What Does it Mean to be Alive

As we start to our explore biology we have had some fascinating conversations about what makes something alive.

Here is a video we watched on some of the complexity of defining life.

Watch and think about how you would define life.

What characteristics/qualities would something have to have in order to be considered alive?



We also watched this video on the characteristics of living things:

Now choose “something” that doesn’t fit nicely into the classifications of living or nonliving.  Possible examples include:

• The Earth
• Viruses
• Artificial Intelligence
• Fire
• Someone on Life support

Your job is to provide: 

At least 3 arguments explaining why your organism is “living”

At least 3 arguments explaining why your organism is “non-living”

This part can be done at 6 detailed point form sentences.  Give your reason, and then explain it.

A final decision

After analyzing your reasons come to a final determination whether your topic should be considered living or nonliving.  Make sure you support your decision with specific reasons. Your final argument needs to be based on the defined characteristics of life.  You can also include your own ideas about what it means to be alive.

You need to create a short convincing argument that you will present to your peers (small or large group), that convinces them of your decision.  Be prepared to present this argument to the class.

You will have a more class time to work on this and we will pick a day that you will share.

Similar Shapes

We have shifted our focus towards working with proportions, ratios, and rates. 

Proportional relationships are ones where numbers are related by multiplication and/or division.


To start we looked at 'similar shapes' or shapes that have the same angles, and the same proportions of sides. 

We explored similar shapes, created our own, and used a variety of strategies to identify whether shapes were similar to each other.

In your book you should have the following finished:

1) Using the similar triangle page draw a triangle that is similar to the 4 on the page.  How do you know its similar

2) On graph paper draw your own set of 4 shapes that are 'similar'.  In your book make sure you've proven their similar

- Do they have the same angles?

- Are the side lengths in proportion?

3) Solve the find the fakes sheet.  Record your thinking in your book. 

Biomimicry

We're going to be exploring what we can learn from nature, or the wisdom that nature holds.

As a starting point we are exploring Biomimicry, or technologies that mimic natural forms and process'.

Here are a couple of videos and links with some great examples.






https://synapse.bio/blog/10-biomimicry-examples


Your job is to pick 2-3 examples


For each:

Brief 2-3 sentence explanation of your example.  Make sure to include what problem it is solving.

Is it mimicking: Form, Process or ecosystem

Think about:

What are the advantages of the natural way of solving the problem? 

What can we learn from the natural way of problem solving?

Linear Equations

We've been working on linear equations in the form ax + b = c.  We will do a check in on these equations after the Family Day long weekend.

This week we've started to look at equations that involve division.  No matter what the equation the following strategies always apply:

- The goal is always to isolate x, or get x all by itself on one side of the equation

- You always deal with the constant value with addition or subtraction, before you start multiplying or dividing,

- You can simplify equations by using inverse operations.  For example you can simplify + 8 by using subtraction or 3x (3 times x) by using division.

- An equation is only solvable if it remains balanced.  This means that we need to preserve equality by doing the same operations to both sides of an equation.

Below is a list of steps with an example.  We will be dealing with the first step (brackets) later in the year.

Lab analysis

Both classes have had the chance to have a peer review of their analysis for their labs.  Labs are due next Monday, there will be a folder on Google docs that the lab can be placed in.

Make sure to use the feedback to improve your work.  If you want more feedback share your work with someone whose opinion you trust at home.  They can use the checklist and the exemplar that are shared with you to read your work and provide some suggestions to write the best analysis you can.