Videos for Tuesday's Lesson

Hello everyone. I originally was going to record a video on introducing macromolecules and the chemistry behind how they arrange, but it is now 10:15pm and I have yet to do so. Therefore, I'm going to do things slightly out of order.

Today, you will be watching a Crash Course video that will introduce you to the macromolecules, but not to the depth that I intend for us to discuss when I return. This is a preview video so no notes are required.

Following the completion of this video, I made a video explaining nucleic acids last year and you will be viewing that and taking notes on it.

Once the videos are over, you may work on your study guides. Have a good day.

VIDEO 1 - CRASH COURSE


VIDEO 2 - LANDRY NUCLEIC ACIDS (look for crashes here too especially my dorky start!)

Chemistry of Life & Properties of Water Lesson

Here's the video for today's lesson. Please record any questions you have so we can address them when I return. Go Lions!

Preview videos and response guide

Here are the next set of preview videos you should be watching prior to class. The first video should be viewed prior to Friday's class and the response guide filled out, while the other two should be done before our first meeting next week.

Video One - Chemistry of Water Video Preview:


Link to response guide

Video Two - Polymers Video Preview:


Link to response guide

Video Three - Macromolecules Video Preview:

Link to response guide

Biochemistry Unit Materials

I've uploaded everything to the learn site for the biochemistry unit. However I understand that some of you are having difficulty with the site. Therefore, I'll be working to setup a dropbox for class materials to try soon.

Evolution Test December 10 & 12

The multiple choice portion of the test will be given Dec. 10 and the free response portion will be given Dec. 12 in class. We will be reviewing during parts of Dec. 5 & 9's class periods. The content will be over chapters 22-26 in the book as well as class materials. Happy studying!

Next up - biochemistry! We will begin by looking at the chemistry of water & carbon and then move into the macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids). Preview videos and response guides will be posted soon - please make sure these are viewed prior to December 13's class period.

Padlet Trial

Click here and then click on the padlet screen and type your name and response:
http://padlet.com/wall/ctwan8mtxg

AP Biology Remind 101 Invite

In case you missed class or didn't have your phone, here's the instructions for signing up to Remind101 and get text reminders from me about class. Parents and students are welcome to join.

Remind101 is a one way text messaging system that allows for me to text reminders to people. All students in Mr. Landry's classes need to subscribe to this and parents are welcome to join as well.
If you are interested in getting these text reminders, then please follow the directions that proceed. This is a free service, but your normal message and data cell carrier fees may apply. You can also join this service through email and those directions follow as well. If you are not interested in this, then I thank you for your time and hope you enjoy the remainder of your day.

To join, you will be sending a text to the following number: 1-810-250-4060. You will then enter a message based upon the class you or your student is in -

2nd period forensic science - text "@fec9a" and hit send
4th period seminar - text "@4thseminar" and hit send
5th period forensic science - text "@5thfs" and hit send
6th period forensic science - text "@6thfs" and hit send
7th period forensic science - text "@7thfs" and hit send
8th period AP biology - text "@8thapbio" and hit send

To subscribe through email, use the above text line without the @ sign as the email address to _________@mail.remind101.com      For example, if I want to subscribe to 6th period forensic science, I'll send an email to 6thfs@mail.remind101.com

If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you for your time and have a great night.

Next Set of Preview Videos

Please preview the first video and complete the response guide by the end of the weekend. The second and third videos and response guides should be completed prior to Wednesday's class.

Video 1: Evolution continues


Video 2: Speciation


Video 3: Solving Hardy-Weinberg Problems


Video Response Form: Please click here to access the form (I'm not embedding it this time because it causes the page to jump right to the form and that is annoying)

Website for Monday October 28, 2013 Lesson

Here's a video explaining today's lesson and the delay in the "Who Can Grow the Best Corn Challenge". BTW..I'm low on planters so if you have something you'd like to use, please bring it with you on Tuesday.




This is a great website for learning the basics about evolution (the stuff you should have learned in general biology but didn't get to). In today's lesson, you will be using the vocabulary strategies you've learned in the past and record some of the basic vocabulary associated with evolution. The focus for this particular lesson will be evidence of evolution. Good luck:

Berkeley Evolution 101 site then click "Mechanisms"

If you get done early, I've printed off the first study guide for the evolution unit and you can work on that OR check out some of the other info on the Evolution 101 website. Good luck.

Video previews & responses for first part of evolution unit

Here's the first set of three video previews and response guides for our evolution unit. Please have your responses for video 1 recorded by no later than Wednesday and the others should be completed by Friday. We will go over the test together on Wednesday as well.

Video 1: Natural selection




Video 2: Examples of natural selection



Video 3: Evidence for Evolution

Behavior Labs Graded & Test Next Two Days

Your behavior labs are graded and recorded in PowerSchool. The grades are not "live" yet but will be on October 24. That gives you until then to make corrections and resubmit your labs for a better grade. If you submitted your lab electronically, then all of my comments are listed in the comments tool on your Google doc. You will get your grading rubrics returned in class today. When you resubmit your labs, please return your grading rubric to me so I can use this as a guide.

Today we will be taking part one of the ecology test - the multiple choice and grid in portion of the test. Monday we will complete the free response questions that go with the test. We will take the time today to discuss the layout of the AP biology exam and how it relates to the design of our in class tests. Good luck with this and remember there are plenty of resources on the learn site to help in preparing for both portions of the test.

I will be posting your next set of videos and response questions later today for part of our next unit on evolution. Additionally, I will populate the learn site with all of the materials for the evolution unit later today. In regards to readings, you should be starting to read the sections listed in your syllabus for the evolution unit (chapter 22 sections 2 & 3 and all of chapters 23-26).

Have a good day and weekend.

Here's your next blog entry topic due by October 14, 2013 (adapted from D. Knuffke & __. Memis)

A survey of human ecological stupidity:

1. Pick an example of human ecological stupidity that is different from the one you worked on for the prezi (aka things humans do that have a negative impact on the environment). Examples may include but are not limited to:

• Acid Precipitation
• Wetland Destruction
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Ozone Depletion
• Water Pollution
• Deforestation 
• Habitat Destruction/Fragmentation
• Climate Change
• Biological Magnification
• Introduction of Non-Native Invasive Species
• Overexploitation of Natural Resources

2. Explain the topic and how it affects life on Earth. Keep in mind that your entry is available to a worldwide audience so demonstrate your intelligence :)

3. Explain how we might solve the issue.

4. Include a picture that demonstrates some aspect of your topic.

5. Embed (or at the very least include a link to) a short video clip that demonstrates some aspect of your topic.

6. Include a list of references for the information. You may use the class prezi as a reference but need to find different pics and videos.

Updated Timeline for Next Few Class Meetings

Thu 10-10: Human impacts collaboration activity (Due 10-11)
Fri 10-11: Present project & review time
Tue 10-15: Present projects
Wed 10-16: Test review
Fri 10-18: Ecological interactions multiple choice/grid in portion of test
Mon 10-21: Free response questions portion of test / begin discussing evolution

Homecoming Week Blog Entry & Test 10-11-13

So, you guys setup a blog as a summer assignment but we haven't done anything with it. That's about to change. Here's the info for your next blog writing assignment, which should be completed by no later than October 7.

Blog entry this week is a more fun one :) Since this is homecoming week here at SHS and we do the best homecoming in the world, I'd like you to reflect on your homecoming experiences over the past several years (including this year). Remember you are writing to a worldwide audience so show your readers that SHS homecoming has no equal. I suggest you start by giving a brief summary of how homecoming works here at SHS, then share your experiences with it. This is an open reflection entry so you can take this in whatever direction you wish. Pictures and/or videos are always a plus in a blog entry. Have fun with it :)

Additionally, I request that you read at least three class member's entries and leave a constructive comment for them. You can find every body's blogs on the left side of the my blog.

Mr. Landry

+ next entry will center on human stupidity!

Additionally, here's the schedule for the next several class periods:

Mon 9-30: Ecosystem structures discussion
Wed 10-2: Continue with ecosystems discussion, with focus on energy transfers and matter cycles
Thu 10-3: Conservation discussion
Mon 10-7: Behavior Lab & study guide work day (Landry absent)
Tue 10-8: Human impacts collaboration activity (Due 10-11)
                 BEHAVIOR LAB DUE
Thu 10-10: Test review
Fri 10-11: Ecological interactions test

There will not be any other videos to preview for this unit. I will put together a list and document sometime next week in anticipation of the start of the evolution unit. You should by the end of this weekend completed your readings of chapters 50-55.

New Method for Collecting Idea & Questions from You Prior to Class Discussion

Let's try something new. I've put together a google form that is embedded at the bottom of this posting that I'd like for you to fill out after you complete EACH assignment that I post to the blog. This will then become an assignment grade for each of you.

So here's the first attempt at this. Your assignments that should be completed prior to the date listed above the video.

1. Behavior Lab Preview: Watch this video AND read lab investigation 12 in your lab books. This is due prior to Monday, 9-23-13



2. Ecosystems Preview Video (due before 9-27-13):




3. Ecological Succession Preview Video (due before 9-27-13):


4. Biogeochemical Cycles Preview Video (due before 9-27-13):




GOOGLE FORM FOR RESPONSES
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AzuUmLzCFFxptV7kTLMAnMej1nVencB7G0bOSPK5XUI/viewform

Assignments for the week of September 16 - 23, 2013 & what's on the horizon

Here's a summary of assignments for class through next week:

1. Continue to read chapters 50-55. Extra credit reading guides are available on the learn site. Study guides will be handed out during class and all "guides" are due on the day of the test, which is yet to be determined.

2. Designing a Controlled Experiment packet was due 9-16-13.

3. Summer assignments are due Thursday 9-19-13:
      A. Vocab pics
      B. News and views - two articles with summaries

•  These assignments can be submitted digitally through the dropbox on the learn site, submitted through email (mrlandryshs@gmail.com), sharing of google or live docs, or turned in as a paper copies into the assignment bin.

4. Read lab investigation 12 on fruit fly behavior. We will be conducting a similar lab next week with the pill bugs that we have been collecting.

5. Watch for new "preview" videos to be posted along with a new method for submitting ideas for class.

Reading Guides Snafu

Please pardon my mistake in naming the reading guides. I've added a new one that is the actual chapter 50 reading guide and all of the other ones except for chapter 51 are one chapter off. Don't worry about the names; just know that they are all there now :)

Accessing and Posting to the Learn Site (aka wiki)

Here's a short video that shows how to use the learn.spartaschools.org sharepoint site (wiki) to upload your projects to. Please upload after each revision, as this will make it so you don't have to use a flash drive or need to email your project to yourself; ie. it saves you time :) For written instructions, click here

IMPORTANT: Please begin by creating a folder (use your name as the name of the folder) in the dropbox for AP biology tab and then click the 2013-2014 folder. Thank You.

The video is a previous video that I used for biology class so you will need to go to the AP biology link within the learn site and access the folders within it. Also, you may not find me in the high school tab for some reason.

If you can't get it to upload, then email it to mrlandryshs@gmail.com . Also, if you have it as a google doc, please share the file to the above address and make sure I have permission to at least make comments. Thanks.

Day One and Homework Already?

Day One and Homework Already?

Hopefully after day one, you are still in the class :) Just a reminder of things that you need to do before our next class:

1. Complete the quality inventory sheet for your textbook. Please click the link below to access the document:
QUALITY INVENTORY SHEET - MR LANDRY AP BIOLOGY

2. Turn in AP Biology contract.

3. Begin reading chapters 50-55. See wiki for extra credit reading guides.

4. Watch the following video to prepare for the next class:

 

Things to do prior to next week:

1. Respond to three other peoples blog entries in blog reel.

2. Continue plugging away at your summer assignments. If your blog is not up yet, please do so by the end of the first week and send me your url. All summer work will be due by September 19. Details will be given soon on how to submit your summer assignments.

3. Continue reading the assigned readings. It is extremely important to keep up with the readings in AP biology.

4. Watch the following videos:

 

Welcome to AP Biology

Hello and welcome to AP biology, the only AP science course offered at SHS. You are about to embark on an exciting journey that will explore many of the intricacies that are involved in making life what it is. This class will be similar to your typical first year of college biology course. Rather than me writing and trying to provide an overview of the course, I've posted this video made by a teacher in Bozeman, MT.




Just for fun, here's a video posted by one of the Green boy's explaining why its important for you to stay in school (FYI - his explanation is quite different from your parent's :)

Due Date - August 1 for creating blog

Just a quick reminder that your blogs should be setup and url sent to me at mrlandryshs@gmail.com by the end of the day on August 1. Also, if you haven't started your other assignments, you may want to do so soon. If you have any questions, please email me and I should get back to you pretty quickly. Also, if you need a copy of the summer assignment, click here

Change to Summer Assignment

I've heard from a number of you that the vocab assignment is going well and that you might actually kind of like the assignment, which is what was supposed to happen. Nothing is changing with that assignment but if you have questions, make sure you send them my way.

The change that the title refers to has to do with Assignment 4 - News & Views. Upon further review, I've decided that it would be best for me to shorten the assignment (I can already hear the cheers!). What I'd like for you to do is two articles, rather than four. The assignment asks you to pick an article per Big Idea. Instead, you can go with any two articles as long as they go with two different Big Ideas AND as long as you do one article on either Big Idea 1 or 4.

In case you are confused - here it is again. Pick one article that deals with either Big Idea 1 or 4, follow the directions in the assignment, and then repeat with any other article that ties to any OTHER Big Idea. Does that help? If you have questions, please submit them as comments below so that others can see my response to your question. Also, if you need another link to the summer assignment, click here. Good luck.

Upcoming Due Date

I hope you all are enjoying your summer thus far, as its hard to believe that its already half over! I'm posting this as a reminder that you should have already sent me an email for assignment number 1 (most of you did but I am missing about 10 students), and assignment two's due date is August 1 (creation of a blog). Please create your blogs and send me the url to the blog prior to August 1. If you need a link to the summer assignment, click here.

Thanks.

First Assignment Due Date Has Arrived

Thanks to all of you who completed your first assignments of emailing me and setting up your blogs. I haven't read any of them yet due to temporarily living somewhere without internet, but once I get plugged back in, I'll read and respond to all of the emails. If you haven't done this yet, please at least get the email piece done asap.

Good work everyone and enjoy your holiday.

AP Biology 2013-14

Welcome incoming students for the 2013-2014 version of AP biology at Sparta High School. I'm excited to work with you guys and gals this upcoming school year and expect many great things from you. Having AP biology as a year round class will be a refreshing change and allow for me to help better prepare you for the AP Biology Exam in May 2014.

In order to get a jump start on things, I've assigned you all a summer assignment. You should have received one of these prior to leaving for the summer, but in case you didn't or you mislocated (not sure if this is a real word) yours, I've attached the assignment below. Please make sure you adhere to the due dates that are listed on the assignment. Additionally, the assignments are meant to be somewhat fun and/or pretty interesting, so it may be better to label them as summer explorations rather than assignments :)

Enjoy your summer.

SUMMER ASSIGNMENT LINK

Review Materials on Learn Site

I've posted multiple review items on the learn site. The materials range from year long review to topic review, including math in the biology class activities. Go to the learn site to access there. Just a reminder that if you are logging in from home then your username is first.lastname@SPARTA.LAN (my login is matt.landry@sparta.lan) and password is the same as at school.

Good luck in reviewing as I have not heard from many of you (I've only heard from one person in the past two weeks).

AP Biology Review

Hello everyone. First of all, if you haven't liked the facebook page yet, please do so as I will be using that more than I do the blog. Secondly, in case you haven't read the facebook page, the AP prep books were NOT ordered on time so I cancelled the order. There are two books prep books out there that are getting really high reviews right now -  Barrons (4th ed.) and Cliffs (4th ed.). You should be able to find these in stock at local book stores. Just make sure you are getting the version that is updated for the new curriculum as there are still some of the old books on the shelves too. See below for pics.

Finally, here's the first review stuff that I have. This was put together by Mr. Knuffke whose prezis we used. Its a break down of the big ideas of the curriculum and walks you through the basics skills you need for success and the higher level skills you need to earn the 4 or 5. Good luck in prepping.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EhOAMmfK2VESQv2cogQRGOfkNjQcqkT9E4b33WFlpX0/edit?usp=sharing

AP Biology Has Gone Social

Hey everyone. Exciting news on two fronts:

1. I've now setup a facebook page called "Mr Landry's AP Biology Class". I think this will probably be the best way to communicate prior to the AP test as most of us are using facebook anyway. Go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Landrys-AP-Biology-Class/353728314739712 and like the page (if the page doesn't show up right, just search the title above).

The beauty of this is that I've also linked the blog to the facebook page so that whenever I put something on the blog, it will automagically post it to the facebook page as well. Also, since many of you have twitter, I've done the same thing there so follow me @mrlandryshs to get updates through Twitter.

2. My biology students will be using your blogs on Friday so watch your email for notice of comments and feel free to respond back if you get a chance. They will primarily be concentrating on the macromolecule, cell, and osmosis/diffusion entries that you did (and some will be looking at your thoughts about AP biology as they are scheduling their classes right now).

Let's plan on getting together next week Monday, 3-18-13 afterschool to discuss exam prep. I'll send an email out as well. Thanks everyone.

Last Blog Reminder

Grades are entered and updated. Just a reminder to everyone to complete their final blog entry by the end of the weekend. These are recorded in Power school already and could move you up a grade if you are right on the cusp of the next higher grade. A special shout out to Liz B. & Chloe M. for your blog entries as they are above and beyond and appreciated by me (and future students once they get to see them). Thanks again for doing this. Enjoy your weekend.

Last Post of the Semester

All good things must come to an end. Its hard to believe that the semester is already over. I have enjoyed working with all of you and look forward to continuing to do so as we lead up to the Monday, May 13, 2012 test date.I will continue to use this blog to update you on the AP biology exam so please subscribe to email updates if you haven't already done so.

Several items:

1. All notes from the semester are on the learn site, as well as a document that walks you through the topics that we did not discuss (with links to powerpoints that are available to go with the topic). You can also find a playlist on my Youtube channel that has video topics that we did not discuss.
2. I will have all of the prezis available soon as well.
3. I'm still evaluating test prep books. The one that I currently have is not very helpful in my opinion so I've requested some others. I will let you all know when I find one that will be helpful. In the meantime, you can hang on to your textbooks until May 17, 2013.
4. Your final blog entry is to write a letter of advice to students that will be taking this class next year. Please don't write "don't take the class" or anything else similar as they obviously have an interest in the topic, otherwise they would not have signed up for the class. Instead, give them constructive, first hand advice that may help them to be more successful in the class. You are welcome to share frustrations, but also share how you overcame or could have overcome those frustrations.
5. Please get me your projects by the beginning of 3rd block WED at the latest.
6. EXAM - THURSDAY 1-24-13 DURING 2ND BLOCK.
7. Today we will review the biochemistry, cell, and metabolism units and tomorrow we will review the ecology and evolution units.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Prezi

FYI - I've added a link to the left that will take you to my collection of prezis.

Learn Site is Back - Sort Of

Hello everyone. I hope you have enjoyed your break and are re-energized and ready to finish the semester strong. Here's some updates as well as the plan for the week of Jan. 7, 2013:

Updates:
1. The learn site is back - sort of. All of the old stuff is no longer there (they are still trying to recover it). However, a new site has replaced it; though it has the same appearance as the original. I will get the next several units loaded in over the next several days. In the meantime, the metabolism unit materials are still available at dropbox.com (Click here to access dropbox.com shared folder for the metabolism unit)

2. Take home test for metabolism is due on Tuesday. Be prepared for a free response question on the topic for Wednesday's class.

3. Monday - Wednesday will be lab based. Monday will involve data analysis from the cell respiration lab and prelabbing for Tuesday's photosynthesis lab. We will be completing a modified version of the lab and combining two investigations into one. Wednesday we will wrap things up and talk about the poster presentations you will be completing for the photosynthesis and cell respiration labs.

4. Please read through the photosynthesis lab in your lab books and begin to think of treatments that you may want to apply to your subjects. Please keep in mind that we will be doing a modified version of what is in your lab books so things will be slightly different. However, the background info is still relevant.

5. Watch the following walk through video:


If you want more info, check out this other video Mr Anderson did and/or click the lab bench tutorials link on the left of the blog and choose the photosynthesis lab.