Heat transfer project 3/3/17

http://www.konbini.com/us/wp-content/blogs.dir/9/files/2015/12/A-cup-displaying-the-Starbucks-Coffee-logo.jpg

Mackenzie, Annie, Nic

Our cup is designed to keep 250 ml of water hot for a half hour. The items we used were plastic, styrofoam, wool and duct tape. All of these items are good thermal insulators:

• Plastic makes a good insulator because it does not have free electrons within their structure. Free electrons are electrons that are unbound within the atomic or molecular matrix.
• Styrofoam is a good insulator because the plastic foam contains billions of trapped gas bubbles. Gases hinder heat conduction because their molecules are very far apart, make it difficult for the molecules to collide.

• Wool is a good thermal insulator because the fibers trap in air and air is a good insulator because it doesn’t allow heat to transfer through it very easily.

• Duct tape is a good insulator because it is made of rubber and the rubber is a good thermal insulator because it prevents electrons from coming through.

As you can see, all of these materials are extremely good materials. This is why we decided to use them.

S&EP: Sp2

We have to build a cup that will keep in heat so that Ms. Garcia's coffee will still be at a comfortable temperature by the time she gets from the Starbucks to the school.

Types of heat transfer 2/18/17

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This week we were learning about the types of heat transfer. There was conduction, convection, and radiation.

Conduction

Convection

Radiation

S&EP: SP2

We had to make a foldable to show our understanding. We needed to draw two images per type and write a description about it. Then Ms. Garcia made popcorn using the three types of heat transfer and we had to decide which was our favorite. I like the radiation one, because it was fluffy and flavorful.

Genetics Project Blog 2/9/17

Image:

                                                                    Genetics poster

           Summary: For this unit we were learning about genetics. We were learning this by making a superhero. We needed to choose an animal we thought had 'superpowers'. I chose the frogfish, which is a fish that's head looks like a frog but its body is that of a fish. The frogfish can camouflage and it had a lure that pulls in food for it. My superhero's name is Rocket Jaw. We then needed to mate the super hero with a real super hero. I chose Super man. Then we created a child by learning about heredity and inheritance. I took six traits from Rocket Jaw and three traits from Superman to pass on. In the Epigenetics portion, decided via coin flip if the child would be healthy or sick after its lifetime choices. Mine was all healthy, but there were some adults that had sicknesses. After that we drew a picture of the child all grown up looking different from their lifetime choices. Then we created a villain. The villain had a normal mode and a nefarious mode. Then we chose four body systems to change in the nefarious mode. I chose skin, skeletal, eyes, and the lungs. The villain is in the picture up above. I really like this project.

Backward-Looking: Does this work tell a story?

I think my work does tell a story. It tells the story of the creation of a new superhero. I think I did well on this piece of work. 

Inward-Looking: How do you feel about this piece of work? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? What did/do you enjoy about this piece or work?

I feel god about this work. I really liked the drawing elements and there wasn't anything that I disliked. I really enjoyed that it had to do with an animal and that we could create our own superhero. 

Outward-Looking: What grade would you give it? Why?

I personally would give this work an A because it looked like I worked hard a nd took my time and didn't rush through it. 

Forward-Looking: As you look at this piece, what's one thing that you would like to try to improve upon?

I would like to improve on the detailed science part in the villain body systems. I could've written a more detailed description on how they changed when the villain switched mode. 

Villain Story 1/27/17

http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/pics/villain-logo-tall.png

This week we were developing our villain. My villain's normal mode is a popular teenage girl in high school.  The nefarious mode is a swirl of alive vapor under a robe w/ hood. We had to choose four body systems to change out of these:
Circulatory
Respiratory
Excretory
Nervous
Eyes
Ears
Skin
Skeletal
Muscular
I chose Eyes, Respiratory, Skin, and Skeletal. My normal eyes are gray and oval shaped. The nefarious eyes are almond shaped, points out, and electric blue. My normal skin is the normal peachey color. The nefarious skin is black and only on the face. The normal skeleton is strong and sturdy, and the nefarious made doesn't have a skeleton. The normal mode lungs are healthy. The nefarious lungs are smaller then average and mostly clogged up.

We were drawing out our villains and their altered body systems. Then we wrote a one-two paragraph story on how our villain and superhero became enemies.                

Suprehero Origin Story 1/15/17

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This week we were working on our Superhero Origin Story and how our super hero came to be. It had to be sciencey, like when Peter Parker got a mutation from that radioactive spider. We could choose either a mutation or a GMO (Genetically Modified Organism). I chose GMO. We needed to include the science or if it was in real life how it would happen. Here is my story. I chose to do a GMO. My superhero is based on the frogfish. But in my story, I made it so she thought she would breathe under the water like a clownfish. But the scientist screwed up and brought in some frogfish genes that were being studied. So she got the powers of a frogfish instead of clownfish powers. Frogfish are really special because they can do a lot of things. They can camouflage, they can sort of expand their stomach, and they have a retractable lure of like a worm or whatever. They lure food in by hiding and wiggling slightly to make the lure appear alive. Strangely, despite all of those awesome cool things they can do, frogfish can hardly swim. If you look here you will see that they sort of have little legs and feet shaped from their fins. They "walk" on the fins. I hope you enjoy the story!

Genetics 2017

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This week we were discussing our superhero child and whether it was healthy or sick. Mine was healthy in all of them except on one where they were at risk. We also had the same kahoot twice. I did pretty well on both times. The questions were like, ‘what is an allele?’ And the answers were like:

            

Then a chart would come up with the results like this.

I had  lots of fun while I was on kahoot.

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

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Gregor_Mendel.png

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.