Thursday, October 29, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

Invasive Insects in Maine


Trophic Cascades and Yellowstone


Stop watching at 38:40.





How the wolves can change rivers in Yellowstone.

Maine Invasives and Coastal Ecosystem Artcile

Here are the links for today's activity on invasive species.

Specifically, we will be looking at the Northern Pike, 


but keep your eye out for other invasive species as well.


Portland Press Herald


and


Bangor Daily News



Pike Portland Press Herald Article
Troubled Waters for Wild Brook Trout
Click here to access questions


By Wednesday 

Read and and pay close attention authors view points. 
Portland Press Herald Article.
Mayday Gulf of Maine in Distress

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Food Web Project

Food Web Project


Directions:
Create a food web for an ecosystem that is nearby. For example a
forest, stream, backyard, saltmarsh, or beach. You are encourage to choose an
ecosystem that you are familiar with. You should organize your food web so that
relationships between organisms are demonstrated (like we did in class).

A good way to start:
Brainstorm organisms within an ecosystem (you should have 15-20)
Place the organisms into groups: producer, consumer, decomposer.

Vocabulary to keep in mind:
organism
ecosystem
decomposer
food web
producer
consumer
trophic level

Checklist of Required Items
Your food web should:

  • have 15 - 20 organisms represented in the food web.
  • identify the name of each organism (this should be specific, do not just list fish or tree).
  • include arrows to indicate the flow of energy.
  • have at least 2 of every trophic level represented (decomposer, producer, consumer).
  • show many organisms interacting.
  • contain a sketch for each organism (computer printed images are OK if you do notmlike to draw).
  • use a ruler to draw straight lines.
  • contain color.
  • contain a title (example - A Tidal Pool Food Web).
  • contain your name and group.

Bayview Preserve Walk Google Form Questions

Mr. Cuthbert's Class
Click here to access

Mr. Harrington's Class
Click here to access





Think about these questions as we prepare for our field trip.
  1. What are some native, non-native and invasives found in Yarmouth Green Spaces?

  1. What kinds of things do conservation management specialists need to think about when they deal with invasive species?

  1. What current practices are University of Maine systems and Royal River Trust doing to combat invasives in Yarmouth?

  1. What kind of impact have humans had in Yarmouth introducing invasive species?  How did they get here?

  1. What kind of things can you do to help manage some invasive species?

  1. Why are salt marshes important to our ecosystems?

  1. What current things are happening to salt marshes that have negative impacts? Explain.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Vital Signs - GMRI - Invasive Cards

Great link to Gulf of Maine Institute Vital Signs Invasive Species Cards.  These show local invasive species in our State.


Monday, October 19, 2015

Ecobeaker- Maine Explorer

Students have been introduced to the concepts of modeling and simulations.
Students have access to an amazing technology resource in EcoBeaker Maine Explorer.  This modeling program takes them into a Maine Lake and how the organism interact within it.
Here is an image of the program.


Field Trip Permission Slips and Bayview Preserve

Here is a link to copies of the morning and afternoon field trip forms (you will go on the trip when you would usually have science class). Print one out if you've lost yours!






Wednesday October 21st we will go to Spear Farm Preserve off of Bayview Street.

Here is a map of the preserve.





Think about these questions as we prepare for our field trip.

  1. What are some native, non-native and invasives found in Yarmouth Green Spaces?

  1. What kinds of things do conservation management specialists need to think about when they deal with invasive species?

  1. What current practices are University of Maine systems and Royal River Trust doing to combat invasives in Yarmouth?

  1. What kind of impact have humans had in Yarmouth introducing invasive species?  How did they get here?

  1. What kind of things can you do to help manage some invasive species?



Friday, October 16, 2015

Ecology Speaker - Dan Argo

The 7th grade science classes are pleased to welcome Dan Argo, a local mycologist, on Friday, October 16th.

Dan will speak to the classes about his specialty, fungi.  The 7th grade science class is entering a Unit on ecology and decomposers are often overlooked next to the larger more common organisms.  Dan will help us shed light on the importance of decomposers in our ecosystem and how they reproduce, quite a different process then other organisms.  Finally, Dan is a cook and foodie; he will finish with talking on the deliciousness of eating local fungi!

Some videos to prepare for his presentation!

BBC - David Attenborough

The Power of Fungi!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Portland Press Herald Article - Pike Problem


Tackling Maine's Pike Problem - Portland Press Herald


Introduction to Ecology

As we begin our new unit on Ecology, here are some important links to get us started:

Link to Sciencesaurus Reading:
Click here to access

Link to Ecology Vocabulary
Click here to access
Make a copy, Replace "Copy of" with your last name, and move to your science folder.

Modeling Slideshow
Click here to access
This is the slideshow we looked at today in class



Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Ecobeaker Maine Explorer 2015-2016


You can access this document if you are logged into your Yarmouth Schools Account

Study Guide Review- Parts of an Experiment

Study Guide for Parts of an Experiment Assessment.

Content:
Understand the vocabulary that has to do with experiments - Parts of an experiment note sheet linked here

Vocabulary:
  • question or problem stated
  • hypothesis
  • constant
  • control
  • independent variable
  • dependant variable
  • experiment
  • procedure
  • conclusion
  • data

Resources to review:
• “Life Saver” & “Variables & Controls” articles
• Scenarios #1-5 (check-ins)
• Parts of an Experiment note sheet
• Billʼs Cake & parts of an experiment scenarios (done in class)
• In-class demonstrations & labs (plant growth and sunlight, sewer fleas, mold garden, and bottle compost)