The Most Dangerous Game

Dearest Culbreth Cougars!

Happy summer!

You will be reading "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell with Ms. Grinnell this summer. We often think of literature separately from science. However, often knowing the "science" behind a story can make it easier to visualize what is happening and can help you learn more about the setting, plot, and characters. It can help you make decisions that the story drives you to determine. It can help you decide if you think the story is realistic or not.

Below you will find information about different aspects of the story from a scientific point-of-view.

Here is a map of some of the general area where Rainsford and his crew are headed to hunt jaguars:
View The Most Dangerous Game in a large

The map below shows the Amazon River and the biomes through which it travels:

Classic yacht designs and pictures can be found here.

Is hunting fair?
             What do animals know about themselves?
             What do you think? Do animals feel pain? Does it matter if they do?
                      Read one article about bioethics, animals, and pain here.

"Life is for the strong, to be lived for by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong." -General Zaroff
             Here is some information about the science behind natural selection and "survival of the fittest".

Information about trapping animals can be found here. (Sorry, it's wikipedia... :-)

Additional Resources:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon/

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution - A TEAM PROJECT

Hey All-Stars!

For 4th Quarter, your teachers asked me to get you started on a multidisciplinary project.

On your table is a resource to get you started.

Here is a link!

Basic info

Ms. Nickel

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

Hey AWESOME ALL-STARS!

Chemistry:
Chemistry is the study of matter and energy and the interactions between them

First of all... YAY! SPRING BREAK! Enjoy it! Be safe! Make good choices and don't do anything rash! Spend time with family! And sleep!!!

Secondly, today is very bitter-sweet... SO LET'S DO SOMETHING FUN!

Options for today:

1) We'll use random scrap materials to make chemistry related decorations for when Mrs. Althiser comes back! Chemistry themed for your next unit! (see ideas below!)
2) Decorate the board...
3) Write a nice sticky note to Mrs. A and put it on the board.
4) Games? I love Train Wreck!!!
5) Do missing work... I mean, what's more fun than pulling up your grade?????? :-)

Ideas:

PAPER ATOMS!

Come up with chemistry jokes too, if you want!

Thank you!

Ms. Nickel

Post Test Tasks...

Hey All-Stars!

Here is a recap of awesomeness from the past three months as well as random stuff from me - feel free to enjoy with headphones on or muted while students finish their tests!

**This post is incredibly random. Enjoy. Read all the books. Watch all the videos :-).

CAT-BOUNCE!

MARCEL!

LOVE ALL THE THINGS! Make gratitude lists!

If you believe in yourself...

This is one of my favorite blogs w/ all sorts of yummy vegan food, for those days when chocolate is just necessary! (and being vegan is awesome...)

Book List:
Feeling Sorry for Celia and The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Tamora Pierce books
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Divergent books by Veronica Roth
Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins
Legend by Marie Lu
Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephan Chobsky
Harry Potter books by JK Rowling
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
Sarah Dessen books
AND SO MANY MORE!

If you want something to actually do...
1) Write a welcome back letter to Mrs. Althiser
2) Have fun on sporcle.
3) Read a book!

I have SO enjoyed teaching ALL OF YOU! You are all so unique and real and quirky and funny and authentic and I've learned so much from getting to teach you! Thank you for being awesome and keep it up!

Lots of side hugs, peanut butter (except for some students), stickers, and bouncing cats for all of you!

Ms. Nickel

Announcements for Week of March 25-28

Hey There Awesome All-Stars!!!

The time has come... 4 days until spring break! 14 days until Mrs. Althiser returns! YAYYYYY!

We have a lot to get through, so come prepared to focus!

Monday: How does biotechnology affect our lives?
               Finish our brief discussion of biotechnology and STUDY!
Tuesday: How can you study effectively?
               STUDY DAY!
Wednesday: What do you know about cells, microbiology, and epidemiology?
                    TEST DAY!
Thursday: What is chemistry?

Assignments Due:
Monday and Tuesday: Notebook check in class
Tuesday: Mandatory Homework/Extra Credit Study Tool (up to 3 for up to 14 points added to your CDC project)
Wednesday: TABLE food due, study guide (up to 5 points on test) due, TEST

YAY! EPIDEMICS! YAY! MICROBES! YAY! CELLS!

Ms. Nickel

Cells, Microbiology, and Epidemiology Study Tips Part 1

Hey All-Stars, Here is a summary of big ideas of this unit:

-All living things are made of cells.

-There are different types of cells, some more organized (eukaryotic) than others (prokaryotic).

-Cells sustain life, grow, and reproduce and therefore need energy.

-Organelles make up eukaryotic cells and all have different jobs.

-Cells have a membrane that is selectively permeable so the cells can survive without bad stuff getting in or too much good stuff leaving.

-Life on a small scale is studied in microbiology.

-Microbes are microscopic organisms. There are many types, including bacteria, archaea/extremophiles, viruses (non-living!), protists, and fungi.

-Microbes are critical to life - they help digest food, make food, break down dead things, create the atmosphere...

-Microbes that make people sick are called pathogens. 

-Disease is studied in epidemiology.

-Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens that can be spread.

-Disease didn't become widespread (epidemics and pandemics) until people moved from hunting/gathering to living in cities w/ animals.

-Vaccines and antibiotics can help stop disease.

-Vectors are organisms that spread, but don't have, disease. 

-Biotechnology is useful in all parts of life, but is controversial.

*I will continue to add links, images, and videos to this post to help you study.

Enjoy!

Ms. Nickel

PS Don't you dare tell me you don't know what this unit is about...YOU DO!

Introduction to Biotechnology

Hey All-Stars!

What is biotechnology?

"biotechnology is the process by which humans use living things as tools to create new products"
                ~Children's Museum of Indianapolis

What is biotechnology used for?

-cleaning up oil spills
-modifying plants to make them nutrient rich
-keeping bugs from plants
-try to treat and cure genetic disease
-increases shelf-life of food
-create plants that can grow in bad conditions (really dry, really salty)
-manufacturing organs
-treating disease

Risks associated with biotechnology...

-allergic reactions in people with food allergies

-decrease in biodiversity

-long term effects???

-super weeds...?

-ethical dilemmas - what is natural? what is life?

-requires safety testing

-could contaminate heritage or organic crops

Watch this video:
http://vimeo.com/17125052

What is your opinion about biotechnology?

Happy weekend!

Ms. Nickel


Sources:
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/biotech
https://www.ffa.org/documents/learn/MS.AST.3.2.pdf
http://www.fooddialogues.com/foodsource/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-biotech-seeds