Lesson Plan for the Week of May 19, 2014

Monday:  
Due:  Water Rocket or Water Quality Web-quest
Lab:  Biological Water Analysis
Students will collect and analyze macro-invertebrates from the pond to determine the health of the water.

Tuesday:  
Students will be launching water rockets.  As individuals launch their rockets, the rest of the class will begin the study guide in preparation for the semester test.

Wednesday:  
Students will be launching water rockets.  As individuals launch their rockets, the rest of the class will continue to work on the study guide in preparation for the semester test.

Thursday:  Semester Test

Friday:  Students will complete any labs or other missing assignments.

Lesson Plan for the Week of May 12, 2014

Monday:  Video/Report:  Alien Word - Insects

(3rd and 4th period will complete the outdoor lab "Arthropod Hunt.")

Tuesday:  During the first part of class students will be given instructions on how to construct a water rocket.  During the second part of class we will begin discussions of water use and water quality. (Water rockets are due next Monday.)

Wednesday:  Activity:  Poison Pump

Students will then research how certain chemicals can effect the quality of surface water.

Thursday:  Students will go to the nature center to collect macro-invertebrates.  This is a wet lab.  If students have boots or waders they are encouraged to bring them to class for this lab.

Friday:  Students will be in the lab conducting water quality tests on a sample of pond water.

Lesson Plan for the Week of May 5, 2014

Monday:  Students will use a Geologic Time Scale to answer questions over Earth's history (MBC)

Tuesday:  Students will take notes while viewing a Power Point presentation over human evolution.

Wednesday:  Students will complete a chapter review over Chapter 12 (MBC).

Thursday:  Test:  Chapter 12
 After the test, students will be introduced to arthropods and learn how to use a dichotomous key to investigate the five classes of arthropods.

Friday:  Lab:  Arthropod Hunt

Lesson Plan for the Week of April 28, 2014

Monday:  Introduction to fossils.  Students will research five types of fossils and how they are formed.
Students will complete sketch of natural selection and work with a partner on the packet "Comparing Vertebrate Skeletons."

Tuesday:  Following a discussion of how scientists determine the age of fossils through relative and absolute dating, students will complete the PL221 math assignment "Radioactive Decay and Half-Life."

Wednesday:  Video/Report:  Bill Nye:  Greatest Discoveries in Evolution

Thursday:  Students will use a Geologic time scale to answer questions about the history of life on Earth. (include extinctions)

Friday:  Lab: outdoor plant diversity or indoor "Darwin's Finches"

Lesson Plan for the Week of April 21, 2014

Monday:  Students will be given a grade check for the 1st three weeks of the nine weeks.  (Any student who needs to complete the frog dissection should do so today after school, or Tuesday or Wednesday before school, after school, or during SSR. Frogs will be disposed of after that time.)
Students will revisit their study site in the nature center and make observations over changes since their last visit.

Tuesday:  Students will view a Hank Green video over evolution (MBC).  After a discussion of Darwin's theory of evolution, students will hear about the evolution of the speckled moth before and after the industrial revolution.  Students will be provided an outline of a butterfly.  They will need to color the butterfly to blend in to the classroom environment.

Homework:  Students will color an outline of a butterfly to bring to class tomorrow.  Students should NOT cut out the butterfly until they get to class.

Wednesday:  Activity:  Butterfly Hunt.
Students will investigate one animal for a variation that has allowed them to survive in their environment.  Students will then sketch the four steps of natural selection using their chosen animal (Textbook, page 442.)

Thursday:  Due:  Sketch of Natural Selection.
Biological evidence of evolution will be discussed.  Students will view and compare the embryological development of several vertebrates, included humans.  Students will then complete the packet "Comparing Vertebrates."

Friday:  Due:  "Comparing Vertebrates"
Students will take a mental field trip of Indiana during the Ordovician time period.  Students will then begin the lab "Fossil Find."

Lesson Plan for the Week of April 14, 2014

Monday:  Introduction to dissection:  Students will view a Power Point presentation over the rules and expectations of frog dissection.  Students who have not completed frog plates will continue to color.
(All frog plates must be completed before students begin frog dissection.)

Tuesday:  Lab:  Frog Dissection Day 1 - Students will identify external features of the frog and begin skinning the frog.

Wednesday:  Lab:  Frog Dissection Day 2 - Students will locate and identify 8 muscles.

Thursday:  Lab: Frog Dissection Day 3 - Students will locate and identify organs of the mouth and digestive system.

Friday:  Lab: Frog Dissection Day 4 - Students will locate and identify organs of the circulatory, respiratory, and urogenital systems. 

Can You Name these Central Indiana Frogs?

Small to medium size frog/sticky toes

Large frog/ ridge down back

Medium frog/organized spots

Medium size frog/robbers mask

Small frog/X on back

Medium frog/unorganized spots

Small frog/Abundant in nature center

Largest IN frog/ridge around ear