Bullying

Today you guys saw a presentation by Mrs. Yetto about DASA (the Dignity for All Students Act).

Remember when she asked you to raise your hand if you had a grown-up in the building that you could trust and report bullying to?  Well, I noticed that some of you didn't have your hands up.

I am so sorry.

If you do not feel that you can come to me, then I am not doing my job correctly.

Here's the secret: my job isn't to teach science, it's to teach KIDS.  This means that you as a person (and your safety, your happiness, your confidence) are a larger part of my job than evolution, or taxonomy, or genetics, or chemistry ever could be.

I am going to make you this promise: I will listen to you.

If you feel bullied, if you feel threatened, or shamed by someone who is trying to hurt you, please tell me.  I care about you (whether you like it or not).

If you try to tell me and you don't feel like I have heard you, then TELL ME LOUDER.  I am human, which means that sometimes I am an idiot.  Tell me again and again until I hear you.

You deserve to be heard.  You deserve that, when you reach out your hand for help, someone is there to hold it.

Hagfish Slime

Check out this video of predators getting slimed by hagfish.  Fascinating and disgusting.  It's a win-win.

(Thanks, Emily!)

Bilateral Symmetry Meme

This is awesome.  Whose project was this in?

Cool Evolution Video

Hey, Guys!  This video is an animated explanation of evolution.  Give it a look!

(You won't be able to see it from school, since YouTube is blocked on our server.  Sorry!)

Invertebrate Project Grading Rubric

I hope that you are all enjoying your invertebrate projects!  Here's how you will be graded:

Common and scientific names: 3 points
Where it lives: 3 points
Symmetry type: 3 points
Taxonomy: (KPCOFGS): 3 points
Adaptations to get food: 3 points
Adaptations to avoid predators: 3 points
Adaptations to help it in its environment: 3 points
Pictures: 3 points
General awesomeness of your presentation: 6 points

Total: 30 points

Think of how wonderful this could be for your lab grade!

Largest Arthropod in the WORLD

This picture (supposedly of a giant coconut crab) came across my news feed this morning:

This leads me to two questions:

1) What did I do to the person who sent this to me? (C'mon.  You wouldn't send this to someone unless you WANTED to creep them out).

2) What is the biggest arthropod out there?

In an attempt to answer the second one, I started hunting on the internet for the largest existing arthropod.

It turns out that, as near as we can tell, is the Japanese spider crab, which can grow to 12 ft across, and weigh over 40 lbs.

Well.  That's....wow.

...Why did I look this up?  I need better hobbies.

Flounder!

I saw this video on NatGeo about flounder, and I'm hoping to embed it here.  Wish me luck!

If it works, please enjoy this video of one seriously weird looking fish.

Gecko Eyes

Admit it.  You just tried to see if you can lick your eyeball.

Snow!

I just read this article right here and thought you guys might be interested.  Apparently there is a type of camera that can take pictures of snowflakes in the air.  This kind of photography might help predict weather more accurately some day.  (Wouldn't you love to know a snow day was coming a week in advance?)
Read the article, then look at the pictures in the links at the left.  They are really beautiful.
Enjoy!

Whoops!

I'm so sorry, guys.  Apparently you couldn't comment on this blog without creating an account.  I figured out what setting I needed to change, and now the comments are open to everyone. 

Why not write a comment below and let me know you're reading?  I look forward to hearing from you!

Glowing Scorpion

I was perusing through videos over at National Geographic, when I came across this video about glow-in-the-dark scorpions.

I'm torn between being utterly fascinated, and never sleeping again.  What do you guys think?

Animal Diversity Web

Folks, let me introduce you to Animal Diversity Web!

This is seriously one of my favorite sites, and it's going to be amazingly helpful when we reach our big project (coming soon to a classroom near you).  It is a site from the University of Michigan and is FILLED with clear, accurate taxonomic information about any species you want to explore.

I recommend starting with the page on Phylum Cnidaria or even Phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms).  For personal reasons, I'm not looking up the roundworm page for you.  You're on your own there.

-Mrs.L.

10th Period Wednesdays!

Did you know that Lab 303 (the Lab of Awesome) is the coolest place to be on Wednesday afternoons?  From the end of school until 3:00 pm, we're having 10th Period!

What's 10th Period?  I'm so glad I pretended that you asked!

In 10th Period you can...

• Hang out
• Chat
• Catch up on work
• Retake tests and quizzes
• Look ahead at what we'll be doing next week
• Help me brainstorm lessons and activities
• Possibly eat popcorn, if I can ever find the popper
• Help me write this blog
• Make super intelligent posters for display in our Lab of Awesome
• Do science-y activities beyond what we're doing in class

We had our first one today, and I'm looking forward to more!  Please come join us!

Welcome!

Hey kids! (And parents, friends, former students, colleagues, and anyone else who should be working but are playing on the internet instead)!

I have started this blog as a way of keeping you up to date on all the cool science happening in and out of class.  This is a blog for EVERYONE, so if you comment, please choose to keep it positive and friendly.

I love hearing from all of you, so don't be shy!  Dive on in, and comment, suggest, and share!

-Mrs.L.