Update Scheduling

Hi guys, since the break, Mr. Iannucci and I have decided to try 45 minute daily blocks with our students versus A/B day. We will try this at least until Christmas and then we will reevaluate to see if we want to continue this until the end of the year. The students seem to be okay with the schedule and it allows me to chunk material into smaller chunks where students can easily understand the material as well as giving students less time in class where they lose focus and or get restless. Check out some of the Christmas STEM cards made by my students for our Pitsco Stem Lab Company. There will be a monetary award should our student win. My kids’ rock and they did some awesome work.

 

Water Quality Stations 11-9 thru 11-16

Hi guys, sorry been a while since my last post but we were in the midst of Benchmark testing last week. My students have been working on stations in collaborative pairs since 11/9/18 learning the importance of each of the key indicators for testing water “potability” that is water that is safe to drink or consume.

We are spending more time on this concept as this is a power standard for the EOG and I only see the students every other day.  Students have been working very hard to accomplish their work and full class time has been given each day. Students will finish up the stations’ activities and the concluding assignment will be testing three samples of water for each of the five learned indicators for water.

stations water Quality

Water Quality Stations

 

 

 

11/5/18 and repeat 11/6/18 Water quality and Stewardship

 

Sorry, I have not posted in a few weeks, however, we have been working hard on our ocean zone stations which took two class periods and we had to take our unit tests on Estuaries and Oceans. 

EQ: How do bioindicators used to test water quality determine the potability of water?

Learning Goals:

• The health of a water system is determined by the balance between physical, chemical and biological variables.
• The temperature of water in rivers and lakes determines the kinds of organisms that can survive there.
• Measuring dissolved oxygen is an important factor in determining water quality
• pH is a measure of how acidic or basic water is.
• Nitrogen and phosphorous are essential plant nutrients.
• Turbidity is a measure of how clear water is

Water quality of a body of water can also be assessed by using bioindicators (macroinvertebrates).

Today we continued our study of water with water quality and stewardship. We began our lesson by watching a video that represents a real-world example of what a good steward is in reference to water quality. Jay Z a famous rap icon, has made a huge impact on Africa and has earned his badge of stewardship. Parents ask your student to tell you about his efforts working with the United Nations.

• Video Jay Z water stewardship
• You can find the PowerPoint here: Pollution and Water Stewardship

After my instruction students were given the opportunity to begin their assignment “Piecing it all together”. The assignment covers the five indicators I discussed in lecture that are used to determine the “potability” of water, meaning the water is safe for drinking or consuming.  The assignment is in GC for students to complete on pg 25 and 26. 

EX Page 25 and 26

PDF is in GC: or click here with your WCS email account PDF OF INB PG25 and 26

Students were given a reading assignment in GC last week to preface this lesson and open-ended questions from that article were to go on pg 27. This assignment is past due. If you have not completed this, I need it today at the latest. Do not forget to attach the hard copy of the article given in class today along the side of page 27 questions go underneath and overflow questions on pg 28. Please show both when attaching picture in GC to the assignment. 

Make sure your INB is UP TO DATE!!!!!! Parents progress reports go home Thursday please sign and return.

Vocabulary for flash cards for this week are also in GC please make sure you get these done by Wednesday as well as you will need these for the Benchmark!!!

Here are some helpful Benchmark Kahoots for studying for your Science Benchmark on Thursday 11/8. 

Kahoot Ecology Vocabulary Benchmark Preview

Water Quality and Stewardship Kahoot