Elephant Research Presentations

Presentations today on elephant research!
"What is the cause of reduced reproduction rates in captive elephants?"

IMPORTANT: You must address, The mechanism of the cause on a cellular/molecular level is… (include background information to explain the mechanism)

15 minutes to prepare with your group

Sign up for order of presentation on the board

Respect your classmates and their efforts:
-no electronics, please
-give your full attention and presence
-provide authentic feedback for each group

Feedback forms
After each presentation, talk with your group members to evaluate the presenting group and provide the following feedback:
1) Praise - What did they do well in their presented research?
2) Polish - What could be improved?
3) Question - What are you still wondering?

Please have one person in your group share your slides w/me

FRIDAY: 
-Time to refine/edit your group's research & turn in
-Free time/film/outside time/share food/? (your choice)

Continue Elephant Project Pitch Presentation Work with Teams

💕💕💕💕💕Happy Valentine's Day!💕💕💕💕💕


Tutorial schedule today

Today you will have time to finish the 'Elephant Engineering Design' worksheet with your group.
It's organized to help you:
1) identify the problem(s)
2) brainstorm solutions
3) identify constraints (limits) and criteria (goals)
4) design a prototype
5) reflect on your process

Clarifying notes on graphic organizer:
-the sub-problem boxes should include specific ideas about each claim, such as: diet could be...wrong nutrients, not enough nutrients, altering hormones, etc.
-In the section about 'what evidence did you use...', you need to specifically answer 'What is the mechanism of the challenge(s) on a cellular/molecular level?'
-In Part 4 'Prototype,' you present your final proposed solution
-4b) is asking: How would the zoo measure whether the change is having the intended impact? (which labs could they do?)
-Don't forget 5d) at the very bottom

I would strongly encourage you to read through the information below with your group as you're working on your graphic organizer. These are all relevant links used in class around our elephant project. It may help you to pinpoint your claim and locate specific evidence.

Introduction to elephant project with group roles

San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research website

'Elephant 101' video

Biomolecules slides (what types of biomolecules are in which types of food?)

Rhino Diet article 1 &  article 2 (effects of diet on reproduction)

AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) has standards of care and management for animals in captivity. HERE are the AZA standards for elephants - read through it and look specifically for information by using 'Control F' with keyword

Smithsonian article: 'Great Expectations: Boosting captive animal reproductive rates'

Enzyme slides

Elephant reproduction slides

'What is a Hormone' article

Exercise Lab slides

Polar Bear Energetics slides

Next, use the information gathered in this investigation and in the 'Elephant Engineering Design' graphic organizer to help you build your final project - the Pitch Presentation.

Go to Google Classroom and work on 'Unit 2 Task 5: Pitch Presentation slides.

TODAY is the last class day for work time on this.

Presentations will be next Wednesday 2/19.

Each group member is responsible for turning in their own graphic organizer and contributing to the presentation for a grade.

Continue group work on 'Elephant Engineering Design'; Begin Pitch Presentation work with group

Afternoon sub: Ms. Aboussie (Ms. Ferro's son is sick)

Today you will have time to finish the 'Elephant Engineering Design' worksheet with your group.
It's organized to help you:
1) identify the problem(s)
2) brainstorm solutions
3) identify constraints (limits) and criteria (goals)
4) design a prototype
5) reflect on your process

Clarifying notes on graphic organizer:
-the sub-problem boxes should include specific ideas about each claim, such as: diet could be...wrong nutrients, not enough nutrients, altering hormones, etc.
-In the section about 'what evidence did you use...', you need to specifically answer 'What is the mechanism of the challenge(s) on a cellular/molecular level?'
-In Part 4 'Prototype,' you present your final proposed solution
-4b) is asking: How would the zoo measure whether the change is having the intended impact? (which labs could they do?)
-Don't forget 5d) at the very bottom

I would strongly encourage you to read through the information below with your group as you're working on your graphic organizer. These are all relevant links used in class around our elephant project. It may help you to pinpoint your claim and locate specific evidence.

Introduction to elephant project with group roles

San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research website

'Elephant 101' video

Biomolecules slides (what types of biomolecules are in which types of food?)

Rhino Diet article 1 &  article 2 (effects of diet on reproduction)

AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) has standards of care and management for animals in captivity. HERE are the AZA standards for elephants - read through it and look specifically for information by using 'Control F' with keyword

Smithsonian article: 'Great Expectations: Boosting captive animal reproductive rates'

Enzyme slides

Elephant reproduction slides

Exercise Lab slides

Polar Bear Energetics slides

Next, use the information gathered in this investigation and in the 'Elephant Engineering Design' graphic organizer to help you build your final project - the Pitch Presentation.

Go to Google Classroom and work on 'Unit 2 Task 5: Pitch Presentation slides.

You have today and this Friday for work time on this.

Presentations will be next Wednesday 2/19.

Each group member is responsible for turning in their own graphic organizer and contributing to the presentation for a grade.

All Elephant Info in one place!

Introduction to elephant project with group roles

San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research website

'Elephant 101' video

Biomolecules slides

Rhino Diet article 1 &  article 2

AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) has standards of care and management for animals in captivity. HERE are the AZA standards for elephants - read through it and look specifically for information by using 'Control F' with keyword

Smithsonian article: 'Great Expectations: Boosting captive animal reproductive rates'

Enzyme slides

Elephant reproduction slides

'What is a Hormone?' article

Exercise Lab slides

Polar Bear Energetics slides

Begin Elephant Engineering Design

Happy Monday!

We've explored several different aspects that may affect elephant reproduction - it's time to tie it all together...
(check on project progress HERE)

Please keep phones away and get out a notebook and pencil for note taking

Last class we asked: 
How do we measure exercise in animals?
We looked at polar bear accelerometer data and discussed how scientists are monitoring their behaviors to determine how they are being affected by climate change.

First, let's practice making scientific observations! Think about what behaviors you see in the following clips and how those behaviors require different energy demands...

I want you to observe for 5 minutes, taking notes on how the animals are interacting with:

-Environment

-Humans

-Other elephants

Polar Bears:
(wild) Live Polar Bear Cam - Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada (observe for ~2 mins)
(captive) Polar Bear Cam - San Diego Zoo (~2 min obs.)

Elephants:
(wild) Footage of wild elephants - Botswana, Africa (start at 4:45 - 12:45)
(captive) Live Elephant Cam - San Diego Zoo Safari Park

With your lab group, compare your observation notes. Then, make a prediction about how much energy is required for different tasks in captive elephants versus wild elephants' lives. (for example, _ probably requires more energy than _ )

How does this connect to elephant reproduction? 

• What role does stress play in cell growth and repair? ✓
• How do cells signal to one another? ✓
• How might zoo elephants and wild elephants experience exercise and cellular impacts of exercise differently?

Now you will complete the 'Elephant Engineering Design' worksheet with your group. It's organized to help you:
1) identify the problem(s)
2) brainstorm solutions
3) identify criteria (goals) and constraints (limits)
4) design a prototype
5) reflect on your process

You have the rest of this class period and half of the next class period to complete it.

Exercise Lab Day 4: Polar Bear Energetics & Connection to Elephant Investigation

As you get seated and ready for class today, share a rose and a thorn with your table partners. 🌹

WARM UP: (write in notebook)

1. How is stress related to cellular muscle growth? (what makes muscles grow?)

2. How does exercise affect tissue systems in the body? (heart, muscles, etc.)

Exercise Lab CER due by end of day Friday (tomorrow)!

In the Exercise Lab, we investigated how stress (exercise) affects homeostasis in humans.
Our research question was: "What is the effect of exercise on heart rate as measured by beats per minute?"
(Discuss results and limitations, example graph on slide 9)

How do we measure exercise in animals?

Polar Bear Energetics slides and activities HERE

Get 'Polar Bear Energetics Worksheet' half sheet
You will fill out the 6 boxes by following along with slides

OK...so, how does this connect to elephant reproduction? 

(slide 11 in Classroom HERE)

Finish Exercise Lab (Day 3), work on CER with group

No tutorial this week (assembly today - see below)
Next week: tutorials Thursday & Friday

Feb 4, we will have two assemblies for our current 10th and current 11th graders. They are expected to last approximately 45-55 minutes.

These assemblies will outline the online forecasting process and course selections.  Counselors will also communicate the plan for 10th and 11th graders and meet with them during  Chemistry (10th) and English (11th) classes.

10th graders will be released to the auditorium at 10:00 am.   Sophomore teachers will accompany students if they are teaching English 3-4 or AP Modern World History or Modern World History during that period.

11th graders will be released to the auditorium at 12:15 pm. Junior teachers will accompany students if they are teaching English 5-6, US History, or African American History during that period.

All other teachers will send their students when they hear the announcement to release them to the auditorium.

Last class we performed the Exercise Lab (Unit 2 Task 4)

Some of you may still need to finish collecting data - that is your first priority!

Once your data is collected, work on your CER with your group, making sure to read thoroughly and include everything it's asking for

Review 'Exercise & Animal Behavior Lab Slides' together for information on CER

Work time!

Submit when done

Extra time? 
Did you already complete Unit 2 Task 3: ELISA Lab?
Do you have other work you can do?

Next time: Look at Polar Bear Energetics to connect animal exercise to our elephant project

Exercise Lab Day 2: perform lab, collect data, work on CER

Notebooks out for notes during videos & discussion today!

Unit 2 Task 4: Exercise Lab in Google Classroom

Essential Question: How do elephants respond to stress and exercise in captivity?

Go through slides and choose independent variables

Back ground info on how to measure heart rate & what does it mean? HERE before student work on CER (practice measuring RHR)

Finish Elephant Reproduction Slides; Exercise Lab Day 1 (choose IV's & measure RHR)

Day 1 of Semester 2 - clean slate! Enjoy that feeling... :)

WARM UP:
Half sheet of paper; write your first name, period #
1. What are you most proud of from semester 1?
2. What are three goals for semester 2 of biology?
(group member closest to windows please collect & turn in)

TED-Ed Video: How do your hormones work? (HERE; 2 mins)

Finish Elephant Reproduction Slides HERE
Finish data sheet and turn in

B  R  E  A  K...

Notebooks out for notes during videos & discussion

Unit 2 Task 4: Exercise Lab in Google Classroom
Go through slides and choose independent variables

Essential Question: How do elephants respond to stress and exercise in captivity?

Back ground info on how to measure heart rate & what does it mean? HERE before student work on CER (practice measuring RHR)

Thursday: Do Exercise Lab --- dress accordingly!!!

Finals Days (Jan. 22-24); ELISA Lab

Finals Schedule:
Wednesday, January 22nd (Ferro not here)
Periods 1, 2, 4
Thursday, January 23rd
Periods 5, 6, 8
Friday, January 24th
Periods 3, 7

Grading update: all Task 2 CER's that were turned in by 1/22 have been graded and are in Synergy, as well as all revisions that you asked me to re-grade on 1/21

A word of warning: you may not copy and paste lab write-ups from your lab partners. Moving forward, this will affect your grade. Your conclusion and other 'explanatory questions must be in your own words. This is the assessment by which I evaluate your learning.


Today: Begin ELISA Lab 
Here we will learn the background information we need about normal elephant reproduction

Posted in Google Classroom (Unit 2 Task 3)

Students will explore how the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research has contributed to the recovery effort of the vulnerable African
elephant. Reproductive endocrinology research will be highlighted, with students exploring and utilizing a
mock competitive ELISA as a tool to diagnose reproductive state of our female elephants. After conducting their
investigations, students will analyze, graph, and share their results, culminating with applying their knowledge to
make recommendations for a mock managed care breeding program.

What's "ELISA?" explanation here