Annie Ellison Science Methods Blog

  Week 8  What did you learn this week? This week, we learned about different mutations that can happen. We talked about how/where mutations start, which is in the DNA sequence. Mutations happen when the RNA is being synthesized. Mutations can be either good or bad. We also talked about how that plays a role in natural selection and evolution. Natural Selection is the process by which certain traits become more common in a population over time because of survival and reproducing advantages. There also are environmental factors that play a role in natural selection(lack of food, water, sunlight), this can lead to one animal having a higher survival rate because of those common traits.  How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future? I want to apply it to the type of activities we did with mutations. I thought they were good interactive activities that showed the basics of mutations without getting too complicated. I liked how in th...

  Week 7  What did you learn this week? This week, I learned about Genetics, including DNA and RNA. This week's lab taught me much more about the differences between DNA and RNA. I learned more about how RNA is a single strand of DNA and how RNA is part of the protein process. I learned that tRNA goes to the ribosome, which creates amino acids and proteins.  I also learned the difference between genotypes and phenotypes. Phenotypes are observable traits, while genotypes are inherited from parents and aren't always  visible.  Finally, we got to see the whole life cycle of a butterfly. As well as seeing our fast plant and how after we pollinated it, the seeds are coming in. How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future? From this week, I want to apply the activities we used in the lab. The candy 3-D activity aligned well with the DCIs but also is a creative, fun way for students to learn abou...

 Week 6 What did you learn this week? This week, we learned about genes and everything that is included  them. DNA and RNA, how genes are connected to our parents, and what genetics are However, in the lab, I learned some new things about sea turtles and their process of development. I didn't know that when baby turtles hatch, they are on their own to survive. I also learned that 1 in 1000 turtles survive. Along with that, I learned that there are human and environmental factors that are a part of that reason.  In lab, we got to see our fast-growing  plants. Our group was growing quite large. This shows the germination process of this plant, it is now a living thing. We also saw caterpillars in their pupa phase. Which parts did you find clear and which were confusing? One thing that I found confusing was the differences between RNA and DNA. I understand that they are about the same thing, the diffe...