Alexa and I continued solving right triangles, this time with an isosceles triangle with an altitude drawn in it to break it into two smaller right triangles. We used facts from geometry, and found all of the side and angle measurements. We also used Trig functions.
We used images of an ecosystem to introduce the definition. These smallest units of the biosphere contain both biotic and abiotic factors. List the abiotic factors and indicate the importance that each one plays in the development of the ecosystem. Stress how every organism in the ecosystem depends on every other organism and on the abiotic factors. Harm one organism and you harm them all. Discuss ecological succession, and show the succession of a pond ecosystem into a forest ecosystem over thousands of years. Introduce climax community and how and why climax communities can change.
Session Minutes
60
Minutes Student Attended
60
Lesson Comments
Alexa seems very interested. I am trying to bring this subject into everyday life, how we affected the ecology and vice-versa
List the categories of life from cells to the biosphere. Explain each one and separate them into biological and ecological divisions. Discuss the biosphere, the interactions between living organisms and the environment. Define biotic and abiotic factors. Define ecology and again stress the interactions involved.
Session Minutes
60
Minutes Student Attended
60
Lesson Comments
My goal teaching this unit is to try to impart to Alexa how fragile the planet really is, how all living things depend on other organisms, and how they all depend on the abiotic factors like soil, water, and air for survival.
Alexa and I discussed in detail the part of the novel that she had read for homework. We then moved to the discussion/study guide questions. Alexa is doing a great job answering these questions in preparation for composing an essay as her cumulative project for the novel. We looked for textual evidence to support her answers. We also began discussing possible essay topics based on the questions.
We continued using Trig Functions to solve sides and angles of right triangles. I also introduced Alexa to the concept of angles of elevation and depression. We did a problem involving angle of elevation, which is an angle off of a horizontal line (usually the ground). Alexa was able to understand the drawing of an angle of elevation, and to solve a subsequent exercise about the right triangle it made.
Session Minutes
60
Minutes Student Attended
60
Lesson Comments
She came 10 minutes late, but I am being gracious and giving her the entire 60 minutes. I also told her that she needs to come to class, because I don't have enough grades to give her anything other than an incomplete.
We took a look at the involvement of both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system in maintaining homeostasis. The relationship between CNS and PNS in sensory evaluation and motor responses, and how the PNS directs the impulses from the CNS to the correct effector was discussed. The anatomy of the PNS into two divisions, the sensory and motor, and then into somatic and autonomic, each with its own type of response was discussed. How the sympathetic and parasympathetic system work together to insure homeostasis was also discussed.
