Welcome to Mrs. Koerner's Science Site!
ABOUT MY SITE
The entries below are designed to support both parents and students in their 8th grade journey to success in science. An overview of the current unit will be posted in pdf form and will be updated weekly to inform you as to which lessons were completed during the week. Weekly homework assignments with due dates will also be listed. In addition, handout pdf's and QuikTime movies of PowerPoint presentations will be posted here. If you have any concerns, please contact me at 847-353-5553 or by my email address rkoerner@d102.org. I'm looking forward to a year of success for all of my students!
Access to online textbook: my.hrw.com username: p(select your class period number)1112 password: aptakisic
Access to BrainPop: username: d102student password: d102
WEEK OF MAY 14 - MAY 18
There is currently no planned homework this week. I will be absent Wednesday through Friday for a National Science Teachers' Association STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) conference. Mr. Saxton will supervise classes during my absence. Our culminating presentation project will be introduced on Friday by Dr. Brontman. It is recommended that students do begin research on their selected topic over next weekend.
Ecology Project 12.pdf
WEEK OF MAY 7 - MAY 11
May 7:
1. The due date for the National Park Ecosystem Project is tomorrow. We have been granted a 30-minute time window from 7 - 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning for anyone who wants to print their project in color. I'll open the computer lab during that time. This is for printing only, NOT working on designing the project.
2. There will be a test over Ecology, Chapter 1 onThursday. No test aid is permitted this time.
May 8:
1. There will be a test over Ecology, Chapter 1 on Thursday. No test aid is permitted this time.
2. Graphs of the Carrying Capacity Game are due Thursday. Here are your directions and the data per class:
Using the graph paper given to you, graph the data so that your graph looks similar to the one discussed in the Populations PowerPoint.
1. Label your axes. Our time unit is years and we are counting the number of animals.
2. Give the graph a title; you have already learned this skill in Scientific Method regarding how to write an appropriate title.
3. Are you making a line or bar graph? (Hint: Look at the graph in the Populations movie that is posted below.)
4. Be sure to use a key to show the appropriate graph.
5. Draw dotted line(s) to show the carrying capacity of each graph and write the number of the carrying capacity to the right of that dotted line. On the shorter population counts, you may not be able to accomplish this goal, but you should be able to do it for the deer with no wolves count.
6. Circle the part on one graph that shows exponential growth part of that graph.
7. The population counts match up with the years that are listed above the counts.
(I've just checked online and the alignment of the data below is skewed. Nothing I can do is putting them back into position. They are showing up as being perfectly aligned on my initial copy. Just put them onto your graph in the order they are listed.)
Years: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Period 4:
Deer with no wolves 2 4 8 6 12 21 8 16 18 12 16
Deer with wolves 2 4 8 12 10 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Wolves 2 2 2 4 8 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Period 5:
Deer with no wolves 2 4 8 10 14 20 8 14 12 16 12
Deer with wolves 2 4 6 8 10 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Wolves: 2 2 2 4 7 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Period 6:
Deer with no wolves 2 4 8 14 4 8 10 12 8 14 4
Deer with wolves 2 2 4 6 8 6 6 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Wolves 2 2 1 2 2 6 7 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Period 8:
Deer with no wolves 2 4 8 14 19 10 16 16 17 16 16
Deer with wolves 2 4 8 13 16 4 4 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Wolves 2 2 2 4 6 11 11 (Ran out of time for more population counts)
Period 9:
Deer with no wolves 2 4 8 15 16 16 14 19 8 14 13
Deer with wolves 2 2 2 0
Wolves 2 3 4 6
May 9:
1. There will be a test over Ecology, Chapter 1 on Thursday. No test aid is permitted this time. (Please note that the review PowerPoint we discussed in class is posted below for your convenience tonight. This is the one identified as relationship 1.ppt. There appears to be a technical gliche with the PowerPoint, so I'll also add the QuikTime movie version.)
2. Your Carrying Capacity graph is due tomorrow.
May 10:
1. RHO Water Cycle, if not done in class.
May 11:
2. Complete the Rain Shadow Effect, if not done in class.
Interactions W-In Communities 12.mov
Populations-SB-10-2.mov
relationship 1.ppt
relationship 1.mov
Graph Paper.pdf
Rain Shadow Effect.pdf
WEEK OF APRIL 30 - MAY 4
Please note that our online textbook has now changed to Environmental Science. If you have lost your handout, please refer to this location for the text readings.
April 30:
1. RHO Living Things Need Energy (Periods 4, 5, 6 need this by Tuesday. Periods 8 and 9 need this by Wednesday.)
2. National Park Ecosystem worksheet is due next Monday, May 7. Your choices of national parks are: Yellowstone (nps.gov/yell), Great Smoky Mountains (nps.gov/grsm), and Everglades (nps.gov/ever). The template for this project is located in the downloads section of my science page. In other words, go to the same location where you found the My Yard template during our self-directed study.
May 1:
Nothing new
May 2:
1. RHO Types of Interactions (Periods 4, 5, and 6 will have class time to work on this assignment as Periods 8 and 9 catch up.
May 3:
1. The due date for the National Park Ecosystem Project has been moved to Tuesday. We have been granted a 30-minute time window from 7 - 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning for anyone who wants to print their project in color. I'll open the computer lab during that time. This is for printing only, NOT working on designing the project.
2. There will be a test over Ecology, Chapter 1 next Thursday. No test aid is permitted this time.
May 4:
Nothing new
Please note that I will be out of town to judge the State Science Fair from Friday to Saturday. No communications will be answered during that time period.
Living Earth.mov
ECOLOGY STUDY GUIDE 12.b.pdf
WEEK OF APRIL 23 - 27
April 23:
1. Study for test covering Photosynthesis, Respiration and Plant Responses on Wednesday. A 3 x 5 test aid with notes to self on both sides is acceptable to help yourself with the test. No shrinking textbook pages to put on the test aid!!!!
2. Botany Reflection is due tomorrow.
April 24:
1. Study for test covering Photosynthesis, Respiration and Plant Responses on Wednesday. A 3 x 5 test aid with notes to self on both sides is acceptable to help yourself with the test. No shrinking textbook pages to put on the test aid!!!!
2. Botany Binder Panel is due Thursday, April 26.
April 25:
1. Botany Binder Panel is due Thursday, April 26 by the end of class.
April 26:
1. Botany Artifacts are due Monday.
2. RHO Everything is Connected by Monday.
April 27:
1. Botany Artifacts are due Monday.
2. RHO Everything is Connected by Monday.
Botany Reflection 12a.pdf
WEEK OF APRIL 16 - APRIL 19
April 16:
Nothing new
April 17:
RHO Plant Responses to the Environment pgs 118 - 121 and 134 - 136. There may be some duplication of information between these two textbooks; you do not need to record duplications in your notes. This is primarily on page 134; focus on touch; the rest has been covered earlier.
April 18:
Review worksheet due Thursday. Disregard information on photoperiodism in the Plant Responses movie that is below!!!
April 19:
1. Study for test covering Photosynthesis, Respiration and Plant Responses on Wednesday. A 3 x 5 test aid with notes to self on both sides is acceptable to help yourself with the test. No shrinking textbook pages to put on the test aid!!!!
2. Ecology Anticipation due Monday.
respiration1a.mov
Plantstimresponse.mov
Ecology Anticipation-0910.pdf
Ecology Anticipation-0910.pdf
WEEK OF APRIL 9 - APRIL 13
April 9:
RHO Photosynthesis by Wednesday. Tonight focus on finishing pages 110 - 113. Please be aware that there is an insert from our previous textbook.
April 10:
RHO Photosynthesis by Wednesday. Tonight focus on pages 126 - 128.
April 11:
Work on the Photosynthesis Factory (due Monday)
April 12:
1. Work on the Photosynthesis Factory (due Monday)
2. RHO Respiration
April 13:
1. Work on the Photosynthesis Factory (due Monday) For the written component, you do not need to write a paragraph. You simply need to explain how your sketch displays each step. For example, for #4 you might write, "The light in my factory is being captured by nets carried by beetles and is being transferred to the conveyor belt."
2. Be sure to have the RHO for Respiration ready for Monday.
Photosynthesis, Etc. 12.pdf
photosyn1.mov
Photosynthesis Factory Project.pdf
Monday's Botany Exam is a "GO" Remember that there will be a study session before school on Monday. I'll check my email in the morning, afternoon, and evening each day for any questions you may have.
See below in April 2 - 5 for postings of answer sheets for study.
WEEK OF APRIL 2 - APRIL 5
April 2:
1. All work from Structure and Function of Plants was due today. If you did not accomplish the work, the late work clock is now ticking.
2. Complete the review packet by Thursday.
3. Begin preparation for next week's Botany Exam. A test aid, 3 x 5 inch, with notes on both sides is permitted.
April 3:
1. Continue work on the review packet.
2. Continue preparation for the exam.
April 4:
1. Continue work on the review packet.
2. Continue preparation for the exam.
* Answers to the Chromatography Lab and a grading "code" for the Moss Mass Lab are posted below.
April 5:
1. Continue preparation for the exam.
Plant Ch3 Review Key.pdf
Compare : Contrast.pdf
Plant Ch3 Review Key.pdf
Chromatography Lab Answers.pdf
Compare : Contrast Key.pdf
Moss Mass Grading Code.pdf
Botany Review 2011.pdf
Dissecting Seeds Key.pdf
SPRING BREAK WEEK
Dear Students and Parents,
For the past two weeks we have spent class time in a self-directed study of Botany. Students were expected to create outlines as homework and then come in prepared for the labs and computer work that was available at school. They were free to choose their daily activities. (After school hours were offered in case any student fell behind schedule during class.) Once we return from Spring Break, all lab supplies will no longer be available. On our first day back, students will be expected to take any quizzes that were not taken during these past two weeks in school. All quizzes are open note. Consequently, if your student did not complete his/her work during these past two weeks, they have given themselves homework over the break. The following is a "map" to bring them success upon
return from Spring Break. Please note: All students did receive each and every worksheet on Wednesday of this past week.
Notes: The study guide, reading packet, and "map" to success are available below, posted during the week of March 12 - 16.
PowerPoints: All are available on FirstClass, on my science conference icon, in the downloads section.
BrainPops: Available as indicated above "Spring Break Week"
Virtual Investigations: Available as indicated by the access to our online textbook as listed above "Spring Break Week" We are using Short Course A and are in Chapter 4. Click on eActivity and you will see the Virtual Investigation in column 2.
Chromatography Lab: This is available below; please note that the theory is in one document and the questions in a second. If your student has lost his/her chromatography strip, it is not recoverable. That was the product of the lab and can't be duplicated. Images of the chromatography strips, however, can be accessed in my downloads. Skip questions 1 and 5. The last question on this worksheet is inferential; think about what you did in the lab combined with our introductory movie, Medicine Man and their search for the cancer cure.
My Yard: This template is available in the location with the downloads. Students are to drag and drop a representative plant image from online images in each of the five categories listed on the template and identify that plant inside the text box.
Root Lab: You can be perfectly successful referring to the PowerPoint. The worksheet does have a couple of inferential questions that you will have to think about. Worksheet is below. Root images have been placed in the downloads.
Leaf Diagram: You can be perfectly successful referring to the PowerPoint. Worksheet is below.
Labs that can no longer be done: Moss Mass (QuickLab page 83), Seed Dissection, Conifer Lab, and Monocot - Dicot Sort.
Chromatography Theory.pdf
Chromatography Questions 12.pdf
Leaf Project.pdf
WEEK OF MARCH 19 - MARCH 23
Dear Students and Parents,
We will continue the self-directed learning this week. Students have been coached daily as to how far they should have progressed with the chapter. Some are ahead of schedule, most are right on schedule, and there are others who are significantly behind schedule. Please be aware that if the work is not done by Spring Break, your student has given him/herself homework for the holiday. When we return, we will review all worksheets and materials with emphasis on areas that indicate direct instruction is needed for mastery. Our Botany Exam is scheduled for the first week back from Spring Break; the date will depend upon mastery level achieved during these two weeks.
I have offered students the opportunity to come to science during study halls and / or to stay after school on Tuesday and Wednesday (possibly Thursday too) if they have found that they are behind with the work.
WEEK OF MARCH 12 - MARCH 16
Dear Students and Parents,
Botany will be taught in a "self-directed" style of learning, much like that experienced during our Earth Stories assignment. Expect to give yourselves homework nightly in order to be able to participate in the classroom stations / activities on the following day. Students will select the order of completion for the four segments of this unit. All work is due in by departure for Spring Break.
Plant Reading Packet 12.pdf
BOTANY SUCCESS MAP.pdf
BOTANY STUDY GUIDE 12.pdf
WEEK OF MARCH 5 - MARCH 9
Please note that this week will be an odd one due to ISAT testing on Tuesday through Thursday and SEL on Friday.
New homework assignments are not permitted Monday through Wednesday so that students can get a full night's rest in preparation for the ISAT tests.
ANTICIPATED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
March 5:
No new homework!
Remember that the paragraph response to Becoming Human (assigned on February 28) is due Friday.
March 6:
No new homework!
Remember that the paragraph response to Becoming Human (assigned on February 28) is due Friday.
March 7:
No new homework!
Remember that the paragraph response to Becoming Human (assigned on February 28) is due Friday.
March 8:
Remember that the paragraph response to Becoming Human (assigned on February 28) is due tomorrow.
March 9:
Enjoy our "Spring-ish" weekend!
Plant Characteristics Schedule.pdf
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 1
This week is designed for in-class work on the transition from Geologic Time to Botany. Students will be planting seeds to monitor and ultimately plant in our school's courtyard vegetable garden. Paperwork includes the Botany Anticipation, Geologic Time Reflection, Geologic Time Portfolio Artifacts, and Geologic Time Binder Panel. A new writing initiative is also being reviewed and may be launched this week.
Homework is not anticipated, unless a student wastes class work time. Then that student will actually be assigning homework to him/herself.
Update 2/28: Most students should only have the Geologic Binder Panel or the writing assignment to complete after these two workdays in class. Students who worked with me on the writing assignment, however, will be working on both assignments.
The following are due dates for the in-class work (in case anyone needs to do remaining homework):
Botany Anticipation: February 29
Geologic Time Reflection: February 29
Geologic Time Artifacts: February 29
Seed Planting: February 29
(If a student needs to come in extra to finish these items by tomorrow, please let me know. I will be here after school on February 28 until 3:45 and will arrive by 7 a.m. on February 29.)
At least one of the following two will most likely be homework:
Geologic Time Binder Panel
Becoming Human Writing Response
One of these two assignments is due on March 5 and the second on March 9. It is up to each student to determine which one he / she chooses to turn in first. I am recommending that the binder panel be turned in on March 5 and the writing assignment on March 9.
Becoming Human Reading0.pdf
GeoTime Binder '11.pdf
BECOMING HUMAN Response.pdf
Geo Time Reflection-11.pdf
GEOLOGIC TIME ARTIFACTS.pdf
Botany UA-11 01.pdf
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 24
ANTICIPATED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
February 21:
1. Continue to work on poster project. The next benchmark will be on Wednesday, February 22.
A. Those students working on Project #1 need to have a preliminary sketch of their hybrid organism, showing some "morphing" of physical features from the animals being bred together. Important!!! Due to a problem found this weekend, Project 1 students who are using a computer to "morph" your hybrid animal MUST cite the sources of the photos that you are using or your design will not receive a score!!!!!
B. Those students working on Project #2 need to have photos ready for check-in.
2. RHO The Cenozoic Era, pages 174 - 175
February 22:
1. The poster project is now in its final stage and is due 2/27. Be sure to plan and check your work using the rubric!
2. Study for Friday's exam. A 3 x 5 inch test aid with information on both sides is allowed.
February 23:
2. Study for Friday's exam. A 3 x 5 inch test aid with information on both sides is allowed.
Remember that I've put answer keys online so that you can check your Earth Stories Crossword, How the Earth Was Made movie notes, and the Fossil Test.
Last minute review session tomorrow morning from 7 - 7:30 a.m. After 7:30 all extra tutoring ends. See you then!
February 24:
1. Poster Project is due Monday.
Geologic Time Schedule3.pdf
Middle and Recent Earth History.mov
HowDoSpeciesEvolve-05.pdf
Earth Stories Crossword Key.pdf
How Earth Was Made Key.pdf
Fossil Test Key.pdf
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13 - FEBRUARY 17
Please note that below are two movies for Life and Geologic Time. There is a second half to the movie that reflects modifications to cover Lamarck and more recent information on artificial selection.
Early Warning: We are tentatively looking at the Geologic Time Exam next week on Thursday or Friday!
ANTICIPATED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
February 13:
1. Due Tuesday: Brief "plan" for your poster project. Need your and partner(s) names, whether you are doing Project 1 or 2, the names of the animals that you will be "breeding" or the identification of your National Geographic article.
February 14:
1. Continue to work on poster project
February 15:
1. Continue to work on poster project
February 16:
1. Continue to work on poster project
2. Be sure to review your notes, especially those from the PowerPoint lectures for tomorrow's test. Hint: All questions on the test can be answered solely with the PowerPoint notes (providing that you took thorough notes).
February 17:
1. Continue to work on poster project. The next benchmark will be on Wednesday, February 22.
A. Those students working on Project #1 need to have a preliminary sketch of their hybrid organism, showing some "morphing" of physical features from the animals being bred together.
B. Those students working on Project #2 need to have photos ready for check-in.
2. RHO Mesozoic Era, pages 170 - 173
Early Earth History.mov
Geologic Time Schedule2.pdf
Life and Geologic time.mov
Life and Geologic Time 2nd half modified.mov
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6 - FEBRUARY 10
Please note that assignment dates may be modified this week per Stevenson placement meetings' impact on classroom instructional patterns.
ANTICIPATED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
February 6:
Nothing new
February 7:
Nothing new
February 8:
Make sure that you have all 3 sets of notes from 6.1 (Life and Geologic Time) for an open note summary quiz tomorrow.
February 9:
Begin the Geologic Time Poster Project. By Monday have a brief description of your project available, along with your partner(s). Project 1 can have up to two people; project 2 can have up to 3 people on a team.
February 10:
1. RHO Paleozoic Era, pages 164 - 168. Look at, but do not take notes on, page 165.
2. Due Tuesday (change in due date from yesterday): Brief "plan" for your poster project. Need your and partner(s) names, whether you are doing Project 1 or 2, the names of the animals that you will be "breeding" or the identification of your National Geographic article.
Geologic Time Schedule1.pdf
GeoTime Poster Project.pdf
WEEK OF JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 3
ANTICIPATED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
January 30:
1. Study for Fossil Test
2. BrainPop Fossils (Take the graded quiz, print, and bring to class)
January 31:
1. RHO pages 156 - 158
2. BrainPop Geologic Time (Take the graded quiz, print, and bring to class)
February 1: These assignments are due Friday:
1. RHO pages 159 - 161
2. BrainPops Natural Selection, Charles Darwin, and Extinction (Take the graded quiz, print, and bring to class)
February 2:
Nothing new
February 3:
1. RHO 6.2 Early Earth History, pages 162 - 164. Stop when you reach the heading "The Paleozoic Era."
Geologic Time Schedule0.pdf
Creation of Fossils-Handout.pdf
GEOLOGIC TIME STUDY GUIDE.pdf
WEEK OF JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 27
ANTICIPATED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
There are currently no anticipated homework assignments this week, other than reviewing concepts discussed in class. Most of our activities will be hands on in class.
Tuesday, January 24: Periods 5 and 8: Did not complete the BrainPop during class, as was planned. You need to view the "Radioactivity" BrainPop (has the radioactive warning logo) tonight. Take the graded quiz and turn it in tomorrow. Use d102 student and d102 as the codes to log in.
Wednesday, January 25:
1. RHO pages 154 - 155. (Focus on thorough definitions.) No notes tomorrow = no iPad!!!
2. Tomorrow we will be working with the iPad's ap Earth Stories. Bring in your earbuds in order to listen to the videos in this ap. You may choose to work alone or with a partner. I strongly recommend a partner in order to detect all the information that is included in the ap. It will be really tough to complete the worksheets if you choose to work alone. We have only these two days to finish the ap.
Thursday, January 26:
1. No new homework
2. The Fossil Test has been postponed until next Tuesday. I want to run you through the paleontologist challenge before the test.
Friday, January 27:
1. No new homework
2. The Fossil Test has been postponed until next Tuesday. I want to run you through the paleontologist challenge before the test. You should be studying the information that you have already learned about fossils.
fossil prep-1.mov
Geologic Time Schedule.pdf
Geo Time Chapter 6.pdf