Category: Uncategorized (Page 1 of 2)

Q. Considering your exploration of ecosystems throughout the unit, what factors do you believe contribute to pleasant pond turning green?

A. Based on our exploration of ecosystems, Pleasant Pond is likely turning green due to an algal bloom driven by excess nutrients (specifically nitrogen and phosphorus) from fertilizer runoff. Warm, sunny weather accelerates this process, causing algae to grow rapidly.

Q. Discuss what you learned about the 4 matter cycles and energy transfer and mention photosynthesis’ role in these processes.

A. Water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles through the environment and living things repeatedly. These cycles require energy to move, and photosynthesis is the process that captures that energy. During photosynthesis, plants take in sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create food. This food contains stored energy that passes to animals when they eat the plants. This energy allows carbon to be built into bodies, nitrogen to be used for growth, and water to be moved through plants and back into the air. While matter stays on Earth and moves in circles, energy from the sun enters the system and eventually leaves as heat.

Q. Think back to your ecosystem in a bottle variable change (you changed 1 variable in your bottle by adding plants, blowing into the bottle, or adding fertilizer). Did the prediction you make come true? 

A. The prediction wasn’t true. When we put in the nitrogen fertilizer, we expected the ecosystem to be lusher. However, the plants in the ecosystem had started to die after we put in the fertilizer. I think this is due to nitrogen fertilizer run off, where the excess fertilizer caused some green algae to disrupt the water ecosystem and ruin the whole ecosystem.

Q. If you could improve ONE aspect of your learning in this unit as a whole, what would it be and why? Provide a change that could enhance future learning experiences.

A. I think I can use the rubric as a final checklist before submitting assignments. This would help me ensure that I haven’t missed any specific details about the matter cycles or energy transfer requirements. By making this change, I can produce more accurate work and better understand exactly what is expected for each scientific concept.

(Since I didn’t do SLC, I will only talk about my plans for next year.)

I can try to work more on responding better to parent questions and making sure the links work.

Part 1: Essential Question and Standard Reflection

The genetic difference of the apple causes the differences in the traits of the apple. Additionally, the environment can also change the apple by effects like the temperature, humidity, and food availability. Sexual reproduction is used to get the best possible genetics of an apple by receiving genetics from both the parents but on the other hand, the asexual reproduction helps the clone of the genetics to be produced.

I learn the best with extra questions to work on because this provides me with better understanding. The Review Games and worksheets (Kahoot, Gimkit, and Spongebob worksheet) was the most impactful or memorable for
me as a learner. Before I did the review activities, I wasn’t fully understood about the concept, but after I learned using them, I was much more comfortable with the concepts such as Punnet Squares. In addition, the Extended learning activities and Extension (Non-mendelian genetics, Dihybrid Punnett square, connections between math area models and monohybrid Punnett squares) made me more interested in the subject of genetics and made me feel more comfortable in learning those.

In this unit, I could do a better job on CER writing, especially in the aspect of connecting the reasoning to the evidence. In the future, I will focus on clearly explaining why and how the evidence proves the claim so that my reasoning directly links the evidence to the main idea. This will help make my scientific explanations stronger and easier to understand.

This semester in orchestra, I learned a lot about teamwork, responsibility, and how my part fits into the bigger sound of the group. Playing the violin has challenged me to listen carefully to others while keeping my own rhythm and intonation steady. One of the biggest improvements I’ve made is in my bow control — I can now produce a smoother tone and stay in tune more consistently.

Performing in concerts was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but it felt amazing to hear how all our practice came together. I also enjoyed learning how different sections — strings, winds, and percussion — blend to create the full orchestra sound. In the future, I want to work more on sight-reading and shifting to higher positions so I can play more advanced music and contribute even more to the group. Being part of orchestra has taught me patience, dedication, and how great it feels to create something beautiful with others.

One thing I noticed about myself as a write

I noticed that I have strong detailed sentences when writing such as using a variety of words and transitions to make it lush.

One goal I want to work on in my writing process

I will try to balance the number of context and dialogues because there wasn’t enough dialogues for the audience/reader to be actively engaged in the story and imagine it.

One way I was an active learner during unit 3

I spent less time talking to my friends during the project.

During this unit, we learned badminton techniques such as speed and angle, proper forehand and backhand. I improved on my front hand serves and increased on my speed and angle of recieving the ball. However, I still need to improve on concentrating on the ball’s movement.

-Part 1 Essential Question and Standard

The essential question that I chose is ‘What happens inside our bodies when we get sick?’ During this unit, I learned about how cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems work together to help the body function, and the types and functions of them. For instance, when you get sick, your body’s systems (like the immune system) interact with specialized cells that form tissues, organs, and systems.

-Part 2 Learning Experiences

The learning experience was the most impactful or memorable for
me as a learner was the group work (VR or Cardboard Human body project, Cell
Analogies, Microscope Observations, Connectors) and Dissections (Pig’s heart/ lungs and Bullfrog). This is because I learn the best in conditions where I can share my opinion with other people and understand better when I am able to observe things in real life.

-Part 3 Improvements

I need to improve on checking my final checklist for the project. Before submitting the assessment, I didn’t check my checklist and forgot to add my function descriptions that goes along with my model.