Category: My Classroom Material

Chimpanzee Webquest

Life of the Chimpanzee

Introduction  |  Task  |  Process  |  Evaluation  |  Conclusion 

Introduction

Chimpanzees are primates that live in forest regions of Africa.  They are genetically very similar to humans, sharing 98% of the same genes.  Because of their similarities, Chimpanzees can reveal much about ourselves and how we learn.  Chimpanzees have evolved over time to the most sophisticated primates other than humans.  They have a very complex social structure, and even know how to use “tools” to make a task easier.  In this web quest, you will learn all about chimpanzees, their common connection with humans, and how they have evolved to survive.

Task

Your task is to use the internet to research chimpanzees.  After researching, you will use a poster board to make a Venn diagram that outline the similarities and differences of humans and chimpanzees.  After making your diagram, you will present it to the class, explaining the similarities. In addition, you will explain what specific characteristics chimps and humans share that allow them to survive. This will be a group project.  An illustration of the Venn diagram is shown below.  Group A will be human characteristics,  group B will be chimpanzee characteristics, and group C will be the shared traits of humans and chimps.  Before beginning the process, skip down and read the Evaluation Rubric so you will know what your grade is based on.

Process

  1.  First, you will watch and take notes on the video, Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees.  The movie will give you some background knowledge on what scientists know about chimps and their behavior.
  2.  After watching the movie, you will choose a partner to help do research on chimpanzees.  This research will be used to construct your Venn diagram and to make a presentation ( PowerPoint – 15 slides ) which you and your partner will give to the class.
  3.  Use the following links to initially research chimpanzees.  If you wish to do your own customized search, use the Google Search Engine and keywords.  Hint: to get the most out of research, divide up the responsibilities and have each person research a different aspect of chimpanzees.

Encyclopedia Entry:  Chimpanzee

   Jane Goodall Institute

   Enchanted Learning:  Chimpanzees

   Save the Chimps:  Fact Sheet

  1. During your research, be sure to record any similarities and differences between chimps and humans.  After your research is completed, you will consolidate all of your findings into the diagram.
  2.  After each group member is done researching, come together as a group and complete your Venn diagram.  Remember to include both unique and shared characteristics of humans and chimpanzees.  Remember also to include shared adaptations that allow chimps and humans to survive.  Write these adaptations below the diagram.
  3.  After each group has completed the diagram, you will present your Venn diagram to the class, explaining your findings using  a PowerPoint presentation. 

 

Evaluation:

You will be evaluated based on the following rubric:  (CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE COPY)

 

Oral Presentation Rubric Possible Points Self-Assessment Teacher Assessment
Complete Venn diagram with unique adaptations listed at bottom. 25
PowerPoint Presentation well-designed and with 15 slides 25
Presentation was well planned and coherent. (Evidence of rehearsal) 10
Poster board  (helpful, neat) 10
Teamwork:  Every member of group played a role 10
Presentation shows evidence of research on Chimpanzees (good understanding of similarities and differences) 10
Communication Skills (eye contact, posture, clear voice, appropriate volume, transitions between speakers smooth, and all members presented) 10
Total Possible Points 100

Note that half of your grade is based on the completion of the Venn diagram and PowerPoint, while the other half is distributed among different presentation aspects.  Teamwork is a part of your grade as well.  Make sure that each member plays a role in research and presentation.

Conclusion:

Chimpanzees and Humans are very different in many ways.  Humans are much more advanced in thought and practical skills.  Yet, there are still many shared characteristics, such as a complex social hierarchy, ability to use “tools”, and communication.  These adaptations have allowed both humans and chimpanzees to survive, each in their respective habitat.  Understanding chimpanzee behavior can help us understand our own evolution, where we came from, and perhaps where we are going.

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Chlorophyll Fluorescence

 

Chlorophyll Fluorescence

INTRODUCTION

When a pigment absorbs light, electrons of certain atoms in the pigment molecules are boosted to a higher energy level. The energy of an absorbed photon is converted to the potential energy of the electron that has been raised to an excited state. In most pigments, the excited electron drops back to its ground-state, or normal orbit, and releases the excess energy as heat. Some pigments, including chlorophyll, emit light as well as heat after absorbing photons.
In the chloroplast, these excited electrons jump from the chlorophyll molecule to a protein molecule in the thylakoid membrane, and are replaced by electrons from the splitting of water. The energy thus transferred, is used in carbohydrate production.
This release of light is called fluorescence. Chlorophyll will fluoresce in the red part of the spectrum, and also give off heat. In this lab, you will observe this fluorescence by separating the chlorophyll from the thylakoid membrane.

MATERIALS

 

Spinach leaves Flashlight or small lab light
Mortar and pestle Test tube
Acetone Filter paper
25-mL graduated cylinder Funnel
Ring stand or funnel rack Safety goggles

PROCEDURE

1. Grind the spinach leaves using a mortar and pestle.

2. Add acetone to the ground leaves, using enough acetone and spinach leaves to get between 10 and 15 mL of extract.

3. Set up your filtering apparatus, and using proper filtering technique, filter the extract to a test tube. NOTE: Use a small amount of acetone to wet the filter paper, to hold it into place, instead of water.

4. Shine a flashlight, or other similar light source, through the test tube and extract.

5. Observe the fluorescence of the chlorophyll at a 90 degree angle to the flashlight.

 

Chordates

Chordates
All Materials © Cmassengale  

Characteristics of Chordates

  • All chordates have a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal pouches, & postanal tail at some time in their life
  • Notochord is a firm, flexible rod of tissue located on the dorsal side of the body that becomes part of the endoskeleton in vertebrates
  • Dorsal nerve cord is a hollow tube lying dorsal to the notochord that becomes the brain & spinal cord in vertebrates
  • Pharyngeal pouches are small outpockets of the anterior part of the digestive tract that become gills in aquatic chordates & jaws, inner ear, & tonsils in terrestrial chordates
  • Postanal tail consists of muscle tissue & lies behind the posterior opening of the digestive tract

Subphyla of Chordates

  • The Phylum Chordata  includes all of the vertebrates, as well as two groups of marine animals that lack backbones and are called invertebrate chordates
  • The phylum is divided into three subphyla, determined by the development of the notochord
  • Subphylum Cephalochordata contains about 24 species of blade-shaped animals known as lancelates that retain the notochord, dorsal nerve chord, pharyngeal pouches, and postanal tail throughout their life
  • Subphylum Urochordata  contains 2,000 species commonly called tunicates because their bodies are covered by a tough covering, or tunic
    * Called sea squirts because they shoot out a stream of water when touched
    *Sessile, barrel-shaped, filter feeding animals that live on the sea bottom
    *Adults have a pouch-like pharynx with slits
    *Adults do not have a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, or postanal tail
  • Subphylum Vertebrata is the largest subphylum in which the notochord is replaced with vertebrae
    *  Skeletons consist of bone &/or cartilage
    * Brain is protected by a cranium
    * Well developed 4 chambered heart with a closed circulatory system
    * Includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, & mammals

Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals
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Biochemistry Quiz 2

Name: 

Biochemistry 

 

 

True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.
1.
When sugar is dissolved in water, the sugar and water are chemically combined.
2.
Functional groups are side groups of carbon compounds that confer specific properties to these compounds.
 

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
3.
Water molecules are polar, with the
a.
oxygen side being slightly positive and the hydrogen side being slightly negative.
b.
oxygen and hydrogen sides being slightly positive.
c.
oxygen and hydrogen sides being slightly negative.
d.
oxygen side being slightly negative and the hydrogen side being slightly positive.
4.
Which of the following organic compounds is the main source of energy for living things?
a.
carbohydrates
b.
lipids
c.
nucleic acids
d.
proteins
5.
Which of these is a characteristic of enzymes?
a.
they are protein
c.
they are reusable
b.
they are specific
d.
all of these
6.
Which element is found in proteins but not in carbohydrates and fats?
a.
nitrogen
c.
hydrogen
b.
carbon
d.
oxygen
7.
Which organic molecule below is most closely related to lipids?
a.
amino acids
c.
nucleotides
b.
CH2 chains
d.
sugars
chp3_online_tutoria_files/i0100000.jpgchp3_online_tutoria_files/i0100001.jpg
             Molecule A        Molecule B
8.
Refer to the illustration above. Molecules like Molecule “B” are found in
a.
carbohydrates.
c.
nucleic acids.
b.
lipids.
d.
proteins.
9.
Which of the following is composed of fatty acids and glycerol?
a.
carbohydrate
c.
protein
b.
lipid
d.
nucleic acid
10.
This group of organic compounds includes monosaccharides:
a.
carbohydrates
c.
protein
b.
lipids
d.
nucleic acids
11.
Carbon is different from most other elements in that
a.
it has four electrons in its outermost energy level.
b.
it readily bonds with other carbon atoms.
c.
it can form single, double, or triple bonds with other atoms.
d.
it shares two electrons with another atom when it forms a covalent bond.
12.
Which of the following characteristics of water is not a result of hydrogen bonding?
a.
adhesive strength
b.
capillarity
c.
cohesive strength
d.
All of the above are a result of hydrogen bonding.
13.
Polysaccharides are
a.
carbohydrates.
c.
proteins.
b.
lipids.
d.
unsaturated fats.
14.
Enzymes involved in a chemical reaction:
a.
are used up during the reaction
b.
are decomposed during the reaction
c.
react more rapidly as the reaction progresses
d.
are not used up during the reaction
15.
Which organic compound is involved in heredity?
a.
carbohydrate
c.
proteins
b.
lipid
d.
nucleic acids
16.
Water molecules break up other polar substances,
a.
such as sugars.
b.
because of the uneven charge distribution that exists in water molecules.
c.
thus freeing ions in these substances for use by the body.
d.
All of the above
17.
When a glass is filled to the brim with water, the water appears to bulge from the sides of the glass due to
a.
capillarity
c.
adhesion
b.
thermal energy
d.
cohesion
18.
Lipids are soluble in
a.
water.
c.
oil.
b.
salt water.
d.
All of the above
19.
Which organic molecule below is classified as a carbohydrate?
a.
amino acid
c.
nucleotide
b.
CH2 chain
d.
sugar
20.
Which of the following is not an organic macromolecule?
a.
carbohydrate
c.
lipid
b.
ice
d.
nucleic acid
21.
Long chains of amino acids are found in
a.
carbohydrates.
c.
proteins.
b.
lipids.
d.
sugars.
22.
Amino acids are the building blocks of larger molecules called:
a.
cellulose
c.
fats
b.
proteins
d.
glycogen
23.
Which of the following is an organic compound?
a.
CaO
c.
C5H12
b.
H2O
d.
H2SO4
24.
All of the following are examples of carbohydrates except
a.
sugar.
c.
steroids.
b.
cellulose.
d.
glycogen.

 
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