Last Day

Thanks for a wonderful school year. Have a great summer!

Spoonbirds and Forkbirds

Students graphed their data from spoonbirds and forkbirds and then answered questions. If this is not finished it is homework to be turned in tomorrow!

Spoonbirds and forkbirds

Students started an activity demonstrating how adaptations allow one species to survive and another to die out.
There is no homework.

American Serengeti Debate

Today were the debates! Some students spend a lot of time researching and understanding both sides of this issue. Way to go you guys.
There is no homework.

American Serengeti

Students were divided into their For and Against teams and then again into their Presenter and Rebuttal groups. Students worked together to come up with their argument points. The debate will be on Monday.

American Serengeti Research

Copy and paste these questions into a google doc and then share with me:

Remember your username is firstname.lastname and your password is your student ID# Share with me: gartonj@billingsschools.org

Questions

1. What is the purpose of the American Prairie Foundation?
2. How big is the Reserve?
3. Where is this reserve located?
4. What are the animals that the foundation wants to protect and or bring back?
5. What is brucellosis?
6. How did bison get it to begin with?
7. Are there other wild animals that carry brucellosis?
8. Why are ranchers concerned about brucellosis?
9. List all the reasons why creating this preserve is a good thing.
10. List all the reasons why some people are against creating this preserve.
11. What do you think? Are you for or against this? Why? Be specific.
12. Remember to list your sources that you use!!! You must use at least three.

Here are some suggestions to help you with your research.

American Prairie Foundation

General information about the Prairie foundation

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/sean_gerrity_american_prairie_reserve_montana/2555

http://www.americanprairie.org

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/prairie-reserve-buys--acre-montana-ranch/article_e82dba05-97ef-53b2-92c7-a4beb0562a6c.html

http://www.ranchersstewardshipalliance.org

Brucellosis information

http://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/index.html

http://bisoncentre.com/index.php/producers-2/resource-library/advanced-bison-information/diseases-of-bison-/brucellosis-and-bison

www.pbs.org/buffalowar/war1.html

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2427&from=rss

Opposition to Prairie Reserve

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_116a0b7a-ed31-11de-9313-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/us/efforts-to-restore-bison-on-the-montana-range-resisted.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/us/bison-return-to-montana-prairie.html

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/aug/22/prairie-preserve-stokes-outrage

 

American Sernegeti

This week we are going to do a debate on a biome in our state that is often overlooked. The Prairie Grasslands. Today and tomorrow we are watching a video so that students understand the basic idea of "The American Serengeti."
There is no homework.

Seed Parts

Students looked at the inside of a bean seed to discover that there is an embryo that contains a tiny plant. We then labled a seed diagram.
There is no homework.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Biome maps and facts

Students worked on these all period.
I will not have computers in class tomorrow.
Whatever is not finished needs to be finished for homework!!

Biome facts and maps

Today and tomorrow students will use their books and the "Ecology and Environment" link under kid zone (this link is under learning links) to do their facts finding work and map work of the biomes. It does not matter which order they do these. Students should finish these in class.

Vocabulary Squares

Students worked on vocab squares today. They need to choose 4 words from the key terms listed on page58. One of their words needs to be Biome. We will finish this in class tomorrow.
There is no homework.

Insect Movie

We finished watching the insect video today. Ask your child about some of these insects - they are fascinating.
Have a wonderful weekend and as always you homework for the weekend is to GO OUTSIDE!

Field Trip wrap up - Insect Movie

We discussed yesterdays activities - most favorite, least favorite, stations that should be added - and then we watched 15 minutes of an Insect Movie which we will finish watching tomorrow.
There is no homework.