UPDATED 11/03/09
B Day Students Only: If you did not make the Excel file for CSI:Ashfall Fossil
Beds Ash Composition you must complete an extra credit assignment using either
of the journals _Nature_ or _Science_. You must follow the directions for
Extra Credit and select a research report or article. In _Nature_ these are
called "Letters" or "Articles". In _Science_ they are called "Reports" or
"Articles." This assignment is to make up for not doing the particular
assignment. If you fail to complete this make up you will keep the zero and
have to do an extra credit to make it up anyway. This is Due Tuesday November
10 2009.
11/02/09
The CSI: Ashfall Fossil Beds worksheets are due Wednesday 11/04/09 via email
to me with the proper subject line:'CSI:Ashfall, (A1, B1 or A2) (your name)'.
The graphical interpretation exercise started on during the second week of
October is due Thursday 11/05/09. The Subject line should read: 'Online
Graphical Interpretation, (A1, B1, A2)(your name)'.
10/30/09
The data from the Ashfall Fossil Beds worksheets listing the composition of
different types of volcanic ash to include that of the Nebraska deposits need
to be placed in an Excel spreadsheet to be used in class. This is due Tuesday.
10/27/09
A and B Day Classes: Students are to complete the Unit 1 and 2 Review using
the GREEN side of an answer sheet. Each student will turn in his answer sheet
at the end of the period. All students must work independently but they may
use their book and notes. The Unit 1 and 2 Review is found on the Honors
Biology Handout web page and should open in Office Word 2007.
10/21/09
A day Classes: Students are to complete as much of the Section and Chapter
Assessments to include the Writing in Science exercise for Chapter 5 in their
texts. They are to complete the assignment by emailing to me a MS Word file
with their answers by the end of the period. I expect them to complete most of
the assignment by that time. The email should have the following subject line:
Chap 5 Classwork Assessments, /period (either A1 or A2)\, /student name\.
10/09/09
The Test Tuesday/Wednesday will cover only Chapter 3.
Class exercises Friday/Monday 10/09 & 12/09: On the Honors Biology Links page
at the bottom of the page are four (4) exercises on ecology that we will
finish today. In each case you will transfer information to a document file or
spread sheet. You will email the results to me at the end of the period.
10/01/09
Your homework assignment for chapters 3 and 4 are to complete all the section
and chapter assessments to include the Writing in Science exercise. These will
be due when we take the Chapter 3 & 4 test Tuesday/Wednesday, October 13/14 2009
WARNING!!! IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING EMAIL'S TO ME YOU
WILL POSTPONE HAVE YOUR WORK GRADED AND POSTED. DOUBLE CHECK THE FAQ ON THE
WEB SITE TO CONFIRM YOU ARE SETTING THINGS CORRECTLY.
09/22/09
Students will complete the Megavolcano exercise posted on the Honors Biology
handouts page. You will need to read the assignment 'CSI: Ashfall Beds', then
using the other four(4) handouts for data and using the internet as necessary
complete the work outlined in the 'CSI: Ashfall Beds.' You will also need to
answer the questions posed on the other worksheets. You will need to turn in
you report about the assignment with your conclusions by emailing me correctly
by Monday September 28 2009.
09/21/09
The test for Chapters 1 and 2 will be Thursday/Friday September 24/25 2009.
Homework for Chapters 1 and 2 will be due at that time.
All students need to complete the Diagnostic Test B, Part 1. Complete the test
on a sheet of paper and be prepared to fill in the bubble sheet at your next
class meeting.
09/09/09
All students need to complete the Diagnostic Test A, Part 1 for Friday/Tuesday
September 11/15 2009. Mark all your answers and be prepared to fill out a
bubble form when class starts.
The Nova program I wanted you to watch is also on YouTube. Search for the
program by title: "The Mystery of the Megavolcano". Complete your short essay
and be ready to discuss it in class.
09/04/09
Substitute Instructions and Lesson Plan for Biology:
1. All Students need to go to the Honors Biology Links page and complete the
'Quick quiz on Chapter 1 material' Write your result on the paper you are
going to turn in at the end of the period.
2. Complete as many of the worksheets on the Honors Biology Handouts page in
the following order:
Chapter 1 Graphic Organizer
Chapter 1 Vocabulary Review
Unit 1 Standardized Test Prep
Diagnostic Test A, Part 1.
For the first three items use a sheet(s) of notebook paper. For the Diagnostic
Test A use the provided bubble sheet for answers.
TURN IN WHAT YOU HAVE FINISHED AT THE END OF THE PERIOD.
09/03/09
Your book assignment for chapters 1 and 2 is to complete the end of chapter
assessments which are 1-35 and 1-38. You are also to complete the Performance
Assessment for both chapters which follows right after the last assessment
question.
Also on Tuesday September 8 2009, I want you to watch the NOVA program on PBS
at 7:00PM. The program talks about a super volcano that affected the climate
of the whole world some 74000 years ago. As it had effects that are still felt
today and can also be used to discuss material in Unit 2 of the course I
believe that it would be a good place for you to start looking at other things
than just the text or me to help you understand intricacies of Biology.
I also want you to write a short essay about the program following the
standard rules for written work. This essay should be more than a page long,
typed, double-spaced, one inch margins and 12 point font. You may discuss what
you understood about the program. If you watched it with your family you can
include anything that you talked about with them as well. This assignment will
be due when you come to class on Wednesday/Thursday September 9/10 2009.
08/31/09
You should have finished reading Chapter 1 last week. You will need to read
chapter 2 before the end of this week. Quizzes in the future will include word
to be defined as well as questions from the current or previous chapters.
The first test will cover chapters 1 and 2 and will take place after Labor Day.
08/24/09
ASSIGNMENTS!! You have a double reading assignment due Wednesday/Thursday
August 26/27 2009: The 'Flip Flop Research article' and 'Good Sleep Wakes Up
Memory'. Your parent/guardian needs to send me either an e-mail or note
stating the you have read and discussed the articles together.
Your Second Assignment is to send me an e-mail explaining in your own
words what you think the Extra Credit Assignments expect you to do. This
assignment is due Monday August 31 or Tuesday September 1 2009. BE SURE TO
FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING E-MAILS TO ME FOUND ON MY WEBSITE.
The Biology vocabulary list has been expanded and transferred to the Honors
Biology Handouts page. You are responsible for all the words. You can use the
textbook's Glossary and the Internet to find the meanings of words.
Also on the Honors Biology Handouts page are the instructions for your Term
Project. The project will be due Dec 1 2009. Extra credit will be given if you
complete the project by October 14 2009. Send me an email with your first
ideas about your project by 6 PM 9 September 2009.
Further more, instructions for Extra Credit can be found on the Honors Biology
Handouts page.
08/20/09
Below is a preliminary vocabulary list for Honors Biology. You WILL be taking
quizzes over the vocabulary daily for a few weeks.
9th Grade Vocabulary
Eventually this list will be transferred to the Honors Biology Handouts page.
Abiotic
Adaptation
Anabolism
Analyze
Atom
Binomial Nomenclature
Biology
Biome
Catabolism
Catalyst
Cause
Cell
Change In State
Chemical Change
Chemical Formula
Chemical Reaction
Classify
Compare
Compound
Conclusion
Conservation of Mass
Contrast
Controlled Experiment
Correlation
Data Collection
Diffusion
Displacement
Ecology
Ecosystem
Element
Energy
Experiment
Gamete
Genetics
Habitat
Homeostasis
Hypothesis
Infer
Interpret
Invertebrate
Kinetic Energy
Manipulated Variable
Matter
Meiosis
Mitosis
Mixture
Model
Neutralization
Observe
Organelle
Organic
Periodic Table
pH
Physical Change
Potential Energy
Precipitate
Procedure
Product Energy
Reactant
Respiration
Sequence
Solubility
Symbiosis
Taxonomy
Theory
Tissue
Trait
Unit
Variable
Vascular
Vertebrate
Read the syllabus on the handouts web page.
Dr. Testa doesn't like flip-flops as a shoe. It isn't a shoe. It is a
convenience targeted at beach and pool side use. There are reasons I don’t
like them. These include safety and health. In the area of health, I have
made an assignment for you so you understand one of the reasons why I think
flip-flops should not be worn at school. You will receive an article on
flip-flops the first part of this week. You are to take it home and share it
with your parents. You complete the assignment by having your parents send me
a note that you have discussed the article.
