All posts by David Swart

High school science teacher
Biology, Chemistry

Week 30 – Bonus Credit Opportunity

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Looking to earn some bonus credit and boost your grade?  You’ve come to the right place!  Each week, you will have the opportunity to earn bonus credit for completing extra learning about science.

This week’s bonus credit opportunity is called…Science in the News!  With the current COVID-19 outbreak dominating the news right now, science articles are making headlines daily.  To earn +10 bonus credit in the assignment category:

  1. Locate a scientifically credible science article.  Not sure how to tell?  Click here to visit the University of Washington Libraries guide.
  2. Read the article carefully.  Look up words you aren’t sure about.
  3. Open the Week 30 – Bonus Credit Opportunity Google Form and enter the following information:
    • First Name / Last Name / Class Period
    • Title of the article
    • Link to the article (copy the web address and paste it into the field)
    • Summary of the article (in your own words, what are the main ideas of the article?)
    • Does it pass the CRAAP test?  If yes, it is scientifically credible.  If no, pick a new article and start over!
      • Currency: Timeliness of the information
      • Relevance: Importance of the information for your needs
      • Authority: Source of the information
      • Accuracy: Truthfulness and correctness of the information
      • Purpose: Reason the information exists

Anticipated FAQs

  1. Question: What kind of article should I be looking for?  Answer: You may select any scientifically credible article that is interesting to you.
  2. Question: Where is a good place to start looking for science articles?  Answer: There are lots of great websites out there.  National Geographic, Discover Magazine, and Smithsonian Magazine all have some great articles, many of which are free.
  3. Question: How do I know if something is scientifically credible?  What does scientifically credible mean?  Answer: Click here to visit the University of Washington Libraries guide.
  4. Question: How many bonus credit submissions can I make each week?  Answer: You can submit one of each type of bonus credit assignment per week.  Some weeks will have a single bonus credit opportunity.  Other weeks may have more than one.
  5. Question: I still have questions.  What should I do?  Answer: Email Mr. Swart!
Biology

Biology Honors Credit

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During the three-week long shut-down, biology students who wish to earn Honors credit had the opportunity to continue their learning with assignments that are now required learning.  Several of you shared Google Docs with me which documented your efforts to work through some of the material.  I sincerely applaud your efforts!  Keep up the good work!

Now that we are back “in school” via distance learning and have the go-ahead to begin teaching new material, many of the assignments originally labeled as Honors credit work will now be required new learning for everyone.

The criteria for earning Honors this semester has been simplified for this class: Students who earn an A for the semester in Mr. Swart’s Biology class will receive Honors credit. This is not a simple task, especially given the challenge of distance learning.  However, I invite you all to give it your best effort and make it your goal to earn Honors credit!

Chemistry

Week 30 – Types of Chemical Reactions

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The Balancing Chemical Equations Gizmo ends by classifying chemical reactions into five different categories:

  • Combination: A + B → C
    • Example: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
  • Decomposition: A → B + C
    • Example: 2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
  • Single Exchange: AB + C → A + CB
    • Example: K + H2O → H2 + KOH
  • Double Exchange: AB + CD → AD + CB
    • Example: Na2S + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2S
  • Combustion: fuel burning in the presence of O2
    • Example: CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

Our new learning for this week is to further investigate the types of chemical reactions.

  1. Begin by reading Lesson 73 (Types of Reactions) in our online chemistry textbook.  Chemistry textbook login instructions are provided at the bottom of this post.
  2. Next, review the Notes for the chemical reaction videos you will be watching and analyzing. This is important! Open it! Read it! You are about to watch a series of videos showing chemical reactions.  After each video, you will complete the following three multiple choice questions:
    • Which piece(s) of evidence did you observe that a chemical reaction has taken place?
    • Select the correct balanced equation.
    • What type of chemical reaction was this?
  3. Practice watching and analyzing chemical reactions.  In this assignment, you will watch videos showing 5 different chemical reactions.  After each video, you will answer the three questions listed above and receive feedback for your answers.  The assignment is worth 10 points.  To earn full credit, put forth full effort. Click here for the Types of Chemical Reactions Assignment.
  4. To receive credit, the assignment must be completed by Sunday, April 19 at 11:59pm.  
  5. After completing the assignment, go back to the Week 30 – Types of Reactions page.

Chemistry Textbook Login Instructions:

  • Log in and enter your username and password:
    • Username: full student gmail address.
    • Password: HighlineMM/DD (student birthday, use leading zero if needed, i.e. March 7 = 03/07)
    • Forgot your password?  Click here to reset your password.  Enter your student gmail address and follow the instructions.
  • Work through the practice problems at the end of Lesson 73.
  • Please ask questions about anything from Lesson 73 you do not yet fully understand.
Chemistry

Week 30 – Balancing Equations

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Next, let’s “talk” Chemistry!  Our focus this week involves revisiting two concepts that were introduced just before the shut-down: Balancing Equations and Types of Reactions.

  1. Visit the Balancing Equations post to review our work from school and to watch a couple of excellent review videos.
  2. With all of the craziness that last week of school, quite a few students did not have the opportunity to turn in the Balancing Chemical Equations Gizmo.  The Gizmo was sent to your student Gmail if you need a copy.
  3. How do you turn it in?  You have options:
    • Print it out, complete the work, then email me back a scanned copy.
    • Don’t have a scanner?  Email me pictures.
    • Don’t have a printer?  Write answers on a sheet of paper and email me a picture of your work.
    • Even better, save a tree!  Type answers in a Google Doc and share the Doc with me.  Name the document “Balancing Chemical Equations Gizmo – student name” (example: Balancing Chemical Equations Gizmo – Baxter Swart).
  4. Need extra help?  Attend my science office hours via Zoom on Tuesdays (11am-12pm) and Thursdays (1pm-2pm).  You are always welcome to email me as well.  You absolutely must advocate for yourself.  I am here to help you – please reach out!
  5. After emailing Mr. Swart your completed Gizmo (or checking Synergy to verify you already turned it in and received credit), go back to the Week 30 – Types of Reactions page and proceed to Step 3.
Biology

Week 30 – Biology Refresher

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For the remainder of the school year, we will be learning about evolution.  After being out of school for the last month, you might be feeling a little bit lost with this week’s lesson.  Time to refresh!

Unit 1 focused on making the connection between molecules and organisms.  You learned about cells, biomolecules, and metabolism, Central Dogma, and homeostasis.  All of that helped you answer the question: How do organisms live and grow?

Unit 2 focused on Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics.  You took a virtual road trip to Yellowstone National Park.  Along the way, you explained how and why organisms interact with their environment, and evaluated the effects of those interactions through the lens of rewilding.

Unit 3 focused on Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits.  You learned about cystic fibrosis and how genes, found on chromosomes, code for traits.  You then researched a gene on a chromosome and shared your learning with the class.  Throughout the unit, you acquired the knowledge necessary to explain how characteristics of one generation are passed to the next, and why individuals of the same species and even siblings have different characteristics.

If any of this feels like a distant memory, you need to review!  Browse through the units, focus on areas that seem unfamiliar, and own your learning.  As we work through Unit 4, Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity, we will answer the following Research Question: What evidence shows that different species are related?  We will draw from our learning from throughout the year to answer the Research Question – buckle up!

Chemistry

Week 30 – Logistics

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First off, we need to “talk” logistics, or how our science class will operate as we engage in distance learning:

  1. Tuesdays are new Science learning days.
  2. New Chemistry lessons will be posted each week on Monday mornings at 8:00 (in case you want to get ahead!)
  3. Work for the week is due by Sunday at 11:59pm after the Tuesday it was assigned.
  4. Office hours will take place through Zoom meetings on Tuesdays (11am-12pm) and Thursdays (1pm-2pm).
  5. You will receive meeting instructions to your student Gmail before each meeting.  Attendance is optional but encouraged.
  6. Check your student Gmail account daily.  Email me any time with any questions, comments, or concerns you have.
  7. To make sure you fully comprehend the information on this page, take the Week 30 – Logistics Quiz!
  8. After completing the quiz, go back to the Week 30 – Types of Reactions page and proceed to Step 2.
Biology

Week 30 – Darwin’s Voyage

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Next, let’s “talk” Biology!  Before COVID-19 shut us down, we learned all about our inner animals.  With the return of school via distance learning, our study of evolution continues with learning Charles Dawin and the Voyage of the Beagle. Here is the assignment:

  1. Watch the HHMI Biointeractive video below.
  2. Next, you will follow in Darwin’s footsteps as he explored the Galapagos Islands.
    • If you have access to Internet Explorer, open the Explore the Galapagos feature on the PBS NOVA website where you will take a tour of where Darwin went and what he observed.
    • For those without access to Internet Explorer, my apologies.  This type of interactive activity requires Adobe Flash which is blocked by the Chrome browser.  Do not despair!  You are in for a treat!  Using the free software OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to capture my screen, I’ve created three video walk-throughs of the Explore the Galapagos tour.  Answers to the questions below are found within the video linked to the question.  You will need to pause the videos frequently in order to read the content.
  3. Create a Google Doc titled “Name – Week 30” (example: Baxter Swart – Week 30).
  4. Share the doc with david.swart@g.highlineschools.org
  5. Copy the questions below into your doc and then answer them all in complete sentences using the Explore the Galapagos website or the video walk-throughs below:

 

    • Where are the Galapagos Islands?
    • First click on “Explore the Islands” and read about three of the islands.  Summarize one observation for each of the three islands you read about.

 

    • Now click on “What Darwin Saw”.  You will be going through his various stages, reading about what Darwin said, and listening to interviews.  Summarize Darwin’s first impressions (just writing the opening sentence will get you zero credit, click for the full story).
    • What surprised Darwin on the islands?
    • What did the tortoises offer the local people?  How did it benefit Darwin?
    • At first Darwin thought the birds were unrelated, but what ideas eventually came from his observations of the finches?
    • What was the fallout (or result) of Darwin’s journey?

 

    • Go back to the “Explore the Islands”.  Look at some of the interpretative panoramics and the animals.  Pick two animals and summarize their unique characteristics.
    • Look at “Darwin’s Finches”.  What do you think it means by unique niche, based on what the rest of the paragraph says?
    • How are the beaks different and why was that important?

Return to the Week 30 instructions post.

Biology

Week 30 – Darwin’s Voyage

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Welcome back from Spring Break!  I hope you are all rested and excited to engage in school via distance learning for our final quarter of the school year.  Please work through the list of links below.  Each section contains important information and ends with an assignment or short quiz.  You can complete it all in one sitting or break it up as needed.  Ready, set, go!

  1. Let’s Talk Logistics
  2. Darwin’s Voyage (end of Week 30 required learning)
  3. Biology Refresher…review now before it’s too late!
  4. Biology Honors Credit…push yourself!

You did it!  Just to make sure, here’s a checklist of items you must complete this week by Sunday, April 19 at 11:59pm:

  • Let’s Talk Logistics Quiz (worth 7 quiz points)
  • Explore the Galapagos (worth 20 assignment points)

Finally, by popular demand…click here for the Week 30 Bonus Credit Opportunity!

Biology

Week 30 – Biology Logistics

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First off, we need to “talk” logistics, or how our science class will operate as we engage in distance learning:

  1. Tuesdays are new Science learning days.
  2. New Biology lessons will be posted each week on Monday mornings at 8:00 (in case you want to get ahead!)
  3. Work for the week is due by Sunday at 11:59pm after the Tuesday it was assigned.
  4. Office hours will take place through Zoom meetings on Tuesdays (11am-12pm) and Thursdays (1pm-2pm).
  5. You will receive meeting instructions to your student Gmail before each meeting.  Attendance is optional but encouraged.
  6. Check your student Gmail account daily.  Email me any time with any questions, comments, or concerns you have.
  7. To make sure you fully comprehend the information on this page, take the Week 30 – Logistics Quiz!
  8. After completing the quiz, go back to the Week 30 – Darwin’s Voyage page and proceed to Step 2.
Biology

Week 29

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Monday, March 23, 2020 (HS-ESS1-5, HS-ESS1-6, HS-ESS2-7): This week, students will engage with the Big History Project, a website packed with incredible information about the history of the Universe, Earth and the Solar System, Life on Earth, and more.  Students will create accounts and then work through Chapters 1-4 by Friday.  The goal for today is to complete Chapter 1.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 (HS-ESS1-5, HS-ESS1-6, HS-ESS2-7): Complete Chapter 2 of the Big History Project.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 (HS-ESS1-5, HS-ESS1-6, HS-ESS2-7): Complete Chapter 3 of the Big History Project.

Thursday, March 26, 2020 (HS-ESS1-5, HS-ESS1-6, HS-ESS2-7): Complete Chapter 4 of the Big History Project.

Friday, March 27, 2020 (HS-ESS1-5, HS-ESS1-6, HS-ESS2-7): Using your notes from the Big History Project, construct a timeline (to scale!) of important events from the beginning of the Universe all through today.