Saturday, December 12, 2009

CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR BIOLOGY

Parents and Students:

Monday begins the final week of instruction for the Fall Semester. This is a post to give everybody one last 'heads-up' about Finals week in Biology!

First of all, 'A Twist of Fate', an important 100-point project, is due at the beginning of Monday's class (12/14)

This assignment is based on a reading describing the scientific detective story that led to the discovery of DNA's structure. The reading is adapted from an article by Michael Lemonick that appeared in the Feb. 17, 2003 issue of Time. That article can be read in its entirety on-line here.

Students are expected to define terms underlined in the article, and to answer four discussion questions according to the usual guidelines: complete sentences that refer to the original question and provide supporting evidence for the student's opinion.

Secondly, students should have already received a Study Guide for their 200-point Semester Final.


This was given in Friday's (12/11) class, and students should be reviewing it and using it to identify any weaknesses, as well as working to submit any other outstanding work in the course by the end of instruction (Tuesday, 12/15).

Next, there will be a Study Session after-school on Wednesday (12/16).


This Study Session will take place in my classroom (N-63). It will begin at 3:45 and end at 5:30 that evening. Students who attend will not only receive valuable feedback as to what to expect on the test, but will also receive 20 points of extra-credit.

And, finally...Finals! Our scheduled Finals are on Thursday afternoon (12/17) for 4th period, and Friday (morning, 5th period; afternoon, 6th period).


There is no makeup period scheduled. Students need to attend their final exam period. Those who fail to attend without having their parent or guardian reach a prior understanding with Mr. Hatfield will be given an 'incomplete' in the course.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

POWER POINT: AIR AND WEATHER


This is the next-to-the last chunk of notes in this course for the Fall semester.
There will be one more set of notes covering clouds, precipitation and global wind patterns.



1st period's Final is on Wednesday morning, 3rd period's on Thursday morning. There will be a Study Guide issue on Monday. Mr. Hatfield will hold a Study Session after school on Tuesday to prep students in Room N-63, between 3:45 and 5:00.

Good luck!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

POWER POINT: DISCOVERING ...DNA!


These notes were given Monday through Wednesday in the first (morning) session. These Power Point notes are available for download here.