosomes, proteins, heredity, and traits.
DNA

I know that DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleicAcid.

I also know the four letter DNA alphabet.

DNA is like the instructions that tell your cells what to do so you are able to live and grow.

Genes

Genes are like instruction manuals for your body. They are responsible for making the proteins that help our bodies function. Genes are made of DNA. One strand of DNA contains many genes. A human body has around 25,000 genes. Genes contain the instructions to build proteins.

Chromosomes

Chromosomes are packages for DNA. 1 human cell can hold 46 chromosomes. The human sex chromosomes are labeled X and Y. Female chromosomes are labeled X and X, and male chromosomes are labeled X and Y.

Proteins

1 cell contains thousands of different types of proteins. Proteins are super, super tiny. When scientists are trying to learn more about protein structure and function, their first thought is probably, 'Well, if they are super tiny, why not look at them through a microscope?' Well, proteins are really tiny. If you look at them through a microscope, you still won't be able to see them clearly. So scientists use computer programs to look at protein structure and  function. Genes provide the blueprint for making proteins.

But genes only provide the blueprint. They don't'’ actually make the proteins. Ribosomes do. Sorry, genes. Looks like you've  got to go back to the drawing board.

Heredity

Heredity is passing traits down to your children. Children aren't identical to one of their parents because they get traits from both of their parents. Each parent passes on 23 chromosomes to their offspring. And children don't always look identical to each other because they might get different traits passed on to them.

Traits

A trait is a notable quality or feature in a person. Physical traits, Behavioral traits, and predisposition to a medical condition are the types of traits that exist. If you dye your hair another color, you can change your natural hair color.

An allele is a set of genetic information that codes for different variations of the same trait.

S&EP: SP4: Analyzing data.

This week we created a graph on each other's traits. I worked with Daniel, Desmond, Elayna, and Gurpreet. This is our data.

SUPER HERO!!! 11/13/16

This week we started the superhero life science unit. We needed to choose an animal with “superpowers”. I chose the frogfish. The frogfish is a very special animal. It is strange in lots of ways. First of all, how it eats.

It’s stomach takes up most of its body, so it can sort of expand to fit whatever it eats. Second of all, it can swim, but when it does, it is very slow and clumsy. So it uses its fins to ‘walk’ on the ocean floor. A frogfish can also camouflage, and its textured body helps it blend in. It can either have hair, bumps, or smooth skin, and it can change color.

S and EP: SP 4: Analyzing and interpreting data

We found data in researching our animals. Then we had to organize it in our information sheet.

Wac: is it healthier to be an omnivore or a vegitarian?

        It is healthier to be an omnivore than a vegetarian. Meat eaters have stronger bodies than non meat-eaters. Meat makes you strong. Our bodies were built to eat meat. Humans have been eating meat even 1.5 million years ago. And only animal products contain vitamin B12, which helps you be healthy. 

       Meat eaters have stronger bodies than non meat-eaters. Meat contains vitamins B12, B3, and B6. It also has zinc and iron, two minerals that are very good for you. Zinc helps your immune system fight off bacteria and germs. Iron helps carry oxygen to different parts of your body. Vitamin B6 helps your body make neotransmitters, which are chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to another.

      Our bodies were built to eat meat. We have canine teeth to chew through tough meat. And meat is one of the reasons that the human brain has grown stronger and more elaborate. Meat contains important minerals and vitamins that maybe you cannot get from other things. 

      Only animal products contain vitamins like B12. Vitamin B12 helps your nerve and blood cells healthy. And only things like meat, eggs, milk and cheese (and other animal products) contain vitamin B12. Vitamin D3 is made out of cholesterol in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. And algae that you may find at the beach is a potential source of vitamin B12 in plants. But who wants to eat algae? 

      I could argue that vegetarians, though avoiding meat, are also avoiding the risk of obesity. Some grown ups might like that sentence I just wrote and may want to switch to vegetarian. But, not so fast. The weakness is are vegetarians getting enough calories? Of course, you don't want too many calories, but you do need to have enough to be healthy. 

      Vegetarians may not be getting enough calories to be healthy, but an omnivore (like us) usually does. Besides, who can resist a big, juicy hamburger? I'd rather be an omnivore and know I'm healthy than be vegetarian and wonder. That's why  an omnivore is healthier than a vegetarian. 

project blog 10/28/16

Adaptations 10/21/16

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The one main goal of all living organisms is to survive long enough to reproduce. Plants need:

• Sunlight
• Food
• Water
• Air                           

Animals need:

• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Air

For both animals and plants to survive long enough to reproduce, they change to fit their environment. These changes are called Adaptations. Adaptations are characteristics of life. They just happen. I cannot decide today I am going to grow gills and fins and live with the fish. And too bad for me if suddenly I grow them when I don’t want them. I must live with them. Adaptations are inherited characteristics that help organisms survive long enough to reproduce.

Structural Adaptations

Body parts or coloring that helps organisms survive.      

Camouflage

Blending in with your environment.

Examples: owl, tiger, frog, tiger, snake, crocodile.    

Mimicry

To copy the look of something else.

Examples: Monarch butterflies are poisonous. Viceroy butterflies aren’t. But viceroys look exactly like monarch. So they are safe for life.

Bent hind legs

Helps prey and predators run fast to get away or get prey.

Teeth:

Flat: helps herbivores chew and grind plants. Sharp: Helps carnivores tear meat apart.

Eyes: prey has eyes on the sides of their head so that they can be on the watch. Predators have eyes in front. They focus in on prey. Guess what? We're predators.

Behavioral Adaptations:

Instincts. The way an animal reacts in response to the environment.

Migration is when birds go south in the winter.

Hibernation is when animals go to sleep in the winter to live.

Dormancy is basically plant hibernation.

Plants have feelings. They protect themselves. They use thorns, bad taste, poison, spikes, and colovation. But next time you need protection, don’t go to a rose bush. You’ll get poked. And, plants don’t care about you. They won’t physically try to protect you. Plants behave too. They behave in phototropism. Over time, a plant will move to light if needed. And plants use Gravitropism, too. So don’t get dissapointed if you plant your cucumber upside down. It’ll go right side up; it knows.

Naked eggs 101 10/16/15

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SUMMARY: This week we talked about diffusion.

Lesson 1: Diffusion

Diffusion is when particles spread out.

Lesson 2: Solvent & Solute

Solvent is the liquid in a solution.

Solute is what is dissolved in the solution.

    Lesson 3: Iso, Hypo, and Hyper tonics.

Isotonic: stays the same.            

Hypertonic: gets smaller.

"The egg size gets smaller." Hypotonic: get LARGER.

-Owen "Grow" as Arata puts it.

                                 

S&EP: SP4: Analyzing Data

This week we made a table to keep track of the data in the naked egg experiment. We had a chart where we wrote salt water, water, syrup, and vinegar. We weighed the eggs before putting them in their solvents and we left them that way for 24 hours. We then took the eggs out of their solvents and weighed them again. They were either hypertonic or hypotonic. This was very exiting experiment and I had fun.

Organic Molecules

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ORGANIC MOLECULES

This week we were learning about organic molecules. Here is what I KNOW.

Carbon

Carbon forms a total of four bonds. It can form straight chains, branched chains, or rings, giving living things the possibility of all different shapes.

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Phosphorus.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids are made up of Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus.

The monomer is nucleotide. Examples of nucleic acids are DNA/RNA.

DNA

DNA is found in the nucleus and carries all the information that the cell requires to perform its functions.

RNA

RNA codes for making proteins and can be found in the cytoplasm and nucleus.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are energy rich compounds that are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The monomer is saccharide. Carbohydrates provide energy for the cell and are components of some cell parts. The chloroplast makes carbohydrates. Examples of carbohydrates are starch, sugar, pasta, rice, bread, wheat, etc.

Proteins

Proteins are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.

The monomer is aminoacid. Proteins form most organelles. They regulate growth. They also transport oxygen around. Proteins increase the rate of chemical reactions. Examples of Proteins are meat, beans, soy, tofu, legumes, cheese, yogurt, etc.

Lipids

Lipids are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The monomer is fatty acids. Lipids act as storage for the cell. Examples of lipids are oil (any kind), waxes, fats, butter, cream, and cheese.

S&EP: SP2: DEVELOPING AND USING PICTURES

This week I made a foldable containing the information above, lots of color, and pictures that I drew by hand.