June classes. One project, can be done in person , or at home.

Dear Bi 11s,

You will be invited to come to TWO SESSIONS of my class and you can leave at any time (since it is optional).   The schedule will be sent to you through MS Teams.

Please note that my class will be conducted entirely outdoors RAIN OR SHINE and you should arrive to school dressed to be out in west coast weather while you attend my class.    We will do a species inventory project on school grounds.   You will be taking pictures of plants and bugs and identifying these with a species identification app.  This project does not have to be done on school grounds and can easily be done at or near your home.  It is due on June 18, through MS Teams

as a BLOG POST on your learning blog.

After this assignment gets handed in, then any in person class will involve a local, optional interpretive walk to the park (Trout Lake), again, rain or shine.

Common questions:  
May I use a computer in school library or computer lab?
All computer labs and library computers are closed.  Please use your own device to access the internet at school. If you have access to a phone or tablet, you may use this.

Do I bring my own pens, pencil crayons and paper?
You are encouraged to bring your own pen, pencil crayons or felts as we have been advised by public health that students should not share writing materials. However, we can give you paper.  We may do some sketching during class time so if you have your own sketchbook, you may bring it.

Is it mandatory to come to school? 
No it is not.   School is OPTIONAL. If you come, I would be delighted to welcome you and help you with the plant ID app, but this is not mandatory.  You can come for as much or as little biology class as you choose.  If you do not come, I will continue to support your learning on-line.

Assignment 8 How do you restore an Urban Bog? Why is xʷməm̓qʷe:m Camosun bog important?

Camosun Bog Restoration Group method for bog restoration:  Watch this video. The teens in this video are my students when I taught at PW.  They learned their plantae unit by joining a work party!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSrEhGSnhiY

Why  xʷməm̓qʷe:m, Camosun bog , is important: Listen to  Elder Larry Grant talk about  xʷməm̓qʷe:m.  By the way, Elder, Larry Grant's parents are Musqeuam and  Chinese.  In addition to being a speaker of the Musqueam language, he understands and speaks Cantonese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6K7jASVzl8

Watch Elder Larry Grant's personal story:  He is a language keeper of the Musqueam People.

Watch the creation story of the Musqueam people . Their story begins  in Camosun bog.

The double headed serpent story 

The Double-Headed Serpent from Deadpixel on Vimeo.

This is a pole carved by a Musqueam artist and related to the fourth video above.  It is  located in UBC and this is what it means 

BIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT 8
DRAW a hand drawn cartoon summary of the  videos which you see above as well as the meaning of the pole above.  You should  make at least three pages, one for each video.  In your assignment, try to write in musqueam!  Tell the story of Elder Larry Grant too, who is a Musqueam Elder (and a Musqueam-Chinese Canadian)

OR 

WRITE an illustrated essay using photos like screen captures of the videos and illustrate your essay with photos.  Remember that if you use a phrase from a source, to use quotations and cite the source. 


EVALUATION 
20 -  your work is outstanding and excellent. It looks amazing and stands out. you hand in your blog address so I can read this work.
18-19 - your work is excellent showing attention to detail.  You summarize the key points and you don't miss anything.  Your drawings tell the story of the videos and links.  Your writing summarizes the key points in an engaging writing style. You cite your sources and also you have posted your work on your blog, which you send to me. You show creativity.

15-17. your work shows a high standard of quality. your drawings are beautiful or your writing is excellent and engaging to the reader.  You show creativity. you could have included a few more details or you did not cite your sources. You uploaded and handed this in on your blog.

10-14. your work is a very good start and shows alot of promise.  Your drawings are extremely well done. You might need to add a few more details to make it more complete

0-10. your work is incomplete.

Assignment 7 xʷməm̓qʷe:m. Camosun Bog, An introduction.

I would like to introduce you to a very special ecosystem in our city.  It is over 2000 years old: likely the oldest part of Vancouver and it is the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam people. Camosun bog is so important that it forms part of their creation story.

First have a look at the bog powerpoint slideshow here to find out what a bog is.


 Then, read about the  story of Camosun bog here

And in particular note the
history as it relates to bog restoration. on the main Camosun bog site


I would like you to answer the following questions in a creative format with illustration.  Make a cartoon,  or an illustrated essay reflection with lots of photos


1.  How was the bog formed?
2. What is the keystone species of a bog?  Read about Sphagnum moss.  How does Sphagnum maintain the acidic conditions.
3.  What is peat?  How is it different from soil?
4.  Why is digging through a bog like digging through time?
5.  We never found any bodies in the bog, but some artifacts were preserved in Camosun bog.  What were they?




6.  This woman remembers playing hockey in Camosun bog.  What were some of her observations?

7.  How are bogs carbon sinks?  Why is this important?
8. Camosun bog, məqʷe:m,  is the traditional territory of the Musqueam people. How long have they been using this area for food, medicine and culture?
9.  What nearly destroyed the bog?  
10. The change in abiotic conditions caused "invasives"  to go into the bog.  These are actually native forest species and not invasives to BC but they are invaders to a bog.  What plants are these?

11.  What are the native plants in a bog? Take a look




Evaluation for the cartoon
20   your cartoon stands out from all the rest.  it is well thought out and work has been put into it.
       It  is  in ink or colour. it includes all the major points.  YOU HAND THIS IN ON YOUR BLOG
17-19  your cartoon is really excellent and it includes all the major points. it is in colour and in ink.
You hand this in on your blog.
15-16  your cartoon is quite good. it may be missing a few details but it is well done
0-10 . your cartoon is a good start but it is incomplete


Evaluation for illustrated writing. 
20   your writing is exceptional and includes all the major details of the content.  It is insightful and shows that thought was put into the writing. It is excellent and you communicate the ideas very clearly.  You include excellent pictures.  And you cite where you got the pictures.
YOU HAND THIS IN ON YOUR BLOG
17-19.   your writing is excellent  and enjoyable to read.  and includes all the correct details. You  communicate clearly.  You include excellent pictures.  And you cite where you got the pictures.
You hand this in on your blog.
14-16  your content is really good, it is missing a few details but still very well done and well written.

0-10 . your writing is incomplete.

Assignment 6 Nature notes in your neighbourhood.

Dear biology 11 class, for your next assignment, you will do the following

For 20 marks, please update your blog.  Have each blog author write a post.

REFLECTION WITH ALL YOUR SENSES
1.  Write a one page reflection on observing nature with all your senses,  during Covid 19 Pandemic.  Go outside and find nature.  Find a place with plants. Find a place which seems like a good place to be.  I would like you to experience and observe this place as an organism with sense organs.

  Draw in colour  or photograph this place.   Write about the following:
1.  Where is your place.  What time is your observation and what are the weather conditions?
2. . Why did you choose this place? What are the qualities of this place?
3..  What do your sensory perceptions tell you about this place?
a. What do you see? What colours do you perceive?
b. Close your eyes, what sounds do you hear?
c. What is the mood?
d.  Take a deep breath, What do you smell, what scents are here?
e.  What are some textures here, Reach out your hands, what do you touch? What is the temperature, the wind, is it hot, cold? humid?
f.   What are the living things around you?  The plants, animals? fungi?
g.   Movement and Circulation: how do you move to and from this place (bike, walk, run...)
h.  Do you interact with others here?  (is this a path, a park, a yard, a sidewalk).  How?

evaluation:
20 - you write with insight, sensitivity and with adjectives which describe your place.  You write so well that your reader can experience the place for themselves.  Your drawing or photograph is eye catching.

17-18 - you write very well and with excellence.  Your drawing or photograph is gorgeous and artistic.

13-16 - This is an excellent start to some amazing writing.  You answer most of the questions and you have a really good photograph or drawing

5-10 - This is a good start and the assignment is incomplete


FYI, ALSO UPDATE YOUR BLOG with a cropped photo of your Cnidaria assignment.  Make sure your assignment has no name on it.

FYI some examples of my photos of nature in East Van

This pic was taken at dusk, running in east van

on the left, a hummingbird, which just scolded the crow on the right