VERTEBRATE RESEARCH PROJECT

1.   Obtain approval of your selected vertebrate from your teacher.

2.   Refer to a variety of sources including books, magazines, videos,      Internet, encyclopedias.  You will need to use at least four sources and reference your sources of information as you do in Language Arts. Use Citation machine.  Write citations on paper to be handed in with your report.

3.  Research  how your vertebrate’s various body parts are suited to their functions and research the vertebrate’s habitat. 

4. Remember to research both internal and external structures.  Your final report must include the scientific name of your vertebrate and at lest five structures and how they are suited for performing functions.  Explain how each body part is adapted to suit its function such as eyes and their position on the head, body covering, appendages, Etc.

·        Include in the biotic and abiotic factors that affect your vertebrate.  Examples of biotic factors:

·        Predators, for lack of them

·        Food preferences and supply

·        Population density

·        Other species with which your vertebrate interacts in its habitat

·        Disease

5.  Examples of abiotic (nonliving) factors in the following:

·        Temperature range

·        Precipitation

·        Water

·        Topography

·        Wind

·        Shelter

·        Nesting site and a place to raise young

·        Escape routes for predators.

6.     Include information on the impact of your vertebrate and its habitat on humans and vise versa.  Include drawing, photos, or computer-generated images of your vertebrate’s habitat, preferably with an image of your vertebrate included.

7.     You will share the research project with the class.  You may create a traditional poster 24x 36 in, a foldout poster,” Wanted” poster, travel brochures, Power-Point presentation.  Any ONE of these may be selected.  You are not turning in a written report.

8.     Is your vertebrate endangered?  Include the following general information about your species in your research:

·        Scientific name ( genus species)

·        Status (endangered or vulnerable)

·        Characteristics( size, diet, and life cycle)

·        Habitat

·        Population estimate

·        Reasons why the species has decreased in number

9.     Include drawings, photos, or computer generated images of your species.

10.                         I  will need to have a draft approved of your report by November 25^th.  This is a rough outline of your report.  It can be a sketch of your report will be positioned on your poster board or the topics of your Prezi or PowerPoint presentation. Your report with final version and references are due on December 4^{th and} 5^th. Presentations will begin on December 4th, and 5^th.

Organisms: Macro to Micro

Homework Options Lessons 2 and viruses/bacteria Choose one option for this week .

Option #1 Science

Research unique ways in which plants ensure that pollination takes place. Present your findings in poster form with illustrations and labels.

Option #2 Science/Careers

Write a ½ to 1 pages about the job of a horticulturist.

Option #3 Science/Technology

Conduct research to see how scientists use biotechnology to cultivate more disease-resistant crops.

Option #4 Science

Research pollination. Write a ½ to 1 page report.

Option #5 Science

Write a ½ page report on pollination in an angiosperm plant.  You can find this on p. 278 in your textbook

Option#6

Research to find out how the leaves of certain plants are adapted to conserve water.  Examples:  How is a cactus different from a fern?

Option#7

Write a ½ to 1 page report on why leaves change color in the fall.

Option#8

Gather a leaf collection and attach each leaf to a  ½ poster.  Use reference books to identify each leaf.  Write common name and scientific name on the poster. You must have at least 8 leaves.

Option#9

Create a seed picture using a variety of seeds. Put it on a stiff board and make no larger than 8X10”.

Option #10 Science/ History

Research and discover how one species of microbe has influenced history in a major way. Write a ½ to 1 page report. Some possible things to explore would be the microbe that caused the bubonic plague, typhoid, and malaria. (See me for other suggestions.)

Option #11 Science

Find out why most viral diseases may be prevented but not cured and why many bacterial diseases may be cured but not easily prevented.

Option #12 Science/History

Research one of the following scientists and write a ½ to 1 page report on why his work was significant: Walter Reed, Louis Pasteur, Jonas Salk, Robert Koch, Alexander Fleming, Edward Jenner, of Lazarro Spallanzani.

Option #13 Science/Technology

Research the history of vaccinations. Prepare a report on how technology has helped the process become more efficient as well as less painful.

Option #14 Science/Technology

Make a list of the vaccinations that you have received in your lifetime. Put the type of vaccination and the year that you received it.

9/29/14

Homework options that are due Tuesday 10/7 for A day, Wednesday 10/8 for B day

                      Homework options for lesson 5 Exploring cells

Pages 60-67 of your textbook have information about cells

Option #1  Science/technology

Construct a three-dimensional model of a plant or animal cell.  Turn in your model with a key for identifying each cell structure and organelle.  You could think of it as pizza, with the various ingredients representing different organelles. ( This will count as two options)

Option #2 Science

Create an advertisement to sell a cell.  The ad should be submitted in poster form ( ½  poster) and should emphasize the excellent job performed be at least four of the cell’s organelles.

Option#3 Science/language Arts

Write a limerick about one type of cell. Print or type the limerick on unlined

paper so we can post it in the room.  Me sure you give the limerick a title.

Option#4 Science/History

Complete research the development of cell theory.  Who formulated it, and when did this occur.  This must be ½ page long.  Look on p.54-55 in your textbook.

Option#5Science/art

Create a “Wanted” poster for a specific type of cell.  The poster should include a drawing of the cell with labels and functions of at least four of its organelles.  You might want to use computer graphics to create the poster.  (1/2 poster size)

Option #6 Science/technology

Write a one- page paper about stem cell research.

Option#7 Science

Compare a cell with a factory.  Explain how the job of each organelle may be compared to the job done in a certain place or by a certain machine in the factory.  Write an explanation for each of the comparisons.

Option#8  Science/language arts

Write a narrative story about what it would be like to be miniaturized and travel into a cheek cell or Elodea cell.  Explain what you might see and experience while inside the cell.

Option#9 Science/Art

Prepare a mobile of a specific kind of plant or animal cell.  You should use thin cardboard pieces, cut into the shape of specific organelles.  One side should contain an explanation of the organelle function. (This counts for two options.)

Option#10 Science/Humanities

Choose six organelles whose jobs are comparable to something I or around your house.  Create an analogy for each of the organelles.  Example: A mitochondrion in a cell is like the heating system in my house because substances are broken down in it and energy is produced

Homework options due on Friday 9/19/14 A, Monday 9/22/14 B

Homework Options for lesson 3-4

Sept 19,22

Select one option, complete and turn in Friday and Monday  September  19,22

Option # 1. 

Research information about the benefits of worms.   (Hint:  Key words include “annelid”, “earthworm”, and “blackworm”.  Write a short report about your findings.

Option #2.  Science/History/ technology

 Find out how leeches, another group of segmented worms, have been and are still being used in medical practices.  Write a short report to share with the class.

Option #3. 

Conduct research to find other organisms that can regenerate body parts.   Write a short paragraph about how each of the organism regenerates.  ( Hint: starfish )

Option #4.

 Find out how earthworm farms are designed.  Design an earthworm farm that you could build. If you build and share with class, will count for 2 weeks

Option #5

Draw and label the parts of an earthworm.  Write a paragraph explaining where earthworms live and what they  eat.  This can be found on p. 318-319 in your science textbook.

    

     Option #6 Art

     Create a collage of different plants.  You might check the garden centers to see if they have any old catalogs.  Use ½ piece of poster board.

Option #7

     Conduct research to discover the similarities and differences among different bodies of water: ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, bays and oceans. Write one paragraph about each of the bodies of water.

Option #8 Music

     Develop a list of songs whose titles or lyrics incorporate the names of bodies of water.  You must have at least 10 songs.

Option #9

     Write a ½ to 1 page paper on what a bog is and how things are preserved in them. Research about “Bog Man”

Option #10

Create a collage using dried seeds.  Put on a stiff board no bigger than 8X10.  Create a picture with your seeds.  Cover the entire board.

Week of August 25-29
Quiz on Friday August 29 (A day), Sept. 2, (B day) on the microscope.  Students have a study guide.
Homework options are due Thursday Sept 4 (B day), Sept 5 ( A day)
Students are to pick ONE option to complete.

Homework Options

Option #1 Language arts.  Write a poem about the WOW bug, incorporating some of its unique characteristics and behaviors.

Option #2 Science/Technology

Compare the processes that occur in a living thing, such as a human, with those that occur in a nonliving thing, such as a rock.  Write this in a report or make a Venn diagram.

Option #3   Science:   Research different ways that insects have influenced history. Summarize in one page report.

Option #4 Science

Research tube worms.  Find out how they are able to survive in such an inhospitable area.  Write a ½ to 1 page report.

Option #5 Science/Art

Create a collage of photos and illustrations of a wide variety of organisms.  Make this into a small poster.

Option #6 Science

Develop a chart and list the common name of an organism as well as its genus and species name. (scientific name)  You must have at least 25 organisms.

Option #7 Internet

Browse the Internet and download and print images of organism taken from a scanning electron microscope.  Make a collage of the images.

Option #8 Science

Research where the typical mud dauber builds its nest. (the mud dauber is a predatory wasp that is parasitized by the WOW bug.   Write a ½ to 1 page paper.

ALL REPORTS ARE ½ TO 1 PAGE REPORTS!!!!!!