Alien Genetics

Materials Needed: pencil, something to color with, one coin

This is a fun activity to review our recent genetics unit by creating an alien family. There should be five blank Punnett squares on #3 in this assignment but I'm having some formatting issues. Please just draw them in and then fill in according to directions.

You can share the completed activity with your science teacher. Use ldalbey@polson.k12.mt.us for Mrs. Dalbey or mrochin@polson.k12.mt.us for Mr. Rochin.

Week 2 Enrichment Activities: March 30th -April 3rd

Hello 7th grade students and families. We hope this finds you well and that you are getting outside for some fresh air, sunshine and exercise while maintaining a safe distance from those around you. This week's enrichment activities are below. The first activity will give you a little insight into organ transplants. The second will reveal which pop culture icon had an organ transplant, and the third will help your science teachers learn what you want to know about COVID.

Organ and Tissue Transplants

Materials Needed: paper to write your answers on or access to email to submit your answers, internet, newspaper or magazines to find a news article

After spring break we'll be digging deeper into our Human Body unit. Here is an assignment about organ and tissue transplants. If you can't access or find any news articles with the resources you're working with, you can skip #5.

You can share the completed activity with your science teacher. Use ldalbey@polson.k12.mt.us for Mrs. Dalbey or mrochin@polson.k12.mt.us for Mr. Rochin.

Selena Gomez makes surprise announcement about kidney surgery

Materials Needed: access to this article (internet or copy from PMS office), paper to write your answers on or access to email to submit your answers

Directions: Please read this article and then answer the questions below.

By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff

Published:09/18/2017

https://newsela.com/read/selena-gomez-kidney-transplant/id/35139/ (You do not need to go to this source, it's already cut and pasted below.)

Pop star Selena Gomez revealed some dramatic news on Instagram last week. Earlier this summer, she had a kidney transplant, which is an operation to receive a new kidney.

Actress Francia Raisa donated a kidney to Gomez. Most of us have two kidneys, which are bean-shaped organs in the body that filter and remove waste from our blood. A healthy person with two kidneys may choose to donate one. It is possible to live a long and healthy life with just one kidney.

The first photo in Gomez's Instagram post features Gomez and Raisa holding hands. The two are shown lying side-by-side on a hospital bed, dressed in hospital gowns.

"She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me," Gomez said of her extremely generous friend. "I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis."

Another photo in the series reveals a large red scar running across Gomez's stomach.

Gomez Explains Her Absence

Gomez said she needed a transplant as a result of having Lupus, a serious and sometimes deadly disease. Lupus can cause damage to many organs, including the kidneys, heart and brain. It is a disease that affects the body's immune system, the system that protects the body from diseases. When a person has Lupus, the immune system mistakenly attacks normal parts of the body instead of pathogens, like viruses.

"I'm very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer," Gomez wrote in her Instagram post. "I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health."

"I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me," Gomez continued. "And finally, there aren't words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa."

Gomez felt the need to explain her public absence after fans started wondering why she had dropped from view. Fans were especially curious given that Gomez had new singles to promote. When a big pop star disappears, gossip starts flying online and in magazines.

Honesty Is The Best Policy

Gomez has learned that it is smarter to simply be honest. This isn't the first time she has disappeared due to health issues. In January 2014, the singer canceled a number of concerts. At the time, many assumed she had checked into a rehab facility for drug or alcohol addiction. The following year, she revealed that she had actually been undergoing treatments for Lupus.

Since then she has been open about her struggles with the illness. In 2016, just before her "Revival" tour began, she released a statement saying that she would be taking time off. Gomez revealed that she had been struggling with anxiety, panic attacks and depression. It was important to take a break from performing, she wrote, in order to "focus on maintaining my health and happiness."

Many people have mental health concerns at some point. What distinguishes a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, from normal feelings such as sadness, is that mental illnesses cause ongoing stress and severely interfere with a person's ability to function. Most mental illnesses can be treated with medication and therapy.

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, many people who have Lupus also suffer from clinical depression. Depression may also be a result of the way Lupus affects someone's body.

She Was On The Mend

Gomez seemed to be getting better earlier this year. Fans were delighted she was well enough to get back to the recording studio and release three singles: "It Ain't Me," "Bad Liar" and "Fetish." She also did press in the spring for the controversial Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," which she produced. However, she has mostly been out of the public eye since then. Now we know why.

According to her Instagram message, Gomez will offer up more details when the time is right.

"I honestly look forward to sharing with you soon my journey through these past several months," she wrote.

Questions:

1. What organ system does Lupus affect?

2. Would you ever consider being an organ donor? Why or why not?

3. When people receive a kidney transplant, they typically leave the old kidney in. Why do you think that is?

Questions About COVID

After Spring Break, we'll be finishing up our learning about the Levels of Organization within the human body and then digging deeper into our understanding of various organ systems within our bodies. Along the way, we'll also be learning about COVID and how it impacts different organ systems. What are three questions you have about COVID? Please send your questions to Mrs. Dalbey (regardless of who your science teacher is) at ldalbey@polson.k12.mt.us.