Monday, September 19, 2016

Visual Illusions


Interpretation of Images

Spinning Girl Illusion

The Science behind The Dress

The Corner House

10 of the Greatest Optical Illusions




We human's have pretty good vision - but what don't we see?

We don't see things outside our attention, 

.....but this can be improved through practice *sign in with your facebook account*


We don't see things outside our periphery, 



We don't see the entire colour spectrum, unlike the mantis shrimp.

Some of us don't see many colours at all: Try the colour-blindness simulator

We don't see UV light, unlike birds


We only see at a certain speed, unlike dragonflies




We don't see objects without certain cues.... like the spinning girl.  Find the explanation here.


How does our vision shape up compared to different animals?


But how do we know what colour is?  Vsauce - colour is an illusion

Thursday, September 15, 2016

The Brain


Your Task:  Friday & Assess on Monday

Here are two videos on the brain:
Crash Course: The Brain
or if you don't like Crash Course try
Bozeman Science: The brain

You will be allocated one of the following:
Parietal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Olfactory Bulb
Occipital Lobe
Cerebellum
Brain Stem
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Frontal Lobe
Corpus Callosum

You will leave a short summary of your brain part on our group padlet:

GIRLS GROUP PADLET https://padlet.com/wall/qn3ob05eci
BOYS GROUP PADLET https://padlet.com/wall/g1g5wx7tsbcg

 In which you will:

- Attach a picture on the internet that clearly states where this part is located.

- Discuss the exact spot in the brain where this part is found 

-Discuss the function of this part of the brain and describe a dysfunction that may occur in this part.

-Give an example of an activity, that the reader could participate in, which is utilizing this part of the brain particularly.  Ask McWhirter for help if unsure!



Successful Students will:
1. Research their part of the brain thoroughly and understand this to a point where they write confidently and clearly in their own words and avoid jargon terms   /5

2. Communicate clearly the  location and function of this part of the brain, and an example of a dysfunction.    /5

3. Select an interesting, relevant and clearly explained activity which highlights clearly the link between action and brain function.   /5

TOTAL out of 15.

Good Resources... ok just one. Find the rest yourself.
Interactive Brain Map


The Brain


Your Task:  Friday & Assess on Monday

Here are two videos on the brain:
Crash Course: The Brain
or if you don't like Crash Course try
Bozeman Science: The brain

You will be allocated one of the following:
Parietal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Olfactory Bulb
Occipital Lobe
Cerebellum
Brain Stem
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Frontal Lobe
Corpus Callosum

You will leave a short summary of your brain part on our group padlet 
GIRLS GROUP PADLET https://padlet.com/wall/qn3ob05eci
BOYS GROUP PADLET https://padlet.com/wall/g1g5wx7tsbcg

 in which you will:

- Attach a picture on the internet that clearly states where this part is located.

- Discuss the exact spot in the brain where this part is found 

-Discuss the function of this part of the brain and describe a dysfunction that may occur in this part.

-Give an example of an activity, that the reader could participate in, which is utilizing this part of the brain particularly.  Ask McWhirter for help if unsure!



Successful Students will:
1. Research their part of the brain thoroughly and understand this to a point where they write confidently and clearly in their own words and avoid jargon terms   /5

2. Communicate clearly the  location and function of this part of the brain, and an example of a dysfunction.    /5

3. Select an interesting, relevant and clearly explained activity which highlights clearly the link between action and brain function.   /5

TOTAL out of 15.

Good Resources... ok just one. Find the rest yourself.
Interactive Brain Map


Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Reaction Experiment


Your Task:

Conduct a quick and simple study which investigates factors effecting reaction time.

Use the article above to help you decide what might be an interesting question to ask.

Once your question is decided:

1. Make a prediction about what you expect to find.

2. Write a method on how you will study this
- It should be detailed sufficiently that someone could reproduce your experiment exactly as you did it
- It should be written in dot point or list for
- Ideally it should be written in past tense
- You should not refer to 'I', 'we', 'us'.


3. Write up a results table ready to take results
- Look under the 'resources' tab to get some tips and tricks for using Excel

-----------


Writing Your Report:
*HINT* Use the Inquiry Resources under the 'Resources' tab for help.

This is a simple inquiry to give you some practice in the skills you will need for your major inquiry (next term).  Therefore you won't need to include all the usual sections or put the same amount of detail in.

Your simplified report should include:
1. Aim & prediction
2. Method (detailed)
3. Results table and graph
4. A short discussion of what you found.
-- This is where you discuss your results (and graph) and then compare this to the research of others.
--Look at the 'How to Write a Killed ABGS Discussion' in the Resources tab.
 --Be sure to include some research from the internet about it, there are some helpful links below

Main Reading Reaction times vs Reflexes

Influences on Reaction Time (This article is long and has a lot of unnecessary info, but you may find it has some easy to understand information that relates to your experiment)

More Influences on Reaction Time (Again, find the section that relates to your specific experiment - try and ignore any confusing information!)


Sunday, September 4, 2016

The Nervous System


Your task is to create a labelled model of a motor nerve.

The model should demonstrate:

The structure and function of the:
- Mylelin sheath
- The axon
- The dendrites
- The cell body (soma)

Watch: Structure of a nerve cell
Read: Overview of a Neuron (read up, but not including, the 'variations on neural theme' section)


Your model should also:
Compare and contrast the role of sensory nerves to motor nerves.  Showing this through a table or flow chart would be best.

Read: Nervous System Intro which is very good
or the Overview of a Neuron (link above)
or BBC Bitesize 

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Time Line Project


TIME LINE PROJECT (assignment outline)




Optional: Explore Human Evolution

Go through the following websites and take notes to improve your understanding of the evolution of humans.


INTERACTIVE:
Human Evolution over time.
Human Evolution Interactive

What period of time did Humans evolve over?  How did climate fluctuate? How many homo species do we know about?


IMAGE:
Lucy: The crucial 'missing link' fossil between 4 legged primates and bipedal primates
An image of the fossils of 'Lucy' Australopithecus afarensis

This image reflects ALL the fossils we currently have of Australopithecus afarensis.  What questions or comments do you have about it? 

VIDEOS & INTERACTIVE:
Big History: Human Evolution
Big History (chapter and videos)

What does this website outline as the important stages of human evolution?

INFORMATION:
Walking Upright: Some of the evolutionary mechanisms
Walking Upright Mechanisms

What was required for primates to walk upright?  Over what period of time did this occur?


INTERACTIVe
Compare the mystery skull to other known homid skulls:
Mystery Skull Interactive

How many hominids were there? What features of the skull do Scientists use to understand them?







Sunday, August 14, 2016

TEST: Photosynthesis & Respiration Wednesday 15th

On Wednesday 15th August you will be having a test:

The test will have three sections:
1. Multiple Choice Section
2. Short answer questions (about a short paragraph of writing required)
3. Analysis of a photosynthesis or respiration experiment (like one we've done in class).

----
The types of questions being asked will be:
- What is photosynthesis and respiration: What are the reactants and products of each>
Watch: Bozeman Photosynthesis  
Try looking at BBC Bitesize: Carbon Dioxide and Respiration 

- Why is photosynthesis important? How has/does photosynthesis effected the planet?  SHORT ANSWER
Try looking at this TED ED video or Cambrian (early animal) Explosion wiki  or watch: Photosynthesis and Global Climate

- Where does photosynthesis and respiration occur?
Watch this interaction: Photosynthesis Interactive  and Respiration Interactive

- What is the similarities and differences of respiration/photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis 
Respiration 
Makes Glucose 
Uses Glucose 
Makes Glucose 
Uses Glucose 
Makes Carbon Dioxide 
Uses Carbon Dioxide 
Makes Carbon Dioxide 
Uses Carbon Dioxide 
Makes Oxygen Gas 
Uses Oxygen Gas 
Makes Oxygen Gas 
Uses Oxygen Gas 
Occurs in the chloroplasts 
Occurs in the mitochondria 
Occurs in the chloroplasts 
Occurs in the mitochondria 
Occurs continuously 
Shuts down at night 
Occurs continuously 
Shuts down at night 

Also there will be questions about:
- Reading the periodic table and understanding proton, neutron and electron count from it
Watch: How to read the periodic table (also notes on the power-point below)

- Reading a chemical equation and understanding its notation (numbers and letters)
Watch Writing and Reading a Chemical Equation (also notes on the power-point below).

- Conservation of mass principle and how it is applied to chemical reactions (like photosynthesis and respiration)
Look at this: Conservation of Mass and Chemical Reactions

Also there will be questions about:
- Your assignment - volcanoes and how first life formed (multiple choice)
-  Snowball Earth: How it started, its impact on life, and how it finished SHORT ANSWER
If you have completed the assignment and looked at the resources there, you should be fine to answer these questions.  Look at the assignment link below for more help.

Experiment Question:
This question will get you to analyse the results of an experiment and answer some questions in relation to photosynthesis and respiration.   To prepare for this question you should have a thorough understanding of these two chemical reactions and have a think about some of the experiments we have done in class: Finding starch in leaves and testing acidity of algal balls.

Other Resources:
Power Point from Class