Ravine Park: botanizing

We did a site walk in Ravine Park today to start off our Ravine project and collected a sample of tree and understory specimens for later study.

Students collected and positively identified the following plants:  Bracken fern, Sword fern, English ivy, Vinca, Cedar, Laurel, Douglas Fir, Vine Maple, Salmonberry.  There are other plants (potential birch, alder, and aspen - but we need to check these with tree guides).   We will dry the leaves and press them in books.

We found a coyote scat that looked like it had hair in it.  And I thought I saw a Cascara tree - it looked so much like the one in Camosun bog, but I was mistaken.  We picked a sample, and after returning to school, and seeing the pattern in the stem, I think it is more likely a really young horse chestnut.   We'll know for sure if we can observe the flower and fruit.

For your field notes, take a note of your samples and classify them as bryophyte, tracheophyte, and then gymnosperm and angiosperm and identify the characteristics that support your classification.

Evolution of Plantae

Today we examined specimens that represented Bryophytes and Tracheophytes.  Tracheophytes included sphenophyta (horsetail) , pterophyta (fern), spermophyta (seed plants) . Of the spermophyta, we looked at gymnosperm and angiosperm samples.   We also observed a sundew in action (Drosera rotundifolia) after a few students captured a small spider and let it walk on the sundew.  Images of Shelob from Lord of the Rings comes to mind.... We also passed around a fuzzy and soft Stachys byzantina leaf: or lamb's ear.

Our notes today were the Kingdom Plantae notes here on alternation of Generation and the evolution of plants.  

Ravine Project launch and Classification Quiz next block

Kerridale Ravine Project can be done in pairs or groups.  Classification Quiz based on notes next block.

Summary of what we did today:

class notes:  

Classification, addendum:  define heterotroph, autotroph, eukaryote, prokaryote, multicellular, unicellular.  

identify organisms, according to kingdom, identify bog plants

Example of a dichotomous key

 Make your own dichotomous key for objects displayed in class

Dichotomous key activity (sharks)

for next day:

THIS CONSENT FORM for camosun bog.

Also, there's a bird hanging out on school grounds!:  I saw two this morning: look around for it!  It sounds like this:  http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=8 I heard the "week, week week" sound...It's  a type of woodpecker: The one I saw seemed totally unafraid so I think it's really young.

http://www.utahbirds.org/birdsofutah/ProfilesL-R/NorthernFlicker.htm

Setting up for the new term

Welcome to Bi 11.  It was a pleasure to meet you last block.   I have marked all of our initial assignments just for completion to get an idea of your written work.  

For next block, download the following:  notes on classification and dichotomous key of sharks

SETTING UP WEB-BASED TOOLS

I would like you to see the instructions below to set up some web-based classroom tools.  The instructions seem very involved - if you need assistance, I will set up a computer station next block specifically to help you set up your nicenet account and your tumblr account, so no worries if you can't do it the first time.

ON-LINE ASSIGNMENTS AND COMMUNICATION OF ASSIGNMENTS:

We will use nicenet.org  to share and record selected on-going assignments.  Please create accounts for these websites.  Occasionally there are technical difficulties in setting up these accounts.  I will be happy to assist you.  

1. Go to nicenet.org and create a username (must match your actual name)
2. nicenet class key for biology 11 class is:  ZZ406Z9B73
3. ensure your preferences indicate you will receive email messages as a copy of your nicenet messages.  this will help us communicate with each other

BLOG YOUR FIELD STUDIES AND LABS on TUMBLR

In a group, you will record your learning on a blog.  

Create an account to record your labs and fieldwork.

Step one:  go to this website:  https://www.tumblr.com/register
Step two:  fill in an email address and a password (different from your regular email password)
Step three:  in the URL section, write a word.  tumblr will automatically use that word as your URL

use the default setting. additional settings are extra cost.  use the no cost setting

Read the privacy section on tumblr.

You will create a link to your tumblr account within our nicenet space.  

It is worth noting that our biology 11 blog and nicenet space is within the formal classroom environment.  Your conduct in this internet space should reflect your behaviour in the presence of your teachers, parents and peers in a school setting. 

vocab and study questions

useful notes for exam study may be found here:

Spring Sustainability Projects - consent form due next period - updated form

During April and May we will

• Study Kingdom Plantae:  Here are notes 1 and notes 2 for download.  Note that brown algae and red algae is no longer a part of Kingdom Plantae and is now considered to be Protozoans according to evolutionary biologists
• Embark on two major sustainability projects: our major projects for term 3
• Sustainability Tour:  dates are April 23 bi 11 pre-visit.  April 25, visit grade 8, April 27, visit CIRS building and CK Choi building with grade 8s.
• Bog Buddy please note that for the saturday work parties, the dates are incorrect in the doc. the actual dates are: 14th of April and 21th of April 
• consent form for both projects
• Monitor and care for the radishes and spinach we planted in one of the school garden beds!

Hand in your consent next period please




In mid-May, we will focus on preparing for our final exam.