Monarchs, Mitosis Lab, Rock Lab and qBASIC begins ...

In AP Biology this week, we did some practice Chi Square calculation of sample data before starting our Mitosis/Meiosis Lab.  This lab will continue on Monday and on Wednesday, we will start our photosynthesis lab using our spectrophotometers.

In Selected Topics in Science, we started our Earth Science unit with a project called 7 Days of Weather.  We are using NOAA and weather.com to record and analyze the weather each day (continental USA).  Today we worked on our Rock Lab ... lots of sample and analysis, including density tests.  This lab will continue on Tuesday.

Computer Programming II is still working in Scratch.  We have about 3-4 weeks of Scratch programming before moving into python full-time.  However, we are trying out a few simple python programs each week.  So far, so good.

Computer Programming I has started qBASIC.  This year, we are using qB64 a newer version.  We started our study of READ/DATA statements today.

Next week is the last week before fall break.  We will have 3 "A" schedule days.  Lots of work to do before taking a breather.

Tonight is Homecoming at the football game.  We had a Pep Rally today during Pride Time / Flex.

Continuing to see a few monachs each day ... check out the following websites for updates on the migration.

Journey North - http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/
Monarch Watch - http://www.monarchwatch.org/
The Kentucky Wildflower Farm - http://kywildflowerfarm.blogspot.com/

Mitosis / Meiosis and Monarch caterpillars ...

Full week ahead and two weeks of work until fall break.  PSAT is schedule for October 15th.

Tomorrow on the "A" schedule we will have AP Biology.  Diffusion lab supplies from Carolina Biological are back ordered so we will go on to mitosis and meiosis.  We will have our Mitosis/Meiosis Lab on Wednesday.  Respiration Lab writeup due on Wednesday.

In Computer Science I tomorrow, we will continue our first five programming problems in qBASIC.  I have nine students to check off in Karel.

Tuesday is a "B" day.  In Computer Programming II we will do a sample problem in Python and work on our Scratch problems in Chapter 7.

Best pictures from this weekend below ... a Common Buckeye butterfly and some Monarch caterpillars ... they better hurry if they are going to make it to Mexico.

Respiration Lab ... peas, buckwheat and winter oats!

Today, fall testing began ...  Classes filled out testing forms and did ILP's.

We were able to have full AP Biology classes today and complete the cellular respiration lab.  Students used respirometers to test germinating pea seeds and non-germinating pea seeds.  In addition, students completed an inquiry extension.  Available were germinating winter oats, barley, buckwheat, mung beans and sunflower seeds.  We will generate classroom data on Friday and finish the paperwork for this lab. Student above and below working and the experimental setup which was conducted under water in water baths.

http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/bio-manual/Bio_Lab6-CellularRespiration.pdf

Today, my third block computer programming class worked to complete the mission impossible problem.  We will check this problem on Friday and start Microsoft qBASIC.

Tomorrow is a testing day ... PLAN test for sophomores and ASVAB for seniors.  Juniors and freshmen will take practice ACT tests.

Python, Population Genetics and qB64 begins

Back to school tomorrow after a teacher workday today.  This week we have our fall testing period.  This will include PLAN test for sophomores, ACT practice test for freshmen and juniors and ASVAB for seniors.  These tests will be on Thursday morning with prep up on Wednesday.  We will be having A day classes on Friday (AP Biology and Computer Programming I for me).

Our Computer Programming II class continues to work on advanced looping statements in Scratch.  Tomorrow we will look at the computer science departments at WKU and Centre College before starting class.  This is the only day this week Computer Programming II class will meet because of our fall testing schedule.

Selected Topics in Science will continue their population genetics lab on Tuesday.  Tomorrow will be selection against the recessive allele and heterozygous advantage.

Computer Programming I will start checking the final problems in Karel tomorrow.  Some students are working on qBASIC (qB64 language) which will be our next language.

On Wednesday, AP Biology will start the Cellular Respiration Lab.  Be ready!

Fall nectar flow is ongoing in Holland ...

Python, Mission Impossible and Cell Communication ...

AP Biology today reviewed concepts of aerobic respiration.  Our Respiration Lab will begin next Wednesday (the next time AP Bio meets).  Also today we began our study of Cell Communication ... Signal Transduction.

Computer Programming II will wrap up decision statements in Scratch programming on Friday.  We will move on to some programming problems with advance looping and recursion.  We will also begin working on some simple Python programs ... Python begins!

Computer Programming I is finishing Karel programs with the Mission Impossible Problem.  A few students have finished and we will soom move on to Microsoft qBASIC.  It will be a good time for students to catch up since we will be starting with very simple programming problems.

Selected Topics will finish their microscope lab tomorrow and review some genetic problems ... we construct a pedigree.  After fall break we will be moving on to Earth Science.

Last hot day of the fall today ... cold front coming in!  Lots of butterflies and moths still active!  Below, a summer azure and a caterpillar of an Io Moth.  Less facebook/drama and more outdoors/nature ... a suggestion for my students.

Respiration, Photosynthesis and Club Schedule ...

Club Schedule on Monday ...

AP Biology worked on aerobic and anaerobic respiration on Friday.  We discussed the light and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis and played a reveiw game at the end of class.  We will wrap up our discussion questions on photosynthesis and signal transduction (cell communication) on Monday.  Several labs on the horizon.

Computer Programming II problems are centered on decision making statements if-then and if-then-else.  We checked conversion programs last week.  We will continue to work on decision statements and numeric operators next week.  We are working in Scratch until Fall Break before moving on to Python.

Computer Programming I is wrapping up Karel with three problems ... Field of Landmines, Karel Can Add and Mission Impossible.  qBASIC will start before fall break.  Several students checked off their Karel solutions for Cliffhanger, Hurdles and Skyscraper, Lay the Carpet last week.

Selected Topics in Science is in the middle of a microscope lab which will wrap up on Tuesday ... next week we return to work on genetics.

It is suppose to cool down this week as we head to fall.  The Monarch migration is underway, I saw six on their way to Mexico yesterday while I was bush-hogging.  A good time to be outside.  Below on our farm,  a Grey Hairstreak on Rattlesnake Master with a long-horn beetle(?).

Back to Work after Labor Day Weekend ...

Today, Computer Programming II had a full house (after seniors missed two class days for senior elections and superlatives ...).  Most students finished up their conversion problems which uses both math and user inputs.  We also looked at the CS departments of both UK and Transylvania University before starting our programming.  Problem 6 was assigned and is either "Guess the Number 1-100" or a BMI calculation.  This program begins our study of decision-making code for Scratch.

Our Selected Topics class continued to work in genetics today.  More Punnett Squares, the "Find My Baby" problem and a tour through our genetics book studying human genetics problems.  We will have a microsope lab on Thursday.

Tomorrow is AP Biology day ... we are working on dicussion questions from Chapters 6-7.  Our diffusion-osmosis lab will be postponed since our order to Carolina Biological is not here.  Morning quizzes start tomorrow.

Computer Programming I classes are checking their problems (Cliffclimber, Hurdles and Carpet) this week and moving to the last three problems in the Karel programming language.

Rained alot this weekend ... great blue lobelia blooming in the spring-fed bottom behind our house.