Week of May the 4th

Hey 7th Graders!  

This week is a little different.  You will have some options and flexibility.  Carefully read the information below. 

This week you have 2 important tasks:  

• Take the GENETICS QUIZ whenever you feel ready.  Send me a picture of your work.

• Complete the MOVEMENT NATURE JOURNAL.  Send me a picture of your work.  

If you finish the quiz and nature journal early, you have 3 options: 

• Catch up on work from any of your classes.

• Go spend time doing something active.  Be outside, away from your screens.

• Do something helpful for a family member, a friend, or the environment.   

If you need more practice with Punnett squares,  there are two new practice problems and videos below for each day, Monday to Thursday. (If you feel confident and ready to take the quiz, you do not have to complete the practice problems.)

Monday's Practice Problems:

You can try the problems on your own and check your work with the videos.  Or, if you still aren't ready, feel free to do the problems along with me on the video. 

CLICK HERE for PDF of Monday's problems

Problem 1: 

Problem 2:

_____________________________
Tuesday's Practice Problems:

You can try the problems on your own and check your work with the videos.  Or, if you still aren't ready, feel free to do the problems along with me on the video.

CLICK HERE for a PDF of Tuesday's problems

Problem 1: 

Problem 2:

_____________________________
Wednesday's Practice Problems:

You can try the problems on your own and check your work with the videos.  Or, if you still aren't ready, feel free to do the problems along with me on the video.

CLICK HERE for a PDF of Wednesday's problems

Problem 1: 

Problem 2:

_____________________________

Thursday's Practice Problems:

You can try the problems on your own and check your work with the videos.  Or, if you still aren't ready, feel free to do the problems along with me on the video.

CLICK HERE for a PDF of Thursday's problems

Problem 1: 

Problem 2:

Friday, May 1st: Changes Nature Journal

Yay!  It's May!

Celebrate the new month by getting outside for a nature journal.  

For the past several weeks I’ve asked you to go outside and notice different things- senses, shapes, colors, what’s up and what’s down. 

Today I want you to think back on some of the things you’ve noticed on your earlier nature journals and look for how nature has CHANGED over the last few weeks.  

Set a timer for at least 15 minutes and then look around- What’s the same?  What’s different?  You may use words and/or pictures.

 If you don’t notice changes or don’t remember, you can just draw and/or describe anything in nature that stands out to you.

You can print this note-catcher or make your own.

Please send a picture of yourself outside and a picture of your nature journal to Ms. Dolan; adolan@hccs481.org     ms.dolans_science

Thursday, April 30th: Practicing Punnett Squares

Let's practice using Punnett Squares!

CLICK HERE for Punnett Squares practice problems

You can print the pages or write your work and your answers on any sheet of paper. 

If you are feeling confident... and want to try some Punnett Squares problems on your own, go for it!  You can then check your work with the videos.   Just be sure to show all your work! 

If you are NOT feeling confident yet... that's ok!  Watch the videos and do the problems together with me.

Practice Problem 1:

Practice Problem 2:

Practice Problem 3:

When you're finished,

Please send Ms. Dolan a message.  Let me know:  

1.  If you did the problems on your own or with the video.  

2.  How confident you are feeling with this topic.

Wednesday, April 29th: Introducing Punnett Squares

Hi there, 7th graders!

Today we are going to build on our genetics understanding and learn how to use Punnett squares to make predictions.  

Task 1:

Print this fill-in-the-blank note-catcher.  If you can't print, that's ok!  You can make your own note-catcher on any sheet of paper (like the picture below shows).  

CLICK HERE for the Punnett squares notes page

Task 2:

Watch this video that introduces Punnett squares.  As you watch, fill in your notes page.

Task 3:
Follow along and takes notes as we go through the first example problem.

Task 4:
Follow along and takes notes as we go through the second example problem.

Task 5:
Send Ms. Dolan your answers to these 3 questions:

1.  What is a Punnett square?

2.  What is probability?

3.  How well do you think you understand what you just watched in the videos?


(adolan@hccs481.org   ms.dolans_science)

Tuesday, April 28th: Check your answers & reflect on learning

Please watch the video below to check your answers to the unicorn genetics practice page:

Think about what you've learned about genetics and heredity.  Answer these 5 reflection questions and send your answers to Ms. Dolan: adolan@hccs481.org     ms.dolans_science

1.   On a scale of 0-5 (0 = “I’m lost; 5 = “I got this!”), how do you feel about the genetics work we’ve been doing?  Please explain your rating.

2.    What has been the easiest part of this to understand?

3.    What has been the most challenging thing to understand?

4.    What do you still not quite understand?

5.    What would help you feel more confident?

Monday, April 27th: Unicorn Genetics

Happy Monday, 7th graders!

Task 1: 
Let's start today by reviewing the genetics vocabulary you learned last week.  Can you define or explain these words? 

Genotype-

Phenotype-

Homozygous-

Heterozygous-

Dominant-

Recessive-

Try writing your own definitions.  Then check your answers here.

Task 2:

Now, use this understanding to complete the unicorn genetics practice page.  You can print the page below or write your answers on any sheet of paper.

           Click here for the unicorn genetics practice page

Please send a picture of your answers to Ms. Dolan  adolan@hssc481.org    ms.dolans_science

I'll go over the answers in a video tomorrow!

Friday, April 24th: Nature Journal Day!

It's Nature Journal Day!

Today let's do an Up & Down nature journal.

Part 1:  Look UP! 

• Find a safe and comfortable place to lie on the ground or sit in a chair. 
• Set a timer for 7 minutes.
• Look up and study the sky or the trees or whatever you can see.  What do you see?  What colors, shapes, objects, or animals do you see?  Record your observations.  You may use words and/or pictures.

Part 2:  Look DOWN!

• Find a safe and comfortable place to lie on the ground or sit in a chair. It's also ok to walk or crawl around.
• Set a timer for 7 minutes.
• Look down and study the soil, plants, insects or whatever you can see.  What do you see?  What colors, shapes, objects, or animals do you see?  Record your observations.  You may use words and/or pictures.

There is a note-catcher here that you may use.  But you can also create your own. 

Have Fun!

Send a picture of your journal (and a picture of you outside if possible) to Ms. Dolan: adolan@hccs481.org          ms.dolans_science