POWER POINT: ATOMS AND MOLECULES

 Here are the notes on 'Atoms and Molecules.'




The Lecture Guide based on these notes was distributed in class on Thursday and available as a PDF file on-line.

VIDEO: THE LIVES OF THE STARS

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The following episode of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, 'The Lives of the Stars', forms the basis of a student homework assignment. Click on the icon below to play the video within the blog:

SYLLABUS: UNIT 2

Students:  Here is your Unit 2 Syllabus on 'The Chemistry of Life'.   While based on only one chapter of the text (Chapter 2), it is among the most challenging parts of the course.  Students who struggled toward the end of Unit 1 will need to 'raise their game' in order to be successful!

HOW TO 'COPE' WITH MR. HATFIELD's TESTS

Today, Biology students will have their first tests returned to them. Results of that test were mixed, and often not what they could have been, due to poor student CHOICES.

Students who earn a percentage score higher than that earned on the first test can not only expect to earn a higher grade, but they are eligible for grade change on their previous test.

To achieve that, students need to consider the following, using the anagram 'COPE'.

C....(ontent)

Students need to know what's on the test. To make sure that students know what content will be covered on the exam, they need to obtain a copy of the Study Guide, which becomes available the weekend before the test. The sooner they get this, the better!

O....(rganization)

Students need to plan their time. For the next test, there will be a Study Session after school on the day before the exam (date to be announced later this week). They earn points by attending, and get valuable feedback about what is likely to be covered. In addition to attending the Study Session, students need to consider using time on lunch or after-school on the day of their exam as needed to complete their test. Plan ahead, students!

P...(reparation)

Students need to provide evidence that they have prepared for the test. One way to do this is to attend the Study Session before the next test (date to be announced later this week). Another, powerful way is to make sure that they bring their COMPLETED Cornell Notes to class on the day of the exam. Cornell Notes, if completed, have questions and comments in the margins and summaries of the major sections. Students who have these items completed will be allowed to use them throughout the exam. Bring evidence that you have prepared for the test, students, and you will be rewarded!

E...(ffort)

Students need to finish what they start. There is nothing more important than giving our best effort, all of the time. On an exam day, a good effort means that students attempt everything, even if that means they need to come back at lunch or after school. Show a work ethic, students, and you will not only do better on the test....you will do better in every aspect of your life.

PARENTS, ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENT TO USE THESE STRATEGIES TO EXCEL!

IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK

Many important dates and facts in this post, Biology students...and parents of Biology students!   Read on....


First and foremost, "Back-To-School Knight" happens on Monday, Sept. 8th, beginning at 5:30.   Mr. Hatfield's students and parents are encouraged to attend.   There will be a sign-in sheet for parents and guardians, and students will earn extra credit if they are represented.   Parents will receive information about Mr. Hatfield's expectations for Lecture (completing your Interactive Notes) and for doing homework (The RA).

Obviously, if these items are what Mr. Hatfield emphasizes at "Back-To-School Knight", then these are the items that are important for students to know as well.  

STUDENTS:  Make sure you have used the Lecture Guides and the Power Point Notes available on-line to complete the 'INPUT' which are to appear on the left-handed pages of your Biology notebook.  Make sure you know what 'OUTPUT' pages should be completed on right-handed pages, and how to answer questions on the Required Assignments!

On Wednesday, Sept 10th, there will be a Study Session after school in Room N-63, from 3:15 to 4:45.   Students who attend will receive extra credit in the course for participating, and have their questions answered about what to expect on their first Unit Test.   The Study Session is based on a Study Guide given in class on Monday, Sept. 8th, which includes this vocabulary list:

   A PDF of the FULL Study Guide is available here.

STUDENTS:  Please consider planning ahead and attending the Study Session.  It will be on a "first come, first served" basis and there will be a signup sheet.

On Thursday, Sept. 12th, Mr. Hatfield's Biology classes will have their first Unit Test.   The topics covered will included scientific method, the metric system, the hypothesis,  how to design experiments, scientific notation and the 'characteristics of life.'   Students may need additional time to complete the test.   On test days, Mr. Hatfield will be in his room during lunch and after-school so that students who need additional time can complete the test.  

STUDENTS:  Make sure you plan your time ahead and keep lunch or after-school "in play", so that if you need the additional time, you are prepared!

Finally....so that parents and students have a "road map" for the present unit, here is the syllabus for Unit 1.  Students previously received this in class but it is good for all of us to be "on the same page" where time management is concerned....

POWER POINT: "A MARTIAN SAFARI"

Students:   During Friday's class, Mr. Hatfield gave out a handout entitled  'A Martian Safari'.

This is a RUBRIC EXERCISE and will be completed in your Composition Book, on the (left-hand-side) "output" page opposite a page of (right-hand-side) "input" that contains the 'characteristics of life' described in Section 1.3 of your textbook.

You can download the matching Power Point, which describes the scenario of 'A Martian Safari' as well as listing the eight 'characteristics of life.'   Either click on the graphic above or on this link, HERE.

POWER POINT: NATURE OF SCIENCE

Students! Here is the Power Point for the notes on 'The Nature of Science'. You received a Lecture Guide based on these Notes in Tuesday's class (Sept. 3rd) ! If you don't have Power Point on your computer, don't worry . . . you can download a free program, Power Point Viewer, to see the notes!

KEEP IN MIND...this year, in Mr. Hatfield's Classes, we will try to reduce the amount of class time spent taking notes. There are dozens of standards to cover, hundreds of vocabulary terms and other items to master. We need to decrease the amount of time spent in lecture so students can have more time to do activities. Remember: we want to engage as many different parts of the brain as possible, and to do that, we need to have more time to do things other than notes.

At the same time, your Cornell Notes must be complete (all the notes, original questions and comments in the margins, your name/date/course on every page, and summaries of major sections of notes). Therefore, it is the student's responsibility to download and complete any notes that they were not able to finish in class!!

THE NATURE OF SCIENCE