Semester One
Beginning Biology as an eleventh grader was something that I was very excited for, and it did not disappoint. This first semester was all about health and what that means. We researched major diseases, talked to research scientists who study health, and researched our own and family's health. For more information about this project go here.
Project Work
Research Papers
The four major diseases that we studied were Neurological diseases, Regulatory diseases, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Diseases. A disease to focus upon was chosen based on family research. In order to learn, and fully understand, what each of these diseases do a research paper was written. There was one more specification involved. That of a focus point of the body and how the disease effects it (i.e. cells, tissue, molecules, organs, systems). The disease I chose to focus upon was Cancer and I looked at molecules and molecular biology in regards to it.
Research Paper
The four major diseases that we studied were Neurological diseases, Regulatory diseases, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Diseases. A disease to focus upon was chosen based on family research. In order to learn, and fully understand, what each of these diseases do a research paper was written. There was one more specification involved. That of a focus point of the body and how the disease effects it (i.e. cells, tissue, molecules, organs, systems). The disease I chose to focus upon was Cancer and I looked at molecules and molecular biology in regards to it.
Research Paper
Disease Presentations
After doing research we were put into groups based on what our disease was (being grouped with others who chose the same disease) and had the opportunity to present our knowledge to underclassman (ninth graders). Being able to teach and present information in a way that those without knowledge beforehand is a very useful skill and expresses a true understanding of the topic. This was also beneficial preparation for the upcoming exhibition.
Disease Presentation
After doing research we were put into groups based on what our disease was (being grouped with others who chose the same disease) and had the opportunity to present our knowledge to underclassman (ninth graders). Being able to teach and present information in a way that those without knowledge beforehand is a very useful skill and expresses a true understanding of the topic. This was also beneficial preparation for the upcoming exhibition.
Disease Presentation
Scientist Interviews
An incredibly fascinating part of the overall project was being able to interview and speak with research scientists all over the country. Hearing about what the day to day life was like and learning about all the great work they do was incredibly interesting. Off of this we created the Creative Commission art pieces that you can learn more about here.
Scientist Interview
An incredibly fascinating part of the overall project was being able to interview and speak with research scientists all over the country. Hearing about what the day to day life was like and learning about all the great work they do was incredibly interesting. Off of this we created the Creative Commission art pieces that you can learn more about here.
Scientist Interview
LIfe-thoughts
Life-thoughts are prompting questions to be answered in the first several minutes of the class period. They pertain to the current subject of study.
Life-thoughts, Semester I
Life-thoughts, Semester I
honors
For honors credit, I chose to read a book (on a topic that corresponded with the overall theme of the semester) and prepare a one hour presentation that involved an activity.
The book I chose to read was "The Double Helix" by James D. Watson. This book was a personal retelling of the discovery of the structure of DNA by the Nobel Prize Winner. The presentation I gave was on X-ray Crystallography and it's significance to the discovery of the double helix.