IDENTIFYING THE PARTS OF FLOWERS

 This year we used these beautiful red and orange lilium to study and identify the different parts of flowers. These flowers are very good for this because of the big size of their pistil and stamen, making it easy to see and distinguish the different parts of both. We were also able to see the pollen grains on the anthers and touch the stigma and feel how sticky it is.
 There is a wide range of different shape and sizes of flowers. The number of the parts vary too. It's not always as easy to see the parts as it is in lilium. In flowers with sealed petals, we sometimes have to open the flower to see the stamen and find the pistil inside.
 Spring is a great time of the year to look at flowers and appreciate the variety. I encourage you to do so!

GRADE EXAMS....BE WELL PREPARED!!

Look at the ESO1 and ESO2 sections for details about the next grade exam.

VERTEBRATES - MAMMALS - MARSUPIALS - WATCH THIS VIDEO OF A NEWBORN BABY GREY KANGAROO!

 We have started studying vertebrates. We studied the main characteristics of vertebrates. They are animals with an endoskeleton and a backbone. They have a body divided into a head, a trunk and most have a tail. They have articulated limbs, that can be legs, fins or wings, they have a well developed nervous system and bilateral symmetry.

 The first group of vertebrates we have studied are mammals. We mentioned the physical characteristics of mammals, their nutrition, respiration, reproduction and interaction.

 There are 3 groups of mammals. 

 The most abundant group are placentals, these give birth to well developed offspring. 

 Another group are marsupials, these give birth to an embryo which continues its development in a pouch. Kangaroos and koala bears are marsupials. The way in which marsupials are born and how they develop in the pouch is unknown for must of you and this is why I suggest you watch this very interesting video in which you can see how females give birth to very undeveloped offspring. In the pouch the offspring climb up the mother's body in search of a mammary gland, which it begins to feed off.

 The last group of mammals are monotremes. We have mentioned the rare combination of physical characteristics  these animals have and why scientists have decided to classify them as mammals.

LEARN MORE...!

 If you want to learn more and at the same time obtain a few extra marks, here are some suggestions of things you can do.
- You can do the "investigate" activities that you can find in your experiment book.
- You can print and do the activity sheets from the CD that comes with the book. Ask me for a copy if you have lost yours.
- You can do a project. Choose an interesting topic related to the units we are studying. Anything you find particularly interesting. You can write a project. A well presented project must include an index at the beginning and a personal opinion at the end. On the last page you must indicate bibliography. The projects must be a maximum of 6 pages.