Take a look at wood specimens under the light microscope

 observe cross sections of a pinus plant

this is a 3 year old cross section of a pine from the Berkshire Community College

Bioscience Image Library

Wood structure

Examine the wood specimen 

Plant evolution lab activity: Study questions for Alternation of Generation

 1.  What is the definition of a plant?

2.  Write the equation for photosynthesis
3.  Glucose can be used for three purposes for plants.  What are these three purposes?
4.  Review how sexual reproduction occurs in multicellular animals and explain the meaning of the words "haploid" and "diploid"

5.  The earliest plants in evolutionary history were bryophytes.  What are bryophyte characteristics?
6.  Explain Alternation of Generation
7.  What characteristics of tracheophytes help them survive on land?
8.  What is the order of evolutionary history:   fern, flower, moss, cedar tree...what is the correct order?

 First go into the school garden and bring back some mosses and fern specimens.  You will start this Plant evolution lab activity .  

1.  Examine MOSSES and FERNS by using the DISSECTING MICROSCOPES located in the back room.   These have TWO OCULAR LENSES: two eye pieces, not one.   

2.  Draw your specimens while observing under low power. Put your specimens on paper towel.   if a petri dish is available, try submerging your moss under water. It looks very much like seaweed. Why does it resemble algae?  

As you work through this lab, note that we do not have certain specimens. We have no liverworts or horsetails in our school garden so you cannot examine them.  Just answer the questions for liverworts and horsetails.  

Plants alternate their generations.  If humans did this, it would be something like this: I will explain this when I come back to school.

Watch this video and learn about alternation of generation 

Plant evolution webquest

do  this webquest on plant evolution.     Hand in your work

15 marks for the completed webquest.

https://natmus.humboldt.edu/exhibits/plants-history/evolution-land-plants

plant evolution lesson

  

Please look at this Plantae evolution power point

fill in this worksheet with the main ideas from the powerpoint and hand it in through TEAMS.  15 marks.

Bird nest lab

 

FYI if you are working from home, I will upload clear pictures of the bushtit nest here on this blog and on TEAMS, so you may do this assignment.

Investigation:  Write a report as a  document or slide show. 

1.  a.  Here is some info on  Bushtit biology right here:  an excerpt from the website:

"Bushtits need to eat 80% of their body weight each day to keep up with their speedy metabolisms when weather is warm- they eat even more when it cools down. According to a study from 1907, bushtits in California had diets that consisted of 81% insect matter through most of the year, and which increased to 100% insect matter in the spring. "  

http://wildfarms.weebly.com/blog/bushtit-fluffy-insect-eating-swingers

write 10 points which characterize bushtit biology

1.  NEST SAMPLE (shared microscope) : Observe the tiny sample of the nest under the microscope and report what you see.  Can you see the spider silk?  The moss?  feathers?  Take a picture with your camera if you can.

2.  COLLECT YOUR OWN SAMPLE OF a similar species of MOSS and LICHEN  that is NOT from the nest  from outside and examine this magnified either under the microscope ( OR using your camera to take a really close shot )  and draw your sample.  Answer this question: What properties of moss make it suitable for nesting material? 

3.  Listen for the sound of a bushtit around our school.  Observe for bushtits over a few days.  Draw a map of where and when you hear this sound and include it in the report.   

4.  Optional extra observations:  Some of you began looking at other interesting specimens in our class and using our microscopes.  If you looked at other specimens and photographed them, include them here too.  If you did not, no worries, number 4 is optional.

Evaluation

17-20 - This is a beautifully presented assignment with clear observations, photos, drawings and observations.  It is insightful and excellently done. It is typed or written in ink and in colour

13-16 - This assignment is complete and very well done with great photos and observations. It is in pencil

5- 12 - This is a good start with some good observations but it is incomplete

Environmental Science review safety rules

have a look at this standard science safety quiz

1. 

                         WHMIS -  WORKPLACE HAZARDOUS 
                         MATERIALS INFORMATION
                         SYSTEM 

      THESE symbols are on the MSDS sheet for
       all chemicals    Materials safety Data Sheet. 

THESE ARE MY SCIENCE SAFETY RULES:

1. Follow teacher instructions

a.     If you wish to change instructions, check with teacher

b.     If you break anything or get hurt, report it REPORT ACCIDENTS

2.     .No horseplay, fooling around

3.     Keep yourself safe

a.     Hair tied back, no loose clothing, shoes are closed

b.     If chemicals get on skin, use water

c.     Use eyewash if anything gets in eyes

d.     Wear goggles if needed

e.  If you wear contacts, inform the teacher

4.       Keep your area safe

a.     your work area is neat and organized

b.     you have your lab instructions

c.     aware of fire safety and chemical safety

5.     Keep the classroom safe

a.     Carry materials in a safe way

b.     Aware of fire safety procedure

c.     Don’t remove any experiments from the classroom

d.     Don’t do experiments without first checking with teacher.

6.       Hot and cold and chemical safety

a.     never assume the temperature of something.  Take precautions

b.     hot beaker and cold beaker look identical

c.     always point a test tube away from everyone

d.     when smelling a chemical, waft.

You will create safety rules by reading and summarizing the safety procedures in your poster

The rules can be under the following categories:
HIGHEST PRIORITIES:
THESE RULES CAN BE SUMMED UP LIKE THIS
      Talk to the instructor                     

KEEP ORGANIZED AND SAFE
Keep the classroom safe
Keeping your work area safe
Keep safe with your colleagues
Keep yourself safe
KNOW THE SYMBOLS
Know the correct symbols, WHIMIS symbols


COMMUNICATE AND REACT TO AN EMERGENCY
     be familiar with emergency procedures for fire, toxins, spills, and evacuation