Tuesday, September 30th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: properties of water, lab report, and experiment set up
Do Now
Think/pair/share - What's so special about water?
Next
Discuss the grading breakdown for parts of the project (research, experiment, lab report)
Watch this video and learn about the properties of water - take notes! List the properties of water in your notebook.
Then
Last groups inoculate mold spores onto substrate and set up your experiment (controls and variables)
Then, work on your Materials and Methods section of your lab report. Using sentences, describe all of the items you used as well as your process for setting up your experiment. Note the dates that you made the Jello or Gelatine and when you inoculated it with mold spores. Include the source of mold and the ingredients of your substrate (Jello or Gelatine).
Exit Ticket
Name at least two constants (or controlled variables) in your experiment set up
Monday, September 29th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: work on lab report and experiment set up
Do Now
Open your mold lab report document. Copy and paste the guidelines below into the bottom of your document for future referencing. Delete guidelines before you submit your final report for grading.
● Arial font
● 12 point font for the body (NOT bold or italic)
● Left alignment text expect for the title
● Title should be centered, bold, and 16 to 18 point font
● 14 point font and bold for sections headings
● Double spaced
Next
Groups will begin to inoculate their jello with mold spores. Teacher will demonstrate technique. Groups in which all members have completed their annotations and research section of their lab report will go first. After you have inoculated your petri dishes of Jello and placed them in their assigned locations (according to your experimental design), you can work on the materials and methods section of your lab report.
Exit Ticket
What is a skill you would like to learn someday?
Friday, September 26th, 2025
No school for students - PD Day for teachers
Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: fungi research, annotations, and research summary, experiment set up
Do Now
Turn & talk - Is all mold bad? Why or why not?
Next
Studio time - work on your annotations or the research portion of your lab report. You can also identify your variables, add a title, and complete your hypothesis statement. There will not be anymore time alloted in class for these tasks after today!
Then
Set up your experiment. Obtain four petri dishes and fill them with the substrate you will be using. This means that you will need to make your Jello or Gelatine by following the directions on the package. For the hot water you can use the electric tea kettle in the back. Once your petri dishes are filled with Jello or Gelatin (your substrate), they will need to be placed in the refrigerator to set over the weekend. This way they will be ready to go when you return on Monday. When you are finished please wash the dishes immediately so the next group can get set up.
Exit Ticket
Fist to five - readiness to begin your experiment on Monday
Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: fungi research, annotations, and research summary
Do Now
Fist to five: Fist-haven't started the mold project and I have no idea what you're talking about, 1- I have barely started, 2- I have 1-2 sources annotated, 3 - I have all my sources annotated and have started typing parts of my lab report, 4 - I have all three sources annotated and my lab report research, hypothesis and title finished, 5 - all the things are done and I am ready to set up my experiment
Next
Studio time - work on your annotations or the research portion of your lab report. You can also identify your variables, add a title, and complete your hypothesis statement.
Then
Think through your experimental design. As a group decide what items you will need to complete your lab and then write a list on a post-it note with your group members names. For example, what substrate are you using to grow your mold on... Jello, gelatin, agar? What else will you need...heating pad, access to refrigerator or freezer, heat lamp, UV grow lights?
Last
GWT if you have finished the annotations AND as much as you can on the lab report AND made your list of items needed for your experiment.
Exit Ticket ⬆️
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: fungi research, annotations, and research summary
Do Now
Thumbs up if you have three sources documented in your annotation tracker
Thumbs up if you have started the research section of your lab report
Thumbs up if you know who your partners are going to be for the mold lab
Thumbs up if your group has determined an intentional variable change
Next
Studio time - work on your annotations or the research portion of your lab report. You can also identify your variables, add a title, and complete your hypothesis statement.
Then
GWT if you have finished the annotations AND as much as you can on the lab report
Exit Ticket: how do you fall asleep?
Monday, September 22nd, 2025
🍁 Happy First Day of Autumn! 🍁
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: fungi research, annotations, and research summary
Do Now
Ask your table neighbor what they did over the weekend. Remember what they told you because that will be your ticket out at the end of class.
Next
Go to Google Classroom and open the Mold lab report template. MAKE A COPY!
Then
Decide who you will work with for your mold lab project. Four people max. Then, as a group, decide what variable you will change (example, temperature, light, substrate). Your group must agree on ONE variable to change.
Last
Continue your research on mold and fungi OR if you are ready you may begin to work on the research section of your lab report. You can copy and paste some of what you wrote in your annotated notes into your lab report... so long as you used your own words or used quotations.
Exit Ticket
What did your table neighbor tell you they did over the weekend?
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: fungi research
Do Now
Turn and talk - what is something that you learned yesterday from your research on fungi and mold? be ready to share out.
Next
Watch this video on the life cycle of fungi
Then
Continue your research on fungi and mold and make it your goal to select at least two sources and complete annotation note trackers for them
Exit Ticket ⬆️
Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, computer
Learning objective: identifying variables, graphing data, and fungi research
Do Now
Think & write/pair & share - brainstorm questions about fungi in your notebook.
Next
Practice identifying parts of the scientific method and graphing results (ants worksheet)
Then
Discuss upcoming project
Begin research on fungi. Below are some suggested sites to get you started.
Annotate at least three sources using the notes tracker in Google Classroom
Exit Ticket: Which game? ⬆️
Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, Divided in Two worksheet and key
Learning objective: practice using a dichotomous key
Do Now
Take out your dichotomous key you created yesterday. Is it finished? If yes, I will be coming around to check and grade. If not, please continue to work on it!
Next
Work through the identification of organisms (laminated photos on a ring) using the dichotomous key provided
Then
GWT if time remains
Did you finish?...
Is it alive worksheet
Variables worksheet
Simpson 's variables worksheet
CER worksheet
Who's More closely related worksheets part 2a and 2b
Exit Ticket
I feel stressed when...
Monday, September 15th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, Who's More Closely Related worksheet part 2a and 2b
Learning objective: taxonomy, using and creating dichotomous keys
✴️ Reminder to get your safety contract signed by a parent/guardian ✴️
Do Now
First, find your assigned seat
Then, turn & talk - what is a dichotomous key?
Next
Practice using and creating a dichotomous key (whole class)
Then
Who's more closely related, part 2a (with your table partner)
Last
Who's more closely related, part 2b (with your table partner)
Exit Ticket
I feel happy when.....
Friday, September 12th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, Who's More Closely Related worksheet
Learning objective: taxonomy and dichotomous keys
✴️ Reminder to get your safety contract signed by a parent/guardian ✴️
Do Now
Lab safety contracts are due! If you haven't turned your in PLEASE get it signed over the weekend! We are starting a lab next week!
Next
Watch Taxonomy Crash Course (12 min) see/think/wonder
Then
Discuss and practice a dichotomous key
Who's more closely related activity and worksheet (with your table partner)
Exit Ticket
Thursday, September 11th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil
Learning objective: taxonomy
✴️ Reminder to get your safety contract signed by a parent/guardian ✴️
Do Now
Lab safety contracts are due!
Draw the the taxonomy hierarchy pyramid in your notebook. Use color!
Next
Taxonomy mini-lecture and notes
Exit Ticket
Who is someone that made you smile today?
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil
Learning objective: review scientific variables, practice CER
✴️ Reminder to get your safety contract signed by a parent/guardian ✴️
Do Now
Turn in your signed lab safety contract
Next:
Simpson's variables worksheet (independent)
Then
Watch "My Dad is a Space Alien" Audi commercial as a class
Practice the claim/evidence/reasoning (CER) thinking routine as a class
Watch the Slap Chop infomercial as a class
CER worksheet on your own
Exit Ticket
What does CER stand for?
Tuesday, September 9th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil
Learning objective: understand the difference between and observation and an inference, review variables
✴️ Reminder to get your safety contract signed by a parent/guardian ✴️
Do Now
Turn in your signed lab safety contract
Finish the variables practice worksheet with a partner and then submit for grading
Next:
Record the following terms and definitions in your notebooks...
observation - using our senses to gather information about the world around us
inference - the process of drawing conclusions based on evidence and reasoning
Then:
Watch this Mythbusters experiment and practice determining the variables.
observations vs. inferences practice
Exit Ticket
Share one observation or one inference about the classroom
Monday, September 8th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, variables practice sheet, lab safety contract
Learning objective: understand the lab safety rules, know the difference between types of variables, review steps of the scientific method
Do Now
Take out your notebook and write the following terms and definitions...
Independent variable: The factor that is intentionally manipulated or changed in an experiment.
Dependent variable: Is what you measure in the experiment (your data)
Controlled variables: Things in the experiment that do not change. They stay the same and are not affected by the independent variable.
Next
Review and discuss lab safety contract. If you understand and agree with each rule, please put your initials after the rule. Sign your name at the end of the contract and take home for a parent signature. Bring back tomorrow.
Then
Think/pair/share: Silently try to recall the steps of the scientific method. Jot down the ones you remember in your notebook. Then, discuss with your table mate what you wrote down. Write down the steps you came up with on a mini white board. Share out with the class.
Last:
Variables practice worksheet (with your table partner)
Exit Ticket
Who is somebody who has been kind to you lately?
Friday, September 5th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, task from yesterday
Learning objective: explore the concept of aliveness
Do Now
Get into your group from yesterday and figure out who is "going to the concert"
Next
Four corners activity and worksheet - Is it alive?
Then
Card sort activity
Exit Ticket:
Submit your worksheet
Thursday, September 4th, 2024
Do Now
Create a "name card" to be used throughout the year
Choose a playing card
Write your name, preferred name, or nickname that you would like to be called, in permanent marker, big and clear, somewhere on the card (it does not matter which side)...If you made yours last year, you may need to darken up the ink - go over it with marker again.
On the bottom corner write P1 or P2 (depending on what class period you have this class)
Next
Discuss necessary materials for class: sketchbook, folder, pencil
Where to put materials in the classroom (bins and turn-in shelf)
Next
Communication and team building activity
Each of you has an envelope at your table with strips of paper in it. Whoever had the most recent birthday starts by taking one strip of paper out of the envelope and passing it to the left. Each person continues to take out one strip and pass to the left until all strips are gone.
You can read your statement out loud, but you can’t show it to anyone and you can’t trade it. As a group, decide what the problem is, and then solve it.
Reflect
What strategies did you use to solve the problem?
What behaviors helped or hindered you as you were solving the problem?
What roles emerged in the group that were helpful?
Exit Ticket
One word for the week so far