Reflection

Throughout the year, there have been a majority of projects. However, one in particular really stood out to me. In the beginning of the year, I started focusing a lot more on mental health and behavioral sciences. In my opinion, this specific project, is something that I'm really proud of. 

Inquiry: The overall process required some thought. I decided that exploring the roots of depression and panic disorders, both of which I have had plenty of experience with, and create a meaningful analysis. 

Research: This took a little more time then I originally thought. The further I started looking at different articles, or descriptions of the disorders themselves, the more I found out about them, giving me a deeper understanding of just how the mind is affected, and what steps are taken in order to keep those suffering at ease. 

Collaboration: I collaborated closely with my bio-chem teacher, through frequent editing, and reviewing the material. Eventually, the final project itself wouldn't be where it is without his feedback. 

Presentation: This project was shared only with my teacher, considering it was more of an independent study. While writing the paper, I had already gone through a bit of a harder time  emotionally, which made it harder to present to an actual audience. 

Reflection: One thing I would definitely change, is the overall presentation of my findings. The tone of the paper seems as though it was more research based, but it was a combination of both first hand experience, and medical terminology. I still think it could've been a stronger paper, especially if I had a wider audiance. Either way, this shows that even when in a bad mindset, my work can still be strong. 

Mini Capstone

​Reflection: My most intriguing project was my science fair project.

Core values:
Inquiry: To test how fast the sodium hydroxide boils with different solutions
Research: I googled boiling points of vinegar and water
Collaboration: I worked with my partner Heaven 
Presentation: What was effective was that we knew what we were talking about 
Reflection: I would change the solutions to mix with and maybe try a soda and then a non sugary drink like selzer water.

G10 Science Mini-Capstone

Project: I like the Evolution project. My group and I studied the chipmunk compared to the squirrel. 

Inquiry-I learned a lot this year. I liked most of the study island work and I really loved the Ecology unit we did 
Research-I used a lot of resources given to us in the beginning of the year, like the site where we could read the textbook online.
Collaboration-I was a part of the community because if there was something I didn't understand, I would go and ask around the class so that I could get a better understanding.
Presentation- I think that my greatest strategy was to look over my presentation and try and remember certain key points on the slides.
Reflection- Some of the things that I would do differently, is that I would try harder to hand in my work on time so that I don't have to worry and stress about the things that I need to turn in.

Reflection

Inquiry:
I wanted to know if pharmaceuticals still works.

Research:
I googled away into many sites including health organizations for the public safety and put sites on my SFP doc for reminders and also gathered historical evidence about herbal medicine.

Collaboration:
Joseff helped me the most with peer editing and changing what needed to be changed in the slides and doc which helped me a lot when I was presenting because I knew what to say thanks to Joseff and my other peers, Teige, and Gamal Sherif.

Presentation:
I practiced my slides and knew what to say since I made this my project which helped my know what to say and did it without showing any weak sides of embarrassment.

Reflection:
I am unsure what I would do differently, but one thing I could change is adding the procedure so people would know how I got my results.

I would upload my slideshow for anyone to study what I did to know my strategy on how well I did my work for others to know but I can't, so I made a PDF which is a slpoppy way of showing no cool speicl animation or staged ideas. But it is what it is and I am sorry about that.
(Also start using Keynote, and not google presentation!)
SFP 5-9-14

G10 Science Mini-Capstone

View the project here.

Inquiry: I wanted to know more about the reaction of decomposition.
Research: We researched various websites on different decomposition experiments.
Collaboration: I worked with a team of Myrna, Daniel, and Saul. 
Presentation: We executed an experiment and recorded it, thus presenting me with a SFP idea. We wrote down our data.
Reflection: If I did this again, I would test different catalysts. 

Mini Capstone

My most interesting project of the year was the Evolution Portfolio where my group compared Newts, Salamanders, and Geckos. 

Inquiry- In our project we compared Newts, Salamanders, and Geckos to find there similarities and differences in there taxonomy, homologies and biogeography.
Research- We made a graph of the various data of there taxonomy and homologies and compared maps of there locations.
Collaboration- Each member in my group worked on researching one of the animals and putting the info in graphs. Then we worked together to compared the data for each.
Presentation- With the presentation we each took a specific part and explained the place that each creature compared to the others.
Reflection- If I were to do this differently, I would also compare Lizards to the others.

Reflection

Inquiry: I wanted to know which filter would be the most effective on the river water

Research: I got information by researching on the internet and looking at other experiments

Collaboration: I worked with my team to complete the filters

Presentation: What was effective was that we used different materials for each filter and when we put the water through the filter we remained patient

Reflection: I would want to try more combinations to find the most effective

G10 Science Mini-Capstone

My most intriguing project was my Science Fair Project this year. 
Inquiry: The question we explored was; how do fireworks work, and how do we make them brightest?
Research: We mostly looked on the internet for information on combustion and flame tests. 
Collaboration: I collaborated a lot with Kara because she was my partner. Also our project included a lot of other people because we needed them to help. 
Presentation: Our presentation had minimal words so that we could interact with the people we were presenting with. 
Reflection: We would have made sure our variables were more constant. 

Reflection

Project: I found a lab I did in class using maganese dioxide with hydrogen peroxide to create a chemical reaction.
Inquiry: I wanted to know what causes the chemical reaction and how it works.
Research: I gathered the information by doing research on the internet and looking at other experiments to do my own.
Collaboration: I worked with my team to perform the lab and to make the chemical reaction happen.
Presentation: What was effective was that we used the proper materials and when the reaction happened we stepped away from it and also collected the data at the same time.
Reflection: I would use another reactant other than maganese dioxide.

Senior Schedule


June 13th

  • 7:45am Graduation Practice - The Franklin Institute

  • 9:30am - Return to SLA for…

    • Yearbook Signing

    • Graduation tickets

    • Cap and Gown

    • Breakfast/Snacks will be served

June 16th

  • 7:45am - 9:30am - Graduation Practice - The Franklin Institute

  • 4:00 pm - Students Report to The Franklin Institute for Graduation

  • 5:00 pm - Doors open for seating of guests/parents/families

  • 5:50 pm - Doors close for seating of guests/parents/families

  • 6:00 pm - Graduation Processional

  • 6:10 pm - Doors will reopen for late arrivals

June 17th

  • Pick up Diplomas outside the office 10am-noon

​Student Schedule for 9th-11th Graders 6/16-19

6/16 - Monday:

Meet your advisory at SLA or off-site for Advisory Day between 9am and 10am.  Dismiss at 2pm.


6/17 - Tuesday:

Laptop turn-in, locker clean-out, return materials

9th: 8:30am-12pm

10th: 9:30am - 12pm

11th: 8:45am - after 11am (when done with rostering)


6/18 - Wednesday:

Field Day

8:15am - 12:30pm

Wear comfy athletic clothing

We will be inside if it is raining.


6/19 - Thursday:

Report card pick-up

9th grade - 9am-10am

10th grade - 10am- 11am

11th grade - 11am- 12pm


  • YEARBOOK DISTRIBUTION will be held tomorrow in Mr. Reddy's room during both lunches. If you ordered a book, stop by to pick it up! If you want to buy a book, bring $60 with you (limited supply of extra books available).


  • LOCKER CLEAN-OUT will be held on Tuesday. Please make sure your locker is empty, free of lock, and CLEAN! You MUST check-out of the locker you were assigned in the fall. Advisors have access to those locker numbers (online and hardcopy available in office mailboxes as of today).


  • FIELD DAY is on Wednesday! Have you coordinated with your stream yet to show your pride on that day? (Orange Nation is already repping their spirit with wearing their shirts early). Good luck to all teams!

Mini Capstone SFP

Inquiry: We wanted to learn about the stress in fruit flies caused by humans.

Research: My partner and I researched out information on the internet from reliable, scientific sources.

Collaboration: We were part of a community because we shared our information to the rest of our class and teachers.

Presentation: We knew what we were telling everyone and tried to bring comparisons between people and the stress that fruit flies had.

Reflection: I guess I would focus on continuing this project to other animals.


See our project: https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/document/d/1uHTU02fgQN0mipZ7E1wWN-4E8npnu_fZhyTWWw8FWMQ/edit?usp=sharing

Science Mini-Capstone

Inquiry: How to find spring constants and what effect they had on spring expansion.

Research: We read things online

Collaboration: I worked with a classmate and we got help from Ms. Echols.

Presentation: We made a board and presented at the science fair.

Reflection: We could find the same things but look at spring contraction.




See our project: ​https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/document/d/1ig_45jjKrNlDYxIJl-KkxVYe4aaELdDiAo4GZMDEdig/edit?usp=sharing

Mini Capstone

Mini Capstone: DNA


Inquiry: I wanted to know DNA patterns.

Research: I researched DNA online and DNA structure.

Collaboration: Me and a bunch of my classmates showed off our DNA projects.

Presentation: My presentation was a 4ft model of DNA made of candy. It actually was the reason I got an A on the project.

Reflection: I wish I would have made the model sturdier.


G9 Mini Capstone

Chloe Epstein

12/6/14

Orange

Reflection


SFP-


Inquiry- I wanted to know more about Pollution and how it affects the world in different ways so I could prove it’s existence to people who think it’s not a serious problem.


Research- We gathered information by using resources like the internet and teachers who knew about this topic.


Collaboration- Since focusing on a problem like pollution we were a part of the community because if we don’t do something about our polluted climate soon there will be no community at all.


Presentation- We both took turns speaking and tried to be loud and keep people interested. We were also well prepared when answering questions.


Reflection- I would’ve made our project more complex, for example, during the experiment we could’ve used different amounts of octane, types of gases, and types of plants.

Reflection: the Finale

DNA Project:
Inquiry: We asked the question "how does DNA appear in our cells?"
Research: We had to go to multiple sites to find what was necessary for our essay portion of the DNA project.
Collaboration: Me and Makhi worked together to build the model of the DNA and to gather the resources necessary for doing so.
Presentation: For the board, we had to cut different boards and connect them in innovative ways.
Reflection: In the future, I would not make the DNA out of Twizzlers, as they got crusty and broke.

G9 Mini Capstone

My most intriguing project of the year would be burning glass in order to make it bend. I had never done it and never thought it could be done. I still remember what I had made.

I wanted to know why does that type of glass is able to be bent when heated, would other class have the same ability to? When I was doing the experiment, I did gather and organize some data. Such as how long it took to actually be able to bend the glass, compared with the timing of my partner’s, Miranda Abazoski. I was part of a great community, which is my class for bio, we help each other, and just support each other when needed. Such as sharing samples, data, etc. I didn’t really do a presentation with that project, it was more of a discussed type of presentation if you want to say it. I enjoyed it, it was one of the first experiments I had done here at SLA, thanks to Mr.Sherif! What I would do differently would be to leave the glass longer in the flames so I can easily bend it more, I noticed that I had to put much force into bending it, because I had took it out too quick.

Overall the experience was great! Throughout the year, almost all the experiments I really did enjoyed.


G9 Science Mini-Capstone

Dissection Portfolio


Inquiry - How is the human body similar/different to the bodies of other organisms?


Research - My group gathered information by dissecting the different organisms besides humans as well as looking up information from online resources.


Collaboration - I worked with my partners to help research more about the anatomy of humans, frog, and grasshoppers


Presentation - My group’s presentation was clear and easily understood by anyone reading it. All of the systems in the presentation were all clearly display via the chart of all of the bodily systems.


Reflection - I would have liked to make some of the information more thorough so we could have more to offer our class.


Best Project This Year

This year we completed a lot of projects. My favorite project would have to be my favorite is the Evolution benchmark. The evolution benchmark expressed the core value on inquiry. We asked questions about certain turtles and their common traits. My group worked well on finding out about the different turtles. We asked around about different turtles that we could use and them used them in our presentation. Each person in the group did equal parts of the presentation. All of us knew the work and answer all questions we had. Link to presentation.

Water Filter

IMG_4403
IMG_4403
Core Values from SLA From the water filter lab
-Inquiry: The question was can we make safe water filters with organic materials that are all natural and safe for the environment. 
-Research:  I researched what material filters water more from stones, dirt, grass and sand.. Then researched the best way to build a safe clean water filter that would be easy to  carry around and would still be fun. 
-Collaboration: I worked with my partner Brittany A. and David to make the filter. We each brought in one water bottle and made the filter.
-Presentation: I decorated my bottle to be a little silly with it, but with presentation we talked to the class about the findings we found about which filter worked better. Which was the sand and stone filter the water came out cleaner than when it started
-Reflection: This could be considered a deflection but , in the end we compared the pH levels of the water. 



IMG_4404
IMG_4404

Genetic Disorders

The best project was the study and comparison of genetic disorders. The purpose of the project was to better understand how genetics influences our physical and biochemical identity.  Our group decided to compare adult and pediatric glaucoma.

Below is a summary of how SLA's core values relate to the project.

  • Inquiry: We wanter to know more about different types of glaucoma. We also wanted to know what it's like to have glaucoma and treatments.
  • Research:  We used official medical sites, articles and got help from a  professional in pediatric glaucoma.
  • Collaboration: I got the best help from every single person in the team. We had an opportunity to participate and share what I know and learn new things.  We found a way to have fun while doing the work we were supposed to do.
  • Presentation: Presentation was good.  We used a slideshow to explain and compare how pediatric and adult glaucoma. 
  • Reflection: If I’d do the project again, I’d probably use more pictures and go into more details, because glaucoma is a very deep topic.
Below is the project slideshow and the link is HERE.


Q1 Glaucoma BM Presentation (Table 1)

Mini-Capstone

My most intriguing project was the Science Fair Project

Mali and I wanted to know what really happens when you dye your hair and if what they say is true, that it damages your hair and gives you split ends. We also wanted to know if the damage could be repaired with natural oils.

We looked up the structures of the oils so we could find out what really makes them repairing agents. We also looked up what else they do and what was in them.

We were apart of the community because we found out that argan oil and coconut oils really do help hair and that dye really does damage hair. This especially helps people who are thinking about dying their hair but are questioning whether to or not.

We had many pictures in our presentation that were really intriguing to our audiences, and a great visual aid for the visual learners.

I would change the experiment to something less tedious.

Mini-Captsone

The most interesting project that I completed this entire year was the SFP water filtration and the follow up water filtration experiment in class. 


Inquiry: Before I started these experiments I wanted to know how to filter the river water using biotic filters. The reason I wanted to know this is because half of Philadelphia’s drinking water comes from the Schuylkill River. If we can find out how to improve the water using renewable sources then it will be very time and money efficient. 


Research: For research my partner and I explored plants and their root systems. We did this to understand why and how plants were excellent filters. When researched we found out that plants’ roots absorbed nutrients, phosphates, nitrates, and didn’t add any excess matter. We also researched turbidity levels and the normalcy levels for different water systems. We then looked at pH levels. 


Collaboration: In terms of collaboration I had a partner for the SFP, and then worked with my table group for the in class water filtration. My partner and I worked side by side the entire time together. For the in class experiment, my group all worked on different jobs to make the results come together. We even did the experiment again to retest the results and to add some components. I also collaborated with Mr. Sherif to help with the science behind the experiment. I had a couple of peer editors for my SFP writeup. 


Presentation: For my presentation I made a slideshow for the SFP with my partner. For the in class lab I wrote the data in my lab data book. For the SFP my partner and I also presented it to fellow classmates and scientists. 


Reflection: When I was reflecting I was thinking about the possible errors I made and future modifications. For modifications on my SFP I would use different types of plants for filtration. I would do this because from my research I learned that plants were the most effective natural filters so I would like to find the best plant for the river.