Thursday - One more day and then ...

Genetics and Biotechnology - After our quiz today, we worked on our discussion question on transcription of mRNA from DNA and started on our study of translation.  We will finish Chapter 10 Discussion Questions tomorrow ... We had a great two weeks with plasmid mapping, Chi Square Analysis, and Crick's Central Dogma ... Daily Quiz tomorrow is on transcription and translation.  We will be going to Mac lab for some research.

Introduction to Computer Programming - Tomorrow we will check our first three graphics and animation programs.  Most students are working on the farm scene and the animated objects in this scene.  We will continue this for a few days upon returning after fall break.

Selected Topics in Science - We finished our lab today after selected readings from Current Science magazine.  Tomorrow we are going to the Mac Lab for a Phet simulation on waves, amplitude and wavelength.  Also we are reviewing the electromagnetic spectrum and relating it to photosynthesis.  We will be working for about a week and half on physics when we return from fall break.  After we return, The Electromagnet Contest on return also!  Tomorrow we are handing in our comp books for a check.

Wednesday - Catapult Championship!

Genetics and Biotechnology - We finished constructing our paper plasmids today and worked through questions about the lab.  Tomorrow, we will hand in our lab and work in Chapter 10 - Transcription and Translation.

Introduction to Computer Programming - Today, we continued our study of animation and creating objects that can move across the screen.  Most students are working on their animated object and getting ready to start our contest problem - Old MacDonald's farm scene with animation and a theme tune.

Selected Topics in Science - We finished our catapults and tested them.  Our contest was ten shots at a bucket 12 feet away from the launching table.  Kellie, Breanna and Brittni won the contest with 34 points ... the fourth highest score ever in the history of the contest! Congrats to all ... we had some great entries! Tomorrow we will finish the lab write up and complete an "in class" reading.

Tuesday in 509

Genetics and Biotechnology - We started the day taking a quiz on replication, linkage and Chi Square Analysis ... we had 13 10s !!! Wow! Better!  
We spent the rest of the block starting our Paper Plasmid Lab by going over procedure and making our plasmids and cellular DNA (gene of interest). This preparation for our transformation lab later next month.
Tomorrow we will finish this lab and start our study of transcription and translation (protein synthesis) in Chapter 10.

Introduction to Computer Science - Today we did a simple example of animation using a simple circle.  Most students worked on their screensavers today.  Tomorrow we are moving on to animated objects using
For/Next statements.

Selected Topics in Science - The entire block was dedicated to building our mousetrap catapults.  Tomorrow is the Mousetrap Catapult Championship in which students will launch 10 marshmallows 12 feet into a bucket ... 5 points for in the bucket, 3 if it hits the bucket, 2 if it hits the top of the table where the bucket is sitting and 1 point for hitting any part of the table.  World Record is 40 points! Lots of interesting catapults made today!

Went to the Middle School Softball games (last home game).

Still recovering from a couple of nasty stings ... next time, I will put on my gear and gloves instead of trusting my honeybees.

Monday ... Fall Break Getting Closer!

Genetics and Biotechnology - Today we added Chi Square Testing to our tools to analyze genetic data. When given a genetic cross and the results from this cross, students now apply a statistical tool to see if the data is valid.  We also worked AGAIN or DNA, replication and replication forks ... all the players in this event.  Tomorrow Paper Plasmid Lab, Quiz on Replication and DNA and another Chi Square problem for practice.

Introduction to Computer Programming - We started on graphics and animation today.  We did a sample program on the board then went on to Prob 16 ... working toward the famous Ol' MacDonald's Farm on Friday.  In this low end graphics endeavor, students are manipulationg 64000 pixels on a 320X200 grid.

Selected Topics in Science - After going over the graphs generated in our Phet/Physics simulations, we start over some physics problems on speed and acceleration.  Also map reading of KY today.  Tomorrow we build and test our catapults ... remember to bring a standard mousetrap.

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Friday!

In Genetics we went over the discussion questions in Chapter 9 and checked out plasmid mapping problems generated by students in our class.  Next Monday, we will finish Chapter 9 and practice Chi Square Analysis.

In Computer Programming, we checked our problems for the week.  Everyone did well and next week we will begin our study of graphics and animation generated using Microsoft QuickBASIC.  Ol' McDonald problem on the horizon.

We continued you Phet software simulations on Masses/Springs and Trajectory.  Next week on Tuesday, we will be building and studying our Mousetrap Catapults and the data they generate.

Today we had a Pep Rally 4th Block.

Our Patriot Softball Camp ended on Thursday evening.  We had over 50 campers attending.  Below, are pictured our 9 and 10 year old Patriots with Brooke and Sandy. Go Patriots!

Thursday - Harvest Moon

In Genetics, we went over our Chapter 4-8 test, each student designed their own plasmid mapping problem and started on Chapter 9 / DNA - Replication.  Tomorrow, Chapter 9 and more Plasmid work.

Introduction to Computer Programming ... worked on single dimension arrays and our Gradebook problem ... will check week's problems tomorrow.

Selected Topics in Science - Went over our test on Astronomy and worked on a physics simulation.  Will finish these simulations on amplitude, period, and trajectory tomorrow.  Next week we have our mousetrap catapult lab ... remember to get a mousetrap this weekend.

Drove CC team to the lake after school and last night of the Patriot Softball Camp ... Thanks to all for making it a great camp for over 50 future Patriot players.
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Wednesday - Jupiter close by this week!

In Genetics today, we took our test over Chapters 4-8 ... mostly classical genetics and Mendel ... also a linkage problem.  Graded and going over the test tomorrow, most students did okay.  Chapter 9, discovery of DNA and plasmid mapping continues tomorrow as well.

In Computer Science we did a simple array problem as a demo before starting a gradebook problem tomorrow.  A lot of students out ... seniors to WKU and t-shirt handout.

In Selected Topics, we started our unit on physics with a Phet simulation software, energy skate park.  We collected data from running an experiment on earth, moon, jupiter and in space.  We will use that data and graph it tomorrow.  Also working on ACT tomorrow and will go over our recent test on Astronomy!

Want to wish Christian a quick recovery ... hurry back ... the geeks in second block are missing you!
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Tuesday - Patriot Softball camp continues

Just getting in ...

We have a test on chapter 4-8 in genetics tomorrow ... we reviewed today.  There will be on linkage problem on the test.

In computer science we finished Problem 8 and start our sorting problem - the Sumrall Prob.

Today in Selected Topics in Science, we took our Astronomy Unit test.  It was open note and open handout.  Lots about the life cycle of stars and an HR Diagram to analyze.  We will be starting our Physics unit tomorrow using the PHED software from the University of Colorado.  The first simulation is called Energy Skate Park.  Our catapult contest is just around the corner ... students need to get a mousetrap by next week to power their catapult.

Second day of the Patriot Softball class for ages 5-12.  Lots of fun!  Last day for the camp is Thursday.
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Monday and 10 more days until Fall Break!

Monday ...
In Genetics this morning we continued working on mapping of DNA, turning our attention from linear DNA to plasmids. We also reviewed for the test on Chapters 4-8 and linkage which is now scheduled for Wednesday.  We will continue our review with practice problems tomorrow and will try a difficult plasmid mapping problem.

In computers, we began a new set of problems of intermediate difficulty in Microsoft QuickBASIC.  Today we worked on Problem 8 ... The problem is to design a program for a fifth grader to drill and practice their countries and capitals.  Our next problem, which will probaby be underway for most students on Wednesday, is a data analysis program using counters.

Tomorrow we have a open note test in Selected Topics, concluding our Astronomy Unit (Life cycle of a star, HR diagrams, and our solar system).  We reviewed today and went to the Mac Lab for some research time.

The Patriot softball camp begins tonight and goes until Thursday (6-8 PM)

Friday!

Genetics and Biotechnology - Today, we continued our study of gel analysis, using the standard lambda DNA cut with HindIII and calculating the fragments of an unknown fragment of DNA (12Kb).  With these calculations, we constructed a map of the restriction enzyme sites found on this DNA fragment.  We also went over the discussion questions of Chapter 8 / Ricki Lewis / Human Genetics.  This chapter dealt with the genetic basis for behavior ... eating disorders, sleep, mood disorders, and more.
Monday will be review day for our second test over Chapters 4-8, Linkage maps and classification of organisms.

Introduction to Computer Science - Friday is problem checking day.  The best problem I checked from last week was called Problem Little League in which students made a simple baseball stat program for a little league team.
Monday will begin a new set of problems that includes Prob8 ... a program that will generate a multiple choice game for elementary students on countries and their capitals, keeping score and giving appropriate reinforcement to the user.

Selected Topics in Science - Today we finished our Astronomy Lab with a study of Comets, Space Travel and the creation of a Space Truck.
On Monday we will begin our review for our Astronomy test on Tuesday.  Important concepts include the life cycle of stars and HR diagrams.

Hope you all have a great weekend.  This weekend I am going through my beehives and applying medication for mites.

First Post ...

Starting this blog ahead of launching my iWeb 09 site on Bluehost.  I am going to use this blog for daily updates and assignments.  I know that many of our students do not have internet access, so this will only be supplement to our class activities.

All school rules will apply and this blog is for our students and their families at AC-S HS.  Go Patriots!

Today in class:
Genetics ... after an exhausting practice ACT test by our juniors and an on demand writing by our seniors, we opted to start our study on analyzing DNA cut with restriction enzymes.  We worked through our first problem measuring fragment bands, plotting that information to analyze an unknown fragment of DNA cut with EcoRI and HindIII ... time-consuming but required knowledge for AP Biology.  Also, took our morning quiz ... with two tens ... congrats!

Tomorrow ... a more advanced analysis problem and discussion questions for Chapter 8.  Friday!!!!!

Introduction to Computer Programming ... Finishing our first set of problems in qBASIC using Read/Data and counters.  Checking those programs tomorrow.

Selected Topics in Science ... Today we made a model of our solar system to scale outside using a softball for the sun and distributing the planets (all to scale).  With the sun at the roadway gate going to the football fieldhouse, Pluto (not an official planet these days!) ended up in the middle school practice field (Pluto on this scale was the size of 1/5 of a period)!  Tomorrow we are finishing our Astronomy Lab with HR Diagram practice and the drawing of a Space Truck!        rr