5 New Feathered Dinosaurs

Origin of birds confirmed by exceptional new dinosaur fossils

For this project you should start by reading this article that describes some finds of fossils that add to the wealth of information about early birds. Then write a paragraph that summarized the article. Paragraphs should be at least three well constructed sentences.

Finally you should link to an article about any other topic related to evidence of past organisms. There are many examples of where new finds filled in information that scientists had been looking for. Finally write a paragraph summarizing the material in that article. Again, paragraphs should be at least three well constructed sentences.

Make sure you put your ID and class section on your work. This project is due by midnight Sunday, 10/11. If you did not do the last project you are required to do this one. If you do both projects one will count for extra credit. If you have problems, email me at aphsbio at gmail.com.

Extinct New Zealand eagle may have eaten humans

Many organisms have gone extinct, for many different reasons. This article discussed an eagle, the largest eagle ever known to exist. What caused it to go extinct? Read the article and find out what the leading theories are.

For this project you should start by reading this article that discusses the Haast's eagle became extinct about 500 years ago. Then write a paragraph that summarized the article. Paragraphs should be at least three well constructed sentences.

Finally you should link to an article about any other topic related to evolution. It can be about other organisms extinctions or continued existence over long tracts of time. It could be about how conditions led to extinctions of specific species. It could be about different types of evidence for evolution. Finally write a paragraph summarizing the material in that article. Again, paragraphs should be at least three well constructed sentences.

Make sure you put your ID and class section on your work. This project is due by midnight Sunday, 9/27. Remember, you are required to do either this project or the one that will come next. If you do both, one will count for extra credit. If you have problems, email me at aphsbio at gmail.com.

Link to site where I found above pic.

Save the Planet

People use lots of resources. Some say we use a lot more than we should. That a lot of what we use is waste. For this project I want us to figure out ways to cut down on the resources we use. Now, I'm not saying we should do without, but there are probably ways we can save.

To get credit for this project you should find and post a link that discusses the ways we use resources or ways that we can conserve. You then should write a well constructed paragraph (minimum of three sentences) describing what the link is about. Try to make it interesting so that others will want to look at the link. Then you have to list 5 ways that you can cut down on the resources that you use. DO NOT REPEAT WAYS THAT PREVIOUS PEOPLE HAVE LISTED!!! You will have to look at their ideas, because you will not get credit if other people have already put up that idea.

An I am listing:
1. use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.
2. Turn off the water when not using.
3. Turn off electrical appliances when not using them.
4. Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer.
5. Recycle household products.

Be creative. These do not have to be major things, remember, every little thing adds up. And try to pick things that you could actually do.

Since this is the last project of the year, you will have until midnight of June 15, the last day of classes, to complete. 15 points for this project.

Really, you saw what?

Scientists have to monitor what is going on in many different ways. And to this end they have developed many ways to do this. Sometimes they will go into the field, keep track of records or even into space, to see what is happening on Earth.

For this project you should start by reading this article that discusses one way scientists track penguin colony populations. Then write a paragraph about how you think this technology might be used to track some other occurrences on our planet. Finally you should link to an article about a way that other scientists use another method to track what is happening here. This could be chemical monitoring, direct observation, or any other method. This can be monitoring populations, wind or water conditions, geological resources or any other phenomenon. Finally write a paragraph summarizing the material in that article.

Paragraphs should be at least three well constructed sentences. This project is due by midnight Sunday, 6/7.

Compatibility

How do people choose mates? Is it looks, intelligence, sense of humor? Many people will say one or a combination, but it might be something else.

Start out by reading this article.

To earn extra credit, first, answer these questions:
1. What was the factor these researchers found that people chose for?

2. What do you think that another factor, to choose mates, might be a good one? Explain your reasoning.

3. What other genetic advantages do you think might be seen as ways to "improve" the species?

Finally, design a personals add (this is fictitious, not any personal information) that could be used to advertise for a genetically advantageous mate. You may include a link to a picture of a person that symbolizes these characteristics (this would be a place to have a little fun. Be sure not to include any real pictures of anyone at our school.)

New species discovered.

It seems that scientists are continually finding new species.

This link shows photos and a short article found in a rain forest , in a cave, and some in Antarctica. You can even find the top 10 of 2007.

For this project you have to find a site with information about the discovery of new species. You can take a look at any of the sites linked to in this entry, but your project must include a link to a reference that you found.

This does not have to be living species, it could be about a new fossil species. Find a site and link to it. Then you have to write two paragraphs (each paragraph should be at least 3 well constructed sentences) about the discovery. You can include information about how this adds information, fills in gaps in understanding or simply expands the database of known species. Or you could just discuss two or more of the species found.

This project will be due by midnight on Sunday 5/24.

Environmental Cleanups

Through its manufacturing many of the world's industries have contaminated the land around them. When technology "caught up" many of the contaminated sites were recognized and the governments either forced businesses to clean up or underwent cleanups themselves.

The Hudson River is the largest federal Superfund site in the US, prompting the largest cleanup project in history. The Love Canal was another site, in New York State, that had been declared toxic.

For this project you should do some research on the industrial cleanup projects or the ways that toxic contamination is being prevented. You can start by readind either or both of the links in the above paragraph. Then you must find a site that discusses these issues. You may chose information provided by the environmentalists or the businesses or citizens groups. You should link to this site and write 2 paragraphs (each paragraph should be at least 3 well constructed sentences) about the site you have chosen, in a way that allows the reader to get the main points of the source.

For this project you may receive 3 additional bonus points for adding an additional link and writing an additional paragraph (same guidelines) from a source with a differing viewpoint on that particular issue. This would give you a 15 score for this project.

This project is due by midnight, Friday 5/15.