February 8, 2010

Welcome to Mr. McDuffie's Life Science homework page!   

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT STUDENTS WILL BE OUT ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK.    Please remind your student to continue to read in their A/R Library books along with keeping in touch with their normal subjects also.

Your students began studying Chapter 12 last Thursday.  All students will complete a virtual dissection of a frog after reviewing instructions from a video along with exact instructions and what to look for during the process.  Hopefully everyone will not only have a fun time but also learn about the frog's anatomy which is similar to our body system.  This should be a very enjoyable time for every student.  Please ask them about their virtual dissection when they come home.  IB students will complete their virtual dissection on Monday while the other students will complete their on Tuesday.

 Students will continue studying about the Six Kingdoms during the Third Nine Week grading period.   Please encourage your student to read and reread Chapter 12 along with internalizing the vocabulary words.  The Georgia Performance Standards covered will be:  

S7L2  Students will describe the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.    Students will learn that tissues, organs, and organ systems serve the needs cells have for oxygen, food, and waste removal.

S7L4     Students will examine the dependence of organisms on one another and their environments. 

S7L3  Students will recognize how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.  Compare and contrast that organisms reproduce asexually and sexually (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants & animals).

     Each night students should read a section in their science book and study their vocabulary words.  It is very important for all students to learn the vocabulary terms.  If your student knows the vocabulary terms, they will know what is being discussed in class.  Some students will have a book/audio CD of chapters 11-21 which is an exact duplicate of the textbook and can be used at home on a computer.   You do not have to have Internet access to utilize this CD at home. 

Students will continue to study the Six Kingdoms concentrating on Birds and Mammals in Chapter 12.    Students will be given study guides for each section to assist in their learning about this kingdom.  Encouragement should also be given to learn all vocabulary words for this chapter.

After reading each section of Chapter 12 students should be able to answer the assessment questions on pages 413, 419, and 428 which should assist them in learning information in the chapter.  All students should also read the study guide on page 430 while answering the Review and Assessment questions on pages 431 and 432.  The CRCT will be given after the Easter break.  A great way to assist in preparing for this is to answer the "Preparing for the CRCT" questions on page 433.  These questions are worded similar to questions on the CRCT plus it is an excellent way to prepare to that important test.

     To learn more about Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles in Chapter 11  please visit the following websites on the Internet:

     Visit:  PHSchool.com   Web Code:  cqj-0012  Building science vocabulary

     Visit:  PHSchool.com  Web code:  cep-2041 Respiration and Curculation activity

     Visit:  PHSchool.com   Webcode:  ced-2042  More on bird adaptations

     Visit:  www.Scilinks.org  Webcode scn-0243  Links on mammals

ATTENTION IB STUDENTS:  FROG DISSECTION TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY   A short research paper is due on Monday.  We will have a short  discussion of proper lab use in dissecting, a virtual dissection of a frog, and then the actual experience itself.  If a student objects to the dissection or is really uncomfortable with the whole process an alternative assignment will be assigned.  Mr. McGarr and I would like for this to be a very good and comfortable learning exercise. 

I am available after school if your child needs additional help (except on Mondays).  I normally will not leave school until 4:15 or 4:30 each day.    For a Parent/Teacher conference, please call Richards at 706-569-3697 and schedule an appointment. 

Mr. McDuffie   gmcduffie@mcsdga.net   or call Richards at (706) 569-3697