Category: Critical Thinker
In the second unit, we are studying functions. To model piecewise functions, we designed a real-life situation to analyze. We modeled Joshua’s approval rate as a president. I am most proud of our ability to design a story that makes sense. All the increasing and decreasing correlate with what happens in the story. The hardest part was writing the linear equations for each interval. We need to find the y-intercept of the line(even when it doesn’t extend there) while noting down the intervals of increase/decrease/constant. If I were to revise, I would make sure that in my calculations, I would always use function notation. I can use f(x) before my equations. This project helps me to understand that, although having different equations on different sections, piecewise functions still obey the basic rules of functions. (Like the vertical line test rule)
I would choose my first L4 question to show my improvement in my mathematical skills in this unit. I used my knowledge of transitions, angle and triangle similarity, and logical reasoning to find a pair of congruent angles. I finished the process without error. The other question I would choose that demonstrates my learning is subquestion b for the second L4 question. I used only one translation to map a shape on to another. I demonstrated sophisticated mathematical skill by correctly identifying the line y=-x+4. I improved the most on using dilations, transformations, reflections and rotations to create images without drawing any new shape. I still need to work on noticing how the order of a dilation with SF 1 or -1 and reflection across certain lines don’t matter. My first strength is that I am able to use concrete reasoning to prove my congruency. My second strength is that I am able to map complex transformations like dilations and rotations correctly. My third strength is that I know how to effectively use parallel lines to find congruent angles. I want to first improve on the quality of my drawing, my ability to check my answers, and my ability to follow requirements. In the next unit, I want to improve on my accuracy of drawing by constantly using a ruler.
In unit 6, we learned about chemicals and materials in our food. I made lemonade, and I explained how water and citric acid are components of it, and modeled them too. The process of making Lemonade is mixed, as it contains both physical change(Mixing) and chemical change. (Boiling the sugar) Because the characteristics of the final product have changed, the boiling of the sugar is a chemical change. Due to the fact that no property changes had happened, it is a physical change.
I could have improved in my presentation, as most people just drank my Lemonade and weren’t interested in my poster. I might need to reduce the number of words on each page to make it more engaging. Also, I would study more on complex and simple structures, as I cannot really differ them from each other yet.
In unit 6, we have to choose a method of media and use it to pass information on algal blooms. I chose to use a news report. Moreover, we have to explain the causes and effects of algal blooms using energy and matter cycles like the carbon cycle, the hydrologic cycle, and the oxygen cycle.
The essential question of this unit is: “What is causing pleasant ponds to turn green?” So over here, Pleasant Pond is a random pond in a park, where the water is still. The green in the pleasant pond is from the algae in it, and there are also many reasons that algae can bloom inside the pond. One big reason is fertilization use. Fertilizers, as stated in the nitrogen cycle, provides loose nitrogen to the soil, which could be carried away by runoffs. With all the extra algae, the fish will die because according to the carbon cycle, the plant in the water needs sunlight for photosynthesis. Since the algae above the water covered sunlight for the plants, the plants die, which meant that there would be less fish in the pond that eats plants. Thus, the algae harms the ecosystem as it completely destroys the producer section of the food chain, impacting all the later sections.
Experiments helped me to gain an understanding of models in matter and energy cycling in ecosystems. First, the starch test in leaves experiments that we did showed me in what form the leaf store glucose and proved to me that plants can make glucose out of carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water. The station activity on food chains and webs showed me how energy is possible to go around everybody in an ecosystem and eventually go back inside the dirt and decay into nitrogen. In sum, these activities gave me proof and hinted me on how these energy and matter cycles can work.
Above is a picture of the ecosystem in a bottle project I did with Brendan. We used different materials like gravel and dirt, along with different animals like goldfish and crickets, to form an open ecosystem(the land and the water is connected).
Above is my unit summative project with Evan. We discovered that both genetic and environmental factors affect the growth of fruits. For example, when the parents of the fruit are native to the environment, the child will probably be adapted to the environment. Also, when the water supply is low, fruits that need less water will survive. These factors all affect the characteristics of a fruit. When asexual reproduction between fruits happen, DNA of a certain fruit is replicated and has more stable DNA. When Sexual reproduction happens, the DNA of the plants might vary and create different types of fruits.
Above is the apple reproduction model I made with Harrison. When extracting the DNA of plants, I learned that the plants themselves have the DNA in them already, and not only part of the fruit has the DNA. When doing the reproduction activity, I learned that Sexual Reproduction can lead to complexity in genetics and variants might appear. One example of plant structures affecting reproduction is pollination. The stamen contains the pollen that can be spread on the pollinators and passed around.
In unit 4, we designed a Franken-fruit made of two different fruits. My partner Evan and I chose the Yubari king melon and the Dekopon orange. We made a Canva presentation and included the genotypes and phenotypes of the gene, which can be modified by using different alleles to combine into different traits. We also used a Punnett square to simulate the different results of reproduction. In the end, we did a gallery walk and introduced people to our fruits. Even though our fruit is expensive, it has a very high quality. What we did well is to write a CER and introduce ways of reproduction in the powerpoint. What we need to work on is to improve our badly-made physical model of our fruit and improve on our advertising speech too.
Above is our PPT.
Categories
U2 Summative
In unit two, I created an outline of a dystopian sci-fi story, and we are to present it as if we were publishing it. I used thing link, an online platform for sharing information, to do the presentation.
Above is my Pitch for my Dystopian story.
Click here to view my pitch presentation
I improved DRASTICALLY from my formative. I got more than a meeting on my summative, different from my 8.5 out of 9 for my formative. I am proud of finding a clever way to present my story and creating a great story on the outline. I used the feedback on characteristics by listing the two sides of the conflict correctly. If I were to redo the summative assessment, I would explain why the main character has the round traits.
The advice I would give myself for unit three is to think about how I can use the information in my outline to write the story. Also, I would use what I did during the unit for other units. I can ask the teacher for real-time feedback and polish my presentation at home so I pitch my story in the best form.
One goal for future work is to provide more evidence on why Lesley HAS the round traits.
Categories
U3 Final Assessment
First of All, even if this grade looks nice, it is actually not what I wanted. People who got worse separate standard grades than me received the same grade as me. I didn’t even get any questions wrong. I truly believe this system is rigged. When I tried to reason, I got scolded.
Below is my test.
I answered each question correctly, but one thing I could do better was to not use fractions for money. I got it correct for that question but received an M+ on that part. This was the only reason I got a M+. When I was doing the test, I had time to review and save a lot of the mistakes I made at first. I was fairly confident at the end since I checked my answers with my classmate who got a 4. This proves out to reduce my dread before getting my score. Still, reviewing before the test and having a CFU right before the Formative helps me to check where I am. Lastly, I marked the keywords of the questions with a highlighter, and this helped me to read the problems throughly and not make dumb mistakes.
To review for this test, I studied the vocabulary given in many activities and used them in my homework to improve my learning more.
I didn’t do well enough and will work harder to achieve this.