Biology

9/15 - 16 /2026 - Mining Challenge #IWillGetRich

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts and add this copy to Term 1 Starters and Notes of their Digital Notebook.

• Students watch a short YouTube video about mining.

• Students participate in an in-class activity modeling the processes of mining.

9/11 & 14/2026 - Bear Survival #IWillSurvive

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to the prompts. and add the copy of today's starter to their digital notebook.

• Students watch a short YouTube video about bears.

• Students participate in an activity modeling black bear survival.

• Students complete a short bear habitat quiz in Canvas, based on the notes taken during today's starter, to show understanding of today's learning. The quiz may be retaken to show improved understanding.

  • • Quiz code: beaR

• Students are asked to use the remaining class time to finish and submit missing class assignments.

9/9-10/2026 - Ecosystems #LearningTheParts

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to the prompts. and add the copy of today's starter to their digital notebook.

• Students watch a YouTube video Yellowstone's Hot Water Ecosystem.

• Students are given direct instruction regarding today's Canvas "Ecosystem Activity."

  • This assignment should be individually completed and submitted today.

• Students who finish early should complete missing work for Biology or another class.

9/4 & 8/2026 - My Favorite Wild Animal - Day 2 #ShowingInteractions

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts and add this copy to Term 1 Starters and Notes of their Digital Notebook.

• Students watch a short YouTube video related to the "My Wild Animal" assignment.

• Students are given directions on how to complete and submit the Canvas "Wild Animal Collage Day 2" assignment

  • The "Wild Animal collage" screenshot is due at the end of class today.

• REMEMBER ... all snail biospheres need to be taken from the classroom after class today!

9/2- 3/2026 - My Favorite Wild Animal - Day 1 #WildAnimal

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts and add this copy to Term 1 Starters and Notes of their Digital Notebook.

• Students make observations of their Snail Biosphere and record them on the Google Sheet as follows:

  • • A photo of what the Biosphere looks like today.

    • Recording the soil temperature, in degrees Celsius, today.

    • Writing the observations of how it looks similar or different from last class period.

• NOTE: This assignment is due today! 

• NOTE 2: You need to take your snail biosphere with you after class ends today - I highly recommmend letting your snail loose close to the same location you found it.

• Students begin their Canvas  "My Wild Animal" assignment. Today, each student selects ONE wild animal and lists 20-25 things this animal eats. They also list 10-15 animals that eat their wild animal. If they are unable to create these two lists, they need to select a different wild animal.

  • More work will be done on this assignment next class period

8/31 & 9/1/2026 - Snail Biosphere Day 2 #CompletingMyMissingWork

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts and add this copy to Term 1 Starters and Notes of their Digital Notebook.

• Students make observations of their Snail Biosphere and record them on the Google Sheet as follows:

  • A photo of what the Biosphere looks like today (Day 2).

  • Recording the soil temperature, in degrees Celsius, today (Day 2).

  • Writing the observations of how it looks similar or different from last class period.

  • NOTE: This assignment is due next class period!

• Students are to take and complete the Canvas "Data Analysis" quiz.

• I will discuss missing work individually with students. Those who who have not successfully completed all required work are to complete and submit it today.

8/27-28/2026 Snail Biosphere Day 1 #WhatIsABiosphere

• Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts and add this copy to Term 1 Starters and Notes of their Digital Notebook.

• Students make observations of their Snail Biosphere and record them on the Google Sheet as follows:

  • • A photo of what the Biosphere looks like today.

    • Recording the soil temperature, in degrees Celsius, today.

    • Writing the observations of how it looks similar or different from last class period.

• Students read an "Ecology Biodiversity" article in Canvas. They are to highlight different parts of the article in Kami and submit the Kami document in Canvas.

  • • Students are to go to their Term 1 Evidence of their digital notebook and add this Kami as their first evidence.

• Students who finish early should go into Canvas and ensure they successfully completed and submitted the "How good is the evidence" assignment.

• The class then played a Blooket to interact with Biodiversity terms.

8/25-26/2026 Snail Biosphere Day 0 #WhatIsABiosphere

• • • Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts and add this copy to Term 1 Starters and Notes of their Digital Notebook.

    • Students are instructed on how to create their Digital Science Notebook. This includes:

      • • Students use Google Slides to create their Digital Science Notebook. Instructions on organization are provided in class.

        • Students add the copy of off of this term’s starters to their digital notebook.

    • Students watch a short video about biodiversity.

    • Students are reminded how to check for assignment comments on Canvas.

    • Students are instructed on how to finish and seal off their Snail Biosphere.

      • • Students make their Day 0 observations on the Canvas assignment during class today.

        • Students continue to make observations during the next three class periods (at which point this assignment is due.)

    • Students are to complete the Canvas Biodiversity Check. 

8/21 & 24/2026 - Evaluating Evidence #GoodEvidence

• • • Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts.

    • Students take a pretest on Evidence.

      • • Join with the provided code

        • Make sure you use your first name and just the initial of your last name

    • Students complete and submit the Canvas assignment "But is it Good Evidence."

    • Students were reminded they need to prepare a Snail Biosphere which should be brought to class on 8/25 or 8/26 based on your class schedule.

      • • Observations will be made on this Snail Biosphere for several class periods.

8/19-20/2026 - Class Introduction #StartingHighSchool

• • • Students make a copy of today's starter, respond to both prompts.

    • Students get to know classmate traits.

    • Students were introduced to the concept of a Biosphere. They are challenged to prepare a Snail Biosphere which should be brought to class on 8/25 or 8/26 based on your class schedule.

      • • Observations will be made on this Snail Biosphere for several class periods.

    • Students watch a video about Biosphere 2.

Orem Junior High's Science Syllabus is below. Note: the heading Biology is a link to the Utah State Board of Education core that students learn this year.