Last Week of School Projects

On our last week of school, we have been studying plants and plant reproduction. This week, we have been working on two projects. One is an adaptation project in which we make a slideshow explaining what the adaptation is without giving any facts to our classmates. Our second project is the "Fast Plant Journal", in which we planted Wisconsin Fast Plants with two other people in our group. The journal part is when we write about the plant in journal format. We are almost done making the slideshows and the plants that we planted are looking fantastic! (by Nahum)

Click here to see our slideshow about the parasitic plants and their adaptations.

Wisconsin Fast Plants

In school we have been growing some Wisconsin Fast Plants. But before all of this we had to make what we were going to put the seeds in. So we broke up into groups of two-five people and set to work. What we needed was a one or a two liter bottle, the bottle cap, a wick, and scissors. The first thing that we did was cut the bottle one centimeter below the shoulder. The second step was to poke a hole in the bottle cap, so we could thread the wick through it. After we had done this we put the wick in the cap and screwed the cap on. In the bottom section of the bottle we put water and the top we put soil, and then with the cap facing downwards we put the top inside the bottom making sure that the wick is in both sides evenly. After all this we placed four seeds in the top layer of dirt, hence the name of these plant they grew very quickly and since the first day of this each group has been keeping a journal of what the plants are up too.  (by Alex V.)

Fast Plants

Have you ever heard of a fast plant? Well in A block science class we are learning about plants and the reproduction of plants. Since we are learning about plants, Lisa has decided that we grow our own plants. The plants that we are growing are called fast plants, they grow unusually fast. The scientific name for a fast plant is Brassica rapa. The are related to the crucifer family of plants; cabbage, turnips and broccoli. These plants take about 27-29 days to take on their full form. These plants have been bred for over 30 years at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. (by Ellie)

Mantis shrimp

Shrimp are commonly thought to be small defenseless herbivores, but among these creatures is a viciously powerful carnivore with enough force to easily punch a quarter inch thick glass. They are called mantis shrimp. They eat fish, crabs and other shrimp. To get through their hard shell mantis shrimp have a extraordinary ability to literally punch straight through things. This is a feat that can not be accomplished with muscle alone. The mantis shrimp's arm has a special piece of shell that can bend and then spring forward like a spring loaded machine. At the end of the arm is a club like structure that can fold outwards into a spiked claw. The mantis shrimps motion is the fastest punch in the world, moving at forty-five mph. Click here to watch a video about the mantis shrimp. (by Egan)

Octopus can see with their skin?

A new study has shown that octopi can see with their skin (or at least sense light). This was discovered when the same pigment found in eyes was found in octopus skin. From there two biologists Desmond Ramirez and Todd Oakley from The University of California put patches of octopus skin in Petri dishes with an insect pin. They then started emitting wavelengths of light into the skin. It was found that the skin reacts to continuous bright white light by expanding very quickly and pulsating rhythmically. It was later seen that when exposed to red light it caused slow rhythmic muscle contractions. I find this really interesting because first these octopi can change colors and now they can see with their skin!? Also if you want the whole article click here. (by Trip)