Back to Basics

Hello Oasis Scientists and Parent Scientists! It has been a while since I have written I see! Yikes! Tonight I am completely distracted by the Super Blood Moon (a lunar eclipse), and although not related to biology, but more to physics and obviously astronomy--it is still totally awesome in the full sense of the word! For more information, it never hurts to visit NASA! http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/live-feed-of-sundays-supermoon-eclipse.html in case you missed seeing this beautiful natural phenomenon this evening.

As we work through the schedule on our syllabus, it is inevitable that some topics end up requiring more or less time than allotted. Such is the case with both of our classes currently. For Biology, we have been working very slowly through the organic macromolecules and now the cell organelles as really the cell is the basic unit of life, and understanding its components is truly key to understanding human biology. Something as simple (it isn't really simple, but you get the drift) as a change in pH can have a massive effect on an organism's ability to maintain homeostasis. Although we introduced the first project topic a few weeks back, we are revisiting it this week and analyzing all of our information so far discussed to make sure the products produced are correct and thorough on content to demonstrate student learning (hopefully). I have had recurring dreams about this project! Not good, I know.

For Physics, we have been staying happily in motion in one dimension, but this week along with our first unit test will be moving into VECTORS. Think music from Law and Order following that word. :) Vectors are pretty easy, just remember they have both direction and magnitude and use basic trigonometry. Remember our friend SOH CAH TOA from Geometry and Trig. The students will be receiving an introduction to this in Math (THANK YOU Mr. Hubbard--he is a GEM!) and then applying it in physics. Multidisciplinary learning at its finest! I keep telling the students Physics is really just a math lab. This insights a lot of groans from the crowd, but it is true.

Enjoy the sky tonight! Please never hesitate to email me if you have questions, concerns, or ideas!