Monthly Archives: June 2009

First week, term 3: Unit 2

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Year 11students in Tattersalls Lane, ChinaTown.

As I will be on year 9/10 Rubicon camp during the first week of term 3, you will need to work through Chapter 9 in class. Unit 2 is about “Organisms and their Environment” and Area of Study 1 is concerned with Adaptations of Organisms. First we look at habitats, environment and survival. By the end of this chapter you will:

  • develop a knowledge and understanding of habitats and the environments that exist in them
  • identify major factors that produce the environments of various habitats and distinguish between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
  • give examples of structural adaptations that equip organisms for survival under particular environmental conditions
  • explore technologies used to record environmental factors and track distribution of species within their habitats.

Read through Chapter 9 and make sure you can answer the “Quick Check” questions (no need to write the answers, just answer them quietly to yourselves). Answer the Chapter Review questions on pages 293 to 296. These will be due Friday 24th July (end of second week of term). There are more resources on the Biology wiki at http://hawkesbiology.wikispaces.com/. Please register as a member and add any links to resources you find useful on the appropriate page.

If you have any problems, Don may be able to help, or contact me via Twitter (brittgow); email or Facebook.

Work Experience in Melbourne

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This incredible photo was taken at Cloudbreak, a Pilbara mine site  – apparently it took more than five hours for the snake to finish off the goanna and the workmen put up signage so it wouldn’t be run over. Looks as though he won’t need another feed in a long while!

Congratulations for completing your exams for this semester and well done to those of you who put in the extra hours of revision that paid off in better results. I will be joining you down in Melbourne, during your first week of work experience and am looking forward to visiting you in your work places (as well as the odd coffee and bit of shopping!).

After the June school holidays we commence Unit 2 studies, which looks at Organisms in their Environment. It is much more descriptive that Unit 1, with less terminology and fewer definitions to remember. Most of you will find it less demanding, although you will still need to understand the basic principles – diffusion and osmosis, surface area to volume ratios, energy flow, photosynthesis and respiration. Pleae make sure you read Chapter 9: “Habitats, environments and survival” in your Biology text, so you are familiar with what we are starting with next term. Check out the wiki at: http://hawkesbiology.wikispaces.com/ and feel free to add any new resources that you may find helpful.

Enjoy your holidays and see you in term 3!

Revision for Exams

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All around the world students have examinations to test and assess their learning. How well you do will depend on your attitude as well as your knowledge and preparation. The following tips may assist you to succeed:

  • Top students study for between 2 and 5 hours on week nights and 3 to 6 hours a day on weekends.
  • Turn off your mobile phone and minimize other distractions (magazines, games, TV).
  • Make a list of deadlines and exam dates and plan your week ahead.
  • Try using earplugs and listen to music only when doing undemanding work.
  • Consider studying at the library where there are fewer distractions.
  • Find study-buddies for sharing notes and discussing ideas.
  • Get help from a teacher or consider a tutor – they can force you to work and change your attitude to a subject.
  • Get friends or family membrs to test you before exams.
  • Remember to take breaks, get at least eight hours of sleep each night and eat healthy food.
  • Get a copy of the course syllabus as a guide to write your study notes.
  • Write brief notes and review them again immediately. Review them again 24 hours later and then twice each week until the exam.
  • Use colour to highlight important headings – sub-headings act as memory triggers.
  • Do lots of practise papers – research shows top students do a lot more practise tests.
  • Read extra material, making notes of relevant material and then refer to it in your essay.
  • Look for a unique angle – demonstrate you understand opposing opinions and then explain why you believe one argument is more correct. Evaluation is one of the higher-order thinking skills.
  • Avoid stressed people and those who speculate about what is in the exam on the day. Aim to stay calm.

On exam day, after a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast:

  • It usually takes about 10 minutes to focus on the exam – start mentally rehearsing what you are going to do before the examiner says start.
  • Check how many marks are allocated to each part of the exam question.
  • Read and re-read the questions – look for negatives eg. “Which is NOT an example of …..
  • Stay calm and keep things in perspective. Each exam is worth only a portion of your final mark.