Muscle fatigue lab today. ANDREW M. completes his 2nd of 3 one-minute trials. This was an excellent lab to discuss sources of experimental error and the role different body systems play during a physical workout.

After today's quiz we inspected our Morning Glory vines and saw quite a bit of growth over the past week. Most of the seeds germinated. We also began planting iceberg lettuce as a part of the "crops-in-groton" program. These will be grown on our windowsill until they are ready to be served in the cafeteria.

MIT tackles urban gridlock with foldable car idea.  Your Thoughts?  This might be a good project topic:  "Cars of the future".  Can we continue to drive cars that get under 20 miles per gallon....30?

You may recall the contest I posted awhile ago. Well, BETHANY B. decided to enter and she wrote a terrific essay about how she can do her part to save the environment. I think it's great when 7th graders get involved to help make a difference in their surroundings. Good luck to Bethany. I hope you win!

Today's task is to research a "scientific challenge" we will face during this century. 50% of your final exam grade will come from a project dealing with this challenge. you may do this any number of ways: You can make a poster like I showed in class. You could make a movie. You could set up an experiment. You could write an essay. You may do it any way you please. you will be graded on time spent on the project, creativity/neatness, and accuracy. Today should be spent filling out the back of your handout if you have not started it already.

Here is the possible topic list:

Food/Freshwater shortages
Global Warming
Extinction/Endangered Species
Pollution
Human Population Explosion
The end of oil/gas
Coral Reef bleaching
Honeybee disappearance
Garbage/Landfills
Curing Cancer
Loss of native cultures
Cutting down forests/rainforests
Invasive Species
Recycling
Genetic Engineering
Autism
Solar/Wind energy
Biological Warfare
Antibiotic/Pesticide Resistance
Medical breakthroughs
Scientific Illiteracy
Overfishing the oceans
Soil Erosion
The Human Brain
Drugs in our drinking water

Here's a story from today's news regarding the last one: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/11/pharma.waterfish.ap/index.html

At the beginning of class today we planted several varieties of Morning Glory. This is an annual plant and the plan is to grow several vines on a trellis in front of our window. If we have extras I'll be giving away some of the plants as prizes. Above, EMILIE plants her seed as ASHLEY looks on.

Today we closely examined the contents of several owl pellets in the lab. We witnessed a variety of small mammals that owls prefer to eat. We even found a couple small birds that were picked off by the barn owls. Here, JACOB gets a close look at a mole skull as NICK picks apart his pellet.

Friday night several 7th and 8th grade members of SOS traveled to Cornell University to work with their wide variety of electron microscopes. One microscope was worth $3 Million and the other was one of only 3 such microscopes IN THE WORLD. We were extremely lucky to have this opportunity. We saw images of tobacco mosaic virus, silicone atoms, insects and learned how scientists prepare specimens before being put into the machines. At one point we viewed images that were magnified 14,000 times. Our light microscopes in the lab magnify 400 times. Lots of the research in this lab focuses on making computers faster. We even ate dinner in the room Bill Gates eats in when he visits Cornell. Special thanks to Hannah's dad, Mr. Grazul, and his lab for allowing us to go through. Also, special thanks to the Cornell Nanobiotechnology Center for organizing and providing dinner.

Dinner!

STEPH checks out the tobacco mosaic virus.

DAPHNE, LIZ, and ASHLEY learn some cool facts about the lab from John Grazul and Fern shows them how to prep a sample.

Today was a big day in Rm 302. We studied the external and internal features of the Leopard Frog (Rana sp.). Above, TIFFANY and KYLEE show off their frog and ALEXIS and ZACH are hard at work on theirs. We will be discussing the lab on Monday and they will be due Tuesday. Make sure you do a nice job answering the questions as this will be the last grade of the 5 week period.




A group 5th period had the discovery of the day. Their frog had just eaten two extremely large beetles and the stomach took up most of the abdominal cavity. The above photos show the procedure and the last photo shows the stomach contents.

Today we went over amphibians in preparation for tomorrow's frog dissection. Below are a couple of the cool websites that we reviewed today in class. Feel free to explore these sites for information on amphibians.

Site 1
Site 2
Site 3

Today during S.O.S (The Sisterhood of Science...formerly "Tri-Sci")students began work on their solar ovens. Be sure to start bringing in corrugated cardboard sheets for the next step. We can store these in the back of the room.

Over break Mr. Wiech (9th grade Earth Science) and myself snowshoed up Esther mtn in the Adirondacks (near Lake Placid). What a great way to get some exercise and enjoy nature at the same time. Make sure you guys are taking advantage of Viola's after-school programs. I know she has offered snowshoeing and cross country skiing this winter.

This past weekend, Generation - Z took part in Groton's Winterfest at the elementary school. We displayed 2 types of composting setups and gave away free Worms 'n Dirt. Thank you to all that stopped by to say hi and thanks to JUSTIN T. for helping out.

Interested???

Event for Middle School Girls March 29

On Saturday March 29, middle school girls from throughout the Ithaca area are invited to participate in "sister2sister2008". This is the eighth annual event and each has brought about 70 girls to the Women's Community Building in downtown Ithaca for a day of special activities designed for them.

Girls who participated in the past events reported that they had a lot of fun while they were doing the interesting and inspirational activities. This year's sister2sister theme is "Girls Growing Up Green". It will run from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

After hearing a presentation by biologist and author Sandra Steingraber: "Living Downstream-Saving the Environment, Saving Ourselves", high school age girls will guide the middle school girls as they rotate to several small group activities. Local professionals orient the high school mentors for their role.

There will be a lunch break and the "Love Your Body Fair". It will feature such things
as hair braiding, massage, face-painting and information on healthy lifestyles. Afterwards, more small group and large group activities are planned on the theme including
re-fashioning t-shirts.

The American Association of University Women and the Women's Community Building with numerous community organizations sponsor this program that features "enjoyment, education and empowerment" for girls. Other partners include Family and Children's Service, Tompkins County Solid Waste, SewGreen, Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Family Life Development Center, Ithaca College (Women's Studies, Theatre Arts, and Megaphone Media), and the Triad Foundation.

Girls and parents who are interested in the program and how to register can check with their school guidance office. Information is also available at the Women's Community Building, on the web site www.s2sithaca.org, by calling 280-4380, or emailing s2sithaca@yahoo.com. Registration forms and a $5.00 fee are encouraged by March 24. Fee waivers can be requested.

Adults can also contact the sister2sister organizing committee to volunteer to become involved or to offer financial support of the program. A free morning segment for adults (parents, teachers, counselors, friends) will also be offered. No registration is needed for this component.

SAM K. takes a break from her Earthworm dissection. Today we studied the external and internal anatomy of the common European Earthworm. Nice job everyone.

This week marked the first full week of composting in Groton Elementary School. They saved 119.2lbs from going to a landfill. Our school saved 121.4lbs. About 240lbs combined for a 4 day week is amazing!! We should all be very proud of ourselves. We're doing something that very few schools in the country are doing...and we're doing it well. Have a great weekend and don't forget to compost at home.

The Mollusca phylum was the topic of study today and that means: Clambake! KYLE B. poses for a quick picture before he digs into his new bivalve friend.

Today we examined the Hydra and Planaria in the lab. These are very simple animals. However, they are much more complex than a sea sponge. These will be due on Wednesday and will be the first big grade of the quarter. Please remember to include your summary paragraph on the back about the flatworm (planaria) we looked at.