By Stephen Pegler on Sunday, September 28, 2008

On Monday we will finish the presentations for the haplogroup reports.  Tuesday the students will give their presentations.  A reminder that the packet on genetics is due on Monday, October 6 and there will be a test on all materials to date the following day.  I hope to see many of you at conferences.

By Stephen Pegler on Sunday, September 21, 2008

Today we will finish the activity we began on Thursday last week, that is learning how scientists place people into haplogroups based on their mtDNA and their yDNA.  The rest of this week will be spent on developing a presentation around mtDNA or yDNA.  The instructions and links will be on a webpage which will be placed on this blog.  The presentations will be given next week on Monday and Tuesday.  Students will have Tuesday through Friday of this week to work on their presentations.

A reminder that the second packet is due on Monday, October 6.  The first packet has mostly been graded for completeness rather than accuracy.  A key will be placed online in the Homework documents tab on the bottom of my webpage so that students can check the material in the packet for more accuracy.  The first major test will be on Tuesday, October 7.

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, September 15, 2008

This week we will begin our section on using DNA to help us understand human prehistory and migrations.  Today we will watch the National Geographic film "Adam."  This video traces the attempt to find a male ancestor that all men today are descended from.  Tomorrow we will do part of the genetics packet in class.  Everyone needs to bring their genetics (second) packet on Tuesday.  On Wednesday and Thursday we will begin a short exercise on how scientists obtain and use DNA samples to study human groups.

The first packet is due this Thursday.  The second is due on October 6, and the first test is the next day.

By Stephen Pegler on Friday, September 05, 2008

This week we will continue the activities on Mendelian genetics.  We will continue the activities from last week and begin a related unit on breeding dragons.

The first packet is due September 18, and the second is due on October 6 (pages 9-12 will be done in class).  The first test over all the material to date is scheduled for October 7.  The vocabulary on pages 27 and 115 may show up on any test or quiz in the future.

By Stephen Pegler on Friday, August 29, 2008

I forgot to mention one item to students in the first few days of school, and I want to make sure that both students and their parents understand my policy on horseplay in labs.  Horseplay is forbidden by me and by district policy.  Penalties will begin with the student being removed for the remainder of the lab, receiving a zero on that lab, and a phone call home.  If someone or something is damaged, then further action will be required.  The good news is that in five years I can count the incidents on one hand with a couple of fingers left over!

This week we will begin a unit on genetics.  We will study DNA, Mendelian genetics, and then look at how DNA studies help us understand human prehistory.

I have also attached my Animal Care Plan to my website (as required by the school and the district) and my Class Policies.  If there are any questions, please let me know.

We are off to a great ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, August 25, 2008

Signed Science Safety Agreements are due tomorrow.  Both parents and students need to sign these agreements.

Homework can be found under the homework tab on my web page. 

This week in class we will discuss the characteristics of living things.  If the packets return from the printer, then the students will be given their first packet.  I'll announce the due date based on when it arrives.  There is a good chance that the students will have this Friday to work on the packet in class.

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, August 18, 2008

I hope you are ready for another year of science and school.  I'm looking forward to the year. 

A couple items of business - I'm having trouble clearing out some of last year's material from the blog.  This year we are studying Life and Earth Science, not Physics and Chemistry! 

This week we will begin with the usual basic science safety, what is science, how does it work, and measurement.  Next week we will begin a genetics unit.  This unit will last through September.

Next week will bring the first of many packets.  The packets I assign are designed to reinforce what we do in class, to teach related material that we don't have time to cover in class, to teach responsibility in handling large homework assignments and to teach independent work and study skills.  The packets are all about ten pages long and students will usually have three weeks or ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Thursday, February 28, 2008

On Monday we will check the homework packets.  On Tuesday and Thursday we will do activities related to lenses and mirrors.  On Friday the students will have their test on this unit.  The questions for this are in last week's blog materials.  There are fourteen questions.  There will be no questions that are not on the list of the fourteen.  Whether they will answer all or some of the questions is something that I have not yet decided.  This test will count for next trimester, not for this one.  I won't have time to get it graded and on this grading period. 

We will begin Chemistry on the first Monday of March.  We will have some lectures, videos and a bit more (hopefully not too much!!) bookwork during March.  This is because of CSAPs, my Powerschool responsibilities (for a week or two), and the need to cover this material fairly quickly (partly because of units that went longer tha ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Today and Thursday we will be going over last week's activities and learning how to draw lens and mirror diagrams. The homework packet is due next Monday. There will be a test on Friday, February 29. The students will have short essay questions. I will have a list of these online by the end of the week. Next week will include some activities with lenses and mirrors.

My Wednesday Workshop has been on magnets and magnetic fields this round. We have two more sessions to go. My last round will probably involve electromagnets.

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Test questions for Friday, February 29

Light exam questions
Some questions will be worth more than others.  Six, seven, and nine for example, will be worth twice the others.  The students will have to answer a certain number of questions for a certain number of points.  They should prepare by studying for all the questio ... Read More »

By Stephen Pegler on Monday, February 11, 2008

Today is bookwork.  Tomorrow will be a hopefully short lecture followed on Thursday and Friday by some activities related to light.  Homework packets were passed out last Friday and are due Monday, February 25 with some evaluation later that week.