The Flow of Energy in Living Things

Integrated Science

Grade 9

Objective: At the end of the reading students will be able to state the main forms of energy with 90% accuracy.

At the end of the reading students will be able to explain how energy flows in living organisms in the environment.

According to Johnson and Hill (2010), energy is defined as the capacity to do work. they continued to state that energy can take many forms which include mechanical, heat, sound, electric current, light or radioactive radiation. Other forms include kinetic, nuclear, potential, chemical, heat and solar.

In the environment, plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis. In the food chain, plants are the primary producers which means they make food for other organisms to feed on and survive. The organisms that eat plants are called herbivores. Those who eat animals are carnivores and those that eat both plants and animals are called omnivores. The herbivores are considered as primary consumers because they feed directly on the plants. When the plant is eaten, the chemical energy is converted into different forms so that the organism can do work. The carnivores would be considered as secondary consumers because they would feed on the primary consumers. The omnivores can be considered both primary consumers and secondary consumers.

It is important to note that in the food chain, a plant always starts the chain. When an organism feeds on the other, energy  is gained. Interconnected food chains are called food webs.

Below shows a picture of a food chain and a food web.

https://jr.brainpop.com/science/animals/foodchain/

What is the name of the primary consumer in the food chain above?

https://www.legendsoflearning.com/learning-objectives/food-webs-in-an-ecosystem/

The picture above displays a food web.

Name 2 of the secondary consumers in the food web above.

Test yourself!

Go unto my twitter account Twitter page to answer the following question. Explain how living organisms flow in living organisms in the environment.

See you soon!

Cells

WELCOME BACK!

Integrated Science 

Grade 9

Objectives:

At the end of the reading students will describe one function of each major cell parts.

At the end of the reading students will be able to explain the process of photosynthesis.

All organisms are made up of cells (Johnson and Hill 2010). There are two types of cells which include plant cells and animal cells. They differ in their organelle composition and the organs they form. According to Johnson and Hill (2010), organelles are membrane-bound structures that are found within the cell that are compartmentalized to allow for the efficiency of biochemical processes. The structures and organelles that are common to both cells are:

Cell membrane: controls movement of substances into and out of cell.

Nucleus: controls all cell functions and is the reservoir of the genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Cytoplasm: site where most cell activities occur.

Vacuole: storage of substances.

Mitochondrion: produce energy for cell activities.

In plant cells only:

Cell wall– provides support and shape

Chloroplast– site of food production (photosynthesis)

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_cell

The diagram above gives a representation of a typical plant cell.

One major organ system in the plant is the leaf. The leaf is made of many cells that all work together to perform different functions. It is the area where photosynthesis occurs, gaseous exchange and transpiration. Photosynthesis occurs when plants use carbon dioxide and water to make food in the form of glucose and oxygen. Plants and animals rely on each other to survive. Gaseous exchange allows for carbon dioxide to enter the leaves and for oxygen to exit them. Transpiration is the process by which the plant regulates the uptake and release of water.

The video below shows how photosynthesis occurs in the leaf.

 

 

Test yourself!

What is the importance of photosynthesis to humans?

Living Organisms

Integrated Science

Grade level: 9

Objective: At the end of the reading, students will be able to describe the characteristics of living things.

What are the features of a car? What are the features of an animal for example a cat? Why is the cat alive and not the car?

Living organisms are considered to be alive because of the characteristics they have, which includes reproduction, excretion, movement, nutrition, reproduction, sensitivity (response to stimuli) and growth. Cells are the basic unit of living things. A group of cells that specialize to perform the same function is called a tissue; a group of tissue is known as an organ which group together to form an organ system, for example, the digestive system. Different systems are responsible for carrying out specified functions in the organisms.

Characteristics of living organisms

• Respiration– this is the process by which energy in the form of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is released from food. There are two ways that respiration can occur. Aerobic respiration occurs when energy is released from food in the presence of oxygen. In contrast, anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen.
• Excretion– this is the process where waste from metabolism is released from the organisms. Some organs found in the excretory system are the kidneys and the skin.
• Movement– this is the ability to move from one area to the next. However, note that plants and some animals do not move which are considered living things but clouds move which is considered a non-living thing (Johnson and Hill 2010).
• Nutrition– this is the process by which nutrients and energy are obtained from food. Plants make their own food which are consumed by animals.
• Reproduction– this is the ability of producing a new species from fertilization.
• Sensitivity– this is the ability to respond to a stimuli
• Growth– this is the use of energy to change into a more developed organism.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6370/1535/tab-figures-data

The above picture shows plants, bromeliads, considered a living organism.

http://listverse.com/2017/06/23/10-amazing-ways-animals-are-superior-to-man/

The above picture shows animals, giraffes, which are considered a living organism.

Test Yourself!

Activity: Describe, briefly FOUR characteristics of living organisms.

Referenece

Johnson, Raven, and Hill, McGraw (2010). The Biology of Science. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Accessed on November 27, 2018. biology.org.ua/files/lib/Raven_Johnson_McGraw-Hill_Biology.pdf

 

The Melting Pot of Hall Life

Who do you think has it harder? Commuting students or students who live on hall? I am here to let you know that students on hall face as much struggles with balancing school work, domestic work and the overwhelming hall activities.

Although the activities are overwhelming, they were implemented to assist in developing the citizen the University of the West Indies tries to create. A student that is academically successful, in tune with current affairs. The programs include the Academic Enhancement Program, Body Positive, I’m Glad I’m a Girl, Music Society, Speech and Communication, Sign Language, among many others.  Sign Language has opened my eyes to the challenges that the other abled persons have to face on a regular basis in Jamaica. They live with the challenge of being misunderstood everyday at the hospital, police station and on the road. The awareness has allowed me to become more compassionate towards them.

Along with the meaningful activities, you have to organize time to complete assignments and study for exams. It was not until first year where I really understood the demands and how to act accordingly. In a course, it outlined time management skills that have helped me and I’m sure will help you too. These include:

1. Diagnose your procrastination;
2. Take at least 10 minutes each day to review notes;
3. Take a half-hour to plan, a day or week at a time, specifically looking at which assignments to do when;
4. Structure your out of class time. Attend to your assignments as they were lectures;
5. Build rewards into your schedule;

Those were only a few however you can try them and see if it makes a difference. You can engage in a discussion on twitter based on what strategies you implement to manage your time in University. Twitter page.

See you soon!

 

My first blog post

It is interesting the application of technologies in the 21st century. I developed my first blog on October 25, 2018 in my EDTK 3004 2018 class. By the way you did well today at the 2018 off-campus Seacolite’s day. Go girl!!!!

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton