Mrs. Scherer's Biology 4-1-1

Sideswiped

By winter that is....I just wanted to show you what we got this winter in the way of snow...granted we don't get much down here...but this was like a golden gift from weather heaven for us....Bonus is...it went away in one day.
Umm yea this one scrambled out of bead at 6 AM on a Saturday and shook me out of bed and into warm clothes to run out in to the snow...he could hardly stand himself..look at the maniacal laugh...oy.
I think Grady..(who has never seen snow to remember it) was unsure at first...then as 

he plowed through to the deeper stuff he couldn't stop himself yelling a running commentary..."MOM I AM IN THE SNOW!!! MOM I AM HERE!! MOM IT"S TOUCHING MY FEET!..MOOOOOOOOOM IT"S ON MY PANTS!!! MOOOOOOOOM THIS IS SOOOOOO KEEEEEWWWWEEELLLL!!"

Well this one immediately set about looking fora way to pick up the snow and throw it at some one.

He kept it under wraps for a few minutes though...then his intended victim showed up..
Yea smile now big daddy...get yer nicey on....show the little guy how to make a snow ball...
Just don't pay attention to the guy behind the curtain... Pay me nooooo miiiiind....
BWAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
Totally busted...now that was funny....
And so we played for four hours till our clothes are sopping wet (we don't have clothes built for this weather)...and we got this...
Ummm yea...time to go in...warn up and blow our nose....

Needless to say...they are still begging for the snow to come back....me..I'm ready for Spring.

Week of 2-6 March

Another busy week of biology madness. We have finished photosynthesis. The tests from all five sections had very good scores. We have started cellular respiration with notes and a demonstration and are finishing up with fermentation this week. We have a lab that we'll be writing a formal lab report on this week. We will also be doing a small research project on fermentation with a small informal presentation.
We will tie it all up with a test on cellular respiration and fermentation at the beginning of next week. Then onward to heredity and genetics.
You'll find all the notes for the sections on photosynthesis and cellular respiration on the right hand sidebar. The only thing that needs to be picked up is the pictograms that were drawn in class and is what you will be tested on for each major section (photosynthesis is already completed).
Please if you have APEX assignments you need to steadily work on those units as the weeks progress. I would like to see them done before Spring Break.
Parents or students if you have any questions on anything assigned or about progress don't hesitate to Email me at dscherer@dorchester2.k12.sc.us .

Week of 2-6 February

Well somehow the entire month of January got away from us. In CP Biology we have been focusing on the cell. We have taken notes on the two different types of cells. We have looked at the differences in plant and animal cells and looked in depth at the cell membrane. Last week we looked at the ways a cell passively transports things into itself. We have done two labs, one on plant and animal cells and one on osmosis.
In this next week we will finish the different kinds of methods a cell uses to transport things across its membrane, review for the test and have a Chapter test closer to the end of the week. Thursday our first formal lab report is due. This lab report is on the osmosis lab that we did on the 29th and 30th of January.
All of the notes and exercise sheets from last week are linked above right.
Now that I have an InTouch password I can begin to put up weekly assignments on the system as we move forward.
Have a happy week!

Week of 15-19th December

This week is the summation of Chapter 2, Chemistry of Life. The test on Chapter 2 is Thursday the 18th of December. All classes should have and complete a reveiw sheet to turn in for extra credit before the test. We will finish with our notes on Chemical Reactions and Enzymes on Monday. We may be able to do a lab with Enzyme on Tuesday. We will go over the review sheets and play a review game (Trashketball) on Wednesday. Then Friday, I plan to do a marker chromotography example and perhaps have snacks.

This is the last week of class before a long holiday break. I wish all of you a very joyful and peaceful holiday season. I have been very blessed to have the opportunity to teach each and every one of my wonderful students at "The Fort". I wish you all many blessings and some goodies on the 25th!

Week of December 8th-12th

As you can tell at the upper-right corner of the page there is a section for notes. The links there will open up a Powerpoint slide presentation of the notes given in class.
This doesn't mean that a copy of these notes will qualify during a notebook check. They need to be written.

This week we will wrap up the properties of water that make it ideal for life. We will complete a pH laboratory and begin the organic chemistry section.
We will also talk about enzymes and enzymatic reactions this week.

There will be a quiz this week on last weeks information on the atomic structure and the properties of water (this is a part of the weekly review to prepare for the upcoming mid-term). There will also be a notebook check at the end of this week.

Extra Credit: Write one paragraph on any or all of the following newsworthy chemistry related items.
-Graniteville, SC- Chlorine Gas Spill
-Chernobyl, Russia - Nuclear Reactor Accident
-Three Mile Island - Nuclear Reactor Accident
I am looking for students to summarize what occurred and what the results were of the accident.

If you missed the surface tension lab you will need to make it up before the end of this week during your lunch.


Have a great week!!!

Week of Dec. 1-5th

This week ends Ecology and begins Chemistry of Life.
We have a quiz Wednesday the 3rd of December on Chapter 15 and 16. There is a review sheet that was given to the class that can be turned in for extra credit.
We are also covering atomic structure and bonding and the properties of water this week in notes.
We are going to have a laboratory this week on the properties of water.
We will also introduce organic molecules.
I hope to find a way to attach notes to the blog so that students missing a day may make them up.
I still have no access to the blog at the school.
With less than three weeks of school left until Christmas vacation we're on our way to cell theory and cell structure.
We will begin having weekly reviews to prepare for the upcoming midterm in January.

Week Ending November 7th

We are off to a running start for the second grading period. With the exception of First Period, all sections should have given me their Food Web Projects. We are beginning Chapter 14, Section 2 this week. Chapter 14 and 15 will be slightly condensed. There is a quiz on Section 14.1 on Monday of next week.
All classes have been reminded how important it is to turn in the weekly warm-ups on Friday. They should be filled out completely. The warm-ups will be increased in points for two reasons. One to give credit for the students who try very hard to get their questions completed and in on time; and two to increase the number of available points and avoiding inadvertently over weighting the test grades.

Week Ending October 23rd

Students should have been given a progress report that indicates exactly what they are missing as far as assignments. The makeup work is located on my cart which I bring to every class. Yesterday we went over a review test which will be very similar to the test to be given on Thursday. Due to a shortened schedule Thursday the test will reflect that.

I have been calling parents for the past two days to discuss progress of their student. I have something positive to say about every student in every class. However, some of the phone numbers or Email addresses aren't working. If you have questions about your students progress please Email me at dscherer@dorchester2.k12.sc.us.

The server at the school has had some trouble locating and uploading this website which is why my post has been delayed. The tech folks are working on it. I apologize for any inconvienence.

Thursday Oct. 16

For the remainder of this week we will be finishing biogeochemical cycles. This follows Chapter 13.5 in the textbook. Either the classes will be completing the jigsaw activity or finishing up notes in preparation for review early next week. All classes will be going to the media center and working on their food web so remember to bring your list of organisms!

Welcome!

Welcome to my site! Here is the place that I will leave daily activities and homework assignments for you to check. I will also leave links to the pages and assignments that are made during the week. You can check the archive section for any older assignments. If you have any questions please Email me at dscherer@dorchester2.k12.sc.us or call!