Week 7

 

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 about DNA. I also think the baby activity is a good way for students to see how genotypes and phenotypes work together to create a human. I also think the video used in the lecture and class helped me understand the content well. 

What are new or remaining questions? 
What are other activities that could be used to show genotypes and phenotypes? 
Where is protein stored after going through RNA synthesis?








Comments

  1. Kyara PalsMarch 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM

    I wasn't able to be at last weeks lab, but I'm definitely jealous that you guys got to look at the butterflies. I think that the 3D activity of a DNA strand would be a very engaging activity for students to participate in.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 14

Image
 Week 14 What did you learn this week? This week, I learned how the particle model helps explain things we see. For example, why does ice melt faster on metal or why does a cold drink get water on the outside? I was reminded that particles are always moving and transferring energy, and how that can cause them to change stages. The simulations and lab activity helped make that clearer. Are you able to relate what you learned to what you already knew? I knew heat moves from warmer to cooler objects and that condensation happens on cold drinks, but now I understand again what’s going on at the particle level. It’s not just about temperature—it’s about the properties and how they are losing or gaining energy.  What are new or remaining questions? How did scientists figure this out before having technology that could show particles? Lab Images/Video
Read more

Week 10

  Week 10  What did you learn this week? This week, I went to School of the Wild and learned so much. I didn’t know that raptors are a type of bird, so it was really interesting to learn about the unique characteristics they have due to adaptation and evolution. I also discovered that you can tell if water is polluted based on the organisms living in it—some organisms can’t survive in unclean water, so their presence can indicate good water quality. For example, we learned that the Macbride River has pretty clean water. Finally, I found out that herons need about two acres of land to nest. One reason we don’t see many herons in Iowa is that we no longer have a lot of prairie fields.      How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future? I really enjoyed the competition   group hands-on activity. This activity was different from previous activities. I would like to include activities like this so that students who like...
Read more

Week 13

Image
Week 13 What did you learn this week? This week, we continued learning about density and explored how to explain the properties and behavior of matter. We conducted an experiment using M&Ms and water, which helped us observe these concepts in action. We watched as the color from the M&M spread in the water over two minutes, demonstrating its behavior in a liquid environment. We then tested sugar water to see if it affected the spread. It did—significantly slowing down the process. This showed that the behavior of the M&M changed depending on the substance it was placed in. In terms of density, we learned that lower density means the particles are farther apart, while higher density means the particles are more closely packed together. How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future? I appreciated how the combination of lab activities and online resources gave us multiple ways to engage with the content. Having both hands-on and digital approaches re...
Read more