Welcome to Plants & Zombies.  For those of you who haven’t had me as a teacher before, I do my best to send out email updates from class every 7 (or 14) days with happenings from class.  These updates are sent to both students and parents.  They are also posted under the “integrated” tab on my blog.

I am super excited to see everyone on Tuesday and dive into Life Science.  We will begin with an extensive study of the invisible world by investigating viruses, learning about DNA, and seeking to comprehend the basic premise behind genetics.  Later, we’ll move to bacteria and explore procaryotes/eucaryotes as we work our way up to understanding more complex multi-cellular organisms.

A few logistics:

1) Your student needs a science notebook.  I’ll have composition notebooks available for students, but some may wish to bring in their own.  The best type of notebook is a 7.5 x 9.75 inches bound notebook with graph paper.  Lined paper will work as well.

2) Students likely need a refresh of pens and pencils.  Ask them.  A set of individual colored pencils would be very helpful as well — but again, I’ll have this available for students as needed.

3) We’ll have ADIs on January 24th, February 28th, and April 3rd.  Students will need a sack lunch for these days.   More details TBA.

4) There is a chrome extension called Piktochart that is fantastic for making infographics and communicating understanding.  The one catch is that it is intended for students 13 and up.  If your student is under the age of 13 and you have concerns about them using this software, please let me know and I can happily find alternative ways to show their understanding.  This is an opt-out.  If I don’t hear from you, I will allow students to access this software (the free version) for projects as needed.

Upcoming due dates:  (These may float — depending on flow of class.)

• Wednesday, January 8th:  Student Safety Contract Due w/ parent signature.
• Friday, January 11th:  Scientific Method — Plant Experiment Plan.
• Tuesday, January 15th:  Virus Project Due
• Friday, January 18th:  DNA/Virus Knowledge Quest.

Thank you so much for all your support this semester.

Best, -Josh Feiger

Ps.  If you haven’t yet seen the original course description…

  Plants and Zombies :  Life Science

Did you know that for every one human cell you have in your body, you have 20 bacteria cells. Look at your neighbors — they are 95% bacteria!  Life is bizarre and this class will prepare you to become a mad scientist. Let’s mess with DNA, hereditary traits, chromosomes, and mutations! You will manipulate genes, grow plants, build models, take field trips, and even design a species, thinking about life 5,000,000 years in the future.  From cells to ecosystems, join us on an evolutionary life science voyage where we’ll explore life on the moon, bacteria in our bodies, and the zombie genes of elephants. Darwin loves you!