Mrs. Prochazka’s Science Page

All students will be taking the Biology HSA on either Thursday, 5/28/09 or Friday, 5/29/09.  Please make sure to take the time to study for this very important test.  You must pass the test or at least have a combined score of all test of 1602 to pass High School.  Students are only eligible for the Bridge alternative project to taking the HSA if they have taken the test twice and failed both times.  Please do not count on the bridge alternative route being an easy way out.  It’s actually easier to just study and pass the first time.  All students have been taught information from the first 17 chapters of the book which correspond to HSA testbale information.  Here are some study tips:

• Students are strongly encouraged to look over Chapters 1-17 in the book, skim read over all power notes and vocabulary.
• Read over pages 6-12 of the Biology course syllabus where all objectives, indicators, and goals tested on the Biology HSA can be found.
• Also make sure to take time to read the end of chapter summary in the book at the end of each chapter.
• There were practice packets of past public release questions that all students completed last week, and counted as a quiz grade per packet.  Those review packets are great resources for studying for the HSA.
• Students can also access the MSDE website to practice more past HSA public release questions.
• Good luck : )

All Biology students will be taking their 3 Biology Benchmark on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.  Students are to complete a computer lab assignment as part of the review for this very important test.  Once students have updated their Table of Content and organized their Biology notebook they can then access the online assignment at http://hsaexam.org/support/practice.html

OBJECTIVE:  Student will be able to identify and analyze key terms and practices related to the study of evolution and ecology.  (Measurement of reaching this objective will be expressed as a raw score of correctly answered items online).

TASK: Students are to complete “at least” 3 practice sets form each of the two categories: (1) Evolutionary Change and (2) Interdependence of Organisms.  Students are expected to record their score or “correct” answers for each of the sections completed.  The completed score card needs to be turned into the “Turn In” folder by the end of class today.

We have now completed Chapters 1-12 and are moving onto the Ecology Unit.  The 3rd Benckmark is scheduled for the week of April 20-24th and will cover questions from the Evolution & Ecology Units.  It is very important that students start looking backover their notes of all of the previous chapters and vocabulary.  The Biology HSA is scheduled for May and will be a comprehensive test on all units we have studied so far plus informaiton on the Diversity of Life.  Every student is encouraged to keep on on the textbook reading, completion and studying of vocabulary and power notes, and accessing the textbook website for quiz practices on a regular basis.  Remember that in order to graduate you must pass Biology AND pass the HSA (either pass all tests or have a combined score of 1602).  Keep up the good work with studying and preparing for success in Biology! 

Biology students will complete Lab #10 “Dinosaur Descendants” Chpt 10 WebQuest online using the www.classzone.com website.  The lab write-up requires that three questions be completely and fully answered and then turned in at the end of class.  Any students who are absent are expected to make-up the online WebQuest activity within 5 days.

Directions:

1. Access www.classzone.com
2. Select McDougal Littell Biology textbook
3. Select “WebQuests” under Activities category (on the right)
4. Select “Unit 4: Evolution” (on the left)
5. Select “Chapter 10: Dinosaur Descendants”
6. Enlarge your screen… read through the activity by using the tabs “Introduction, Tasks, Resources & Responses, and Conclusion.”  (Option: full assignment can be accessed and printed by clicking on WebQuest “Dinosaur Descendants”)
7. Answer all 3 questions, using complete sentences, under the Resources & Response tab (at the top)… specifically under Part 2- Questions & Responses.
8. Submit complete Lab #10 write-up to the Student Assignment Center when completed

Here is a great link for reviewing past Biology HSA tests click on the link below: http://mdk12.org/assessments/high_school/look_like/biology/intro.html

If you want to practice Biology HSA questions based on the 6 major cateogries (Skills & Processes, Biological Molecules, Cells & Organelles, Inheritance of Traits, Evolutionary Change, and Interdependence of Orgnaisms) then use this link:

http://www.mdk12.org/assessments/high_school/index_d.html

All Biology students will be completing Lab # 8 Gel Electrophoresis online from the textbook website at http://www.classzone.com in the computer lab in room ME-2.

Any student who is absent is expected to make-up the lab, within five days, either at home or in the after school computer lab.

ATTENTION ALL BIOLOGY STUDENTS: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 marks the start of the 3rd marking quarter.  This is a great time to think back over the last 2 marking quarters and identify your areas of strength and weakness in Biology.  Think of the 2nd semester as being a fresh start.  Don’t forget that extra credit opportunities can occasionally be found on the class website in addition to receiving 5 extra credit points by creating a 3×5 one-sided study card that can be used on the tests.  Also, make sure to check out the textbook website on a regular basis at http://www.classzone.com where you can practice questions for all the quizzes.  Feel free to stop by after school for Biology tutoring sessions or use the school computer lab to access the class and textbook websites.  Best wishes for a successful 2nd semester : )

We are now celebrating the 2009 part of the school year.  This is a good time to consider the following dates of important events comming up in the near future.

NOTE: THE BIOLOGY MID-TERM EXAM WILL COVER

CHAPTER’S 1-9 AND THE DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

January 23rd - periods 1, 2 and 3

NOTE: The 2nd marking terms ends on Friday, 1/23/09.

NOTE: 2nd BIOLOGY BENCHMARK IS SCHEDULED BETWEEN

2/9/09-2/13/09 and will cover Chapter’s 6-9 on genetics

(pg 9 of course syllabus) and questions from Goal 1

(pgs 6-9 of course syllabus).

All Biology students will meet in the ME-2 computer lab, instead of the regular classroom, on Monday, 12/15/08.  Students will be completing Lab # 7 “Breeding Mutations in Fruit Flies” on the textbook website at http://www.classzone.com and completing a lab report.  The official lab write-up will be due at the start of class on Tuesday, 12/16/08.  Any student who is absent will have 5 days to compete the online lab.  Good luck : ) 

Extra Resources for the 1st Biology Benchmark:

(1) Video clipping “The Inner Life of The Cell”-use headphones… click on the “click here” and make sure they volume on the computer is on

http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/

(2) Website for the MSDE Biology HSA objectives is below.  Make sure to complete the questions for the following indicators:

• Goal 3 indicators: only 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.2.1, & 3.2.2 (click on the “PUBLIC RELEASE” box under each indicator to see questions and answers)
  

http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/clg/biology/goal3.html

• Goal 1- all indicators from goal 1 (click on the “PUBLIC RELEASE” box under each indicator to see questions and answers)
  

http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/clg/biology/goal1.html

(3) The textbook website- review vocabulary and quiz activities for Chpt’s 1-4

http://www.classzone.com

*** EXTRA***  Here is the print out, given to each student in class, of the indicators and assessment limits for the 1st Biology Benchmark.  Please use this to study for the benchmark- it’s also a great resource for preparing for the Biology HSA.

BIO- 1st Benchmark Indicators

BIO-1st Benchmark Indicators “Checklist”