Summary #6 (Predicting Traits)

What determines how offsprings look? There are two possible factors for a trait. Each parent, like a coin, haves two factors for a trait. A scientist named Punnett discover a way to predict how will be the outcome of crossing two different forms of a trait. This method was named Punnett square. There are other methods such as pedigree that are used to trace the history of traits in a family. In pedigrees some individuals are called carriers. A carrier has inherited a factor for a trait but does not show it.
Some inherited traits do not follow the patterns of heredity. There are some dominant factors that do not mask completely the factors for the other form of the trait. This genetic pattern is called incomplete dominance. Heredity is difficult to predict because traits don't always come in two forms.

Summary #5 (Learning about genetics)

What are some characteristics that parents pass along to their offsprings? We know they usually resemble to their parents, but not exactly. How this passing of traits work? The traits that are passed along are called inherited traits hair color, eye color ,and dimples are examples.

The first scientist to study genetics was Gregor Mendel in the 19th century when he realized experiments with different garden peas. Since his work has became known he is consider the father of genetics. His experiments showed that the offsprings of parents that have different forms of the same trait are hybrids. He also dicovered wich are dominant and wich are recessive traits. There have been other people studiying genetics since then such as: George Washington Carver and Luther Burbank.

Gregor Mendel

Summary #4 (Geological Time)

If you look closely at a rock wall you may see that there are huge deposits of rock sediment built up one layer on top of the another. A mighty force of erusion dug throw the area and left behind what we can see. In this exposed wall we can see a geologic column.

When people dig through rock layers they found fossils. They help us to see what animals live in the past and how were their surroundings.Fossils can provide clues to rock's relative age. For example if they are index fossils they can help us to know why they became extinct. Fossils have became very useful in scientific studies.

Summary #3 (The Rock Cycle)

What is happening here?Have you ever wondered how rocks are formed? What kind of processes form rocks? Rocks we see today may have a history that goes back in time and place. Rocks may be formed by: volcanic eruption,by being squeezed together with other rocks, or can change from one kind into the other. Rocks can change over and over in a process called the rock cycle. The rock cycle has no beginning and no end. This prosses proves Eath started totally molten. There was no solid. Perhaps the very first rocks to begin the rock cycle were igneous rocks.

Summary #2 (Lift,Carry, and Drop)

There are many forces acting on the surface of Earth changing its shape. These forces are able sculpt the surface. Even while forces are acting to build a mountain, processes may be working to wear it down. This forces are for example: gravity, wind, and water. An example of this processes is when glaciers carry soil and rocks and drop it in another place when they melt.

Summary #1 (Building Up and Breaking Down)

Have you ever realized that two mountains even if they are of the same type, look very different one from another?What kind of processes may be responsable for the forming of mountains? Mountains are formed by diiferent processes for example: the folding of different rock layers by beeing squeezed together. As there are processes that are working to build up some others are working to break down such as weathering. There are two types of weathering. The growing of roots is an example of one type; mechanical weathering. The other type is chemical weathering that is the responsible of cavern formation.The final result of weathering is soil.

Technology at classrooms

In the past years the technology use in classrooms has increase. The cardboards and scale models have been replaced for power point presentations, videos  and web blogs. Some teachers try to include this new technology in their classes, but others prefer to use the old method. This new technology give more learning opportunities to students.

What method do you think is more efficient for learning the traditionals or the new ones?Why?