Note: There are two old tests attached under class notes. You can do these as a review in preparation for your test which is next Thursday.

Today we finished talking about energy in living systems. We went over some reaction types that are relevant in biology. It's important that you read the textbook for this section of the unit. There are also some textbook questions to answer in preparation for next week's test. We then began a "jig-saw" activity on Enzymes. This will continue tomorrow when the "experts" present what they've learned to their home groups. For homework, please also read the lab on pages 82-83 and page 762 in your texts. Here is a link to a page showing links to on-line animations/tutorials on enzmes...they can be very helpful when learning something new and abstract like this. Enzyme animations and tutorials

On Wednesday, we discussed old homework (textbook questions) and then we went over the energy notes. Students were asked to create a concept map on terms related to energy in living systems.

Here are some good YouTube videos by a teacher of biology from the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwDy4rUU5Xw Carb's Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeMUQnAme5E&feature=related Carb's Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFRP1tau8HM Lipids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUVIHmO-lm8&feature=related Proteins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lUAjoMWtDA Energy and Laws of Thermodynamics

Please remember to bring your 3-D Molecules Lab to class on Tuesday. We will finially finish it!

Students worked on finishing their application research report. This report is due tomorrow.

Happy snow day #2! Hopefully, you are using this time to do some biology....

You will still have a library period on Monday. The intent of that period is to get help with referencing, structuring your report, or typing up your good copy. So, by Monday's class, you should NOT still be doing research on your topic. Remember that Ebsco Host can be accessed from the school website and google books and google images from google (google images will give you an illustration of your molecule). If you haven't already created an outline for your report, this should be done now. You may want to think of this as a 5 paragraph information report. You have practiced this type of writing in other classes and on the grade 10 literacy test (remember???). It's OK to insert pictures in your report, just be sure to reference them. Also, be sure to show me a couple of "in-text citations" so I know that you know how to do this. Your list of reference should be alphabetized by author's last name and comes at the end of your report. You can use the link on the blog to citationmachine.net to help you with APA style of referencing. Please feel free to write me by posting a comment to this post. It will go to my e-mail and I can respond to your comment through the blog. Or, you can provide me your e-mail address in your comment and I can write to you directly.
Finally, we will finish (once and for all!) the 3-D molecules lab on Tuesday and discuss all the textbook questions then. Phew! Hopefully we will have school next week!
Enjoy your time off school, but remember to take advantage of this time to get your school work done. Then you can really enjoy your weekend!

Good morning and happy snow day! I'm at school, so if you live in town and want to come in for extra help, I'll be in room 228 except over the lunch hour.
Tomorrow we will finish the 3-D molecules lab and then you will be discussing the large number of textbook questions that were for homework for about a week now. You will be doing this in your learning teams. If you can't remember what was assigned, check under the homework section next to these posts.
If you are finished all work in this class and are looking for something to do today, please feel free to read about An Introduction To Metabolism (pp. 58-68). You can also work on your unit 1 research report, which is due next week. I've booked the library for Monday so you can write your good copy then, or get help with referencing. You should have all your research and a rough copy done by Monday morning. See you tomorrow!

Today we worked through part 2 of the Biological Molecules in 3-D. We are almost finished...we'll finish it tomorrow in class and it will be due for handing in at that point. Feel free to work on it tonight. Also tomorrow, you will be discussing the large number of textbook homework questions from last week. So, make sure you have these done...don't let your learning team down!
Please note, there are a few new class notes posted at the right under "Class Notes". You may want to print them now. We will begin working with these on Friday.

Sorry I can't be there today for your research class. Be sure to read the Saturday post regarding the 3-D molecule lab and the research report (it is now due next Tuesday). We will still complete the lab tomorrow in class and it will be due on Thursday. Use today's class to get some good research done on your chosen molecule. Remember to try searching Ebsco host and Google books. Ask Mr. Whyte for help if you need it. See you tomorrow.

Hello SBI4U students....first, let me apologize for the chaos of yesterday's class. I had checked one computer in 232 to be sure the 3-D molecule lab was still working in there, and that computer was working. I assumed the rest would be fine. I guess when that room was renovated, the programs on the computers were also changed. As a result, we will try to complete part 2 of the 3-D molecules lab in class on Wednesday using the Smart Board. So, this lab will not be due until Thursday of next week. We will still have a work period on Tuesday for your unit 1 research project which is due the following week. If you have not completed the long list of textbook questions that were assigned last week, that should be done this weekend. Have a nice long weekend!

Today students completed part 1 of the Biological Molecules in 3-D lab. Part 2 will be completed tomorrow in the computer lab. The answers to the lab are due on Tuesday. By the way, your second research class for the unit 1 application project will be next Tuesday. Due to the fog day and assemblies next week, I'm rescheduling the due date for the project....it is now due on Tuesday Feb. 23rd.

Happy fog day grade 12's! I'm here at school, so if you want to come in for extra help, I'll be in and out of room 228 all day. We will need to put off our 3-D molecules lab until tomorrow and Friday. Part 1 (model building) will happen on Thursday and Part 2 (the computer part) will happen on Friday. The lab will be due for handing in on Tuesday. We will have our second project research class on Tuesday. Have a nice day!

Today we finished discussing proteins and then nucleic acids. There is a large number of questions to answer for homework, but you can spread this work out over the next few nights.

Today we took up the carb and lipid homework from last Thursday. We then reviewed carbs and lipids. Finally, we discussed proteins. There is no homework tonight, but I do recommend that you read about protiens in your textbook.

Here are some useful animations/tutorials on the macromolecules:
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp03/0302002.html (animation)
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/problem_sets/large_molecules/02Q.html (this is a quiz with a tutorial)
YouTube videos on all the macromolecules
Carbs Part 1
Carbs Part 2
Lipids
Proteins

Friday was a research class for the unit 1 application project. If you were absent, be sure to let me know which molecule you are researching. Remember, this report is due in two weeks (the 20th). Have a great weekend!

Today we discussed the unit 1 application project that we will begin working on tomorrow. We then went over carbohydrates and lipids. There are a collection of textbook questions to answer for homework...due Monday. Research class tomorrow.

Today we went over acids, bases, the pH scale and buffers. We focused on the bicarbonate-carbonic acid blood buffer system. We then began a study of the macromolecules. We discussed some common functional groups and carbohydrates. This will continue tomorrow. Here is a link to a site I will be using tomorrow. It shows the relevant structures.
http://www.abbysenior.com/biology/bio.molecules_3.htm

Today we began by discussing last night's homework. We then went through the "Biochem 2" note. Topics discussed included molecular shapes and polarity, intermolecular forces, hydrophobicity and the unique properties of water. There is homework tonight. For details see under the Homework heading next to these posts.

Today we started the "Biochem" portion of the first unit, Metabolic Processes, of the course. We reviewed some basic chemistry concepts and terms and then disscussed isotopes and radioisotopes. We then went over how to determine types of chemical bonds based on electronegativities. There is reading and questions for homework. These will be discussed tomorrow. Homework is listed in the right side bar.

Here's some help with the chemistry stuff in this first unit. Some of you may need to do some extra work during this section in order to understand the chemistry component.
Molecular Shapes Note
Molecular Polarity Tutorial
Powerpoint on Molecular Bonding
chem4kids