3/31 Biology Class and homework due 4/6

Hi folks,

Today we finished off our discussion about human effects on the environment by discussing climate change.  

We also took some time to talk about the concepts of "biomes" and their characteristics.

For homework this week, I want you to spend some time with this concept of GMO's.  From last weeks homework, you have already gotten a bit of a handle on how far reaching GMO's are as far as biological concepts and concerns go. 

For homework this week, I would like you all to take some time to prepare for a debate on this issue. The topic of the debate will be "Genetically Modified Crops: Helpful or harmful to the human race.

Then in class next week we will take some time debating the issue.

After the debate, I'll collect your notes to make sure you've done some research.

I will also give extra credit to folks who make some nice, well researched, points during the debate.

Be sure your sources are reliable (no Food Babe :) ). When you state your points you may very well want to also state where you found it.

Feel free to bring in graphs or data. If you want me to project it, send it to me ahead of time.

Have fun with this folks. We've had some great discussions in class so far and I'm looking forward to seeing what you all do with this.

Recording of 3/24 Biology Class - Human effects on the environment

https://youtu.be/x15tj-a1hjM

3/24 Biology update and homework due 3/31

Hi folks,

Well, a depressing class this week. We've been talking about ecology and ecosystems and I wanted to tie in that information with some of the threats that are facing them at the moment. We talked about deforestation, desertification, non-native species, over-harvesting and pollution. Next week we will cover the biggie, climate change. We also took a look at all the "services" the environment provides for us (46 trillion dollars worth!).

For homework next week, I'd like you to tie 10 of the concepts we've been working with in biology this year to the topic of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) and give me at least one example of how GMO's are related to the concept.

Your task will be to read a variety of websites/materials and find out what you can about GMO's then use that material to do the assignment. Your examples do not need to be positive or negative, just ways that the Biology concepts we've been working with tie into GMO's

For example, human beings are part of the food chain and GMO's may help in providing food for the ever growing population of humans.

This, of course is, also a way for you to find out more about GMO's before our upcoming "Great Debate Of 2017", where you will be charged with taking the helpful or harmful side of "Are genetically modified crops helpful or harmful to the human race?" You may want to bookmark any websites you come across that you feel will provide you a lot of information for the debate.

Good luck folks!

3/17 Biology Recording - Biogeochemical Cycles

https://youtu.be/I_BEpP_mFNw

3/17 Biology update and homework due 3/24

Hi folks,

Today we looked at the four biogeochemical cycles, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorous cycle and the water cycle.

Homework for next week:

Read pages 371 - 374

Click on and complete the following .pdf.

3/3 Biology update and homework due 3/17

Hi folks,

First off NO CLASS NEXT WEEK!  

Today in Biology we took a fairly in depth look into how energy moves through an ecosystem. We discussed food chains, food webs and trophic levels. We also took advantage of the nice weather to play a game that emphasized some of the hardships of being a part of a food chain.

Homework for next week:

Read pgs. 366-369

Questions 10-17 on page 376

And

Questions 1 - 8 on page 377

3/3 Biology Recording - Trophic Levels

https://youtu.be/eGIb3YTtYXo