We postponed the Genetics test until Friday to do some review ... but, Friday is superlative insanity day ... so the seniors will not be in first block ... we will work something out tomorrow. Today we started our study of classical genetics and worked on The Citibank Robbery problem. More genetics tomorrow.
Selected Topics review for a test after Club Rush. Test tomorrow over our first Biology Unit.
Karel Test was today and continues with a programming segment tomorrow in teams.
Took a walk this evening and saw a dozen or so deer ... several small bucks. Really dry with no rain in sight. Worked on the softball schedule some this evening.
www.patscience.com
Buy local!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Kelley's after school ... wrapping up projects before Labor Day
In Genetics today we finished our restriction analysis / plasmid mapping problem. We reviewed for our test Friday. Tomorrow a little more review and starting classical genetics ... lots of genetic problems!
Selected Topics went over replication, transcription and translation ... how genes code to make proteins and what goes wrong if there is a mutation. We did our last genetics problem and reviewed. Tomorrow is club rush so we will miss 30 minutes of class ... tomorrow we will review and test on Thursday.
Mission Impossible problem and other checked today ... Karel Unit Test starts tomorrow.
After school, I drove up to Kelley's Bee Supply in Clarkson, KY ... called in my order for honey containers and mite control ... got back before 6:30. Not as dry north of here. I like Kelleys and the people that work there ... and it IS buying local / KY ... however, they are a little higher than Betterbee and some of the other out of state vendors. I will continue to buy what I can from them ... you know how I feel about buying local ... my multi-year boycott of Walmart continues ...
Attaching a link to Kelley's website if you are interested ... they have a weird logo (bee people are often different!) ... there is a story behind it ...
https://kelleybees.com/
Selected Topics went over replication, transcription and translation ... how genes code to make proteins and what goes wrong if there is a mutation. We did our last genetics problem and reviewed. Tomorrow is club rush so we will miss 30 minutes of class ... tomorrow we will review and test on Thursday.
Mission Impossible problem and other checked today ... Karel Unit Test starts tomorrow.
After school, I drove up to Kelley's Bee Supply in Clarkson, KY ... called in my order for honey containers and mite control ... got back before 6:30. Not as dry north of here. I like Kelleys and the people that work there ... and it IS buying local / KY ... however, they are a little higher than Betterbee and some of the other out of state vendors. I will continue to buy what I can from them ... you know how I feel about buying local ... my multi-year boycott of Walmart continues ...
Attaching a link to Kelley's website if you are interested ... they have a weird logo (bee people are often different!) ... there is a story behind it ...
https://kelleybees.com/
Monday, August 29, 2011
School and a walk ...
Long day at school today ... stayed afterwards to try and catch up some things ...
In Genetics, we finished our paper plasmid lab and did a final plasmid mapping problem. We will finish this problem tomorrow and start the review for our first test.
In Selected Topic, we did a modeling lab of biological molecules of importance. Tomorrow is the last day of the Great Plant Growing Contest.
Mission Impossible problem due tomorrow in Computer Programming as we start to wrap up Karel programming.
Took a walk about dark. Honey bees at their watering spot, hummingbirds working the jewelweed along the stream behind the house and lots of deer/turkey everywhere!
Watered my pawpaw trees on return and a few other plants with Bossy's help before calling it a day.
Still needing rain.
www.patscience.com
In Genetics, we finished our paper plasmid lab and did a final plasmid mapping problem. We will finish this problem tomorrow and start the review for our first test.
In Selected Topic, we did a modeling lab of biological molecules of importance. Tomorrow is the last day of the Great Plant Growing Contest.
Mission Impossible problem due tomorrow in Computer Programming as we start to wrap up Karel programming.
Took a walk about dark. Honey bees at their watering spot, hummingbirds working the jewelweed along the stream behind the house and lots of deer/turkey everywhere!
Watered my pawpaw trees on return and a few other plants with Bossy's help before calling it a day.
Still needing rain.
www.patscience.com
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday - Pat Football and Feeding Bees
Saturday morning, I started to go through our hives and checked our bees. Populations seem good ... lots of bees and some are busy (must be some fall flowers still blooming in the mornings even though it is very dry with no rain in sight).
In the afternoon, Sue Neal and I decided to drive up to Danville to see our high school's football team play Boyle County. This is a repeat of the 2010 state finals where we lost in a close one to Boyle. We graduated a lot of players from that team. We ended up losing 21-0 Saturday night but it was a 7-0 game after three quarters. Defense played well and the offense struggled but, did move the ball at times. Boyle is the real deal although they lost to a great Highlands team in the first week. I thought we played pretty well in a very hostile environment against one of the best teams in the state.
Bottom line is that you have to play the best to be the best. A strong schedule makes you a better team in the end. The only game that really matters all season is the last game. I think our team will be better in the end playing a tough schedule. Hang in there!
Went to Sunday School and did not have to play the piano.
I started feeding hives this evening ... I have some boardman feeders is a few hives but have switched to using zip-lock bags. You fill a gallon back about half way full ... lay it in the top of the hive and cut a small slit across the top where the bees feed. We will see how it works. I will recycle the plastic ... it is certainly faster that filling all the glass jars. Also, the glass jars have to be cleaned periodically since mold sometime grow inside the jar ... and when emptied the bees fill the holes in the lids with propolis. Will try and get some picts this week as I finish feeding.
www.patscience.com
In the afternoon, Sue Neal and I decided to drive up to Danville to see our high school's football team play Boyle County. This is a repeat of the 2010 state finals where we lost in a close one to Boyle. We graduated a lot of players from that team. We ended up losing 21-0 Saturday night but it was a 7-0 game after three quarters. Defense played well and the offense struggled but, did move the ball at times. Boyle is the real deal although they lost to a great Highlands team in the first week. I thought we played pretty well in a very hostile environment against one of the best teams in the state.
Bottom line is that you have to play the best to be the best. A strong schedule makes you a better team in the end. The only game that really matters all season is the last game. I think our team will be better in the end playing a tough schedule. Hang in there!
Went to Sunday School and did not have to play the piano.
I started feeding hives this evening ... I have some boardman feeders is a few hives but have switched to using zip-lock bags. You fill a gallon back about half way full ... lay it in the top of the hive and cut a small slit across the top where the bees feed. We will see how it works. I will recycle the plastic ... it is certainly faster that filling all the glass jars. Also, the glass jars have to be cleaned periodically since mold sometime grow inside the jar ... and when emptied the bees fill the holes in the lids with propolis. Will try and get some picts this week as I finish feeding.
www.patscience.com
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday ... softball schedule and wildflowers ... picts
At school today ... homeroom to vote for Mr. and Ms. Allen County and Homecoming candidates ... missed 20+ minutes of first block. You know how I feel about missing class!
In Genetics, we could not get finished with our paper plasmid lab and will finish the write up on Monday. On Monday we will start our review for our first test over Chapters 1-3 and labs. Test will be Wednesday.
Selected Topics finished the Toothpickase lab and handed it in. Students should understand how temperature and pH change the shape of proteins and can cause problems! Started our review over of first biology unit. One more lab on Monday, molecule modeling ... before we pause for a test.
Mission Impossible Problem in computer programming was finished by a few students. We will wrap up Karel on Tuesday and move on to Microsoft qBASIC.
I posted some of our schedule on the KHSAA scoreboard if you want to check it out.
Late getting home but took a walk around a loop I have toward Long Creek and back. Our small stream in the valley back our our house is spring fed and continues to run even though we have had less than two inches of rain in the last month. Each time I pass by, there are a couple of dozen honeybees here getting water.
While I was checking out the stream for bees, planaria and jewelweed ... two hummingbirds were working the jewelweed. They were hard to get a picture of with my point and shoot ... second picture is best if you can zoom in ... near the center of the picture.
Finally ... insects galore on the ironweed and wingstem in the bottom (how it continues to bloom in this dry weather is beyond me ... ) The picture below is a Ailanthus webworm moth. I thought it might be a beetle ... the interesting thing about it is that its original range is tropical and Florida. However, this farm has several Tree of Heaven plants (actually a tall tree) that are a serious invasive (I passively try to eliminate) and the larva of this moth uses it as a host.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_webworm
There were several of these small butterflies ... maybe a moth ... on the wingstem. This was the best of the picts.
Checking hives in the morning!
In Genetics, we could not get finished with our paper plasmid lab and will finish the write up on Monday. On Monday we will start our review for our first test over Chapters 1-3 and labs. Test will be Wednesday.
Selected Topics finished the Toothpickase lab and handed it in. Students should understand how temperature and pH change the shape of proteins and can cause problems! Started our review over of first biology unit. One more lab on Monday, molecule modeling ... before we pause for a test.
Mission Impossible Problem in computer programming was finished by a few students. We will wrap up Karel on Tuesday and move on to Microsoft qBASIC.
I posted some of our schedule on the KHSAA scoreboard if you want to check it out.
Late getting home but took a walk around a loop I have toward Long Creek and back. Our small stream in the valley back our our house is spring fed and continues to run even though we have had less than two inches of rain in the last month. Each time I pass by, there are a couple of dozen honeybees here getting water.
While I was checking out the stream for bees, planaria and jewelweed ... two hummingbirds were working the jewelweed. They were hard to get a picture of with my point and shoot ... second picture is best if you can zoom in ... near the center of the picture.
Finally ... insects galore on the ironweed and wingstem in the bottom (how it continues to bloom in this dry weather is beyond me ... ) The picture below is a Ailanthus webworm moth. I thought it might be a beetle ... the interesting thing about it is that its original range is tropical and Florida. However, this farm has several Tree of Heaven plants (actually a tall tree) that are a serious invasive (I passively try to eliminate) and the larva of this moth uses it as a host.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_webworm
There were several of these small butterflies ... maybe a moth ... on the wingstem. This was the best of the picts.
Checking hives in the morning!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Paper Plasmid Lab starts, Toothpickase and Mission Impossible!
No rain today and no rain in the foreseeable future ... I have given up watering except around the house. Stayed after school to see the MS softball game but evidently it was cancelled. I will check our bees this weekend, feeding any weak hives and putting in some hive beetle traps.
We started our Paper Plasmid Lab today in hopes of gaining some understanding of how plasmids are constructed and how genes are added to plasmids to make bacteria into small protein factories. We are going to homeroom first block but I think we can finish in the morning. We are looking at our first test next Wednesday and will start our review Monday.
In Selected Topics after taking a few notes over photosynthesis. We simulated how an enzyme (a protein) works in speeding up a chemical reaction. One student in each small group was an enzyme breaking toothpicks (our substrate). We raised the temperature from room temperature, to hot, to very hot, to boiling by altering their binding sites (their hands) with duck tape. We collected data today and will graph it tomorrow to finish the lab. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate that environmental conditions (temperature and pH) change the shape of proteins and can reduce or stop their activity ... why plants don't grow well in cold temperatures and why you can die with a high fever.
We will start our review for our first test tomorrow .... biology test over Unit I next week.
In Computer Science, most students are working on our final Karel problem ... Mission Impossible. No help on this one ... as we finish our study of computer logic and head to Microsoft qBASIC next week.
We started our Paper Plasmid Lab today in hopes of gaining some understanding of how plasmids are constructed and how genes are added to plasmids to make bacteria into small protein factories. We are going to homeroom first block but I think we can finish in the morning. We are looking at our first test next Wednesday and will start our review Monday.
In Selected Topics after taking a few notes over photosynthesis. We simulated how an enzyme (a protein) works in speeding up a chemical reaction. One student in each small group was an enzyme breaking toothpicks (our substrate). We raised the temperature from room temperature, to hot, to very hot, to boiling by altering their binding sites (their hands) with duck tape. We collected data today and will graph it tomorrow to finish the lab. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate that environmental conditions (temperature and pH) change the shape of proteins and can reduce or stop their activity ... why plants don't grow well in cold temperatures and why you can die with a high fever.
We will start our review for our first test tomorrow .... biology test over Unit I next week.
In Computer Science, most students are working on our final Karel problem ... Mission Impossible. No help on this one ... as we finish our study of computer logic and head to Microsoft qBASIC next week.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Planaria Lab ends and picts ...
We finished our planaria regeneration labs in both Genetics and Selected Topics today. We used my USB microscope (thanks Rachel!) for some images before returning our regenerated buddies back to the spring out in Holland. You can see the eyespots developing in the back halves as well as a small head.
These images are after about two weeks, changing the water ever other day and at room temperature. We have about a 80% success rate, most problems occurred during transfers when changing water. We also conducted a light and dark test (discussed taxis and kinesis).
In Genetics today we worked on plasmid mapping again and started our discussion questions for Chapter 3. Tomorrow we will finish these questions and start our paper plasmid lab.
Selected Topics review modes of inheritance and finished the "Find My Baby" problem. Results tomorrow as we wrap up genetics. We have an enzyme simulation lab tomorrow ... entitled "Toothpickase".
In computer programming, we are working through our last advance Karel problems ... most students are finished with Karel can Add and are working on the "Lay the Carpet" problem. We should wrap these problems up by Friday. That leaves on Mission Impossible!
Faculty meeting after school today ... 3-5.
These images are after about two weeks, changing the water ever other day and at room temperature. We have about a 80% success rate, most problems occurred during transfers when changing water. We also conducted a light and dark test (discussed taxis and kinesis).
In Genetics today we worked on plasmid mapping again and started our discussion questions for Chapter 3. Tomorrow we will finish these questions and start our paper plasmid lab.
Selected Topics review modes of inheritance and finished the "Find My Baby" problem. Results tomorrow as we wrap up genetics. We have an enzyme simulation lab tomorrow ... entitled "Toothpickase".
In computer programming, we are working through our last advance Karel problems ... most students are finished with Karel can Add and are working on the "Lay the Carpet" problem. We should wrap these problems up by Friday. That leaves on Mission Impossible!
Faculty meeting after school today ... 3-5.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Plasmid Mapping, Genetics and Softball Scheduling Continues
School -
Juniors were out for class elections during first block. In genetics we moved from reading gels to mapping plasmids leading up to our paper plasmid lab later in the week. Tomorrow we wrap up our regeneration lab using planaria ... will take some picts or video. We will also start on Chapter 3 discussion questions tomorrow.
Selected topics worked on genetic problems during third block ... ABO blood types and sex-linked traits ... we started the "Find my Baby" problem ... more genetics tomorrow and plant growing contest continues.
Checking problems in Computer programming today as students work on our final Advance Problems for Karel.
Scheduling softball for the 2012 season continues each day ... at least an hour and more. TN teams don't like to schedule until after Labor Day which is a problem for KY coaches that are wrapping up scheduling. I have about 30 games out the maximum 36 allowed. Scheduled Blackman (TN) today and appears we will be in the Marshall, OC and Wendy's (OH) tournaments. I have several round robins scheduled ... more home games than usual which make the parents happy. It has been easier to get coaches to come to ACS next year ... wonder why?
Even though we got a little rain last weekend, it is still dry with little rain in sight. Wildflowers, especially ironweed and goldenrod still blooming, but hot for bees to work.
Juniors were out for class elections during first block. In genetics we moved from reading gels to mapping plasmids leading up to our paper plasmid lab later in the week. Tomorrow we wrap up our regeneration lab using planaria ... will take some picts or video. We will also start on Chapter 3 discussion questions tomorrow.
Selected topics worked on genetic problems during third block ... ABO blood types and sex-linked traits ... we started the "Find my Baby" problem ... more genetics tomorrow and plant growing contest continues.
Checking problems in Computer programming today as students work on our final Advance Problems for Karel.
Scheduling softball for the 2012 season continues each day ... at least an hour and more. TN teams don't like to schedule until after Labor Day which is a problem for KY coaches that are wrapping up scheduling. I have about 30 games out the maximum 36 allowed. Scheduled Blackman (TN) today and appears we will be in the Marshall, OC and Wendy's (OH) tournaments. I have several round robins scheduled ... more home games than usual which make the parents happy. It has been easier to get coaches to come to ACS next year ... wonder why?
Even though we got a little rain last weekend, it is still dry with little rain in sight. Wildflowers, especially ironweed and goldenrod still blooming, but hot for bees to work.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Genetics, Fall Flowers and Family
School
Several former students have checked in as they headed to college last week and this week ... good luck to all and learn everything ... going to college is a time to grow, learn and make life-long friends ... There is no other time like it.
Today in Genetics we started gel analysis. One of the main labs in AP is a gel electrophoresis lab to separate fragments of DNA. Today we discussed procedure and how to analyze a gel. Seniors were gone for about 45 minutes in the middle of the class to elect officers. Tomorrow the juniors are out and we will catch the seniors up. Tomorrow more analysis and mapping DNA.
In Selected Topics after checking our planaria and bean plants, we started our study of genetics. Mostly simple recessive and dominant traits. Our study of genetics will continue tomorrow with the Citibank Robbery problem and making pedigrees.
Tomorrow is a problem check day for Computer programming ... our first three advanced problems. Four more advanced problems and we move on to Microsoft qBASIC. Next problem, Karel Can Add.
Last weekend, two or our children were in. Rachel and Kyle were down from Champaign, IL. They arrived Friday night and stayed until after lunch on Sunday. John and Claire were in from Bowling Green. We had a lot of fun visiting ... took a walk and checked out the local planaria and fall wildflowers. We all ate too much! We celebrated Rachel and John's birthdays on Saturday night. It seems like only yesterday they were little. Also, Hannah called in on Sunday to check in. It was a good weekend.
Several former students have checked in as they headed to college last week and this week ... good luck to all and learn everything ... going to college is a time to grow, learn and make life-long friends ... There is no other time like it.
Today in Genetics we started gel analysis. One of the main labs in AP is a gel electrophoresis lab to separate fragments of DNA. Today we discussed procedure and how to analyze a gel. Seniors were gone for about 45 minutes in the middle of the class to elect officers. Tomorrow the juniors are out and we will catch the seniors up. Tomorrow more analysis and mapping DNA.
In Selected Topics after checking our planaria and bean plants, we started our study of genetics. Mostly simple recessive and dominant traits. Our study of genetics will continue tomorrow with the Citibank Robbery problem and making pedigrees.
Tomorrow is a problem check day for Computer programming ... our first three advanced problems. Four more advanced problems and we move on to Microsoft qBASIC. Next problem, Karel Can Add.
Last weekend, two or our children were in. Rachel and Kyle were down from Champaign, IL. They arrived Friday night and stayed until after lunch on Sunday. John and Claire were in from Bowling Green. We had a lot of fun visiting ... took a walk and checked out the local planaria and fall wildflowers. We all ate too much! We celebrated Rachel and John's birthdays on Saturday night. It seems like only yesterday they were little. Also, Hannah called in on Sunday to check in. It was a good weekend.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday - Respiration, Moonshine and Rod Rods ...
In Genetics Friday, we finished our mitosis lab and went over our discussion questions from chapters 1 and 2. Next week, we will be working on meiosis and start our study of classical genetics ... also, we will studying enzymes and rates of reactions. Our regeneration lab should wrap up by the end of next week.
Selected Topics finished their microscope lab on Friday and handed in their lab information. We worked on aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Why you have to breathe in oxygen ... what happens if you do not and how to build a still ... anaerobic respiration with yeast using carbohydrates for an energy source.
The winner of the Grand Prix of Karel Problem was Kinsey ... pictured below ... one of our senior softball players that CAN nerd up when necessary! It was the last of our more simple Karel problems but, a lot of fun. Next week, we finish our Cliffclimber and Hurdles problems and I will assign the last of our advance logic problems before moving on to Microscoft qBASIC programming.
In the evening our softball team was honored as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (a minor league baseball team) Hometown Heroes for winning the 2011 State Softball Tournament. We had several players attending and it was fun to see everyone ... one more event will wrap up the 2011 season, the ring ceremony when they dedicate the new athletic facility in a few weeks. Below is former player Catie waiting to throw out the first pitch before the Hot Rods game.
Sue Neal and I have Rachel, Kyle, John and Claire here for the weekend. We stayed up and talked (told stories) after the ball game ... chocolate chip pancakes are on the agenda for this morning.
Yesterday we got a good shower ... over 1/2 inch ... maybe more on Sunday ... we still need a good soaking rain.
Selected Topics finished their microscope lab on Friday and handed in their lab information. We worked on aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Why you have to breathe in oxygen ... what happens if you do not and how to build a still ... anaerobic respiration with yeast using carbohydrates for an energy source.
The winner of the Grand Prix of Karel Problem was Kinsey ... pictured below ... one of our senior softball players that CAN nerd up when necessary! It was the last of our more simple Karel problems but, a lot of fun. Next week, we finish our Cliffclimber and Hurdles problems and I will assign the last of our advance logic problems before moving on to Microscoft qBASIC programming.
In the evening our softball team was honored as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (a minor league baseball team) Hometown Heroes for winning the 2011 State Softball Tournament. We had several players attending and it was fun to see everyone ... one more event will wrap up the 2011 season, the ring ceremony when they dedicate the new athletic facility in a few weeks. Below is former player Catie waiting to throw out the first pitch before the Hot Rods game.
Sue Neal and I have Rachel, Kyle, John and Claire here for the weekend. We stayed up and talked (told stories) after the ball game ... chocolate chip pancakes are on the agenda for this morning.
Yesterday we got a good shower ... over 1/2 inch ... maybe more on Sunday ... we still need a good soaking rain.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Mitosis Lab today, Grand Prix of Karel tomorrow ...
In Genetics and Selected Topics, both classes did a microscope lab and a version of the mitosis lab using onion root tip slides. Students counted the number of cells in each phase of mitosis, generating classroom data. Even in the apical meristem of the onion root tip, most cells were in interphase. Each class did a couple of other activities in this lab ... finding the image and viewing at 400X was a challenge for many students. Tomorrow we will complete this lab. Genetics has some discussion questions to prepare.
In Computer Programming we worked on the Karel Cliff Climber program ... which uses some tricky logic. About half the students are finished with this program. Tomorrow we have our Grand Prix competition ... will take a pict or two.
Our softball team is being honored by the Hot Rods tomorrow. Players attending need to be at the Will Call window before 6:00. We go on the field at 6:15 and the game starts at 7:05 vs the Lansing Lugnuts.
Worked at the house tonight in preparation for Rachel, Kyle, John and Claire's arrival.
In Computer Programming we worked on the Karel Cliff Climber program ... which uses some tricky logic. About half the students are finished with this program. Tomorrow we have our Grand Prix competition ... will take a pict or two.
Our softball team is being honored by the Hot Rods tomorrow. Players attending need to be at the Will Call window before 6:00. We go on the field at 6:15 and the game starts at 7:05 vs the Lansing Lugnuts.
Worked at the house tonight in preparation for Rachel, Kyle, John and Claire's arrival.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Mitosis / Meiosis and some genetics ...
Still no rain today but a chance tomorrow and early next week. It is really dry and it is curtailing any nectar flow from goldenrod, ironweed and other fall flowers ... let alone, my buckwheat is not growing fast enough to stay ahead of the deer.
In Genetics today we covered mitosis and meiosis ... the differernces between spermatogenesis and oogenesis ... also crossing-over in prophase I and non-disjunction problems in humans. Tomorrow we have part of the AP Mitosis Lab to do.
Selected Topics is also covering cell divison. We will doing a microscope lab tomorrow since I have the microscopes out for first block. We also did an analysis of food labels using the candy labels from biochem poker on Tuesday. Planaria seem to be doing well and student and still getting started on the Great Plant Growing Contest.
In Computer Programming about half the class is finished with the first Advanced Problem which involved clearing a landmine field with Karel the Robot. Tomorrow we continue with Karel can Climb and Friday is our Grand Prix contest.
Worked on softball scheduling today. Louisville Ballard is coming down next Spring ... I am about half way finished with scheduling.
Going to Bowling Green now to pick up our mower that is being repaired. Most of the yard is too dry to mow.
In Genetics today we covered mitosis and meiosis ... the differernces between spermatogenesis and oogenesis ... also crossing-over in prophase I and non-disjunction problems in humans. Tomorrow we have part of the AP Mitosis Lab to do.
Selected Topics is also covering cell divison. We will doing a microscope lab tomorrow since I have the microscopes out for first block. We also did an analysis of food labels using the candy labels from biochem poker on Tuesday. Planaria seem to be doing well and student and still getting started on the Great Plant Growing Contest.
In Computer Programming about half the class is finished with the first Advanced Problem which involved clearing a landmine field with Karel the Robot. Tomorrow we continue with Karel can Climb and Friday is our Grand Prix contest.
Worked on softball scheduling today. Louisville Ballard is coming down next Spring ... I am about half way finished with scheduling.
Going to Bowling Green now to pick up our mower that is being repaired. Most of the yard is too dry to mow.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Beetle Blasters. Crick and more...
I had back parking lot duty AM before school this morning and it makes me so happy my children are grown. It is wonder that we don't have more accidents in the parking lot than we do since most drivers looking for a parking place are also busy talking on their cell phones, talking to friends or waving at their friends. It is scary!
In Genetics today, we visited the Sanchez website at the University of Utah. Tomorrow is the Riedden Lab at MIT. We are looking at the publications, projects and research at each lab ... and lots of good pictures/information. We went over the processes of replication, transcription and replication today ... many of the protein players and how mutations in DNA change proteins ... changes for better or more often for the worse.
http://planaria.neuro.utah.edu/index.php
Selected Topics worked a little longer on cell biology before reviewing some general biochemistry and playing a little Biochem Poker. Congratulations to Aden, Geraka and Kris for planning a great game and finishing with $ 770 in chips (candy). We learned a lot! Tomorrow, some reading and cell division.
Introduction Computer Programming started our Advanced Karel problems today ... using If-Then and If-Then-Else statements ... Grand Prix tournament is Friday.
Went by the Clinic and got my Bus Driver Physical today after school. Blood pressure was 120/78 ... and that was after school! ... A big improvement from the old days when I had to nearly take a nap to get my blood pressure down to pass. The Lisinopril must be working ...
After I got home, before dark, I checked what I thought was my three weakest hives and fed them some sugar water inside the hives with Boardman feeders in pints ... There were a good number of bees in each. In one of these hives and another nearby I put beetle busters. I have noticed some small hive beetles when I opened them up previously. Numbers do not seem high and not much if any damage. I will check some more hives this weekend. Beetle Blaster website below for those that are interested.
http://www.betterbeetleblaster.com/
In Genetics today, we visited the Sanchez website at the University of Utah. Tomorrow is the Riedden Lab at MIT. We are looking at the publications, projects and research at each lab ... and lots of good pictures/information. We went over the processes of replication, transcription and replication today ... many of the protein players and how mutations in DNA change proteins ... changes for better or more often for the worse.
http://planaria.neuro.utah.edu/index.php
Selected Topics worked a little longer on cell biology before reviewing some general biochemistry and playing a little Biochem Poker. Congratulations to Aden, Geraka and Kris for planning a great game and finishing with $ 770 in chips (candy). We learned a lot! Tomorrow, some reading and cell division.
Introduction Computer Programming started our Advanced Karel problems today ... using If-Then and If-Then-Else statements ... Grand Prix tournament is Friday.
Went by the Clinic and got my Bus Driver Physical today after school. Blood pressure was 120/78 ... and that was after school! ... A big improvement from the old days when I had to nearly take a nap to get my blood pressure down to pass. The Lisinopril must be working ...
After I got home, before dark, I checked what I thought was my three weakest hives and fed them some sugar water inside the hives with Boardman feeders in pints ... There were a good number of bees in each. In one of these hives and another nearby I put beetle busters. I have noticed some small hive beetles when I opened them up previously. Numbers do not seem high and not much if any damage. I will check some more hives this weekend. Beetle Blaster website below for those that are interested.
http://www.betterbeetleblaster.com/
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday - Great Plant Growing Contest starts
School -
In Genetics today we continued our regeneration lab using planaria. Looked at the Newmark Lab (University of Illinois) online today. We will visit a lab a day this week. We reviewed cell science and handed out our Human Genetics book (Ricki Lewis). Tomorrow is Crick's Central Dogma - Replication, Transcription and Translation.
http://www.life.illinois.edu/newmark/
We started our Great Plant Growing Contest in Selected Topics today. We also worked on cell science in this class. Tomorrow will biochemistry review, cell science and some biochem poker.
We finished checking the Take Out the Trash and Pick the Corn programs in Computer Programming. Students worked on their Grand Prix solution and we did a demo on the if-then-else decision statement.
After school, I worked on our 2012 Softball Schedule then headed home.
I have been keeping some of our plants alive by watering around the house. I have some pumpkins, gourds and squash. The bees arrive early in the morning to get a little pollen and nectar to take back to the hive. This honey bee below was so covered with pollen, it was yellow and could hardly fly. After shaking off some of the pollen it took off for home. The second picture is a honeybee in search of pollen and nectar.
In Genetics today we continued our regeneration lab using planaria. Looked at the Newmark Lab (University of Illinois) online today. We will visit a lab a day this week. We reviewed cell science and handed out our Human Genetics book (Ricki Lewis). Tomorrow is Crick's Central Dogma - Replication, Transcription and Translation.
http://www.life.illinois.edu/newmark/
We started our Great Plant Growing Contest in Selected Topics today. We also worked on cell science in this class. Tomorrow will biochemistry review, cell science and some biochem poker.
We finished checking the Take Out the Trash and Pick the Corn programs in Computer Programming. Students worked on their Grand Prix solution and we did a demo on the if-then-else decision statement.
After school, I worked on our 2012 Softball Schedule then headed home.
I have been keeping some of our plants alive by watering around the house. I have some pumpkins, gourds and squash. The bees arrive early in the morning to get a little pollen and nectar to take back to the hive. This honey bee below was so covered with pollen, it was yellow and could hardly fly. After shaking off some of the pollen it took off for home. The second picture is a honeybee in search of pollen and nectar.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Bee Check, No Rain and a Cow Killer on the Porch
Tomorrow in Genetics we are going to continue our Bio Review ... Cells and More. Selected Topics starts their Great Plant Growing Contest tomorrow and Computer Programming will start decision statements this week ... If-Then, If-Then-Else and While-Do. Less lines of coding but much more thinking!
This weekend, we got about enough rain the wet the grass ... my buckwheat won't be able to do anything until we get a inch or two of rain. I was down in the bottom this evening where I planted some buckwheat and soybeans and there were about 50 wild turkey in a big gaggle eating any seed they could find on the ground.
Checked bee activity and most hives seem pretty active. I am going to put in hive beetle traps this week and take a peak inside.
Sue Neal and I made a trip to Madisonville on Saturday to meet Claire's parents. It was fun and we traded a lot of family stories. We came back 68/80 from Hopkinsville to see the corn and soybean fields.
Finally, I have seen a couple of cowkiller wasps (Dasymutilla occidentalis also called red velvet ant) this summer. Females are wingless and supposedly have a painful sting. One was on the porch looking around this afternoon ... probably should have killed it but I didn't. But, I did take a picture ... about an inch long.
- From University of Kentucky - Entomology ...
One velvet ant that is commonly submitted for identification is the ‘cow killer.’ The cow killer is the largest of the velvet ants in Kentucky, nearly an inch in length. It earned its name by the reputation of the female’s sting. It is said that the sting is so painful that it could kill a cow.
The female is mostly red with some black, the male is half red and half black with dark wings. Females seek out bumble bee nests and lay eggs inside the wax cups. After bees or wasps have formed cocoons, adult female velvet ants enter the host nest by digging through the soil or breaking through nest walls. The cow killer larvae feed on the bumble bee larvae and pupae and will pupate inside the bumble bee nest. This bumble bee is ultimately killed.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Friday - Biochem Poker Champs and some picts!
First of all ... Happy Birthday ... Rachel (my oldest daughter) on your 30th birthday tomorrow ... thirty years ago was a great day and every day since has been better because of you!
Congratulations to today's Genetic class Biochem Poker winners with 805 dollars. What a great job at playing poker and actually knowing a little biochemistry! From left to right ... Jasmyne (your mother never won a contest in my class!), Britni, Kacey and Whitney ... Great job ... you were awesome!
In Genetics today, we wrapped up our review of biochemistry with a biochem poker game where teams analyze the biochem cards they are dealt (each having a molecule) to make into a polymer (larger molecules ... proteins, starch, DNA and more ....). It was fun! Next week is cell science, respiration/photosynthesis and Crick's Central Dogma as we review some biological concepts from baby biology.
In Selected Topics, we planned our Plant Growing Contest which starts on Monday and did some biochemistry review. We also checked our planaria and changed their water for the weekend.
In computer programming I checked problems 3 and 4 ... Students are working on the Grand Prix problem due next Friday. Next week, we will be programming some solutions using decision statements ... the first step to developing artificial intelligence. Karel is a visual logic trainer, we will be in this language for about three weeks.
On the farm, the bees are starting back to work on some fall flowers. We are still needing a good rain. Below are some of the pictures I have taken while checking the bees.
One of my favorites blooming now is wild ageratum.
Below is two types of goldenrod ... the second one I am not sure about ... maybe slender goldenrod.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Regeneration Lab, Biochem and Wild Ageratum
We met again in homeroom today but had most of first block.
In Genetics, after talking about colleges and recommendations for a while, we started our review of biochemistry. Only got through carbohydrates before starting our regeneration lab using planaria. This lab took the rest of the block ... some observations, light-dark test and fed them. Tomorrow we will try and finish our biochemistry review and operate on our planaria.
In Selected Topics third block, we are working with planaria also and started our study of ecology with why food chains must be short. Tomorrow we will continue on ecology and our planaria lab.
Computer Programming ... finally got everyone logged in and started on Karel. Most students finished our first three easy problems. Tomorrow will be the Pick-the-Corn problem.
In softball, I scheduled five more varsity games, a JV tournament and a freshman tournament. I am about a third of the way finished with the 2012 schedule.
Water plants at home today ... I about ready to give up on some of them. Had to scare the deer out of the yard twice tonight ... when it gets dry they stay close to the house. I went to look about some of the buckwheat which really needs rain. Wild ageratum and lots of goldenrod blooming. The bees will be able to use the goldenrod. Took some pict and will put them on tomorrow.
rr
In Genetics, after talking about colleges and recommendations for a while, we started our review of biochemistry. Only got through carbohydrates before starting our regeneration lab using planaria. This lab took the rest of the block ... some observations, light-dark test and fed them. Tomorrow we will try and finish our biochemistry review and operate on our planaria.
In Selected Topics third block, we are working with planaria also and started our study of ecology with why food chains must be short. Tomorrow we will continue on ecology and our planaria lab.
Computer Programming ... finally got everyone logged in and started on Karel. Most students finished our first three easy problems. Tomorrow will be the Pick-the-Corn problem.
In softball, I scheduled five more varsity games, a JV tournament and a freshman tournament. I am about a third of the way finished with the 2012 schedule.
Water plants at home today ... I about ready to give up on some of them. Had to scare the deer out of the yard twice tonight ... when it gets dry they stay close to the house. I went to look about some of the buckwheat which really needs rain. Wild ageratum and lots of goldenrod blooming. The bees will be able to use the goldenrod. Took some pict and will put them on tomorrow.
rr
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
First Day of School 2011-12
Today was the first day of school with students. We met in homeroom for over an hour. I have a senior homeroom this year. I have been their homeroom teacher for now four years and it has been interesting watching the grow up. I think they are about ready to head out into the world!
Genetics - Today we met for about 45 minutes. Got some house keeping things out of the way ... syllabus and expectations. We will hand out books tomorrow, start our review of biology concepts and begin our regeneration lab using planaria.
Selected Topics in Science met for the full time during lunch period. We spent some time getting to know each other. We have a version of the regeneration lab on tap for this class also tomorrow as well as starting our first biology unit.
Introduction to Computer Science - Started on Karel today with some simple programs. I took groups of 4-5 students and walked them through a simple program. We learned how to use the 5 primitive commands of Karel and to bundle these commands to define new instructions. Hopefully we can get everyone able to log on our high school system tomorrow.
... Brought the extractor up from the barn to clean tomorrow. Really need a little rain ... the deer are really hurting my buckwheat crop ... they think its a salad bar.
rr
Genetics - Today we met for about 45 minutes. Got some house keeping things out of the way ... syllabus and expectations. We will hand out books tomorrow, start our review of biology concepts and begin our regeneration lab using planaria.
Selected Topics in Science met for the full time during lunch period. We spent some time getting to know each other. We have a version of the regeneration lab on tap for this class also tomorrow as well as starting our first biology unit.
Introduction to Computer Science - Started on Karel today with some simple programs. I took groups of 4-5 students and walked them through a simple program. We learned how to use the 5 primitive commands of Karel and to bundle these commands to define new instructions. Hopefully we can get everyone able to log on our high school system tomorrow.
... Brought the extractor up from the barn to clean tomorrow. Really need a little rain ... the deer are really hurting my buckwheat crop ... they think its a salad bar.
rr
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Old school - push mowed our lawn.
Our riding mower is being repaired so push mowed the lawn today and lost about 50 lbs! It was good exercise but, I now remember why riding lawn mowers were invented!
We got a little rain today, maybe a tenth or two ... buckwheat and soybeans are coming in up in the small fields I planted earlier in the week ... I don't know how because, it has been so dry.
Starting to get things ready for school on Tuesday.
rr
We got a little rain today, maybe a tenth or two ... buckwheat and soybeans are coming in up in the small fields I planted earlier in the week ... I don't know how because, it has been so dry.
Starting to get things ready for school on Tuesday.
rr
Friday, August 5, 2011
PD Day at school and students stop by ...
Teachers had a PD Day at school today ... procedures, expectations and a lot of formative evaluating instruction information ... We met with students at 3:30 - 5:30. I had about 70 students, some with their parents come by. Good to see some familiar faces. We will get started on Tuesday.
Afterwards Sue Neal and I went over to Bowling Green for a movie ... Crazy, Stupid, Love ... and got a bite to eat.
Bossy our cat got left out all day and was glad to get back into the house.
Hoping for a little rain tomorrow!
Afterwards Sue Neal and I went over to Bowling Green for a movie ... Crazy, Stupid, Love ... and got a bite to eat.
Bossy our cat got left out all day and was glad to get back into the house.
Hoping for a little rain tomorrow!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
More buckwheat, last day of summer vacation... wildflower picts!
This morning early I ran the cultipacker over about 3-4 acres in the hollow back of our house. I broadcast some buckwheat and vetch seed there the evening before. Spent the rest of the morning working in our garden and around the house.
Went to Scottsville later to take some honey to Southern States, picked up a prescription at Stovalls and went out to the high school for a few minutes.
This evening talked to Hannah and Rachel ... always good to talk to them and know they are okay.
Below are two of the wildflowers that I saw this morning. Lots of ironweed just starting to bloom in the areas I did not bush-hog this Spring. The second in orange jewelweed which is in abundance around the small stream and several springs in the hollow back of our house. Orange jewelweed is in the touch-me-not family ... their seedpods burst open suddenly when touched.
Went to Scottsville later to take some honey to Southern States, picked up a prescription at Stovalls and went out to the high school for a few minutes.
This evening talked to Hannah and Rachel ... always good to talk to them and know they are okay.
Below are two of the wildflowers that I saw this morning. Lots of ironweed just starting to bloom in the areas I did not bush-hog this Spring. The second in orange jewelweed which is in abundance around the small stream and several springs in the hollow back of our house. Orange jewelweed is in the touch-me-not family ... their seedpods burst open suddenly when touched.
Last Day of Summer Break!
Today is the last day of summer vacation ... too short with softball going through the middle of June and a week-long AP training at WKU ... not complaining though. We have inservice days Friday and Monday with students' first day on Tuesday. 2011-2012 will make my 24th year of teaching at AC-S. With my five years in Ohio and two in Peace Corps / Brazil ... starting my 31st year of teaching, which seems impossible since I farmed for a few years before teaching. Biology is still so interesting and unlike other subjects at school, it is always changing. Also, I am the oldest teacher at the high school this year. The finish line in one way or another is in sight ... maybe, I should start my kick (as in track and cross country) ... don't want to leave anything on the course!
It took over a day to clean up after honey harvest, a sticky mess. I still have to put away the extractor and some supers today. I put all the wet supers in the barn with the extractor and it only took one day for the bees (several thousand) to find them and carry off the honey.
Since honey harvest, I planted some more buckwheat (actually not related to wheat, a broadleaf plant). I have added some hairy vetch to some of these small fields and also soybeans (which will be cut short later by frost). Nothing will germinate until it rains, hopefully, that will happen this weekend. I plan to plant several of these field in clover, sweet clover, lespedeza and vetch patches early next Spring ... helps the soil and bee food.
It was the hottest day of the summer yesterday. 100 in town with a heat index of about 108. I have started deep watering some of our plants, maybe that will make it rain.
I noticed yesterday, ironweed and wing-stem is starting to bloom and sumac is still blooming, goldenrod is just around the corner so the honeybees will have something to work on soon. Will try and get some picts today.
It took over a day to clean up after honey harvest, a sticky mess. I still have to put away the extractor and some supers today. I put all the wet supers in the barn with the extractor and it only took one day for the bees (several thousand) to find them and carry off the honey.
Since honey harvest, I planted some more buckwheat (actually not related to wheat, a broadleaf plant). I have added some hairy vetch to some of these small fields and also soybeans (which will be cut short later by frost). Nothing will germinate until it rains, hopefully, that will happen this weekend. I plan to plant several of these field in clover, sweet clover, lespedeza and vetch patches early next Spring ... helps the soil and bee food.
It was the hottest day of the summer yesterday. 100 in town with a heat index of about 108. I have started deep watering some of our plants, maybe that will make it rain.
I noticed yesterday, ironweed and wing-stem is starting to bloom and sumac is still blooming, goldenrod is just around the corner so the honeybees will have something to work on soon. Will try and get some picts today.
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