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Email Updates Science – Vol. 5- Number 6 – March 6, 2011
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Greetings from Mr. Brewer,
You are receiving this mass email because either you are a student or the parent/guardian of a student in one my Seventh Grade Science classes at Eckstein Middle School.
In this mailing you will find:
1). What have we been doing in the last few weeks?
2). What will we be doing in the next few weeks?
3). The Human Body Research Project
4). Science Night & Presentations – May 5, 2011
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1). What have we been doing in the last few weeks?
Since the last update we have investigated the reproductive processes of plants by dissecting several flowers and learning the names of each individual part. Each student created a pollination story cartoon (either written or on computer) to explain the role of seed dispersal and the growth cycle of plants; many are on currently on display outside the classroom, so take a look next time you are in the building. Following that we focused our attention on the difference between several of the animal phylums — invertebrates, vertebrates, and insects. We conducted a dissection of one animal from one of these phylums in order to be able to compare and contrast the similarities and differences. We concluded the quarter addressing ecology and human interdependence of the environment by focusing on the importance of native and invasive species throughout our environment.
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2). What will we be doing in the next few weeks?
We will spend the rest of the year focusing on the Human Body System. We began by examining the digestive
system. We will investigate how the digestive system works, breaks down foods into molecules that the body
can use, and information about how these molecules are incorporated into energy for the body. We will also
investigate how the digestive system links to the respiratory system and how this relates to respiration in
general by defining the differences between cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
Following Spring Break, we will examine the circulatory system. We will have the opportunity to feel a sheep
heart so that we could learn how the most important muscle in our body — the heart — looks and works.
We will focus our attention to the importance of the circulatory system and how it affects our overall health.
We will examine how the field of bioengineering makes it possible to better treat heart diseases. We will
simultaneously be examining the importance of how health effects the ability of the heart to function
effectively.
At the end of this unit students will have the opportunity to try their own expertise at developing an alternative
blood vessel in much the same way that a bioengineer would test common materials. Students will write their
results in a formal lab.
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3). The Human Body Research Project!
In this project students are to choose either a disease, a drug (with emphasis on the effect on the human
body), or a health care career that they would like to learn more about. The format will be as follows:
Scientists everywhere must present their data and experiment results to the public so that it can be reviewed,
critiqued, and understood. Scientists do this by attending conferences, presenting their data in public forum
such as a panel discussion, workshop, seminar, or presentation. Scientists may also publish their results in a
publication that is read by other scientists such as “Science”, “Nature”, etc. You are going to be responsible
for choosing a topic to present to the community (for Science Night – see section below). You will be able to choose the type of presentation that explains your understanding of
the scientific concepts.
Choose a role, format, audience and purpose. During this project you will have several choices on how you
want to present your research. Here are the different choices you will make:
Role: You will choose one role to take. You are a scientist that must present your data to the larger
community of peers, colleagues, teachers, administrators, and parents. You will take on a role and write from
this perspective.
Format: You will choose one format. The final version must be published in exactly this format.
Audience: On this one you can choose one or more than one. This is whom the piece is written for.
Purpose: You can choose one or more purposes for your presentation. This is why the piece is being written.
You should work toward achieving this goal.
| Role | Format | Audience | Purpose |
| Biologist | Magazine Article | Peers | Change Thinking |
| Chemist | Panel Discussion | Parent | Inform |
| Physicist | Interactive Workshop | Supervisor | Explain |
| Doctor Specialist | Seminar Discussion | Teacher | Change Action |
| Health Care Career | Oral Presentation | Young Kids | New Idea |
| Disease Specialist | Paper Presentation | Public Figures | Initiate Thinking |
| Human Body System | Textbook | General Public | Case Study |
| People from Other Cultures | Instruct | ||
| School Board | Initiate Action | ||
| People in the Same Job | |||
| Any other approved role | Any other approved format | Any other approved audience | Any other approved purpose |
How long should my research project be?
Your project should be long enough to answer all ten (10) of your research questions above in the role and
form for the audience and purpose that you have chosen. Estimate about two (2) full pages typed.
Project Timeline Due Dates Completed
Pick a Disease or Health Career: 02/04/11
Final Project Description: 02/08/11
Signed Letter Page: 03/11/11
Finish Research: 04/09/11
Project Rough Draft: 04/12/11
Final Project & Presentations: 04/26/11
Science Night & Presentations: 05/05/11
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4). Science Night & Presentations – May 5, 2011
Mark your calendars! May 5, 2011 is Science Night. All Human Body Systems Research Projects will present on this night during a half-hour time slot. Students will be assigned to time slots based upon availability and student preference closer to the actual date. In the mean time, use the timeline herein and on your worksheet to make sure that you are making the best of your resources.
Students are expected to attend Science Night. We will not be presenting the projects in class; students will be presenting their projects to peers and the community at Science Night. Please plan to attend for at least your half-hour time frame it all possible. Alternative assignments are available but please know that the easier of the assignments is to present at Science Night.
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Thanks for attending to the email.
mabrewer
