That's it! Fall 2010 semester in the books...

Finals are finished, which means the Fall 2010 semester here at WHS is finally behind us. It was a great semester, and I want to thank everyone for making it enjoyable. Here's to a happy holiday season and a great 2011. See you January 5th!

Happy Holiday and New Year wishes from Wrigly!

Studying, it does work!

Constantly struggling to keep up in class? Falling behind with your grades? Parents and teachers breathing down your neck about reaching your full potential? Well, try STUDYING! Studying is a proven practice that can increase your ability to retain classroom content and succeed on summative exams. Need further persuasion, watch this testimonial...

Mr. Williams' Bird Call Challenge Winners...

This past Wednesday, December 8th, students in Mr. Williams' Zoology class participated in the First Annual Wamego High School Bird Call Challenge. The challenge was designed to be a culminating point the unit about birds that the students were just completing. Below are the respective winners from each class period. To check out all of the teams and their calls, visit the following link...

http://www.youtube.com/user/williamsjrkelly

First Place for 3R Zoology - Ashley &, Shelby portraying the California Condor

 

First Place for 4R Zoology - Micah &, Brandon portraying the Red-Throated Loon

Article of the Week (12/15 Edition)

You might not see any of these laws placed into effect for a while, but your lunch menu and lunch options in the cafeteria may be a little altered in years to come...

Child nutrition laws to alter school lunches...

Heading down the home-stretch...

Room 103 Students... Counting Wednesday, there are officially five days of school left in this semester. The final exam schedule for my classroom goes as follows:

• Thursday - Blocks 3 and 4 - Zoology Final
• Friday - Block 8 - Field Biology Final
• Monday - Block 2 - Biology Final
• Tuesday - Block 6 - Field Biology Final

Do not forget Field Biology students, that your final exam will be essay based. Your potential questions will be uploaded to this website tomorrow after we view them in class.
Biology students, we still have this Thursday to review for the final exam and to take care of any IP's/AW's that remain. Come ready to work!
Zoology students, you are officially on the clock with only a little over a day left until you take your semester final. The study sheets (which have been handed to you in class) are now available for viewing and downloading from this website.

Get to studying and good luck on all of the other final exams you'll be taking over the next five days!

Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel...

Biology Finals Review Session...

Tomorrow night at Barleycorn's, we will be hosting a Biology Finals Review session for all freshmen that would like to attend. There will be some major concept sheets and practice tests covering the material we've looked at this semester. If you're looking to be successful on this year's Biology Final, it's highly recommended that you attend... Hope to see you there...

Here's something that'll wake you up!

Attention Zoology and Biology students... Your exams for Unit 5 (Biology) and Unit 7 (Zoology) have been pushed back to Friday, December 10th. We will finish our unit content on Wednesday and review for the unit exams Wednesday. Friday equals exam day!

Zoology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 12/4)

Zoosters... The Unit 7 exam is quickly approaching, so be brushing up on your Reptilian knowledge and furthering your Bird understanding over the weekend. Notes for both the birds and reptile sections are linked to this website, as are the worksheet packets. Look for the Chapter 41 - Reptiles Formative Quiz and a Unit 7 Phylogenetic Tree linked to this blog in the coming days. In addition to studying for the Unit 7 exam over the weekend, have the following completed for class on Monday, December 6th...

• Worksheets 42.1-42.3
• Read pages 840-854

Enjoy the weekend and see you on Monday!

Biology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 12/4)

Young Biologists... Homework for this weekend is to brush up on your thermodynamics knowledge, and try to further grasp and understand the complex process of photosynthesis. Look for a simplified notesheet regarding photosynthesis linked to this site in the coming days. In addtion to STUDYING, be sure to have the following completed before you return to class on Monday...

• Read pages 218-233
• Complete worksheets 8.2 and 8.3

Have a great weekend and see you on December 6th!

Article of the Week... (12/2 Edition)

Many worry about the health effects higher mercury content in our global water systems may have on future populations of animals, human and wild. Here's an article shedding light on additional negative effects that mercury may also be linked to.

In nature, it's important that species maintain a constant rate of successful reproduction in order to prolong species existence. If what's taking place in this study continues, some of the outlooks for certain animal populations look grim. This article is not reflecting on the actual behavior taking place between the genders of animals, but the outcome of male and female wildlife not successfully reproducing. Enjoy...

Mercury causing homosexuality in birds (Fox News)

Mercury causing homosexuality in birds (Nature News)

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101201/full/news.2010.641.html

Upcoming Exams...

Biology and Zoology Students... Exams in each of your current units being covered are quickly approaching. Notes for the content we have covered so far and assignments that have been handed out are linked to your right. Start studying now and keep up with the reading/homework assignments!

• Zoology Unit 7 Exam (Reptiles and Birds) - 12/8 (Wednesday)
• Biology Unit 5 Exam (Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration) - 12/8 (Wednesday)

Happy Thanksgiving & Article of the Week (11/25 Edition)

http://www.montereyherald.com/portlet/article/html/render_gallery.jsp

?articleId=16709238&siteId=570&startImage=1

Just a quick little post to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travel over the holiday. For this weeks "Article of the Week," what a better topic than turkey. Enjoy and have a good one...

The science behind turkey magic...

Biology HOMEWORK (Week/Weekend of 11/24)

Biology Students... Below is a brief list of homework assignments you need to have completed before arriving back in class on Tuesday the 30th. If you are on IP/AW for a previous unit, us this extra free time over Thanksgiving to study up!

• Read pages 218-233 (Chapter 8)
• Complete worksheets 8.1-8.3

We're moving on from Unit 4 to Unit 5, and the information regarding photosynthesis and cellular respiration can be confusing at times. Make sure you read the chapter and complete those worksheets! The major concepts for Unit 5 and lesson plans for next week will be updated on the class page after Thanksgiving. Have a happy and safe Holiday!

Zoology HOMEWORK (Week/Weekend of 11/24)

Zoosters... It'll be an entire week before we see each other again next Tuesday. Make sure you spend some time over the break reviewing the material we've covered this semester, as the class final exam is quickly approaching. Also, if you have an IP/AW for a previous unit, you should have some free time to study and try to work through that information. Here's what needs to be completed by you prior to arriving back in Zoology next Tuesday (November 30th)...

• Read pages 819-834 (Chapter 41 - Reptiles)
• Complete worksheets 41.1-41.3 (Reptiles)

We're moving on from Unit 6 to Unit 7. The major concepts for Unit 7 and next weeks lesson plans will be updated after Thanksgiving. Oh, which reminds me, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Updated Grades...

Just wanted to inform everyone that grades for all classes (Field Biology, Biology and Zoology) are completely updated. The Unit 6 Exam for Zoology and Unit 4 Exam for Biology will be entered by the beginning of next week, and handed back Tuesday. All IP's and AW's are also current.

Belated Article of the Week (November 17th Edition)

Here's an article I've been meaning to post for the past few days, but it has just been slipping my mind. The articles main point: teens should lessen their salt intake. Here are some questions you could ask yourself that might increase your understanding as you read...

• What do the terms cardiovascular and hypertension mean?
• What "issues," could hypertension lead to in the future?
• What is the daily recommended amount of salt a teen should have?
• What age group consumes the greatest amount of "salty," foods?

The article is linked below... Enjoy!

Cutting teen salt could save future health costs...

Biology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 11/20)

Biology Guys and Gals... Guess what? Your Unit 4 Exam covering Cells and Cellular Processes is this Tuesday! Here's a brief list of some things that you could be doing over Satruday, Sunday and Monday to prepare for this exam...

• Complete the Cellular Transport Online Activity (Worksheet)
• Complete 7.4 wkst and Practice Test B
• Review notes and past homework assignments/quizzes from 7.1-7.3
• Study!

Make an attempt at the bullets above and you should be well on your way to scoring well on this Unit 4 Exam. If you have any questions, make sure you see me in Seminar on Monday...

Zoology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 11/20)

Zoology Students... Your Unit 6 Exam is Tuesday, so make sure you study up! Check out the major concepts listed on the Zoology page, complete the Chapter 40 worksheets, review your Chapter 39 worksheets, and complete the Unit 6 Practice Exam. The notes we went through in class are now officially uploaded onto this website, and all of the assignments that were handed out in class are also now accessible from this website... Good luck, and study, study, study!!!

Zoology - Echinoderm Lab REMINDER

Zoology Students... Do not forget that your Unit 5 Sea Star Dissection Lab Reports are due tomorrow, 11/17. We will be spending some class time typing up our conclusions if you are already not finished, but be sure to have all the other necessary materials and paperwork with you. If not turned in by Thursday the 18th, you will move to IP...

Field Biology Exam... Around the Corner!

6W/8W Field Biology Students... Your Unit 2 Exam (Trees and Animals of Kansas) is this Thursday! Start studying now, and let's pass this exam on the first try. Linked below is a brief study guide that might help in your efforts too reveiw. Good luck, and if you have any questions stop by the classroom and see me...

Field Biology Unit 2 Study Guide

Zoology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 11/13)

Zoo-sters... Linked below is the video I would like you to watch and then respond to. Either respond to the video questions in the "comments," section below, or writer your answers on a sheet of paper and bring them with you Monday. If you are going to "comment," below, you will need to sign in with a Google username. The questions are...

• What is the main purpose of the Rapid Assessment Program?
• Why would a place like Papa New Guinea be ideal for collecting plant and animal data?
• What are some of the animal collection methods depicted and/or described in the video? Explain.
• What do you think? Are these current zoological efforts necessary for the preservation of plant/animal species around the world? Explain.

 Zoology Response Video - New Species (Discovery News)

Also, do not forget to come to class Monday with the following completed!

• Worksheets 39.1 and 39 Concept Map
• Reading assignment of pages 779-786

Have a good weekend!

Article of the Week... (11/10 Edition)

 http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

You may have seen this already as it came out a couple of days ago, but still some pretty cool stuff. It's local, informational and relative to day-to-day life. Note that even the scientist/professor mentioned in the article is not for sure what his findings mean or if they are dependable. The scientific method is followed beautifully by the professor and he demonstrates how to approach your data in an unbiased manner.

There are many diets out there on the market, and many ranging from healthy and safe to hazardous and risky. What would need to be done to prove this new method as reasonable and worth the effort? Are there any essential elements missing from his diet? Is he really just surviving on "junk food?" Read, watch the video and enjoy...

KSU Professor - Twinkie Diet

Sea Star Dissection...

A little look into Unit 5 (Echinoderms and Invertebrate Chordates) and the lab that our Zoology students carried out. Attention Zoology students: Do not forget to start working on your lab report for this dissection, as it is due next Wednesday (11/17)...

Field Biology Update...

WHS Field Biologists... The Unit 2 (Trees and Animals of Kansas) Summative Exam is quickly approaching. All notes and/or quizzes that we have taken thus far are listed/linked to the right of the page. STUDY those notes and review those quizzes, your Unit 2 summative exam is next Thursday (11/18)...

In addition to reviewing and studying for the upcoming exam, be sure to start finishing up and turning in your Tree Identification Books. Again, I would prefer that you turn in a digital copy (email, jump drive, etc.) instead of printing off 50 sheets of paper...

Any questions, drop by room 103 and give me a hollar...

Zoology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 11/5)

Amateur Zoologists... A long, drawn out weekend, but much to do with Zoology. Do not forget, we have a dissection taking place Tuesday the 9th and a test Thursday the 11th. Start studying NOW! Below is a brief list of what you should have completed when you return to class on Tuesday...

• Chapter 38 Practice Test (A&B)
• Chapter 38/Unit 5 Phylogenetic Tree
• Chapter 38.1/38.2 Worksheets (if not yet completed)

If you do not have any of the above mentioned assignments, check out the links at the top right of the page. Get to work and have a good weekend...

Biology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 11/5)

Biology Students... It's a long weekend (4 days!), so make sure you reserve a little time to revisit some of the material and "things," we've been covering in Biology. Here's a list of what you need to have done and/or have completed for class on Tuesday...

• Virtual Cell Dissection
• Read sections 7.2 and 7.3

Not a huge list, but still some tasks that need to be completed. If you're looking for the Virtual Cell Dissection and/or other notes and worksheets from the unit, check the top right side of this website...

Article of the Week...

Scientific American sits down with a company that analyzed the entire genome of Ozzy Osborne. The Q&A between Scientific American and Ozzy's genome "readers," is pretty entertaining and enlightening in regards to genetic oddities. What's a genome? I thought you might ask. It's the entire DNA sequence (strand of hereditary info passed from parent(s) to offspring) of a living organism. If you can imagine, there were some unique findings in Ozzy's genome...

Ozzy's genome and his Neanderthal lineage

Definitely see the resemblance...

Lesson Plans are Up...

Can't wait until next class to see what you might be learning about or doing in Mr. Williams' room? Well you're in luck, because the lesson plans for Biology, Zoology and Field Biology for the week of 11/1/2010 have just been uploaded to their respective pages (see tabs above). Click on your class tab and find the "What we're doing this week" link below the unit major concepts. That link should take you directly to a .pdf of my lesson plans...

Zoology Homework for 11/1...

"Zoo" Students...
The phylogenetic tree for chapter 38 is officially loaded and up online for download/completion. If you have any problems, email me or drop by the classroom between now and class on Wednesday. Good luck!

Phylogenetic Tree Homework (Due 11/3)

Happy Halloween!

Just had to post a picture of my daughter Wrigly in her Halloween costume. She's dressing up as a banana, and dad's going as a monkey... Should be a good time!

Zoology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 10/30)

"Zoo" Students... Homework for this weekend entails the following:

• Read pages 761-770
• Focus on section 38.2, and come to class with some background knowledge over the four major traits that make Chordates, Chordates...
• Complete worksheet 38.1 if you have yet to do so
• Attempt to complete worksheet 38.2 (Invertebrate Chordates)

Also, be ready for a clicker quiz covering the material from section 38.2 and revisiting material from 38.1. Look over your notes and the notes that are uploaded to the blog. Study up, and have a good weekend...

Biology HOMEWORK (Weekend of 10/30)

Biology Guys and Gals... Don't forget to complete the backside of your microscope powerpoint notesheet. If you've misplaced or lost the questions and vocabular terms that need to be defined, look under the "Notes, Quizzes and Homework" column to the right on this blog. There you should find a link that will take you to the weekend's homework assignment. Make sure you also read sections 7.1 and 7.2! Expect a clicker quiz on Monday that covers material from both sections. Have a good weekend!

Tree Identification Book DEADLINE!!!

Field Biology students, your Tree Identification Books are due November 4th. Below is a link that takes you to the overview sheet and checklists that have been used so far in the construction of this book. Do not procrastinate, be proactive and get this finished!

Tree Identification Book Overview

Official WamegoLifeSci Blog Kickoff!

Today marks the official beginning to my blogging career and another step forward in making content from Mr. Williams' classroom available anywhere, at any time. In addition to email updates home, look for lesson plans, homework assignments, class quizzes, lecture notes and other various documents/materials that are pertinent to Biology, Zoology, Botany, Field Biology and/or Environmental Science here at WHS.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Throw them at me, please! I foresee some growing pains in the near future, but hopefully this blog can be used as a learning tool and a place for students to stop by to gather info when they are away from the school setting. Thanks and have a good one...