Cores A, B, C, and D: Food and Nutrition Investigation

Foods and drinks provide your body with minerals for growing and for repairing cells, tissues, organs, and systems.  Food also provides energy for everything your body does from involuntary actions like pumping blood and oxygen to your body to running a 100 meter race or playing soccer.

Key Words

Nutrients- are substances in food that provide energy for life functions.
Minerals- are materials that plants absorb from the soil and transfer to consumers.
Vitamins- are molecules in foods that that help your body perform chemical reactions needed to convert raw foods into energy.


What are the six groups of nutrients needed for humans to maintain good health?
Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, Water

Today you and your partner are to conduct an investigation to find answers to the following questions. copy this BLOG to word and print out your answers.

1. Compare simple and complex carbohydrates.

2. List 3 functions that fats provide for humans.

3. Compare saturated and unsaturated fats.

4. What is cholesterol and where is it produced in our bodies?

5. Why are proteins important to our bodies?

6. What are the two types or kinds of vitamins?

7. Why are fruits and vegetables considered good sources of minerals? 

8. Why is water the most important nutrient for good health?

Fill in the charts below use the internet to search for the details needed to complete the data tables below.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin	Sources (where we get it)	Function in our body
A	Dairy products, eggs, orange, yellow, and green vegetables and fruits	Maintains healthy skin, bones, teeth, and hair.  Aids in night vision.
D
E
K		Aids in blood clotting

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin	Sources (where we get it)	Function in our body
B1
B2	Dairy product, eggs, whole grain breads, green and leafy vegetables.
B3
B12		Maintains healthy nervous system and red blood cell production.
Folic Acid
C

Essential Minerals

Mineral	Sources (where we get it)	Function
Calcium
Chlorine	Table salt, soy sauce, seasoning salts	Helps maintain water balance in body
Fluorine		Helps form bones and teeth
Iron
Magnesium	Green leafy vegetables; nuts, whole grains
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sodium

Core B, Unit F, Evolution Blog 1

This week we begin our study of evolution or how species have adapted and become more complex over time. We will focus our attentions on fossils and fossil evidence for this blog.

Typical Fossil's found in ancient oceans. These fossils are known as Trilobites.  Trilobites are animal like mollusks that lived in the ocean, had a hard shell. 

Use the link below to watch the movie and then answer the questions in complete thoughts.

National Geographic: Fossil Mystery Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiN0jxZ6I2w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Analysis Questions: (5 points)

1. List the first 3 time periods in which dinosaurs lived from youngest to oldest.

2. What information is missing from the fossil record?

3. Give a possible explanation for why dinosaurs grew in size over time.

4. What characteristics would you expect to find in a mammal like reptile that would enhance its chances of survival over a plain reptile?

5. Why do you think this would be considered a transitional species?

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 1 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6KKg1MVtA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2XV-gv6A1w&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Extended Response Question (16 points)

After watching both videos on whale evolution, respond to the following question.

1.Explain why the modern whales ancestor moved from land to water and provide evidence to support your explanation.

2.Describe the physical changes that took place over time that made the modern whale a water dweller and  Explain how these changes would be considered adaptations to the new environment.

3. Compare the challenges that faced the modern whale as it evolved over time.

4. Describe how the whale survived over time when confronted by predators. 

Core C, Unit F, Evolution Blog 1

This week we begin our study of evolution or how species have adapted and become more complex over time. We will focus our attentions on fossils and fossil evidence for this blog.

Typical Fossil's found in ancient oceans. These fossils are known as Trilobites.  Trilobites are animal like mollusks that lived in the ocean, had a hard shell. 

Use the link below to watch the movie and then answer the questions in complete thoughts.

National Geographic: Fossil Mystery Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiN0jxZ6I2w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Analysis Questions: (5 points)

1. List the first 3 time periods in which dinosaurs lived from youngest to oldest.

2. What information is missing from the fossil record?

3. Give a possible explanation for why dinosaurs grew in size over time.

4. What characteristics would you expect to find in a mammal like reptile that would enhance its chances of survival over a plain reptile?

5. Why do you think this would be considered a transitional species?

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 1 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6KKg1MVtA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2XV-gv6A1w&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Extended Response Question (16 points)

After watching both videos on whale evolution, respond to the following questions.

1.Explain why the modern whales ancestor moved from land to water and provide evidence to support your explanation.

2.Describe the physical changes that took place over time that made the modern whale a water dweller and  Explain how these changes would be considered adaptations to the new environment.

3. Compare the challenges that faced the modern whale as it evolved over time.

4. Describe how the whale survived over time when confronted by predators. 

Core D, Unit F, Evolution Blog 1

This week we begin our study of evolution or how species have adapted and become more complex over time. We will focus our attentions on fossils and fossil evidence for this blog.

Typical Fossil's found in ancient oceans. These fossils are known as Trilobites.  Trilobites are animal like mollusks that lived in the ocean, had a hard shell. 

Use the link below to watch the movie and then answer the questions in complete thoughts.

National Geographic: Fossil Mystery Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiN0jxZ6I2w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Analysis Questions: (5 points)

1. List the first 3 time periods in which dinosaurs lived from youngest to oldest.

2. What information is missing from the fossil record?

3. Give a possible explanation for why dinosaurs grew in size over time.

4. What characteristics would you expect to find in a mammal like reptile that would enhance its chances of survival over a plain reptile?

5. Why do you think this would be considered a transitional species?

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 1 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6KKg1MVtA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2XV-gv6A1w&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Extended Response Question (16 points)

After watching both videos on whale evolution, respond to the following questions.

1.Explain why the modern whales ancestor moved from land to water and provide evidence to support your explanation.

2.Describe the physical changes that took place over time that made the modern whale a water dweller and  Explain how these changes would be considered adaptations to the new environment.

3. Compare the challenges that faced the modern whale as it evolved over time.

4. Describe how the whale survived over time when confronted by predators. 

Core A, Unit F, Evolution Blog 1

This week we begin our study of evolution or how species have adapted and become more complex over time. We will focus our attentions on fossils and fossil evidence for this blog.

Typical Fossil's found in ancient oceans. These fossils are known as Trilobites.  Trilobites are animal like mollusks that lived in the ocean, had a hard shell. 

Use the link below to watch the movie and then answer the questions in complete thoughts.

National Geographic: Fossil Mystery Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiN0jxZ6I2w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Analysis Questions: (5 points)

1. List the first 3 time periods in which dinosaurs lived from youngest to oldest.

2. What information is missing from the fossil record?

3. Give a possible explanation for why dinosaurs grew in size over time.

4. What characteristics would you expect to find in a mammal like reptile that would enhance its chances of survival over a plain reptile?

5. Why do you think this would be considered a transitional species?

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 1 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6KKg1MVtA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

National Geographic: Whale Evolution Video 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2XV-gv6A1w&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Extended Response Question (16 points)

After watching both videos on whale evolution, respond to the following question.

1.Explain why the modern whales ancestor moved from land to water and provide evidence to support your explanation.

2.Describe the physical changes that took place over time that made the modern whale a water dweller and  Explain how these changes would be considered adaptations to the new environment.

3. Compare the challenges that faced the modern whale as it evolved over time.

4. Describe how the whale survived over time when confronted by predators. 

Core A, Unit E, Ecology Blog 1

The Cheetah Problem!

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This Chart shows the predicted decline in cheetah population throughout the world. Currently, there are roughly 10,000 cheetahs in Africa and Asia.  The likely extinction of the viable cheetah population is sometime around 2015-2025.  Viability is the key word. A population becomes genetically non viable when the population drops to below 12,000.   It would seem likely that the species will survive but only in limited surroundings, provided captive breeding goes well. The problem of the endangered cheetah is quite complex but the underlying problem is really about human population growth and expansion.

---

 Sources:

• http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/endangered-cheetah
• http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/08/doc/E-22.pdf
• http://www.searchenginecolossus.com/Namibia

Use the link below to answer the following questions about the cheetah

 http://www1.american.edu/ted/cheetah.htm

this BLOG is worth 20 points!

1.       List the 3 main issues that endanger the cheetah population.

2.      How are the cheetah and wolf similar in nature?

3.       How did the ice age affect the cheetah population?

4.      How did this major climate event create a genetic “bottleneck” for the current cheetah population?

5.      Explain how the physical features of cheetahs make them exceptional predators.

6.      What factor could potentially kill off all the cheetahs very quickly?

7.       Describe 3 ways humans have reduced the cheetah population.

8.      What conservation efforts by the CCF and CAT are underway to keep the cheetah population from becoming extinct?

9.      Why is captive breeding not working well with the cheetah population?

Core B, Unit E, Ecology Blog 1

The Cheetah Problem!

---

     

  

This Chart shows the predicted decline in cheetah population throughout the world. Currently, there are roughly 10,000 cheetahs in Africa and Asia.  The likely extinction of the viable cheetah population is sometime around 2015-2025.  Viability is the key word. A population becomes genetically non viable when the population drops to below 12,000.   It would seem likely that the species will survive but only in limited surroundings, provided captive breeding goes well. The problem of the endangered cheetah is quite complex but the underlying problem is really about human population growth and expansion.

---

 Sources:

• http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/endangered-cheetah
• http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/08/doc/E-22.pdf
• http://www.searchenginecolossus.com/Namibia

Use the link below to answer the following questions about the cheetah

 http://www1.american.edu/ted/cheetah.htm

this BLOG is worth 20 points!

1.       List the 3 main issues that endanger the cheetah population.

2.      How are the cheetah and wolf similar in nature?

3.       How did the ice age affect the cheetah population?

4.      How did this major climate event create a genetic “bottleneck” for the current cheetah population?

5.      Explain how the physical features of cheetahs make them exceptional predators.

6.      What factor could potentially kill off all the cheetahs very quickly?

7.       Describe 3 ways humans have reduced the cheetah population.

8.      What conservation efforts by the CCF and CAT are underway to keep the cheetah population from becoming extinct?

9.      Why is captive breeding not working well with the cheetah population?