Homework for Feb. 7, 2012

7th Graders: 1. Copy down the defined words in your notes, and copy the following definitions in your science notebook vocab section:

1. asexual reproduction - one-parent reproduction; Process by which organisms make exact copies of themselves without the union of gametes (egg & sperm). Ex: budding, runners as with some plants, dividing in two as with bacteria. 
2. cell - The smallest structural unit enclosed by a membrane that makes up all living organisms.
3. clone - An offspring produced by asexual reproduction, either naturally or through artificial processes.
4. fertilization - The union of a male sperm and a female egg to form a zygote.
5. Gene - A specific sequence of DNA that determines one or more traits. Each gene is a small portion of a chromosome. Genes give instructions to the body.
6. Hypothesis – a testable prediction; an explanation based on observed facts or an idea of how things work.
7. Inherited – The passage of traits from parent to offspring.
8. Modeling - models simplify processes to help us understand or communicate an idea or point, enhancing our understanding of what happens in places that are inaccessible (too big, too small, too dangerous).
9. mutation - A change in the DNA of a gene that can lead to a different trait.
10. offspring - Each new organism produced, either sexually (two parents each contributing ½ of the offspring’s genes) or asexually (one parent makes a copy).
11. sexual reproduction - two-parent reproduction; Process by which a sperm cell from a male unites with an egg cell from a female to produce offspring that inherit genes and  traits from both parents. 

6th Graders: Period 3 students: keep working on your Lab Reports (due Friday), start writing your Water Cycle Story (due Monday), plus the homework of Period 2 students: 
Periods 2 & 3 Students: keep working on your Lab Reports (due Friday); also copy down the defined words 1-5 plus a., b., c., and d. in your notes, and copy the definitions for those words in your current science notebook vocab section (Water unit). If there is no blank for one or more of these words, please use the closest open spot or write in the margin or on a sticky note:

1. Concept map  - is an example of a graphic organizer that shows relationships among important ideas.
2. gas - substance that has no definite shape or volume; gas particles spread far apart.
3. liquid - substance with definite volume but no definite shape; particles in a liquid spread far apart enough to flow or pour and take.
4. particles - the atoms or molecules or other small parts that all substances are made of. Ex: Water = compound made of identical water molecules; gold (an element) is made of identical gold atoms.
5. phase - a homogeneous state of matter - gas, liquid, or solid. During a change from one phase to another, the particles don't change, but their arrangement & distance from each other do. Phase changes include: a. melting -solid to liquid; b. freezing - liquid to solid; c. boiling/evaporation -liquid to gas; d. condensation - gas to liquid; e. sublimation- solid to gas; f. deposition - gas to solid. (Homogeneous means that it appears all the same).

physical properties - characteristic of a substance or material. Ex: color, density, flexibility, hardness. These properties help identify pure substances and don't change if the sample is large or very small.
quantitative data - measurements, such as volume or mass
qualitative - characteristics people can perceive without making measurements.
solid - substance with definite shape and volume, as particles are closely packed together, and move very little (vibration).
Solubility - how well a substance can dissolve in a certain solvent such as water; solubility can be measured, and varies from substance to substance.
Soluble, insoluble - A substance (a solute) that is able to dissolve in a solvent (solid, liquid or a gas).


Solute/solvent - the solute is a substance that dissolves in the solvent. Ex: sugar in water
Solution- The mixture that results when one substance, the solute, evenly dissolves in a solvent, another substance - usually a liquid such as water.
substance - Anything that has mass and takes up space.
vapor - The gas phase of a substance (ex: water vapor, not steam, is gaseous water).
Variable - Any factor that can change the outcome of an experiment.