PD feedback

Link to reflection google doc

Final Project Brainstorm

I want you to come up with an idea for your 3rd trimester project now.  You, of course, might end up changing your mind, but I want you to start thinking about it. Perhaps you will even want to start collecting data now.  See me if you have an idea for a project that will take an extended time so you can get a head start.

Things to keep in mind:
1.  Think independent variable and dependent variables.  You need to compare at least 2 groups (your independent variables) and collect data (your dependent variable.)
3.  You need to be able to collect quantitative data, and you need to be able to have AT LEAST 5 trials per group.
3.  This is an individual project.  Feel free to get help from your family, but your classmates will be doing their own thing.
4.  This is a BIOLOGY project.  Luckily such things as biochemistry, biophysics and bio-engineering exist.  See me if you're not sure if your project qualifies as biological.
5.  Your experiment can't harm animals...including humans.  I will no longer approve projects involving "new pets" unless you can prove you have proper equipment, space and ability to care for them.

Click on the "FINAL PROJECT RESOURCES" link above to get a list of ideas.

Food Lab and Biochemistry Test

On Wednesday our food lab write ups are due. Here are the instructions on what to write.

Write up: 

Analyse and evaluate your results for 3 of your foods.  Write one paragraph for each food.   DO NOT just write down your test observations (I already should have these in your data sheet.)   Instead, interpret these observations to describe what molecules are in the foods (proteins, sugars, starches and lipids.)  To do this you will need to look at your results from part 1 of the lab (on the front side.)  As you describe what is in foods you should compare your results with what the online USDA website told you.  Was your test accurate?  What may have gone wrong?

Within the next day I will place a link to a study guide for the test.  For now you can study the following things.

• "Chemistry of life notes" 
• HONC diagrams
• lipid cut and paste notes
• carbohydrate cut and paste notes
• protein cut and paste notes.  

link to study guide for honors biology 1st, 4th and 5th periods

link to study guide for 2nd period biology

Final Exam Wolf Essay

First write your essay using MS word.  When you are finished go to the following link.
***CLICK ME*** Copy your essay and paste it into the box provided on the form.

Make sure that you check with me to make sure your essay was received.  Do not shut down or close out of any programs until given the okay.

Honors Biology Project

Here is the information you need about the honors biology project for 2015

Link to instructions and due dates

Link to examples

Final Project Ideas

Remember you need to come up with an independent variable (something to test and change) and a dependent variable (the results of the experiment that you measure at the end.)

Try the Google Idea Springboard 

What do you like?  What do you have access too?  What interests you?  Is there a meaningful question you can answer or problem you can solve?

Below is a list of possible experimental "subjects" that I came up with.

Your experimental subject could be a plant:

• do you have enough existing plants to have 5 per group?
• can you plot off sections of your grass?  
• leafing of trees
• purchase many small plants
• plant from seeds
• look at germination rates or successes

Your experimental subject could be an animal

• a pet (a measurable behavior)
• crickets are 12 for a buck 
• feeder goldfish
• brine shrimp (purchased as food for salt water tanks.)

Your experimental subject could be humans

• athletic performance
• senses
• other measurable variables?
• in the past students have tested hair and nail growth and strength
• stay away from preference surveys and psychology or sociology experiments!

You could expand upon or test things related to labs we've done in class

• Osmosis
• DNA extraction

Foods are a popular thing to experiment with.

• ripening rates
• browning
• rates of decay, molding
• enzymes (meat tenderizers, proteases in pineapple, enzymes in saliva, enzymes that break down hydrogen peroxide etc)

Microbiology

• yeast
• bacterial growth, observed under microscope
• observed with spectrometer
• using petri-dishes and counting colonies (you would need to purchase these or utilize a local lab)

Environmental surveys and analysis (get outside!)

• leaf bags left in streams...evaluate insect populations
• lichen location on rocks and trees, Link to lichen project information
• weed surveys
• effectiveness of re-seeding efforts
• wild bird feeding preferences or observations (make sure you have a control survey and a test survey)

Consumer testing and mythbusting:

• Is there a claim you want to test dealing with a biological system?
• 5 second rule?  Fruit fresh?  

Utilize local laboratories and equipment

• Do you know someone who has access to a lab and equipment at ISU or the hospital?
• Are you willing to call someone you don't know? (See me, I can give you some ideas and get you started.)
• At Poky we have spectrometers, CO2 detector, Soil test kits and other supplies.  Just ask.

Crusher Essay Test

CLICK ME!