Cells Unit Assessment: Our Past 3 Weeks...

For the past three weeks, our science classes have been very difficult and many things were going on. We have been studying many different things, but everything related to the same topic: cells. We have visited osmosis, diffusion, passive and active transport, cells and its organelles, cell respiration, photosynthesis, and nutrients.

To explain everything we learned, we had to create a project, where we worked for a company called Zoinks, and we had to advertise what the company did, and it was all about what we learned in the past three weeks. We had many options to chose to advertise, for example: board games, stories, iPod apps, etc. I decided to do a brochure because I thought that when doing a brochure I could put more ideas in my project and possibly get a better grade. My brochure had about 10 pages and I not only explained in words, but also in images.

My goal was simple, and it was to persuade the reader to be interested in my brochure, and I made it colorful, interesting, and used a great amount of images. I planned to do a bigger brochure, but I decided not to for the fact that it could be boring and no readers would be interested in reading it.

In everything we do we have problems to deal with, and my problem was finalizing my project. When I finished it, it was Sunday night and my printer was broken. My only solution was to e-mail the project to my father, so that on Monday he would print it at his job and give it to me so I could hand it in.

For the reason that my project was a brochure, I had no way to publish on my blog, therefore, it can be examined and read in paper. It is now with Ms. Fernanda, our 9th grade Integrated Science teacher.

Evaluating myself, I think I deserve a 7 in this project, because I did everything that was mandatory and I wrote more than I should. I also used images and examples, and my project has the information required to reach an A+.

Egg Lab: Osmosis & Diffusion

For three days, our science class made a project for the deep study of osmosis and diffusion. In that study, we were regarded to make an experiment with two eggs. We left the eggs inside the vinegar for 24 hours, so that the shell could come off without ripping the cell membrane of the egg, which would be important in our experiment. On the next day, we chose two solutions to make the experiment, and my group, which was: Emyr, Jae Won, and myself, chose alcohol and corn syrup as solutions. We chose corn syrup and alcohol as solutions because it is completely different liquids, so it would be a good way to compare our results.

For the completion of the experiment, we needed the following materials:

• 2 fresh eggs in their shells
• 100 mL graduated cylinder
• Balance
• Water
• Ruler and String
• Vinegar

The possible solutions for the completion of the experiments are:

• Corn Syrup (50% diluted)
• Alcohol
• Distilled Water
• Salty Water (10% and 20%)

Our prediction was quite simple and accurate. We predicted that the egg with alcohol solution would dilute more than the egg with corn syrup because alcohol has more chemical materials which would make the egg dilute even more. On the other hand, corn syrup is a solution with less chemicals and more sugar, which wouldn't make the egg dilute as much as the egg in the solution with alcohol. As a group, we also predicted that the yolk of the egg in the alcohol solution would be harder and smaller than the egg in the corn syrup solution because of its chemicals, which would harm the egg entirely.

Once the egg's shell came out, we weighed the egg, we measures its circumference, and added 80 mL of our solution for the next 3 days and we recorded it. Once finishing recording for the 3 days, we got the results from another group in our classroom and made an average of each recorded data. The reason we got an average is because maybe we did the experiment wrong, so with the results of other groups would get us a more accurate data table. The results are shown as it follows:

Once we finished recording the results, we also made a graph for a clearer view of the data:

The result is also shown in a 3D graph for a better notion:

Once we finished recording the results, we had an analyzed conclusion. The egg in the alcohol solution is a perfect example of osmosis, because many particles came up together and made that the egg's size and shape would be smaller. Also, the egg became harder as molecules gathered in the same area. The egg in corn syrup solution is a perfect example of diffusion, because molecules mix and the egg does not have a severe decrease in size or shape. With that said, water is part of that process because it is expanded and the yolk has now less water.

The following pictures were taken after breaking both eggs in half. Compare:

"Ribosomes Speech"

Captain Arthur,

as a crew member of your boat, I would like to inform you about all of my features in the cell that can work most importantly in the body. Ribosomes are present in every kind of cell, such as prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; both animal and plant cells. Ribosomes can be called the constructors of our body. When you need to make proteins, you look for me. I connect one amino acid at a time creating long chains. I am found in many places around the cell. You might find me floating in the cytoplasm. When I'm floating, I make proteins that will be used inside of the cell. I can also be found in the endoplasmic reticulum. Endoplasmic reticulum with me attached is called rough endoplasmic reticulum. I may look bumpy under a microscope. Those attached ribosomes make proteins that will be used inside the cell and proteins made for export out of the cell.

I really look forward to be a crew member of the boat, where I will be very effective in my work.

Sincerely,
Ribosome

"What Kind of Cell Would I Like To Be?"

The cell that I would like to be would be an eukaryotic cell because it is a much more complex cell, and for me it's the egg that is most effective in our body. The eukaryotic cell has 10 major organelles: vacuole, golgi, chloroplast, lysosome, mitochondria, ribosome, cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, and nucleolus. Another important member of the eukaryote family is the plant cell. It's function is essentially the same as other eukaryotic cells, but there are three unique structures which set them apart. Plastids, cell walls, and vacuoles are present only in plant cells.

Interesting Fact: Eu = “true”, karyon = “nucleus” AND Pro = “before”, karyon = “nucleus”

"Meals on Wheel Week"

In the past week we were assigned a project called "Meals on Wheels." We were separated into groups of four people. I was part of the violet group, along with Priscilla, Erika, and Krish. Krish was the manager of the group so he told each one what to do. Priscilla did the research in the internet and in the science book for the completion of our project. Erika analyzed the 3 menus from toe to toe. And I did the entire powerpoint presentation, as Krish managed the group.

Meals on Wheels is the name of the business we work for, and we were to analyze 3 different menus. As we analyzed, we had to define it as a short term diet, or as a long term diet. In addition, we made a powerpoint presentation explaining it. We also gave the definition of nutrients; proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and water.

In the last day of the project, after we presented, we were supposed to do an assessment, analyzing it differently from the powerpoint, as if consumers would buy it, so we had to convince them of doing so. The group entirely did a really good job, and I think we are taking a good grade.

“What was the purpose of these first two days of school and what are my plans for this year?”

The first two days of school are very important for us and also for teachers. Teachers get to meet new students and get to know them better, therefore, that wasn't a problem this time, because Ms. Fernanda Silva knows most of us already, except for new students that came from all over the world; Germany, India, and Japan. The first two days of school is also the opportunity for u to know them.
When it comes to studying, the first two days of school are important because we get to know what we are going to learn this year. This specifies in getting a more specific understanding of last year's topics or even new topics. What is cool about this class is that we are required to bring our laptops so we can do an advanced research doing class. When the laptop is not in use, we are probably going to do experiments, which was what happened in the first day of school, when we did the "Marshmallow Challenge". It was designed by an adult, and most adults can't get it. Kindergartens are better, but not better than engineers and architects, which are the masters of this challenge.
The same way engineers and architects are masters in the "Marshmallow Challenge", we as students have the goal to be experts in all of our classes and go on to 10th grade. That will happen if we get good grades. To get good grades we need to study, and not just study, but pay attention in class. Well... our GPA (Grade Point Average) started. Better get going!