Next homework set is here. We are currently up to #23. Use the vacation to work on your Battling Beaks Project. I have attached the instructions again. You should have your data sheet in your notebook along with your graph. #18 Write an observation and an inference from your daily life #19 Imagine that no species ever became extinct. Do you think there would be more, less or the same amount of diversity of life forms on our planet? Explain. #20 Propose what might have caused the changes trough time shown on your timeline. Explain #21 Who was Charles Darwin? What was his theory of evolution? What is natural selection? #22 Why do you think earthworms are beige and not green #23 lab write up 96 #24 Cheetahs are very fast. They are endangered. The few left do not show much variation within the species. How does this help explain why they are endangered? 97 #25 use time to work on battling beak lab 98 #26 how do studies of extinct and modern skeletons provide evidence about how species are related 99 #27 Why doesn’t students’ physical appearance provide enough information to classify animals scientifically? 100a #28 Why it is not accurate to say that humans evolved from lizards? 100b Battling Beaks Project #3 Mrs. Kojes MATERIALS Due- January 4th 2013 plastic forks with 1 tine plastic forks with 2 tines plastic forks with 4 tines plastic cups 1 number cube 1 flat tray or large bin 1/2 cup of “wild loops” ( any loop-shaped cereal) Prediction- Do you think that all three forkbird types will be equally successful at gathering food? Why or why not? Lab write-up- what you did, how you did it and incorporate a discussion of your results. Include a graph of the class data for each type of forkbird over many generations. You can plot the data for all three types of forkbirds on a single graph. Be sure to title your graph, label the axes, and provide a key. Include the answers to the following questions in your essay on this lab. 1. Which type of forkbird was initially the most common? 2. What happened over the generations? 3. Which type of forkbird would you consider the most successful? 4. In what way(s) was your prediction similar to the class results? In what way(s) was your prediction different? What could explain the difference(s) between your prediction and the data we collected? 5. What is the source of the physical variation in the forkbird population? 6. How does (inheritable) variation arise in any population? 7. Why must variation be present in the population in order to simulate natural selection? 8. If a forkbird broke one of its tines (or if a real bird chipped its beak), and then reproduced, what would its offspring look like?

next set of homeworks Please do not go ahead. We are up to # 12 #11 Punnett square independent practice sheet 62 #12 Flo What role do you think genes and the environment play in human development and health? Explain your thinking and give some examples. 64 #13 Pedigree Puzzles 66 #14 What additional information do you need to identify the lost children? 68 #15 Write a statement about which of the children are Belinda and Johns and which are Mai and Pauls, use evidence to support your statement 70 #16 Write a judges decision a fair and final decision on whether or not to return the children of somallia to their parents. 71 #17 Should people try to save wild populations of the Asian elephant? #18 Write an observation and an inference from your daily life #19 Imagine that no species ever became extinct. Do you think there would be more, less or the same amount of diversity of life forms on our planet? Explain. #20 Propose what might have caused the changes trough time shown on your timeline.Explain

Here are the first few homework's. #1Bring in signed Welcome letter #2Box of tissues #3Why are the rules important? #4Collect characteristic data from 5 additional people #5What did you “inherit” from your family? #6How would you behave toward a student you suspected of having Marfan syndrome? #7If you were given the opportunity to clone yourself, would you? #8Write down your own definition of dominant. #9Lab write-up for coin tossing #10People think math is important for physics but not for biology. What is your opinion? #11Punnett square worksheet 61

Welcome Class of 2013!

Dear Students and Families, I am Mrs. McDonald-Kojes. I teach 8th grade science. I am looking forward to an exciting year at MS390. We have high expectations for our students. We believe every student can achieve these goals with the support of the family and teacher. Our Science class will focus on enhancing the following: • Solving problems using the scientific method • Telling how living things are affected by their environment • Understanding of reproduction-heredity, evolution, force and motion and planetary science The supply list for this class includes Marble composition notebook Folder Box of tissues Glue Each student is to come prepared to class everyday on time with the following supplies: 2 working writing utensils, glue, any homework that was assigned, personal pencil sharpener with shavings holder. At the beginning of class: Get your Science Notebook and text and sit down before the bell rings or class starts. Silently copy the do now from the board and work on it. Get out your homework, if it was assigned. Please assist your student in providing a quiet place to study/do homework and the necessary school supplies. The grading policy is as follows- 40% Classwork 30% Labs, Exams, Projects` 20% Homework 10% Participation The following classroom expectations are in order to make our classroom a more effective climate for learning. 1. Respect people, opinions and property. (This means no talking out in class, passing notes, being disrespectful to others, and any other behaviors that may prevent someone from paying full attention to the class.) 2. Be on time and prepared for class everyday. (Ready to work = having materials.) 3. Raise hand to speak or leave your desk. 4. Speak appropriately. 5. Be task oriented. The following consequences will be used if a student does not follow the classroom expectations: 1. Verbal/non-verbal warning 2. Seat change/time out in another class 3. Parent Contact - note, email or phone call home 4. Guidance/administrative referral 6. Severe Disruption: Immediate referral (fighting, profanity) Students are expected to follow deadlines and time lines set for each assignment. Homework will be a large part of student responsibilities. Once you have entered the classroom, you MUST STAY in the classroom. Restroom passes WILL NOT be issued the first and last periods of the day—school rule! Every trimester you will receive a report card. A school wide mid-term progress report will be sent home around the middle of each grading period. Communication and parental involvement is vital to your child’s education. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. My preferred method of contact is by email (My email is Kojes390@gmail.com) Read my blog to stay current: http://390science8.blogspot.com/ The site can also be accessed through the MS390 school website. www.ms390.net Please sign the permission for media consent you're student will be bringing home, we take pictures and may take videos in class. If you have any concerns about the media policy please contact me. Thank you for your help and support.