Investigations in Science 7 March 18, 2016

What we did this week:

This week we started looking at what genetics is. We learned so much new
vocabulary this week and the kids picked it up pretty quickly. Some of the words
they learned included genotype, phenotype, dominant, recessive, homozygous,
purebred, heterozygous, hybrid, and allele. We used the vocabulary frequently
this week and will continue next week as well when we start with Punnett Squares.
Tuesday and Wednesday we completed a genetic traits lab. Students flipped
a coin to determine if their "baby" received a dominant (heads) or recessive (tails)
trait. They then combined mom and dad's alleles together to determine the
genotype of their offspring for each trait. Once all the traits were determined by
coin flipping, they got to draw their baby with the traits that they flipped for.
Thursday, we explored how our proteins do different jobs in our cells like
make our muscles contract and relax. They help us think, see, walk, and digest the
food we eat. Some proteins help make a pigment called melanin which gives the
pigment in our skin, eyes, and hair. Freckles are small dense areas of melanin. We
explored though a WebQuest, scientific readings, and collaboration with our lab
group.
Today, we will conducting a lab to see evidence of DNA in our cells by using
calf thymus. I will upload pictures of the lab on my class blog. We will look back
at what we learned first unit about the cell and the parts of the cell to see if we
can evidence of any of the parts.
Coming Up:
Topics:
Punnett Squares
Dates:
Dates:
March 18-19 Spring Play, 7:30 pm
March 20 Spring Play, 2:00 pm
March 22 Spirit Day To be announced based on student votes
March 22 & 23 No after school activities

March 23 Orchestra Field Trip

March 24 April 3 Spring Break
April 8 End of Quarter 3 (CHANGED DATE)