Homework
 - We will continue with frogs for the rest of the week.
 - All handouts (166-173) must be completed by this Friday, June 1st.
 - Need more time or need more resources? Check the important information page to see when you can come in for extra time.

Absent students
Today we started external frog observations. Come to class tomorrow prepared to catch up with your partner(s).

Today in class we
 - Observed external anatomy of the frog
 - Observed the frog demo dissection

Handouts
You received your final handout today!

Homework
 - Do your best to complete as much as worms as you can. I've provided the dissection manual and the life science text below.
 - All handouts (166-173) must be completed by next Friday, June 1st. You will receive 173 in class on Tuesday.
 - Need more time or need more resources? Check the important information page to see when you can come in for extra time.

Worm Resources
 - Worm Dissection Manual (link goes to external site) (alternate link)
 - iPad worm dissection app ($2.99 on iTunes; you are not required to buy this). This is the app we have installed on the school iPads. WJHS science teacher approved!
 - Life Science segmented worms pages:

Absent students
We concluded the worm dissection today. You are expected to use the worm resources (see above) to complete your worms packet. The iPad app is not required, but some students asked if I could provide the link.

If your worms packet is at school, download a copy here (pdf link). You can record information and not be behind for when you return. On Tuesday we will start with frogs.

Today in class we:
 - Concluded worm dissections and observations

Handouts:
You did not receive any handouts in class today.

Homework
 - This is now up to you! All handouts (166-173) must be completed by Friday, June 1st so you can complete the open-note animals unit reflection.
 - Wear closed-toe shoes tomorrow. Everyone will be at the dissecting phase!

Absent students
Most groups just dissected today. Some groups had to work on the external anatomy portion of the packet. If you need extra time to work on the packet, please see the important information page for times where I will be available to work with you. Alternatively, you may check out a textbook and dissection manual and complete it at home.

Also, you may use this iPad app ($2.99) to review information at home. You are not required to buy this! But, some students have inquired about it.

Today in class we
 - Worked on external anatomy of the worm
 - Dissected the worm

Handouts
No handouts were given in class today.

Homework:
 - This is now up to you! All handouts (166-173) must be completed by Friday, June 1st so you can complete the open-note animals unit reflection.
 - Wear closed-toe shoes tomorrow. Everyone will be at the dissecting phase!

Absent students:
Today we looked over the external anatomy of the worm and observed Mr. Ower perform the dissection so we know what to do.

Today in class we:
 - Prepared for dissection

Handouts:
No handouts were given in class today.

Homework:
 - This is now up to you! All handouts (166-173) must be completed by Friday, June 1st so you can complete the open-note animals unit reflection.
 - Bring a sheet of notebook paper to class tomorrow so you can take some notes on the worm dissection process.

Absent students:
We started our background research on worms today. If you have the animals textbook, you should be able to start working on the handout below. The goal for the students today was to get through page 3. I don't have an online version of the video we watched in class. I'll be more than happy to show it to you when you return.

Today in class we:
 - Worked on our worms research

Handouts:
You received one handout in class today:
 - Handout 172: Worms

Homework:
 - Work on crustaceans sheet at home. These online resources may help you record more data/observations than what is provided in our textbooks.

Absent students:
Start working on the crustaceans sheet. Use the online resources to help get you going. You make come in at any of the scheduled times listed on the information page about the end of the year. You will eventually need a textbook to help you with some of the information.

Today in class we:
 - Continued our exploration of arthropods by focusing on crustaceans.
 - Received information about the end of the year and when all work must be completed.

Handouts:
You received one handout in class today:
 - Handout 171: Crustaceans

Students,
I want to let you know I will be unable to respond to e-mails this weekend. I will be at a conference this weekend. The earliest I will be able respond to e-mails is on Monday. Please talk to your friends about what we did. However, do not copy their work. I can give you materials on Monday to help you complete the in-class work at home.

Homework
Continue working on the insect observations sheet. You will have some time, but not much, on Monday to finish your observations. Questions your observations should address are found at the end of this post.

Absent students
On Thursday we started working on our insect observations sheet. You will need to schedule a time to meet with me after school next week (Monday or Tuesday) to work or to get the materials needed to make your observations.

What we did in class
 - Handle preserved specimen grasshoppers to make observations
 - References books to help us study the grasshoppers

Handouts
You received one handout in class:

Questions for Observations
I shared the following questions with you in class today. If your observation sheet is able to answer most of these questions, you did an absolutely outstanding job collecting data.
1. What are the three body parts and what are they called?
2. Which appendages are found on the head?
3. What are the differences between the pairs of eyes on the head?
4. What mouth structures does the grasshopper have for eating?
5. Which organs are found in the grasshopper's head?
6. Which appendages are attached to the grasshopper's thorax?
7. What are the functions of the appendages on the grasshopper's thorax?
8. Which structures are found in/on the thorax and abdomen that allow the grasshopper to breathe?
9. Which organs are found through the thorax and abdomen?
10. What type of symmetry, if any, does the grasshopper display?
11. How does the grasshopper move?
12. What is the diet of the grasshopper?
13. What are the developmental stages of the grasshopper?
14. How does the grasshopper reproduce?
15. Are the grasshopper's body systems simple or complex? Explain.

These questions you should be able to answer based on our previous discussions of animals, arthropods, and insects.16. How is the grasshopper adapted to survive in its environment?
17. How is the grasshopper specialized? List some parts and describe why they are examples of specialization.
18. How is the grasshopper an example of an insect?
19. How is the grasshopper an example of an arthropod?
20. How is the grasshopper an example of an animal?

Homework:
 - Complete handout 169 (arthropods) if you haven't already. Use the arthropods page to help you fill in the information.

Absent students:
You will need to complete handout 169 for tomorrow. Download and print the handout (#169). Use the arthropods page to help you fill in the information. I also collected the sponges activity (#168) to grade the diagram. Have this ready to go for tomorrow so I can grade it.

Today in class we:
 - Turned in our sponges activity
 - Finished reading the arthropods information
 - Took notes on arthropods
 - Observed arthropod specimens
 - Continued to identify animal adaptations

Handouts:
You received one handout in class today:
 - Handout 169: Arthropods Introduction

Homework:
 - Complete the sponges sheet, handout 168.

Absent students:
You are required to complete the sponges sheet. Today we reviewed the answers in class. You can use the sponges page I typed up to help you find answers to questions. Also, please read the arthropods page so you are ready for tomorrow.

Today in class we:
 - Finished the sponges activity
 - Discussed what we learned
 - Started reading about arthropods

Handouts:
You did not receive any handouts in class today.

Homework:
 - None

Absent Students:
Updated 4:57pm: The information we looked at in class is now available online in an abridged format. Please visit the Sponges page on this site. Follow the instructions on that page. Thank you.

Today in class we:
 - Explored the sponge and examined why it is classified as an animal.

Handouts:
You received one handout in class today:
 - Handout 168: Sponges