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By Alex and Kam

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My goal is to be able to be comfortable having a conversation with someone.

-Have a conversation with someone and ask them about what they did that day. If I can be comfortable and keep the conversation then I think I will be successful.

-I would talk to my Columbian friend who is fluent in spanish and will be able to tell me what I need to improve on.

​My goal for the conversations in general would be to speak a little more fluently and understand how a native speaker usually speaks and how to keep up with the conversation. I have a problem with pronunciation and that is also one of my goal. 

I have couple of spanish friends who speak spanish fluently and I'm going to have little chat with them. 

Environmental Impact

"Both natural processes and human activities are capable of changing the environment."-Study Island

Slow Changes to the environment include:

•Changing of the seasons

•Ecological succession

Rapid Changes to the environment include:

•Hurricanes

•Volcanic Eruptions

•Asteroid Impacts

Humans contribute to the environment in many ways, especially if they are treating the environment bad. 

•Habitat destruction

•Fossil fuels burning

•Genetically engineering organisms

•Pollution

•Greenhouse Gases

So we are going to focus on ecological succession and it's impact on the environment. Ecological succession is basically a process that a community undergoes and has a predictable change. Think of "I Am Legend" when you see the deers running around and trees growing in the streets. Basically that street has turned into a "forest" that's ecological succession.Example below:

                           

Over time as you can in 1840 it started out as a pond but ended up being a forest.  In 1870 you can that some of the plants are starting to get a little bigger and that the fish are still present. In 1900 algae are starting to fill up the pond. 1930 the pond is almost covered now with a tree on the side and algae almost filling the whole thing. In the last two years the trees are more present with the pond covered with algae and dirt.

Questions to think about:

What is ecological succession?

What is primary ecological succession?

Listed below is pictures of ecological succession which one shows it the most?

My goal is to talk in spanish slightly fluently. 
- To not use any english words in between. 
- Try not to stutter and space out a lot. 

I already talked to a telemarketer in spanish. He was laughing a little because I asked him if he could speak spanish to me for my school project. He was really nice though, he helped me a lot. 

Pick one of the following people (or someone else) and create a one-week nutritional plan for him/her. Choose to work on the plan for desayuno OR almuerzo OR cena. The person's name is the title of your post.

Michael Phelps who exercises 9 hours/day

Lindsay Lohan who needs to gain weight for a role

Angelina Jolie, a vegetarian with a voracious appetite

Dora la Exploradora who is vegan

            Nick Jonas who is diabetic

Be sure:            

- to indicate quantity (UNA manzana, DOS hamburguesas)

- to provide variety so they don’t get sick of it

- to recommend a drink (un vaso de = a glass of, una taza de = a mug of)

- to be creative (Peruvian Andes cuisine?)

You can use words that are not on the vocab sheet.

	Desayuno Almuerzo Cena
lunes
martes
miércoles
jueves
viernes
sábado
domingo

Conversation Goals


- Keep going with the conversation without stoping or saying "Umm" a lot. 

- Make the conversation flow better and not stumble over words I do not know how to pronounce. 

- Learn how to use conjugations better and make sure I am using them correctly.


I want to know more about the spanish speaking countries and I think it is better to learn from them instead of something read on the internet or text book.

What is normal day in your country?
What do you do for fun?
What type of music do you listen to?
How is the education in your country?
What do you dislike about your country?

Major Understanding:

The basic major understanding of atoms are that they composed virtually everything in the universe. Everything is composed of atoms, from your mom, to your dad and even something huge like the Sun is composed of atoms. Without the basic structure of atoms, mass, and objects with really large masses couldn't exist. Also with things such as ionic and covalent bonds give way to much more complex structure and organisms like humans, and the Sun. 

Simple Questions

Había una familia en las montañas de Virginia. Había un papá, una mamá, un hijo, y una hija. La familia vivía en una casa humilde, pero ellos gustaron el humildad de la casa. La familia tenía un perro. Era una perro especial, y era de ascendencia labordoodle. El perro era bastante importante. El perro tenía un secreto. El Perro estaba preocupadísima. El perro lloraba. El perro le sollozó al mamá, "El Mar, mamacocha, está furioso. Mamcocha va a destruir el mundo. Había un problema. Era un problema grave.

 

Había un gato. El perro le dijo al gato, "Hay un problema. El mar, Mamacocha está furioso! El Mar va a destruir el mundo. Sube la montaña más alta con nosotros." El gato comprendeó perfectamente. El gato se escapó con el grupo.

 

Había un cerdo. El perro le exclamó al cerdo, "Hay un problema. El mar está enojadísimo! El mar va a destruir el mundo. Escala la montaña más alta con nosotros, por favor!" El perro era muy preocupadísima. El cerdo comprendío bien, pero no caminaba con el grupo. El cerdo saltó.

 

Había un delfín. El perro le dijo a la delfín y hablé la problema. El delfín entendío, y se fue con el grupo. Pero, él necesitó a nadar. Entonces él buscó un río.

 

Había un espantapájaros. El perro explicó al espantapájaros, "Hay un problema. El mar, Mamacocha, está furioso. El mar va a destruir el mundo. Escala la montaña más alta con nosotros." El espantapájaros comprendió, pero no se fue con el grupo. El espantapájaros montó en el cerdo.

 

Había un unicornio. El perro le dijo, "Hay una problema! El, Mar, Mamacocha, está furioso. El mar va a destruir el mundo. Sube la montaña más alta con nosotros." El unicornio no les hizo caso. El unicornio no se fue con el grupo y era demasiado perezoso.

 

El grupo subió la montaña más alta. La familia, el perro, y el gato subieron Huillcacoto, la montaña más alta. El cerdo y el espantapájaros saltaban. Y el delfín nadaba.

 

El mar subió. El mar subió con furia. Había un problema. Era un problema grave. El unicornio no estaba con el grupo. El unicornio corrio. El unicornio no caminó. El unicornio no voló. El unicornio corrió muy rápido. El unicornio subió la montaña más alta, pero se cayó.

 

Por fin el mar, Mamacocha, estaba contento y no subió más. El mar bajó. La familia bajó. El perro bajó. Los otros animales bajaron. Y todos estaban felices. Y ya no había problemas.

 

 

 

Genetics explains why we are the way we are. It explains how our parents effect our lives, and the traits that we inherit, and generally how our body works. Genetics also explains what can effect our lives, for example how our environment changes how we act or look. It could impact our future greatly, depending on what happens with cloning. Cloning people could provide endless organs, which would save a lot of lives but it is very controversial whether this is morally correct to do or not.

We have both a creative source of information, and a traditional presentation format. Please enjoy both, and happy PSSA testing! 

​This blog post will basically touch the simple facts, the history of genetics, etc.

 

 

1886: Gregor Mendel discovered that traits of offspring depend on the parents traits, which may be dominant or recessive. ( but this was somehow lost)

1902: Theodore Boveri & Walter Sutton used color to observe chromosomes 

1905: Nettle Stevens found out that all homologous chromosomes are the same except the ones that determines sex (X,Y)

1909: Thomas H Morgan made many important researches in fly genetics and linked analysis that apply to all diploid organisms

1941: Beadle and Tatum discovered that each gene encodes one protein

1944: Oswald Avery identified DNA as genetic material

1953: Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins showed that the DNA is a double helix, Thomas Watson and Frances Crick figured out that the base of the double helix enabled replication 

1970: Tamin and Baltimore found a enzyme used to clone genes 

1981: First transgenic mammals are made

1996: Iam Wilmut cloned the lamb Dolly from adult mammary gland tissue  

Genetics is the features and characteristics that make up an organism. 

 

 Your genetics decipher what you will look like, and your features.

 

There are many things you can learn about your genetics like your DNA and what factors are inside of it to make it important, also your genotype/phenotype, and what a recessive gene and dominant gene is.

 

Lets start simple:

 

DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid. Your DNA is a molecule that carries all of your genetic information

 

Genotype describes what certain alleles are on a certain chromosome

 

Alleles are a form of a gene that play part on a specific chromosome, which controls a certain trait.

 

There are dominant and recessive alleles

 

Dominant alleles are upper case and usually the trait that comes out the most

 

Recessive is usually shown with an lower case letter, and in this allele it is usually the trait that does not show unless the organism is homozygous.

 

Homozygous just means that both of the alleles are either dominant or recessive

 

Heterozygous means that one of the alleles are dominant and one is recessive  

 

Phenotype is the physical characteristics of the gene

There are many ways that you can determine what exactly an offspring’s traits will be by using genotype. One way is to look at the alleles of the two organisms. Also if you really wanted to be accurate you will put them in a punnet square.

 

Punnet squares is just a fancy word to describe the separation of alleles to figure out what an offspring may look like, also to fish out the chances of having a certain child.

 

For example a mother and father are about to have a child they want a child with blue eyes. The mother has two alleles bb, which are homozygous. The father also has two alleles Gb, which are heterozygous. Knowing that the father has green eyes, because greens allele is dominant and blue is recessive you can figure out what is the chance of the child having blue eyes.  

By looking at this you can see that the child has a 50% chance of having green eyes or having blue eyes. But what if the father was also homozygous?

There would be no chance at the child being born with blue eyes. 

In the PSSA I do not know exactly what kind of questions will be asked, but make sure you do the study island and also look up a few things to make sure you understand such as:

Where your DNA gets its information from and what it is made up of and how its held together

How many chromosomes a human has (46)

Different types of gene disorders and also different types oh names for each type of gene

What kind of diseases are gene orientated

 


http://www.learner.org/interactives/dna/genetics.html
http://www.dnai.org/
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna/
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/builddna/

http://dnaandrna.com/RNA.html

Here is our own Biome map of the U.S. This is here to help refresh our minds on some of the world's biomes.

Everything on pdf

Topic	Key Points	Important Diagrams
Theory of Evolution	Animals Evolved  to adapt during different weather conditions. Many theories of evolution are just hypothesis.	The monkey to man diagram
	What I learned	Questions
	How humans and other species have evolved to adapt in their environment.	What would happen if the land disappear? Would humans adapt and grow fins.

RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTS:

Through research we encountered a variety of experiments to gain knowledge of our topic, Energy Transformations. We gathered that there is Potential, Kinetic, and Elastic energy. In one simple experiment of dropping a ball both factors of Potential and Kinetic was shown. When the ball is in the air Potential (gravity) is stored, once released the ball's energy transforms from potential to kinetic as kinetic energy becomes greater as the stored (potential) energy is transferred. Another experiment done was of a catapult launching an object through the air. Depending on the structure of the catapult there is Elastic energy within a spring-like material to then launch the object, the transfer of energy is from Elastic to Kinetic but may be dissipation where some of the energy is wasted due to friction.

HOW TO SHOW THROUGH QUALITATIVE DATA:

There are several ways to express Energy Transformations through visuals such as LOL diagrams and pie charts. LOL diagrams are diagrams showing Initial Energy, The Flow of Energy, and Final Energy. Pie Charts represent qualitative and/or quantitative of how the energy is being transferred.

Example 1: (LOL diagram)
Scenario: Free Fall of a Ball = Potential (gravitational) to Kinetic (before the ball comes in contact with another force)



Example 2: (Pie Chart)
Scenario: Catapult Launching an Object = Elastic energy becomes kinetic over time



GENERAL UNDERSTANDING:

Overall, Energy Transformation "is the process of changing energy from one form to another." Energy Transformation is in everyday life from dropping a ball to sliding down a playground slide. Energy can be potential (stored), kinetic (moving)
elastic (spring constant), dissipation (lost), and radiation(waves). Throughout the process of energies changing there can be more than one in existence. For example you may have a dart shoot into a ceiling and then remain in place due to initially the dart had kinetic energy then one hits the ceiling dissipated energy but also has some potential (gravitational) energy.

4. An example of the types of questions (multiple choice) related to your topic that might appear on the PSSA with an explanation of how you can decide on the correct answer.

A child kicked a soccer ball. How is energy being transferred?

A) Potential (Gravitational)
B) Kinetic
C) Dissipation
D) Radiation

Explanation: Since the ball is in motion the only logical answer is Kinetic.

What units is energy measured in?

A) Newtons
B) Kilograms
C) Joules
D) Pounds

Explanation: With process of elimination; Newtons measures force, kilograms measures mass, and pounds measures weight with the only option left is "Joules".

Which energy transformation is used to cook food in a microwave?

A) Radiation
B) Dissipation
C) Friction
D) Gravity

Explanation: Radiation travels in waves which cooks food in a microwave its a type of heat. Choices B,C, and D are irrelevant.

Sound is _______ energy?

A) Heated
B) Dissipated
C) Cold
D) Kinetic

Explanation: When sound is distributed it transforms into nothing more than just rhythms or syllables to our ears. When energy is not transferred than it is lost; dissipated.

Here is my PDF explaining the Theory of Evolution for our PSSA Review Project.

What is Structure and Function.

 Function and structure are related, because of a certain structure a living thing make contain makes the object function the way it does. The are a lot of structural future in humans, plants, animal and all living things. The relationship of a structure and function is the structuring levels from molecules to organism ensure successful functioning in all living organism and living system. Note one structure can have multiple function.From my under standing structure and function can be broken down in to several part like chemical level which deal with  atoms proton etc as the structure and what they do is the function.

 

 

Classification of Living Things

Living things are placed into groups based on both structural and functional similarities. For example, bacteria are prokaryotic cells, which means they lack a true nucleus. These are structural characteristics. A functional characteristic which defines bacteria is that they reproduce by binary fission. Plant cells are structurally different to other cells because they contain a large central vacuole and plastids such as chloroplasts. These structural features also support a plant’s function, since the presence of chloroplasts allows the plant to carry out photosynthesisExample of a structure and function:

Amino acids structure directly affects its function. It’s a lock and key method that cannot work unless the structure fit together. When they fit they can carry out the function of speeding up a chemical process.

.

• Chemical level – the structure of molecules determines the properties of substances, which, in turn, determine their functions. For example, the chemical structure of metals allows them to conduct electricity, which makes metals useful as conductors
  

   

Cellular level – the structure of cells is linked to their function. For example, lung cells are very thin, which allows gases to diffuse easily through the cells. 

Cellular Processes

There are several types of cellular processes that occur in the cells of living things. 

Photosynthesis is the process where plant cells use sunlight energy to produce glucose and oxygen. The opposite process to this is cellular 

Meiosis and mitosis are two forms of cell reproduction. In mitosis, a cell produces an exact copy of itself. This is a form of asexual reproduction. It also occurs for other processes, such as hair growth, skin repair, and cell regeneration. In meiosis, a cell is produced that is not an exact copy. Instead, the cell has only half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.Meiosis is the basis for sexual reproduction, where a cell with a complete set of chromosomes is produced when two gamete cells combine. 

DNA replication   is a biological process that occurs in all living organisms and copies their DNA; it is the basis for biological inheritance

 

Practice Question

For this question we know that cellular respiration    
The process of cell in which cells turn food into usable energy in the form of ATP. We know we consume oxygen and then release carbon dioxide. Looking on the option a only part it true .We consume energy, but we don’t absorb energy we use our stored energy. B is no right at all we don’t produce oxygen. C is the correct answer we consume oxygen and release energy. D is like B so it wrong also.

We know that the nucleus is the the center of the cell.We can use common sense.you can say that since it the center it control the whole cell. Number two say it controls the cell. number three say control also but it not the answer.Three is say some .but the nucleus controls all of the cell.

Taylor Stover

Spanish 

Había una vez estaba un tigre mágico. Vivió en las montañas de Columbia. Hizo ruidos salvajes que atrajo a todos los que escuchaban. Estaba un niño quien mirar el tigre en el noche. El niño y el tigre ser amigos, pero no otros personas saben sobre la amistad.

El niño y el tigre escalamos un montañas todos el noche. El tigre hablan mucho con el niño 

el tigre le dijo sobre el mundo. El niño lloraran con el tigre. Sus es mejor amigos, pero es problema porque los personas en el barrio no saben sobre el tigre. El tigre preguntó el muchacho para mantener el secreto. Hasta que una noche, los chicos padres notó que no era en el casa. 

parte 2. 

La mama de los chico son muy furioso. Ella llamada todos personas en el barrio. De la nada el cúrro volar de la casa y hablan mama, le dijo que su hijo es los amigos con el tigre. La mama no creen que él. El cúrro escalar la mama encontrar a su hijo. "El tigre es una problema su quieren destruir el mundo. 

El tigre empezo a cambiar. Su se convirtió muy antipatico. El niño fur asustado. Es grande problema. " Quiero destruir el mundo" dijo el tigre. "No to no puedes" dijo el niño. Su necesitan parar el tigre. Su necesitan bajar los montañas y atras a Columbia. 

parte 3. 

La familial de los chico escalar los montañas. Ellos escucharon para el sonido del tigre.  La mama es muy furioso. Todos quieren lo hijo. El secreto es muy malo. Había un problema. La mama miran su hijo, "YAY" ella estaba enojada pero esta muy feliz porque encontran su hijo. 

El tigre ahogarse en el mar y todos personas en Columbia vivía feliz nunca después. 

Había una familia en las Islas Sandwich. Había un papá, una mamá, un hijo, y una hija. La familia vivía en una caja. La familia tenia un pingüino. Era un pingüino gordo. El pingüino era bastante gordo. El pingüino tenía hambre. El pingüino estaba preocupadísima. EL pingüino lloraba. El pingüino sollozó al papá, “Mamacocha tiene hambre. Mamacocha va a destruir el mundo.” Había un problema. Era un problema grave.

El pingüino le mandó el papá, “Escala el rascacielos más alta con tu familia. La familia voló hacia el rascacielos mas alta con el pingüino. El rascacielos más alta se llamaba el Torre Eiffel. 

Había un guanaco. El pingüino le dijo al guanaco, “Hay una problema. ¡Mamacocha tiene hambre! El mar va a destruir el mundo. sube el rascacielos con nosotros.” El guanaco comprendió perfectamente. El guanaco se escapo con el grupo.

Había un flamenco. El pingüino le exclamó al guanaco, “Hay una problema. ¡El mar tiene hambre! El mar va a destruir el mundo. Escala el rascacielos con nosotros.” El comprendió bien. El flamenco no voló con el grupo. El flamenco camino.

Había una puma. El pingüino le dijo a la puma, “Hay una problema. ¡Mamacocha tiene hambre! El mar va a destruir el mundo. Escala el rascacielos con nosotros.” El puma entendió. La puma se fue con el grupo.

Había un cóndor. El pingüino le explico al cóndor, “Hay una problema. ¡Mamacocha tiene hambre! El mar va a destruir el mundo. Escala el rascacielos con nosotros.” El cóndor comprendió. El cóndor no voló con el grupo. El cóndor nado. 

Había un zorro. El pingüino le explico al cóndor, “Hay una problema. ¡Mamacocha tiene hambre! El mar va a destruir el mundo. Escala el rascacielos con nosotros.” El zorro no les dio de comer. El zorro no se fue con el grupo. El zorro era demasiado flaco.

El grupo subió el rascacielos mas alta. La familia, el pingüino, el guanaco, y la puma volaron al Torre Eiffel. El flamenco camino y el cóndor nado al Torre Eiffel.

El mar subió. El mar subió con hambre. Había una problema. Había un problema grave. El zorro no estaba con el grupo. El zorro voló. El zorro no camino. El zorro no nado. El zorro voló rápido. El zorro voló al rascacielos mas grade. El zorro tenia hambre.

Por fin el mar, Mamacocha, estaba lleno de comer vacas y cabras y no subió mas. El mar bajo. La familia bajo. Los otros animales bajaron. Y todos tenían hambre. Ya había muchas problemas.