Apologia Biology: Module 13
Posted by jlsgrant in Apologia Biology on April 2, 2011
Phylum Chordata
Before we get started, be sure to check out the Book Extras at the Apologia Website, there are many interesting links that go along with our study of Phylum Chordata.
Looking for vertebrates in Kingdom Animalia? They can all be found here in Phylum Chordata. Not all of these creatures have a backbone like the one in this x-ray though; some have a notochord instead….like the creepy and vampirous Lamprey!
Just for fun, check this short video out from “Dirty Jobs” courtesy of the Discover Channel:
Here’s a link to one more short Lamprey segment from Dirty Jobs, appropriately titled, “Slippery Sucker!”. Can you tell we found this creature a bit intriguing?
If you’d like to find more information on many of the creatures mentioned in this module, you may want to take a look at ARKive: Images of Life on Earth. The link will take you to the page on Fish, but there are many other creatures covered on this website. (Note: May have some evolutionary content.) There are lots of pictures, videos and all kinds of infomation including, fact sheet, status, description, range, habitat, threats, etc.
Experiment 13:1 – Perch Dissection
Here are a couple of links that may be especially helpful for you in identifying the internal anatomy of your perch:
Our specimen were not great quality and many of the organs were difficult to identify. Sorry, no good pics to share here…
For the dissection, I made up a Perch Dissection Worksheet for the students to use for their Lab Notebook, instead of drawing their own illustration. You are welcome to download it if you’d like. Additionally, you can find information on Perch Dissection at ThinkQuest.org. (Note: Click the picture to visit their website and learn more about the functions of the organs.) For fun, they also have a Salmon Dissection Game, which is much less smelly than a real dissection!
Experiment 13.2 – Frog Dissection
We had quite a variety in our specimen for this experiment….we took pictures to share with you! Didn’t want you to miss out! 🙂 We had everything from Steve to Rainbow Bright Frog….those were not their actual names of course. Once we got inside, Steve was promptly renamed, Plain Jane because of the presence of eggs and oviducts and due to the lack of dye! Plain Jane did not have nearly as many eggs as Rainbow Bright. In the end we determined, that only one frog was a male and he had the most fat bodies! 
Now, get your strength up, a take a look at a few photos:
We found the Frog Dissection Guide from Home Science Tools quite helpful to use as a guide for our dissection. Suprisingly, each frog was very different from the next.
That’s all for this post, but don’t forget to check out these other great blogs that have resources for Module 13:
Applies Place, Sahm-I-Am, Books \’N Other Stuff
Snack Ideas that go with this Module: You must check out Applie’s Friendly Krispy Frog!
Study Link: Flashcards & Games at Quizlet.com
Disclaimer: No income of any kind has been received for the promotion of links and video’s incorporated into this post. All copyrights on those items, remain with the originator!
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Zeezok Publishing: Z-Guide to the Movies
Posted by jlsgrant in Book & Product Reviews on April 1, 2011
Z-Guide to the Movies:
What a wonderful way to incorporate a good movie into your curriculum! There are currently over 25 movies to choose from, all of which would provide a great supplement to your history or language arts program. Each guide includes a Topic Overview for the time period or subject of the movie and a brief synopsis. From there, you can grab some popcorn and dive right into the show! 🙂 There are question to answer as you make your way through the movie, and once you’re done with the movie, you can proceed thru any or all of the several activities provided.
Let’s use our Z-Guide as an example:
We chose the movie, The Scarlet Pimpernel, since it was the closest time period to what we have been studying in history. Because the movie was about 2 1/2 hours long, we decided to break it up over the course of a few days and complete the questions as we watched. After the movie, there were enough activities to keep us busy for a week to ten days. (Depending on your schedule, it could be done in less time than that if you wish.) Here’s a list of the Activities for this movie:
- Study Guide for “The Reign of Terror,” you can use the internet or library to find the information
- Complete a timeline of the major events during the French Revolution
- Research the cultural impact of the French Revelution
- Fun French Vocabulary
- Crossword Puzzle with key scenes from the movie
- Rescue plan for the Scarlet Pimpernel
- Essay Writing Topic: Civil Disobedience/Worldview
- Filmakers Art: Review of Theme, Music, Film Technique, Use of Irony & Foreshadowing
- Questions for family discussion
There is also a list of additional resources for further study and answer keys are provided.
Here’s an excerpt from the website regarding this movie: “Zeezok Publishing’s z-guide to The Scarlet Pimpernel is a great way to incorporate media into your study of the French Revolution. Ride with Sir Percy Blakeney as he and the members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. Will Paul Chauvelin, chief agent of the Committee of Public Safety, discover the Scarlet Pimpernel’s identity and thwart the League’s plan to rescue the young heir to the French throne? Get ready for an action-packed adventure filled with spies, counter-spies, intrigue, romance, and nail-biting suspense during the climactic events of the French Revolution.”
We had a great time with this and it was perfect timing since we recently finished studying the American Revolution. I am looking forward to incorporating a few titles next year! The guide was very well thought out and a creative way to add a little theatrics to your school day!
Loved It! 🙂
Price: $12.99
Purchase your Z-Guide to the Movies at:
Type: Movie guides available on CD
movies are also available for purchase at $19.99
Other Products:
check website for other movie guides available
American Government, Character Building, Great Musicians, Literature, Presidential Penmanship
Don’t forget to check out the Zeezok Blog:
Disclaimer: Members of the TOS Homeschool Crew were given copies of a Z-Guide to the Movies of their choice in exchange for their honest review. No other compensation of any kind has been received.
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