Investigations in Science 7 – January 11, 2019

Announcements:

There are only 2 weeks left in 2nd quarter. Please have your child check their
grades and take care of any assignments that are Z’s and can still be turned in for
credit. My gradebook will be closing on Wednesday, January 23rd.

Coming Up:

 Nervous System
 Sheep's Eye Dissection
 Digestive System

Dates:

 January 10 - Outdoor Ed Parent Meeting 6:00-7:00

 January 10 – 6th Grade Articulation Night 7:00-8:30
 January 21 - No School
 January 25 - Winter Social
 January 25 – Early Dismissal
 January 25 - End of Quarter 2
 January 28 - No School
 January 29 – Marking Period 3 Begins
 January 30 - Town Hall Meetings

What we did this week:

Monday, we completed a muscle fatigue lab to determine if all muscles get
tired at the same time. In the first activity students exercised the muscles in
their hand and the second exercise they used their shoulder muscles. They had to
do the exercise for 30 seconds and repeat for 4 trials. There was a lot of
complaining by the 4th trial!
Then they used different resources to be able to explain the differences
between the 3 different types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. We have
the skeletal muscles which move our body. We also have smooth muscles that
preform our involuntary actions. Last, we have our cardiac muscle which makes up
our heart to keep blood flowing.
Wednesday and Thursday, we dissected chicken wings to see how different
types of muscles, bones, and tendons work together to move a joint in a chicken
wing. We closely observed the skin, fat, muscle, tendon, ligament, and
cartilage. We compared the chicken wing to the human arm.
Before we began dissecting I will go over my 4 key rules for all dissections. If
these rules are not followed students will not be able to take part in dissecting and
will miss out on future dissections.
1. Respect the organism. We are using them to gain more knowledge of the
body systems. No playing with it or making unnecessary cuts, etc. Follow
the procedures only!
2. Only do what you feel comfortable doing. You can be an observer or a
participant, the choice is always yours and no one can tell you differently (or
they will sit out).
3. Dissecting tools: know what they are and how to use them correctly.
4. Gloves: Free to use or not use gloves but you cannot waste gloves.
Today, students used different resources to find out more information about
the nervous system. Students read about the brain. They used the textbook to
identify new vocabulary words dealing with the nervous system such as sensory
neuron, motor neuron, spinal cord, brain, impulse and reflex. They found out that
reflexes are so fast because those messages don't travel to your brain until your
muscles have already reacted.

Have a great weekend!