Students, this is not the webpage for Mr. Collinson's current classes, this is old information put up for other teachers to view. I only update this file once a year, so it does not contain our information. Please go through the school webpage to get to our site.
Teachers, I have adapted my student webpage to contain information that you can use. I cannot post my tests, as students will undoubtedly find them here.

 

Science Binder. The following is a list of things that you should have in your science binder for this unit.  Updated as of November 17th.

 

Ecosystems Title Page

Definitions (a list may be found here)

For Want Of Poem (instructions may be found here)

Organization of Life Definitions (template may be found here, answers may be found here)

Abiotic and Biotic Factors (a copy may be found here)

Features of an Ecosystem Note (a copy may be found here, be sure to add colours if you print)

Biomes (a copy may be found here, and the map answers here, and here is a student {unedited} answer key for the information)

Niches Note (a blank copy may be found here, the completed note here)

Predator/Prey Graph (a copy of the data you can use may be found here)

Food Webs (a copy may be found here)

Symbiosis Note (a copy may be found here)

Energy Pyramid Question (a copy may be found here)

Succession Note (a copy may be found here)

Pesticides Graph (a copy of the data may be found here)

Cycles in the Biosphere Note (a copy may be found here, answer key here)

Aboriginal Perspectives (a copy of the worksheet may be found on this webpage)

 

This list is now complete.

 

 

 
 

Other Documents. There are a few other documents that have been used in this unit, they are not expected to be in your binder, but are here for your reference.  Updated as of November 23rd.

 

Ecological Sampling Permission Form (a copy may be found here)

Features of an Ecosystem Reading (a copy may be found here)

Eco Sampling Write-Up (a copy may be found here)

Eco Sampling Pictures (you may find/share images at this link)

Biomes Presentation (a copy may be found in your shared documents, here is an example)

Niches Reading (a copy may be found here)

Food Chains/Webs Reading (a copy may be found here)

Symbiosis Reading (a copy may be found here)

Common Graphing Suggestions (a copy may be found here)

Succession Reading (a copy may be found here)

Cycles in the Biosphere Readings (copies may be found here and here)

Water Flow/Carbon Cycle Reading (a copy may be found here)

Water Flow/ Carbon Cycle Note (a copy may be found here)

Regulated Ecosystem Note (a copy may be found here)

Cost of Environmental Protection Topics (a copy may be found here)

 

This list is now complete.

 

 
 

SmartBoard Notes. In this section you will find information that was shown on the SmartBoard during class.  Keep in mind that each class may have slightly different notes, but the information will be the same overall.  Updated as of December 6th.

 
Lesson #1 Chain of Events
Lesson #2 Organization of Life
Lesson #3 Ecosystems
Lesson #4 Eco-Sampling Explanation
Lesson #5 Eco-Sampling *We were outside at the creek
Lesson #6 Assignment Explanation

Lesson #7

*Taught out of order

 Biomes
Lesson #8 Biosphere
Lesson #9 Niches
Lesson #10 Predator/Prey Relationships
Lesson #11 Food Webs and Energy Flow
Lesson #12 Symbiosis
Lesson #13 Energy Pyramids
Lesson #14 Graphing
Lesson #15 Succession
Lesson #16 Pesticide
Lesson #17 Cycles in the Biosphere
Lesson #18 Water Flow/Carbon Cycle
Lesson #19 Presentations
Lesson #20 Regulated Ecosystems
Lesson #21 Test Viewing
Lesson #22 Aboriginal Perspectives
Lesson #23 Cost of Environmental Protection
Lesson #24 Test Day 1
Lesson #25 Test Day 2
Lesson #26 Test Day 3
 

 
Weekly Quiz.  We will have a weekly quiz this year, in an attempt to help you keep on top of the learning.  The quiz questions are posted outside of my room, as well as here, approximately 5 days prior to the quiz.

Please see our current unit for quiz information.

This week  (September 27th)

On your quiz you will be asked to explain, in your own words, what an ecosystem is. As well, you will be asked to label objects as "abiotic" or "biotic."

 

Next week  (October 4th)

There is no quiz this week, we will be at Camp Couchiching!!!

 

Next week  (October 11th)

You will be asked to explain, in dot-jots, how a scientist can determine how many organisms are in a large area. Hint - this is what we will do on our outing at the creek.

 

Next week  (October 18th)

On your quiz you will be asked to choose one of the world’s biomes and, in dot-jots, discuss features of that biome. Remember you need five marks.

 

Next week  (October 25th)

On your quiz you will need to be familiar with the following terms:

     • Biosphere
     • Atmosphere
     • Lithosphere
     • Hydrosphere
     • Producer
     • Consumer
     • Scavenger
     • Decomposer

 

Next week  (November 1st)

On your quiz you will be asked to define niche. You will also be given two animals and will have to provide multiple niches for those animals.

 

Next week  (November 8th)

One of the following questions will be your quiz this week.

1. Explain, in detail, how pesticide can affect a top carnivore.

2. Define symbiosis and list the 3 types of symbiotic relationships (with an example of each).

 

Next week  (November 15th)

You will have to answer one of the following questions on your quiz. You are not allowed to answer a question based on your presentation.


1. Give several ecological consequences of humans damming a river.
2. Explain how fossil fuels are produced.
3. Explain how humans have disrupted the balance of the carbon cycle.
4. How do greenhouse gases relate to global warming?

 

Next week  (November 22nd)

No quiz this week, you will be writing your end of unit test.

 

Next week  (November 29th)

You will have to answer one of the following questions on your quiz. You are not allowed to answer a question based on your presentation.


1. Give several ecological consequences of humans damming a river.
2. Explain how fossil fuels are produced.
3. Explain how humans have disrupted the balance of the carbon cycle.
4. How do greenhouse gases relate to global warming?

 

 
 
Assignments.  These are the assignments that have been assigned for this unit.  If there is no due date set, you will not submit it, simply complete it and have it in your binder.

Note:  Dates that assignments were assigned are approximate, as I teach four classes, and not on the same day.
   

Ecosystems Title Page

Assigned: Sept 22nd

Due: With Binder

 You are required to make a title page for the start of this unit.  The page must have the word "Ecosystems" on it and at least four relevant pictures.  It is up to you to decide what else you would like to do to it.
   

For Want of Poem

Assigned: Sept 22nd

Due: With Binder

 For this activity you are required to write a poem to show a chain of events.  The poem may be written using the "For Want of" template, or you can explore your own way of doing it.  The poem should show around eight sequences of events to make the chain.
   

Organization of Life Definitions

Assigned: Sept 28th

Due: With Binder

 This is simply a list of the first eight definitions for our unit.  You were given an organizer and asked to copy the definitions into it.  These are important definitions, you will be asked about them on your end of unit test in two months...so learn them well.
   

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Assigned: Sept 28th

Due: With Binder

 This activity involved looking at a picture and making two lists:  The abiotic factors you could find in the picture, and the biotic factors you could find in the picture.  You were then encouraged to add more to the picture (and add your additions to your list as well.)
   

Features of an Ecosystem Note

Assigned: Sept 29th

Due: With Binder

 This was an in-class note that was taken after we read the "Features of an Ecosystem Reading" that may be found above in the "Other Documents" section of this page.
   

Biomes

Assigned: Oct 3rd

Due: With Binder

 There were two parts to his assignment.  The first involved recording data about six different biomes.  This was done be dividing the work into six groups, and having each group present their findings (found in your Google drive).  The second half of the assignment was to colour a map that showed the location of the biomes in North America.
   

Ecological Sampling Write-Up

Assigned: Oct 10th

Due: Oct 18th

 

 This assignment is based on your trip down to Tuck creek on October 9th.  You will be documenting your observations and thoughts from the ecological sampling you performed.  This assignment is not to be done in your binder, please submit this separately. 

Several pictures were taken during the activity.  Here is a link to access them.  If you took pictures, please add them.
   

Niches Note

Assigned: Oct 20th

Due: With Binder

 

 For this activity you were given a note with several words missing.  These words were spread around the classroom on small pieces of paper.  To complete your note you were to perform a scavenger hunt to find the words.
   

Predator/Prey Graph

Assigned: Oct 24th

Due: Next Class

 The task for this assignment was to make a line graph of the data we obtained from playing the Predator/Prey tag game.  The data may be found here.  Recall, if you would like to receive a level 4, you should reference the example graphs posted in class.
   

Food Web

Assigned: Oct 26th

Due: With Binder

 The first step of this assignment involved looking at a food web, then answering a series of questions about the niches of the organisms in the web.  The next step was to make a food web from a list of organisms.  Full instructions are on the worksheet.
   

Symbiosis Note

Assigned: Oct 27th

Due: With Binder

 This is a note that is based on the "Symbiosis Reading" that may be found above in the "Other Documents" section of this page.  We did not take this note in class, only discussed the information.
   

Energy Pyramid Question

Assigned: Oct 31st

Due: With Binder

 This task involved solving a mathematical problem that used an energy pyramid.  You were to draw an energy pyramid and determine how much matter was needed to contribute to a meal at the top of the pyramid.  The question and solution may be found here.
   

Succession Note

Assigned: Nov 2nd

Due: With Binder

 This was an in-class note We did not read about succession, we simply discussed it as a class.  If you would like to do some reading you may find "Succession Reading" above in the "Other Documents" section of this page.

 

Pesticide Graph

Assigned: Nov 7th

Due: Nov 14th

 The task for this assignment was to make a bar graph of the data we obtained from playing the Pesticide game.  The data may be found here.  You will notice that the last column of data is not filled in.  Based on what you know of ecosystems, you need to determine what the data would be and graph it with the other 3 sets.  Be sure to reference the feedback you received if you submitted your Predator/Prey graph on time.  If you follow that feedback, and staple the Predator/Prey graph to your Pesticide graph when you submit it, on time, I will count your Pesticide mark for both.
   

Cycles in the Biosphere Note

Assigned Nov 9th

Due: With Binder

 To write this note you were to read multiple documents (1 and 2), and then summarize the information on the organizer provided.  You may wish to also look at the diagram in lesson 17.
   

Aboriginal Perspectives

Assigned Nov 9th

Due: With Binder

 This task involved reading some information online (here), then answering some questions based on that reading.  The questions may be found here.