Life Science Lesson 17

Simple Animals

1. Explain how coral reefs are formed. How do the tiny animals get their food? How do algae help the corals?

Corals are just small animals called polyps that look like sea lilies. They build a large skeleton out of calcium, and add to the whole skeleton complex by growing and dying.
The corals get food in many different ways. They usually reach their tentacles out of gaps in the skeleton to catch plankton at night. But, there are algae cells living inside the polyps, and they photosynthesize to make food for the coral.

2. Explain the difference between a host organism and a parasite.

A parasite is a creature like a leech which both use another organism to feed upon. The organisms they feed upon are called Hosts (I am NEVER going to a game show AGAIN :-D).

3. List two important traits of each of the following phyla:

a. Poriferates (sponges) have pores which they take in food from. Also, they produce both sperm and eggs in one individual.

b. Cnidarians (jellyfish, hydras, anemone, and coral) all have a cavity in the middle of the animal, which uses the animals that drift into the cavity for food. All Cnidarians have a kind of tentacle, used to catch food.

c. Plathelminthes (flatworms) are the simplest animals that have organs. The have eye spots but no anus.

d. Nematodes (roundworms) are simple worms with a digestive system. These worms do have an anus.

e. Annelids (earthworms and leeches) have bodies that are divided into segments. Earth worms also have several hearts.

d. Mollusks (slugs & snails, limpets & clams, octopi & squid) all have a mantle (like the shell on a snail, or the overlap behind a squid's eyes). Mollusks also have a foot (like the bottom of a snail or the tentacles on a squid).

4a. Create an underwater color community.

Freshwater


Saltwater

EXAM

1. What does Porifera mean and how does it describe the anatomy of a sponge?

It means porous, and sponges are porous because they take in water, nutrients and small animals.

2. Why do members of the Cnidaria phylum have tentacles that contain stinging cells? How do they use the stinging cells?

Because they use their tentacles to ensnare prey. If the prey is not stunned, it will just swim out and away. When an animal is touched, the nerves in the Cnidarian's tentacles react, and the stingers shoot out like harpoons. This paralyzes the animal so it can be sucked up by the tentacles.

3. How do polyps (within coral reefs) get food from water? How do algae help the polyps?

Polyps reach tentacles out and catch passing zooplankton. They only do this at night, because at day, parrot fish or other baddies with eat their tentacles before they can hide them in their skeletons. Polyps collect algae for even more help. The algae lives inside the polyps and produces extra food through photosynthesis.

4. What specific aspect of the behavior of many types of worms classifies them as parasites?

Parasites are organisms that live on or inside other animals. They use their body as a quarry, mining out blood, nutrients, or other sources of food.

5. Name two ways in which earthworms are beneficial to other organisms.

(1) Food.

(2) Fertilization.

6. Name two common member so of the Mollusca phylum.

Squid and Snail.

Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Crete

1. Add the island of Crete and the Cycladic Islands to your map. Be sure to include the Aegean Sea.

I added this to my map.

2. Find pictures and read information on the palace at Knossos. Write a paragraph about an aspect of Knossos that interests you.

One aspect of Knossos that I like is that it was one of the first buildings to have a plumbing system. The palace had at least three separate liquid management systems. One was for water supply. Another was for drainage. The other one was for drainage of waste water. The palace had aqueducts that brought water from springs 10 km away. Sanitation drainage was through a system leading to a sewer apart from the hill.

3. Read and summarize the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

The myth is about a young boy who is very brave. He grows up to be a hero, brave and intelligent. Then, he challenges the king of Minos to set his human sacrifices free. He descends into the maze, and defeats a large bull/man beast. But, he returns with black sails. His father throws himself into the ocean in despair, thinking Theseus is dead. But he isn't, he returns the sacrifices to their families and beomes a hero.


4. Draw a very large and complicated "classical three circuit" labyrinth.

I made a maze where it is very easy to get through if you are doing it on paper, but next to impossible if you are doing it on foot. See image below.

5b. Draw your own image of Icarus and Daedalus (from the story of Theseus) and their adventures with flying. Write a poem about what you think this experience was like.

Here is my poem:

Flying

Light, Free,

Swoops, dives, and glides .

The most wonderful feeling.

Flight is Freedom.

Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Greece

1. Add the countries of Southern Europe to your map. Include Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Albania, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the countries around the Black Sea.

I did this, but Bosnia and Yugoslavia seem to be the same, as well as Herzegovina.

2. Read D'Aulaires' Greek Mythology (I am reading this.)

3.c. Draw a picture of the Trojan horse as you imagine it.



4. Take note of each of the Gods and Goddesses and the attributes and qualities that make each of them distinctive. (I am doing this.)


5a. Write a report about Athens.

Athens
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece, also one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history spans around 3,400 years.


The populated area of Athens goes beyond the city limits with a population of 300000 and a land area of 159 sq miles. A busy city, Athens is the main attraction in Greece. It is becoming a business center in Europe. In 2008, Athens was ranked the world's 32nd richest city.


Classical Athens was a powerful city-state. A center for art, learning and philosophy, home of Plato and Aristotle. It is widely referred to as the beginning of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy.
The mark of the classical times is still left in the city, by a number of ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Parthenon. The city also has a large variety of Roman monuments. Landmarks of modern times are also present, dating back to 1830 (the establishment of the independent Greek state). Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed the 2004 Summer Olympics, with great success.


Athens is spread across the plain of Attica, often referred to as the Attica Basin, and bound by Mount Aegaleo to the west, Mount Parnitha in the north, Mount Penteli in the northeast, Mount Hymettus in the east, and the Saronic Gulf in the southwest. Mount Parnitha is the tallest, and has been declared a national park. Paths, gorges, springs and caves are some attractions. Hiking and biking in all four mountains are popular activities for many people. The capital has expanded to cover the entire plain, making future growth difficult.


Athens, being big, seems to hog the attention of all other Greek city-states. That seems right, tough, since it is rightfully the most popular Mediterranean city.



6b. Find out more about one of the Seven Wonders of the World and draw a picture of it. Include the surroundings you imagine it may have had.

It is the Temple of Artemis.





7. Continue to read Greek Mythology. (Yes, of course. I am.)


8. Write the names of all your family members using the Greek alphabet.

COMING SOON!


9. Keep reading Greek Myths. (I am.)

Life Science Lesson 25

1. How is a natural disturbance different from a human disturbance with consideration to the recovery of the environment?

A natural disaster is sometimes beneficial, such as fire helping decomposers by burning plants for them, or a flood refilling a lake. Natural disasters are always made of natural things, but human things, such as gasoline, pollution, and deforestation. It takes a very long time for the environment to bounce back after human disturbance.

2. Give an example of how human activity can destroy the habitat of other organisms. Can you think of a way that activity could have been done differently to avoid the destruction?

Around 86% of the world's destroyed habitats are centered in the Amazon. Most species massacres happen there because over a million species live and breed there. The place is usually cultivated because the trees are of great quality. Also, it could be reversed by people growing their own trees to cut down, if at all.

3. What is the difference between an extinct species and an endangered species? Give an example of each.

An extinct species is a species that has been wiped out, and no longer exists on the planet. An endangered one is a species that is just barely to the point, so much that there's barely 10,000 left or so.

An extinct species, where do I start? It's sad, there are so many. I think I should say the Thylacine. It's been around since the Ice Age, yet us humans wiped it out in the 1930s.

Endangered: The most memorable one is the Giant Panda. There are only around 9,000 left.

4. Are zoos a sufficient means of preventing the extinction of the type of animals that live there? Explain your answer and give an example?

No, no, no, no, NO! Zoos kill animals, stop them from breeding, and destroy their... natural personality! Many times, animals have been mellowed by zoos and caretakers, and what's the point of sustaining a species if you can't release it?

Take the LA zoo, for instance. The polar bear had to be removed because it was not suited for the enivironment. Then, when it was released, it died because it was too attatched to it's owners.

5d. Choose an endangered animal or plant species which interests you. When you have learned some information about this species, actively do one thing to contribute to the continued existence of this plant or animal...like sending an email to a conservation organization.

I sent a thank you e-mail to World Wildlife Fund. I also asked them to focus on tigers.

A Hand Drawn Old World Map

Tennessee has been working on his own hand drawn map of the old world. He started this project in September and has been adding countries each week. He ran out of room to write the names, but the learning process was hands on and experiential in nature and that is what matters the most.

Science Lesson 33

1. What are the three different types of muscles? Give an example of each.





Skeletal Muscles are muscles that move when we want them to. Such as your arm, legs, neck, etc.



Smooth muscles are muscles that move on response to environment, such as food going down your esophagus.



The Cardiac Muscle is only one; the heart. It is both a muscle and an organ. It beats by itself.



2. Slowly stand up, take a few steps around the room, and then return to where you began. Feel and observe all of your muscles that move and the muscles that move them.





a. Make a list of the joints that moved as you moved.





Legs, elbows, shoulders, ankles, toes...



b. List any muscles that were moving while you moved that were not striated muscles.





Intestines, esophagus (I ate a vitamin), stomach, heart.



3. Find out the names of several skeletal or striated muscles; find out what they are attached to and what they do.





The Soleus is a small muscle on the side of the back of your leg. It is one of the many muscles that control the movement of your leg. Others that do that include the Extensor family, the Tibialis muscle, and the Peroneus muscle.



4. Think of five or more people you know who are good at using their muscles in some way. What do they do? Does it make them healthier overall? How do they avoid injuries?





Lets see... Mom:



Whenever she has time, she does yoga. She also does a good combination of pilates and hardcore exercise. She does pilates, cardio, and yoga. She is starting to build up an immunity to the painful stretches and routines. I guess you could say she enjoys it...



Dad works out in the gym every day, usually does bench presses and weights. He often lifts us up, and works out like that. We often go on bike rides together. He enjoys it thoroughly, and rarely feels much pain.



Caeden has full energy and is always climbing something, running, or jumping. He loves it, but usually is injured.

I also know me, of course. I often do acrobatics, such as... well, climbing on bookshelves, jumping off beds, and scaling curtains. I enjoy it thoroughly [as it lasts :( ]. I do annual summer swimming class.

Ryan, my best friend, does lots of sports and fitness. He does hockey, baseball, and soccer. It cuts into his day, but he enjoys it in a grudging sort of way. He has never hurt himself doing it, though.

5d. Make two lists. One consisting of ten voluntary movements and the other consisting of ten involuntary movements, which occur on a regular basis.

VOLUNTARY

Typing

Flexing

Chewing

Stretching

Punching

Walking

Swimming

Jumping

Stomping

Ducking

INVOLUNTARY

Heartbeat

Breathing

Blinking

Teeth Chattering

Muscle Twitching

Pupil Dialation

Goosebumps

REM

Hiccuping

Yawning

EXAM

1. What are the three types of muscles in your body?

The skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.

2. Which kind of muscles control the pupils in your eyes?

Smooth.

3. Which type are your arm muscles?

Skeletal.

4. Which type is your heart?

Cardiac.

5. What two parts of your body does a tendon connect?

Upper and lower limb.

6. Why is it important to stretch before sports or other exercise?

To make sure that you don't hurt your joints by immediately leaping into an activity.

Science Lesson 31

1. What is lymph?





Lymph is another fluid that runs through your bloodstream. It carries fats and sugars to tissues. It is important because it carries nutrients to tissues as opposed to blood carrying nutrients to organs.







2. What happens in your lymph nodes?





Lymph nodes create white blood cells. They also collect them and send them to where they should be at various places in the immune system.

3. What is the difference between an open organ system and a closed system. Give examples of each.

A closed organ system is when an organ system doesn't let anything in or out. An example is the circulatory system. It circulates what is already brought into the body by the respitory system around the body. An open system is quite the opposite; it takes in (air/solid) and releases (air/solid). An example is the digestive system. It takes in food and drink, and, er... recycles it, spewing it out the other end.

4. What is a hormone?

A horomone is a special chemical generated by various glands around the body. They allow the do things normally restricted by the human species, such as growth spurts and quick thinking.

5. Tell which endocrine gland is acting in each example.

a. You are feeling tired and worn out, so you drink some sweet hot chocolate and feel like a million bucks. Pancreas.

b. You are 16 and your voice is changing. Privates.

c. You are riding your bike and slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a dog. Adrenal.

d. The dog begins to chase you, so you begin to pedal as fast as you can to outrun the dog. Thyroid.

e. You are a newborn baby and you double your body weight in the first two weeks of your life. Pituitary.

6c. Experiment: Put two cups of water in two different pots. Cover one pot with a lid. Let the water heat for about 10 minutes. After 10 minuts has passed, take both pots off the stove and count to 10 slowly. Then take the lid off the pot and hold your hands one foot above each pot. Which hand feels hotter? Which hand has more moisture on it? Which pot do you think represents the human body on a hot day with lots of clothing on? Which pot represents the human body on a hot day with fewer clothes on?

The hand that was over the covered pot got hotter. This is because the heat built up over time, and was quickly released. The same hand also had more moisture because the other pot's moisture escaped while the covered one retained it's. The one with the lid on was like a human bundled up in clothes on a hot day. The other one, the one that let moisture ("sweat") out, was like a kid with less clothes, on the same day.

EXAM







1. What is the function of the lymphatic system?





It creates and carries white-blood cells for the body to exploit.



2. What is the function of the spleen?





It removes worn-out blood cells from the bloodstream.



3. Which gland in the endocrine system produces insulin?





The pancreas.



4. What is the function of insulin?





It keeps the blood sugar just right.



5. Which glands control changes in hair growth, voice and sexual organs during the teenage years?





The................um.................privates......... . . .

Ancient Civilizations/Art/Geography/English Lesson 11: Ancient Afican Civilization

1. Add the countries of Africa to your map.

I did this.

2. Write your own imaginary story about how fire was given to humanity.

I will use Greek Gods, since I cannot think of others. This is an imaginary story about how fire was given to humanity.

Back in the times when mortals were considered animals, they were cold, and only gods had fire.

The great god Pan took pity on them, took a dab of fire from Apollo's sun chariot, and decided to give some to the mortals.

Zeus saw this, and made it rain on the fire. The humans got colder.

Hermes, Pan's father, decided, since Zeus was watching Pan, to continue his son's work. He couldn't see why Zeus didn't want to let the mortals have fire. They would probably kill themselves with it anyway.

So, as he stole the fire, the god of thieves and communication flew, so as not to alert Zeus doing ground patrol.

As he flew down, though, he dropped the torch in a field.

As he was dragged back to Olympus, he was punished by Ceres, the Goddess of harvest.

This was not the end, though. Since humans had been created by Prometheus personally, they had been made immortal.

They discovered the fire.

In the end, Zeus punished the humans. The animals already had death, since they were just in bulk. Zeus created the concept of death in humans.

So ends the Golden Age. So begins the Bronze and Iron ages.

3. Make a homemade drum, papaer mache calabashes, Arican beads or draw/paint pictures of African art, architecture, calabashes, masks, batiking, beads and/body adornment.

African Art by Tennessee

4. Using the them of Anansi as a trickster whose victims end up getting back at him, write your own Anansi Story and illustrate it.

Anansi and the Nandi Bear

One evening, Anansi was walking alone, and heard a low, rumbling roar. As he ran home, he caught a glimpse of Brother Tiger's home. "Whatever that horrible beast is, I can surely trick it into eating Bro' Tiger," he whispered. When he went home, he asked his neighbor Brother Bull what the sound was. "That was the fabled Nandi Bear," said Bro' Bull, "It lives in the Atlas Mountains and feasts on brains." "Is it dim?" Anansi asked. "Yes. It would accidentally eat it's own brain if it was able to." Anansi began to formulate a plan.

The next day, he dragged a leg of gazelle to the mountains. As before, he passed by Tiger's home. Nervously, he knocked on the door. Tiger opened it and growled, "How darrrre you show yourrr face herrrrre. What do you want?"

"No, Tiger. I do not want a physical gift. I just want to be friends."

"Hmph. And I suppose you eat trrrrees and can jump to the moon as well?"

"Come with me to the mountains tonight. I want to give you something."

"Hmph. Verrry well."

"Thank you."

Anansi closed the door, breathing heavily. What he did not know, was that Tiger was on good

terms with the Nandi Bear.

That night, the Nandi Bear found the gazelle leg and gobbled it up. It was so good that he stayed at the place and licked his paws until Anansi got there.

Around a few feet from where the bear was, hiding in the undergrowth, Anansiset up camp. He told tiger that he would be right back, and he was getting the thing. Tiger saw the Nandi Bear in the thicket, and told him to follow Anansi. The bear, being hungry, agreed to do this. As Anansi hid, leaving Tiger to be eaten (or so he thought) the bear had sneaked up on him.

Anansi heard a twig snap, and looked behind him. There was the Nandi Bear, paws still bloody from his meal of gazelle leg. Anansi ran all the way home.

And that is why, whenever you discover a spider's hiding place, it runs away.

Science Lesson 26

1. Explain the difference between oxidation and digestion.

Oxidation is the process of using fuel to make energy. Digestion is the process of making that fuel. They rely on each other to keep the body running.


2. Write down everything you eat in one day. Then compare the foods you ate to the foods shown in the food pyramid. How was your diet different? How was it similar? Di you eat many foods not shown?

I can already rule out meat. Whatever happens today, I will still be vegetarian.

Rice Cereal (Grain)
Dried, Chocolate-covered Mangoes (Fruit)

Cucumber, Cheese, and Hummus Sandwich (Lots of Protein, and Dairy)

Cheese Quesadilla with Red Pepper (Protein with Vegetable)

COMPARISON: First of all, I don't like that your food pyramid included no protein besides meat. Meat is murder. Icky icky murder. Also, I ate some foods that weren't shown, such as the pita bread in the quesadilla, and mangoes.

Though that's okay. Actually, eating different and exotic foods like that gives you more nutrition that just plain ole' bread, because it is made of a lot of different things; that allows a change from the straight wheat of bread.

Below is an example of a vegetarian food pyramid that includes non-meat protein sources.



3. Why are vitamins and minerals called micronutrients?

Because they have very little concentration in foods.


4b. Make a nutrition collage.




EXAM

1. Why does a potato taste sweeter after you have been chewing it for a while?

Because starch has sugar locked inside it. Saliva (which by the way is secreted more when you chew) breaks down the starch outside to get to the sugar inside.


2. What is the difference bewteen complex and simple carbohydrates?

Starches (complex) are more advanced than sugars because it's like a crystal. It has other nutrients locked inside it, such as starch. Sugars instantly release their contents when chewed.


3. Why are fats important in our diet?

They add energy if you are instantly active afterwards.

4. How do our bodies use vitamins and minerals? Are they essential to our health?

Absolutely. Vitamins and minerals help organs grow, brain tissue develop, and many other things happen faster than usual. They are great to help you grow up to actually have a good heart, brain, and immune system. If you have, say, lots of OMEGA-3 as a baby, you'll have a really strong neural system.

5. Name three important minerals and three important vitamins.

Potassium, Iron, and Fiber. Vitamins A, B, and C

Life Science Lesson 6 and Exam

1. Identify each of the parts of the seedlings.

Only the bean plants survived. I shall describe their roots. On some specimens there seem to be more roots on 2/3 grown seedlings than fully grown, so I shall use one of those as an example. The fiborous roots do not come from the taproot, they just branch off of where the taproot comes from. The taproot is all hairy with root hairs. It is very simple, but efficient.


The stems are very different. I have five specimens of various stages of growth, and only two have stems. All the others, well, they are unusable. On a 2/3 grown specimen, the stem is shaped like a very very small ?. On a full grown specimen, it is tall and straight.


As for leaves, the same is apparent. The two older specimens are the only ones to have leaves. The 2/3 grown seedling has leaves folded up in a tight trange.. They will probably unfurl as it gets older. On a fully grown specimen, there are only leaves on top, and four of those.

2. Using a head of cabbage, a stalk of celery and a clove of garlic, slice each in half and draw/label the parts that can be identified.



(left click to see more detail)

3. Explain the functions of the parts of a green plant.

Leaves absorb sunlight.

Stems process all minerals and water and store them.

Taproots take in water and minerals from the branch roots and cart them up to the stem

Branch roots absorb water and minerals.

Buds contain flowers and leaves.

Bud scales mark the place for new branches.

4b. Research carnivorous plants. Find out what specialized mechanisms these plants have that enable them to capture and eat bugs. Write a three paragraph paper describing how they do this. Use the names of some fo the plants you learned about.

A carnivorous plant is a plant that preys on insects. They get their food by trapping insects. Carnivorous plants are normally found in poor soil conditions where a regular plant that receives food by photosynthesis couldn’t live. The soil that they live in also doesn’t have lots of nutrients. Some can grow to be three feet tall or more. The carnivorous plant’s leaves usually grow close to the ground, so there is plenty of room for a pitfall trap or a flytrap. The stalk of the plant can bear flowers in spring or early summer.

The Venus flytrap is probably the most well known carnivorous plant. Insects are attracted to it by its sweet smelling and tasting nectar. Their trap is activated by an insect rubbing against two of its tooth like hairs (*Gasp in horror*). The trap can shut in less than a second and it closes by the triggering electric charges. Within 30 minutes after capturing the insect the trap is tightly shut and filled with digestive juices. After trapping an insect the trap will remain closed for 8-10 days. The plant cannot be tricked if something falls it because it will probably only touch one hair. For the Venus flytrap’s trap to work the prey must be fully inside the trap to be surrounded by digestive juices.

Pitcher plants are shaped like a pitcher of water. They can grow from 2-3 inches high to 3 feet high. Larger animals like frogs have been digested in the larger species. They have a flap above the opening of the pitcher. This prevents rainwater from getting in the trap. They have sweet nectar near the pitcher’s rim. Their insides are slippery, so that once the insect is inside the pitcher it is pretty hard to get out. At the bottom of the pitcher is where the digestive juices are and where it will digest the insects.

Bladderworts live in water. They have no roots; only stems and branches. Some grow to about 8 inches long. Bladderworts eat water fleas, mosquito larvae, and other small water critters. Water critters are attracted to the Bladderwort by its antennae. Water critters assume it is algae. Then the insects are trapped in the plant’s hollow trap. The traps are called bladders. Their leaves have trigger hairs attached like the Venus flytrap’s. The transparent trap then swells up like a water balloon. The trap will usually digest and catch prey about 15 times before dying.

EXAM

1. What are the two main types of root systems. Describe each one.

Fibrous and Taproot. Fibrous roots branch off the taproot, spreading root hairs everywhere. Taproots are thick, main, water-sucking roots. A carrot is a taproot.

2. What are the main functions of roots in green plants? Name and describe three functions.

Roots absorb water, nutrients, release used Carbon Dioxide, and keep the plant from falling over, and store collected nutrients.

3. What role do leaves play in the function of a plant?

Leaves absorb sunlight that is to be transferred into sugars.

4. Name at least three parts of plants that are commonly eaten by humans. Give an example of each.

Roots: Carrots, and potatoes, Stem: Celery, and lettuce, Fruits: Avocados, and Tomatoes.

Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Persia

1. Add the location of ancient Persia before it became an empire on your map.

I drew Persia on my map of the world.

2. Draw a timeline that depicts an important person, place or thing of each 

of the periods listed below:

3200B.C. - Sumerians settle in Mesopotamia

2686B.C. - 1090 B.C. Ancient Egyptian civilization

1792B.C. - Hammurabi unites Mesopotamia

1290 B.C. - Hebrews exodus from Egypt

1200 B.C. - Iron Age begins

549 B.C. - Persian empire established

Here is my pictoral timeline:

3. Look for pictures of ancient Persian reliefs and metal work. Notice the stylized appearance of the people. Draw a picture in this style of a person doing something.

Here is my profile rock relief of a woman with a spool of yarn.

 

Ancient Civilizations/Art/Geography/English, Lesson 20: Middle Ages

1. Choose a research topic from the lisst below and choose at least three resource materials. Your job is to go into depth on your chosen topic. This paper is due at the end of Lesson 24 and should be a minimum of 5 pages long, plus a cover page, at least one illustration and a bibliography.

Topic Choices:

Knights and the Crusades
The Muslim Empire
Women in the Middle Ages
Monasteries (founders, orders and lifestyles)
Castle and Castle Life
Architecture and the building of Cathedrals
Manors and Village Life


****I chose Knights and the Crusades, and I just started taking notes.


2c. Look at pictures of Romanesque and Gothic churches and cathedrals. In two paragraphs, describe both kinds of architecture and give examples of each.

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture for buildings in Western Europe in the Middle Ages. It came after Romanesque architecture and before Renaissance architecture. Gothic architecture started in France in the 12th century and lasted into the 16th century. Its important features are the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress, which are explained below. Gothic architecture is best known as the style of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe.

"Romanesque" was the style of architecture in Europe before the "Gothic" style. Gothic architecture grew out of Romanesque architecture. There was not a clean break between the two styles. Some features of Gothic archicture are also features of Romanesque architecture. Ribbed vaults are a feature of both Gothic architecture and Romanesque architecture.

Some features of Gothic architecture are not features of Romanesque architecture. Large stained glass windows are a feature of Gothic architecture but are not a feature of Romanesque architecture. All the types of buildings, and the general shape of the buildings were already there in the Romanesque period.

This is an example of Romanesque architecture. This is a cathedral located at Vezelay and where Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade.



This is an example of Gothic architecure. It is a gothic chapel in Poland.



This is an example of Romanesque Revival architecture wich ocurred in the late 19th century. This is Royce Hall, the main building at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).




3. Continue to take notes for your resourcs for your research paper.

****I took lots of notes.

4. Find the Scandinavian and Eastern European countries and the Caspian and Black Seas on your map. Add Iceland and Greenland to your map.

****I added Iceland, and the rest. I checked out the Caspian sea and learned that my map isn't very readable.

5c. Find a book of Norse myths. Read some stories and then describe three or four characters with one paragraph written for each.

In Norse mythology, Odin was the king of the Aesir. He is a god of war, but also associated to wisdom, poetry, and magic. Odin rides on an eight-legged horse called Sleipnir, and his famous spear is called Gungnir. He also has an precious arm ring called Draupnir, and two ravens called Hugin and Munin who tell him all the things happening around the world. Odin only has one eye, because he sacrificed one to drink from the fountain of wisdom. Odin would be swallowed by Loki's son, the wolf Fenrir at Ragnarok.

Odin



Loki is a giant in Norse mythology. He is the personification of cunning, trickery, and evil. Although Loki is a giant, he lives with the gods because Odin adopted him. He has the power of changing his appearance and even gender, although he had to borrowed Freyja's magical dress at times to change into birds. Once, Loki changed himself into a mare, and he bore the son of a horse. This eight-legged horse is then called Sleipnir, and became the favourite horse of Odin. Loki also has many monstrous children, namely Hel, Fenrir, and Jordmungand. He and his children became enemies of the gods in Ragnarok.

Loki

Freyja is a goddess in Norse and Germanic Mythology. She is the twin sister of Freyr and the daughter of Njord. She is originally worshipped as a fertility godess. But in the Eddas, she was often portrayed as a godess of love, beauty, and attraction. She was also associated with war, battle, death, wealth, magic and propheciey. Freyja was said to be the most beloved, honored, and renowned among godesses. She is one of the most popular godesses of Norse mythology.

Freya

Psychology

I[Tennessee]have studied Psychology for the past two days and learned a lot about myself. Some of the things that I learned are:

I am an optimist.
I am an introvert.
Sometimes I think in sterotypes.
I place few limits on myself.
I am a mesomorph (action seeking and competitive).
I have a high need to achieve.
I have intrinsic motivation (motivated from the inside).
I am good at setting priorities.
I have a realistic view of myself and others.
I am in an adult ego state (I feel in control without trying to control others).
I favor seeing and hearing sensory modes.
I use negative self talk. This is my own way of pushing myself.
I am very persuasive.
I am right brained.
I am a better than average critical thinker.
I am a visual and kinesthetic learner.

Life Science Lesson 10: Flowers and Plant Reproduction

1. Obtain a flower. Closely examine and identify its parts. Draw a picture of the flower, identify and label the parts of its reproductive system.

I did! See pic below.

2. What are the three ways that pollination can occur? Describe each one.

Self-Pollination: Is when a flower's pollen touches it's own stigma.

There are two kinds of cross-pollination: Insect and wind. Insect is when a bee or butterfly carries pollen from one flower to another. Wind is when wind blows pollen to another flower. This probably happens very rarely.

3. Make a list of ten plants that your family eats and decide whether the parts you eat are fruits or seeds or both. Record your resulsts.

Avocado Enlarged Ovary, Fruit

Tomato Enlarged Ovary, Fruit

Carrot Root, Vegetable

Celery Stem, Vegetable

Broccoli Bud, Vegetable

Soybeans Seed, Vegetable

Oranges Enlarged Ovary, Fruit

Potatoes Root, Vegetable

Grapes Enlarged Ovary, Berry

Strawberries Enlarged Ovary, Berry

4b. Press flowers to make stationary, framed wall art, flower prints using paints etc.

I finished my flower press. See below.




EXAM

1. What is the difference between and angiosperm and a gymnosperm. Give 2 examples of each.

Angiosperms are flowers and deciduous trees. They are different from gymnosperms because they can grow flowers and their leaves stop photosynthesizing in fall and winter. A maple or sea daisy is an angiosperm. A coastal redwood or a Japanese fir is a gymnosperm.

2. What does deciduous mean? Give and example of a deciduous plant that you know.

It means they lose their leaves in fall. An example is a Trembling Aspen (see pic of Trembling Aspen below).
3. What are the main parts of a flower? Describe each one in a few words or a sentence. Assume that the flower has both male and female reproductive parts.

Petals are colorful leaves that form a ring around the flower's reproductive parts. Petals attract insects so they can pollinate the flower.

Pistils are female parts that, if pollen touches the top, an egg down inside the pistil is fertilized.

Stamens are male parts. The top bead, called an anther, contains pollen grains. Inside each pollen grain is a sperm cell. *coughFLAGELLUM!!!cough*

4. Name three ways tha ta flower can be pollinated. Why is pollination so important? What do you think would happen if there was no more pollination of flowers on earth?

Self-Pollination: Is when a flower's pollen touches it's own stigma. There are two kinds of cross-pollination: Insect and wind. Insect is when a bee or butterfly carries pollen from one flower to another. Wind is when wind blows pollen to another flower. This probably happens very rarely. Pollination is important because without pollination, no fruit can grow. Most animals would starve.

Without pollination, all the fruit would disappear quickly. The herbivores, with nothing to eat, would starve. The carnivores, with the herbivores gone, would starve too. The humans might stay along a bit, but with fruit gone, there would be a huge economical crash. After all that, the humans would starve. Earth would be perfectly suited for life, but have none except for ocean life. A playground for genetic experiments, if you please.

Ancient Civilizations/Art/Geography/English Lesson 10: Ancient China (Confucius & Taoism)

1b. Write your own practical Code of Living that can be applied to your everyday life. List as many rules as you can.

MY LIFE

A parent's word is law.

Life is a painting. Strokes must be applied slowly (Everything comes in good time).

Police your own life.

Treat others badly if you want to be treated badly.

Freedom is an illusion. (You must work to be free).

Respect is as valuable as Life.

Truth is Life.


SOCIETY

Difference is only skin deep.

Beauty does not mean royalty.

The Earth is our essence. Protect it.

Hunger means neglect. Which means abandon. Which means death.

War is pointless.

2. Keep reading your book of Chinese tales.


3a. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Bring a piece of paper and a pencil. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and then close your eyes and sit quietly. Pay attention to your thoughts, to the sensations in your body, and to the things you hear and smell. Sit as still as you can. After 10 minutes, write about your experience of quietude.

As I sat outside, I immediately had a sense of peace. My heart slowed, and also my senses began to overload me. As the songbirds sang, and the shade hugged me, I was relaxed. I was soothed and did not think of the stress of the day, or about dying, or anything. I now know how to clear my mind. There was a faint trace of smoke in the air from the local fires, but that was okay. I could make out at least 5 different songbirds singing. Part of the experience, my eyes were open, so I would have enough detail to fill one page. I was sitting in a chair next to and elephant ear plant. It had a foamy stem, and the leaves were already crumpling up for winter.

To get even more perspective, I moved to a shady spot. It hugged me coolly like a blanket. If I had a quiet place, I would have gone into it. It is great for people who are stressed.

4. Finish the Chinese tales book.

I am.


5. Finish reading The Rainbow People and choose one of the tales to summaraize for your next assignment.


6. Summarize one of the Chinese tales you have read.

The Rainbow People starts when a young wanderer decides to go up a magical mountain. The path is winding and he ends up where he was. The wanderer decides to play his flute to straighten the path. The sad song seems to straighten the path, and make the fishermen on the beach cry.

He walks up the mountain and finds a colony of farmers with a field of vegetables. The farmers do not answer his questions. He plays his flute to earn dinner, but a girl around his age says he can have some of hers. After some debating, they decide that he can work for his. They work all day and night. At night, their faces shone with rainbow lights. Finally, at midnight, they had their meal, which consisted of weed stew. He asks why they eat weeds when they had a bountiful garden. The girl informs him that the landlord eats all of the vegetables, and leaves none.

He decides to confront the landlord, who is a wizard. He went to the top of the mountain, where there was nothing but moonlight and a giant tree. Looking into the tree, the wanderer saw small globules filled with glowing worms. Lots of small men with knives danced around, doing servant work. Some stood guard around a brass box. on top of the box sat an old wizard with green moss for hair. He puts on a satin robe. As he takes his black robe off, the wanderer notices that he has lots of legs, like his tree. The wanderer also catches a glimpse of a brass key around his neck. He decides that it probably goes to the brass box. He wonders what is inside. The wizard hits a gong that was set behind the box.

The little men vanished. The wizard went to sleep on the box. The wanderer waited, then snuck out from behind the vines. He switched out the gong for a pail of water, then used an unraveled string from his sash to tie the wizard up. He hid in the chest, and tugged on the string until it broke, and the wizard got up. He shouted and struck the pail of water , which splashed all over him. The wanderer risked a peek, and saw the wizard poke at his mossy hair. He looked all around the tree for the gong, and the wanderer ducked down. The wizard decided to change, and went over to the chest. As he lifted the lid, the wanderer straightened up, and the wizard surprisingly asks who he was. The wanderer ripped the key from around the wizard's neck, and unlocked the box.

Unfortunately, in unlocking the box, the gong fell out of his pocket, where it had been. The wizard picked it up and made the armed men appear. The wanderer opened the box and found a golden flute. The wanderer picked it up just before the men started slashing at him. He put off most of the slashes with his old flute. Then, since he was breathing hard, the flute gave a little toot, and all of the men hopped. Curious, he began to play the flute. The wizard and his army started to dance. The wizard pleaded and bribed, but the wanderer kept playing.

Finally, the wanderer said he would only stop playing if the wizard let the Rainbow People go. The wizard complied, and chanted a spell. The wizard told the wanderer that you can lose something in the very act of saving it. The wanderer ran down the mountain, and saw the field. But all that was in the field were Asian dragons. He looked in the huts, but found only torn clothes. He thought that the dragons had eaten the farmers. But then he heard the girl's voice behind him. He turned around, but found only a dragon. He looked closer, and noticed the same birthmark he had noticed on the girl earlier. He asked how long she had been in her human spell. She said too long. Then a stream of dragons cascaded into the sea. They said good-bye, and then she joined them.

THE END

Ancient Civilizations/Art/Geography/English, Lesson 9: Ancient China

1. Add China to your world map.

I added China and (accidentally) Kazakhstan to my wold map.


2. Start reading "The Rainbow People" (a book of Chinese tales).

I started "The Rainbow People."

3d. Describe how children in your environment treat their elders. What happens to many people as they grow older? Where do they live and who takes care of them? Is age respected in this culture?

Here is my essay.

Elders in My Community

As people grow older, they lose respect, which is the opposite of what is supposed to happen in ancient China. Most people just ignore them. Many elders live alone in a house they paid for with their retirement fund. I understand the sorrow of living life and then just ceasing all existance. It would be sad. They sometimes visit other people.

Elders are not respected much in this culture. In ancient China, elders were granted utmost respect for their supposed wisdom. Other kids ignore elders, and I’ve known some kids that are afraid of elders. The main reason why elders should have respect is because most elders are unable to help themselves sometimes; such as crossing a street. I think that elders should live with another person to help them.

If people all helped their elders, then I'm sure that they would be happier.

4a. Using a bamboo brush, a bowl of black watercolor paint and a large piece of white paper, paint a picture of bamboo. Each section of the bamboo's trunk should be drawn upward; the whole trunk should also be formed on the same principle - from root upward.

Bamboo by Tennessee

Ancient Civilizations/Geography/Art/English Lesson 8

1. Please refer to lesson 18 for a handmade map of the world that includes Persia, India and other asian countries.

Definiton of caste:

NOUN

Any of the hereditary, endogamous social classes or subclasses of traditional Hindu society, stratified according to Hindu ritual purity, especially the Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra castes.
A social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank, profession, or wealth.

2. Pretend that you are a member of a caste. Write a letter to a friend telling about your life in that particular caste. Describe your day and your feelings as you are forced to stay within a certain group for all of your interactions. Mention things that you might like to do but can't because of your caste.

Spy Hussien Jack

Indochinese Kshatriya Caste Training Academy
Hukishtan, India

January 15, 593

Servant Ganyoaw Namoin
Imperial Palace
Hukishtan, India

Dear “Ganyo”:

I am having a wonderful and horrible time in the Kshatriya Caste. I am very glad there is a secret informer subcaste, or else my catlike stance and sneaking skills would go to waste swinging around swords in the Warrior subcaste. Today I practiced making no sound while walking. This was easy because they gave me socks knitted from yak’s hair. After that a big hairy Cretan (don’t ask how he got to the IKCTA, I have no idea) pinned me to a wall and told me that if I am ever caught, never surrender without a bribe. He did this for an hour until it was drilled into my brain.

After a long day of cartwheels, wall scaling, and karate, I got a room full of Warriors to sleep with. The next day, the troll’s message was “Reconnaissance is the key to success.”
There are many things I wish I could do but can’t. I even have to deliver these letters secretly myself (I hope you are burning these like I said!). I can’t visit my sister, mother, or father. I can’t even write to them.

I hope you realize how lucky you are to have a secret friend
All I have for friends are a bunch of bloodlusts and highbrow rulers. Maybe that’s my problem. I’m lonely.

Yours truly,
Jack

3. History of Indian Dance

The dance tradition of India is at least 5000 years old. A dancing girl figurine was found in the ruins of Mohenjodaro and is dated at roughly 2nd Century B.C. Many group dancing scenes are depicted in detailed rock paintings. The wall paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, the sculptures of Khajuraho, the temple walls of Hoysala dynasty (So many odd words!), stand sufficient evidence for popularity of Indian dances from ancient times.

Through the centuries the dances have been used as a means of worship and expression of emotion in India. The temple dancers led very strict lives in order to perform sacred dances to please Gods and Goddesses.

A Portuguese traveler visited the Vijayanagar kingdom in 1520-22 A.D., and has left behind a dramatic description of the dancers he saw in the kingdom. He visited special dancing halls where maiden were given demanding training. The walls were decorated with paintings depicting a variety of dancing poses which helped the dancers to correct their steps. The king himself took interest in their dance education and occasionally visited these halls. During the Navaratri festival celebrations the dance performances were given great importance. The dancers were adorned with many ornaments, made out of gold, pearls, and diamonds.

The Indian dances have sprung from myths of the goddess Nataraja. Their dramatic contents are based on other mythological lore of the country. The dance technique is based on a few ancient treatises. The Indian dances consist of three different types. "Nritta" is simple dance with movements of body and limbs. "Nritya" is linked with facial expressions, hand gestures and body poses. "Natya" has the elements of a drama which is introduced through the use of spoken world. All the types involve the use of "mudras", which are well developed types of gestures during the dance. The dancers use their entire body to communicate with the audience.

The major Indian classical dances are: Bharata Natyam, Kathakali, Kathak and Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Mohini Attam. In addition, there are many folk and tribal dances spread all over the country.

An Odissi dancer

Life Science lesson 7 & Exam

1. Try to determine the composition of the soil used for your seedlings.

The soil inside my bean cup is very nutrient-deprived. It is potting soil. We have not gone to a park yet for rich soil.

2. Go to a local garden center and find three different types of fertilizers both manmade and organic. List the recommended uses, sources of materials and minerals in each and application.
Note from Mom: Two types of organic fertilizers were available for this assignment. Manmade fertilizers were not included due to their potential hazards to health.

Organic:

E.B. Stone Organics' Rose & Flower Food
Ingredients
Natural
Various ingredients derived from:
Blood Meal, Feather Meal, Bone Meal, Dried Chicken Manure, Bat Guano, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, and Potassium Sulfate.

Bacteria
Bacillus Subtilis
Bacillus Lichenformis
Paenibacillus Polymyxa
Bacillus Azotoformans
Paenibacillus Durum
Bacillus Pumulis
Streptomyces Lydicus
Trichoderma Harzianum

Soil
Calcined Clay

Fungi
Glomus Intraradices
Glomus Mosseae
Glomus Aggregatum

How to Use:
Feed your roses as new growth begins in the spring by spreading 1 1/2 cups of fertilizer evenly under each plant starting 8 inches from the base and working out into the drip line. Mix it lightly into the soil and water the area.

Feed with 1 1/2 cups of fertilizer every 8-12 weeks throughout the growing season.


E.B. Stone Organics' Citrus & Fruit Tree Food
Ingredients
Natural
Various ingredients derived from:
Blood Meal, Feather Meal, Bone Meal, Dried Chicken Manure, Bat Guano, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, and Potassium Sulfate.
Bacteria
Bacillus Subtilis
Bacillus Lichenformis
Paenibacillus Polymyxa
Bacillus Pumulis
Paenibacillus Durum
Bacillus Pumulis
Streptomyces Lydicus
Streptomyces Greiseus
Trichoderma Harzianum
Trichoderma Viride

Soil
Calcined Clay

Fungi
Glomus Intraradices
Glomus Mosseae
Glomus Aggregatum

How to Use:
For first year trees, apply approximately 3/4 cup per month. In most areas, application may start in February repeated throughout the growing season. When possible, work the fertilizer lightly into the soil before watering.

3. Do you have a flower or vegetable garden? Yes.

a. What kind of plants do you grow?
An orange tree, assorted succulents, mint, aloe vera, snapdragons, African daisies, daisies, petunias, raspberries, morning glories, grapes, echinechea, jasmine, blueberries, bacopa, beans, elephant ears, pholox, verbena, kangaroo paw, sea daisies, roses, bougainvillea, mandanveilia, gara, begonia, cyclamen, and rosemary.

b. How do you keep the soil healthy and fertile so that plants will grow? We use a mixture of potting soil and store bought compost in our pots, and water the plants weekly.

c. We do use fertilizer. It is organic and it is the exact same fertilizer that I used to answer # 2

d. No. We do not compost (though we want to) because most bins are very very expensive.

4b. Research different home composting methods.

Compost!
Compost is a substance made of rotted materials that slowly becomes a rich kind of mulch. Actually, the mulch is the non-compressed, half rotted stuff at the top of whatever container you are using. The humus (a black, fully, rotted, compressed soil-like material) is the stuff at the bottom, which is extremely good for plants.

Composting helps the earth, because if you compost, you channel around half of your trash into something the helps life thrive. Of course, hotter is better, because heat makes things rot faster.


Compost rots because microscopic creatures eat the food and plant matter, leaving only leftovers and, er, micro-poop. Microorganisms are microscopic simple bacteria that eat just about anything. They are the reason why things rot. They do other things, like enriching the soil. Some add nitrogen to the soil, making it more nutritious.

The best kind of compost is a layered, “compost sandwich.” The bottom must ALWAYS be made of sticks to allow drainage. The best style is: Twigs, soft material (Like green plants and soft vegetable scraps), hard material (Like leaves, orange peels, and small sticks), soft, soft, hard, soft, soft, hard, and so on.

Before I move on to another method, I need to explain the two basic needs of compost:
1. Water. A hose will do. Do not overwater. The best kind of compost is one that has the texture of a full sponge, not the water of a full sponge.
2. Air. It will also smell rotten if you don’t give it air. Want to know why? That is the smell of dead bacteria. You need bacteria for you compost. Bacteria and microbes are the chemical magicians of compost.

Another method to get good compost (besides waiting!) is by turning. Turning can be done in many ways, from flipping the bin over and shaking, to using a premade crank to stir the compost. It causes a chemical reaction that makes the top mulch turn into good, crumbled, cakelike humus.

Another kind of compost is sheet composting. It is like a substrate pile of whatever you are using on whatever you are fertilizing. Basically, throw some hard material on the ground and let it rot naturally. The problem with it is that you can’t throw kitchen scraps in, only plant material.
Also, it rots very slowly.

Another way (this is the best way for us) is worm compost.
Many people know the value of worms in their garden. Worms are great decomposers, especially red-wigglers and African night crawlers. If you have only kitchen scraps, or if you live in an apartment, composting with worms is the way to go.
Worms are best kept in a closed worm box. They like darkness and dampness.

Compost is a perfect way to keep a self sustaining home and garden.
(If you want to compost NOW, call 1-800-GRO-DIRT)
Click here to see a video about "How to Compost":
http://video.gaiam.com/services/link/bcpid1586371772/bctid1840781718

EXAM

1. Explain the functions of soil in the terms of how it is used by a plant.
Plants absorb the nutrients in the soil and use it to be healthy (like multivitamins).

2. Explain the difference between dirt and healthy, living soil.
Dirt has zero microbes, is dry and dusty, and has very little minerals to offer. Soil has maximum in all of the above (microorganisms, moisture, and minerals).

3. How do organisms in soil help plants get nutrients that they need to grow? Give an example of one type of organism that does this.
They decompose dead plant matter into tiny bits that can be easily consumed by the roots. An example is Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria (which I fondly call NFB), which takes nitrogen out from the air and turns it into healthy minerals.

4. Why is organic matter important to healthy soil?
They add nutrients through waste products, and keep soil loose.

Life Science Lesson 5 & Exam

(the above photograph is a visual growth timeline of the bean seeds that were planted during this lesson)

1. Grow seedlings and measure them for their rate of growth.

Radish, tomato and bean seeds were planted in biodegradeable containers.

2. Continue to observe your seeds for a week.

Only the bean seeds survived. The radish seeds and tomato seeds were dumped out and disposed of by the gardner as well as being blown about by Santa Ana winds.

3. Prepare a growth chart.

Here is my growth chart. I say Approx. Day, because I found several specimens of different ages and made an approximate timeline (see photo at the top of this post for a visual timeline).

Day 2 Seed gets paler. The coat is going soon.

Day 4 Coat splits.

Day 5 Tiny root emerges (Germination!).

Day 6 Root gets much bigger.

Day 13 Large root system is apparent. Baby leaves start to unfurl.

Day 20 Seedling is fully grown.

4. Explain what three requirements were necessary for your seeds to grow.

1) A seed needs soil to provide foundation for it's roots to grow.

2) Water softens the seed's coat so it can crack and sprout.

3) Heat provides energy to jumpstart the process of sprouting.

5. Explain why soaking seeds in water helped them to sprout more quickly.

The tough seed coat softened and allowed the embryo to break through.


6. Explain three ways that seeds can be dispersed.

1) The fruit can fall off and rot away.

2) The seeds can be carried by the wind.

3) The seeds can be softened and dispersed by animal droppings.


7. Think of a reason why certain types of fruits are so bright and colorful and how this might benefit these different types of plants.

Bright and tasty fruits would appeal well to animals, and therefore be eaten, and the seeds would be spread around by poop.

8. b. Make a list of five different ways a seed can be dispersed (you may use the ways already described in this lesson and/or research others).

1) The fruit can fall off and rot away.

2) The seeds can be carried by the wind.

3) The seeds can be softened and dispersed by animal droppings.

4) Seeds can be moved by rushing water.

5) Other times seeds can stick to animal's fur and be dropped later.

* Spend some time outdoors and look for ten different plants and figure out which type of dispersal each plants uses.


Daisy (Witnessed in action!)
Wind dispersal

Orange (Witnessed in action!)
Fruit

African daisy (Witnessed in action!)
Wind

Rose (Witnessed in action!)
Drops seeds

Raspberry
Fruit

Blueberry
Fruit

Grapes
Fruit


Extra Credit: A Poem about Seed Dispersal

In the Spring.
A seed with a ring
Of feathers
floats by
Where is it going? In the sky.
It plants itself down near a stone
As the wind whistles in a melodious tone.
A few days later, a plant is born!


EXAM


1. How does the growth and reproduction of plants differ from that of animals.

Plants grow their whole lives, and produce seeds instead of internal or external eggs.


2. Name three ways in which plants are extremely important to life on Earth.

Other animals eat plants to produce energy to grow. Plants breathe (carbon + oxegen) (C + O x2) Carbon Dioxide, and breathe out oxygen. We can't breathe CO2, and it also stuffs up the atmosphere. Plants create rich soil (compost) when they decompose, thus creating a safe, rich home for other plants and microorganisms.

3. What are the three main parts of a seed? What is the purpose of each part?

1) Seed coats protect the soft embryo inside, and keep bad stuff out.

2) An embryo is a baby plant that starts to get bigger and bigger once the seed's needs have been met.

3) Endosperm is the plant's original food that it grows on, and keeps the embryo from dying and not being able to grow.


4. What are the three main requirements for a seed to begin germination?

Heat, water, and soil.

5. List and describe three ways that seeds can be dispersed.

The fruit can fall off and rot away. The seeds can be carried by the wind. The seeds can be softened and dispersed by animal droppings.

Life Science Lesson 4 Exam

1. List thre three main parts of a cell and describe their functions.

Nucleous. The Nucleous controlls all parts of the cell, as well as cell division.

Cytoplasm. The Cytoplasm is the mixture of Ribosomes and goop. All the cell components are housed here.

Cell Membrane. The Cell Membrane keeps the cytoplasm from sloshing out as well as the components.

2. What is the function of the cell wall of the plant?
It keeps the cell rigid so the entire organism dosen't bend over.

3. In a plant cell, what specialized organelle captures the energy from the sun?
Chloroplasts.

4. Why do animal cells lack cell walls?
So that things can move in and out of cells. That's why a flake of skin doesn't cast a shadow.

5. Name three examples of tissues and organs in a human being.
Nerve tissue, skin/cartilage tissue, and heart tissue. Gallbladder, skin, and liver.