Trapping Burrowing Owls near Eatonia, SK (Summer 2008)
October
> Oct. 9 – Thursday, Day 6 – Introduction to Burrowing Owls
I’m looking forward to teaching you these next several weeks Today I started class by introducing myself and having all of you introduce yourselves I went over some of my expectations in class I showed everyone my summer working with burrowing owls During next class we’ll analyze owl pellets! Woohoo!: This weekend I’ll be helping my biology friend Adam trap saw-whet owls, I’ll let you know how it goes
> Oct. 14 – Tuesday, Day 1 – Dissecting Owl Pellets
Today we dissected barn owl pellets and it was a blast! Some pellets had up to four skulls (birds or small mammals) in them so imagine how much these birds eat! Please finish up your lab writeup for next class
> Oct. 16 – Thursday, Day 4 – Pellet Dissection Discussion & Saw-whet Owls
I did a homework check on your labs We went over the questions from our pellet dissection lab (pg. 294) I have a bag full of our pellet dissections for you to look at if you were missing I showed you my work with saw-whet owls over the weekend
> Oct. 20 – Monday, Day 6 - Checkpoint Questions
I gave class time to work on checkpoint questions Once finished, students started gathering science articles to work on their science journal Due for Wednesday’s class: The checkpoint questions
> Oct. 22 – Wednesday, Day 2 – Quadrats and Estimating Populations
You handed in checkpoint questions You started topic 5 with some definition questions. We also started reading the chapter and learned about making quadrats and estimating population sizes Due for Friday’s class: count the number of birds in the handout I gave you, how many did you count?
> Oct. 24 – Friday, Day 4 – Populations
Wow: Fire on balloon with water vs balloon without Pictures of mark-recapture fish study at Dore Lake, SK Video: Bill Nye the Science Guy – Populations
> Oct. 28 – Tuesday, Day 6 – Estimating Jelly Beans
Dore Lake Slideshow – counting birds Transect study with Mrs. K Estimating Jelly Beans – How can you guess how many jelly beans there are in the beaker?
> Oct. 30 – Thursday, Day 2 – Jelly Bean Lab Writeup
Mrs. K: Handed back checkmark questions Mrs. K: Corrected Transect study Went over mark-recapture calculation for Jelly Bean Lab Writeup Due for tomorrow: Finish Jelly Bean Lab Writeup
> Nov. 3 - Monday, Day 4 – Energy Pyramid & Biomass
Reading and discussion – Energy Pyramid & Biomass Began reading topic 6 Definitions for homework
> Nov. 5 - Wednesday, Day 6 – Sloughs and Swamp Ecosystems
Read about slough ecosystems Watched a video on swamp ecosystems and compared this to slough ecosystems Questions to do on swamp ecosystems
> Nov. 7 - Friday, Day 2 – Sloughs and Swamp Ecosystems
Mrs. K: Discussion about and corrected slough ecosystem questions Mrs. K: Discussion about science journals Reading in text: humans and their relationship to environment Discussion of pollutants and poisons being concentrated up a food chain
> Nov. 13 - Thursday, Day 4 – Poisons (DDT) and their effect on the environment
We discussed and did questions pertaining to poisons (DDT) and their effect on the environment. We also disccused what biological indicators are.
> Nov. 17 - Monday, Day 6 – Air Pollution & Finding Answers to Environmental Problems
Reviewed “You are what you eat” and “the circle of death” (poison concentration, ex. DDT, as you go higher up the food chain) Read Pgs 318-321: Air Pollution & Finding Answers to Environmental Problems Working together for positive change: had students lift me up on my desk as each student used only 2 fingers Showed how small efforts by many people can make a HUGE difference!
> Nov. 19 – Wednesday, Day 2 – John Marriot’s Wild Photography!
Mrs. K: Discussion of marks & journal expectations Mrs. K: Science Wow! Dissolving compound in hot vs cold water I secretly got students on board to lift Mrs. K up on her desk using only 2 fingers Discussion of the power of few Checkpoint questions, due for next class Operation Burrowing Owl, Wildlife Photography: John Marriot’s Wild Photography!
> Nov. 21 – Friday, Day 4 – No class!
It’s curling and skating time!
> Nov. 25 – Tuesday, Day 6 – Review for test
Reviewed all checkpoint questions and concepts to prep for the text next class
> Nov. 27 – Thursday, Day 2 – Test on Environment
Environment Test
> Dec. 2 – Tuesday, Day 4 – The Earth’s Crust
Wow: 12-sided pennies in a balloon New Unit: The Earth’s Crust Read intro to unit Definitions, notes & textbook reading Discussed Mineral Mystery Lab for next class
> Dec. 4 – Thursday, Day 6 – Mineral Mystery Lab Day 1
Performed Mineral Mystery Lab on page 158-159 (Activity 4-1)
> Dec. 8 – Monday, Day 2 – Mineral Mystery Lab Day 2
Completed Mineral Mystery Lab for next class Definitions, notes & textbook reading Yodeling lesson #1 No Homework
> Dec. 10 – Wednesday, Day 4 – Correcting test etc. (Mr. G in Yorkton so Mrs. K teaching)
Mrs. K will hand back and review the Environment Tests Discussion about science journals, other notes etc. Will continue talking about the rock cycle etc. if there’s time
> Dec. 12 – Friday, Day 6 – Rock Families, Cycle & Webquest
The BIGGEST WoW ever with Mr. G & Mrs. K!! Handed around a chunk of potash Handed out and completed Definitions sheet Chapter reading about Rock Families and the Rock Cycle Handed out and started Rock webquest in computer lab
> Dec. 18 – Thursday, Day 4 – Party & Quizzing on the Balcony
Everyone threw a surprise party for me, it was fantastic! I got many gifts, many gushers, cookies, sandwiches, mmmmm salt & vinegar and all dressed chips, wow! Thanks so much you guys! Quizzing competition on the balcony!
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