Life is very diverse and living things come in all shapes and sizes.  For this week research different types of living things and write about them. 

Step by step directions:

1. Look up two types of plants; one example of a vascular plant and one example of a non-vascular plant.  Please write their scientific name (genus and species) and provide a brief description of them.
2. Look up two types of animals; one example of a vertebrate and one example of an invertebrate.  Please write their scientific name (genus and species) and provide a brief description of them.
3. Look up one example of a single cellular organism and one example of a multi-cellular organism (you can use one of your examples from above if you want.  Write a brief description and their scientific name.

Standard OH Grade 7, Science Standard Life Sciences 1
Investigate the great variety of body plans and internal structures found in multicellular organisms. Covered by Study Island Topic:
Diversity of Life OH Grade 7, Science Standard Life Sciences 8
Investigate the great diversity among organisms. Covered by Study Island Topics:
Climate & Biomes, Diversity of Life

Today you are to investigate one current news event.  For this you can either read an article from an online newspaper (links are below) or watch a video from a network news station (links below). 

Steps to complete your assignment:

1. Find an article
2. Read or watch the story
3. Summarize the story in 4-6 sentences
   
4. Create a time line for your story with at least 5 dates/events (if you cant find 5 dates research the topic and find out some history on it)
5. Write a 2 sentence response to your summary.  Include your reaction to reading the article.
6. Post your article on the comment section of this blog post and include the link to your article or video.

Newspaper links:
http://www.ohio.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/?reload=true
http://www.usatoday.com/?refresh=1

Videos:
No links for video

For this week please take a look at the different Climates across Earth.  For your assignment use Google earth to identify a location in each of the climate zones shown above and in Study Island this week.  Using what you see on Google Earth describe what type of landscape and plant life is seen.  Is this location in a grassland, forest, tundra, alpine or desert?  Then explain how its location on earth effects what the landscape looks like.

Download Google Earth

Please post your answers on the blog site this week.  A successful post will include the following:

1. Three location from three different climate zones
2. A description of each landscape and what type of biome is there
3. A brief sentences about why each location has the climate it does.

OH Grade 7, Science Standard Earth and Space Sciences 8
Describe how temperature and precipitation determine climatic zones (biomes) (e.g., desert, grasslands, forests, tundra and alpine)

England, France and Spain all made journeys to the Americas in the 1400's and 1500's.  For today's activity you will each create a slide show including facts about each of these countries conquests. 

You will be split up into three groups, representing each of the above mentioned nations.  Once in groups you will create slide shows including the following information...
1.  Reasons that this group came to the Americas
2. Famous explores that came from that nation
3. What areas did they settle/conquer
4. Are there lasting effects in the regions they settled (for example, French Quarter in New Orleans)
Group 1
Spanish
English
French

Group 2
Spanish
English
French

Group 3
Spanish
English
French

Make sure to include 10 slides...One of the slides should have all group members names, include pictures and add color to your slide show...BE CREATIVE!

Complete your journal this week on the the lesson in study island titled Resources and Environmental Quality.  Remember to refer to the Journal Rubric for this assignment.  Post your journal in the comments section of this blog.  First name and last initial only.

OH Grade 7, Science Standard Earth and Space Sciences 2
Explain that Earth's capacity to absorb and recycle materials naturally (e.g., smoke, smog and sewage) can change the environmental quality depending on the length of time involved (e.g. global warming).

Complete your journal this week on the the lesson in study island titled Earth's Spheres and Bio-geochemical Cycles.  Remember to refer to the Journal Rubric for this assignment.  Post your journal in the comments section of this blog.  First name and last initial only.

OH Grade 7, Science Standard Earth and Space Sciences 1
Explain the biogeochemical cycles which move materials between the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water) and atmosphere (air).