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=GRADE 8 JUNIOR SCIENCE BASICS= Below you can find the laboratory rules that will help you throughout the next academic school year. If you have any questions or problems, please let your teacher know-

UNIT ONE: MUSCLES AND MOVEMENT
=WEEK ONE: MUSCLES AND MOVEMENT... MOTION AND DISABILITY=

We will begin our investigations by looking at the different ways in which different species move. Below you will see some very early examples of the filming of animals in motion. As you can see, different animals have some very different methods of travelling from one place to another (you are unlikely to ever see an elephant pouncing like a cat) . media type="custom" key="24880130" align="center"

A more modern production may be viewed here. This recent video production by the BBC shows several types of animals and the ´weird´ movements of which they are capable.

[|Weird Nature Marvellous Motion]

Your class activity is to create a poster presentation for an animal of your choice using information researched at home.

=WEEK TWO: THE MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM.=

PART ONE: The Skeletal system
Now that we have seen how different organisms can move it is time to look at the movement capabilities of humans. Below are some quite different examples of the capabilities that our bodies have to move.

[|Bond parkour]

And now for something a bit less hectic:

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So, we can agree that the human body is capable of some pretty amazing moves. How we accomplish them is down to the musculo-skeletal system. To begin with we will focus on one part of this partnership... the human skeleton.

Here are the center that we are looking at in class:








Penn medicine have provided a good introduction to the structures and functions of the skeletal system.

[|The Human Skeletal System.]

Follow the link for a short interactive quiz on the bones of the body.

[|The Human Skeleton]

Once you are down click on the further information button to continue your research.... or you may prefer to try the BBC who have a wealth of information here:

[|BBC Factfiles- Human skeleton]

The structure of bones has been seen in class but you may wish to review the information with what you see here.

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Think you have understood the basics? Try the game below... (**ignore any of the advertised games...** wait until the PLAY GAME symbol **on the bottom right** is flashing).

Anatomy arcade- Whack a bone.

So, you now know the names of the major bones and their general structure. But did you know that your bones are constantly being broken down and repaired by bone cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts? This process occurs constantly throughout your body and over a period of around seven years your entire skeleton is replaced by a new one.

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This process can (with the PROPER training) allow our bones to become quite strong.

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But what happens when a bone actually breaks?Visit this website to understand the processes involved in bone repair.

[|The Facts about Broken Bones] A diagram of the process is shown below.



And here is a video of the process: media type="custom" key="24880152" align="center"

A summary of information relating to the skeletal system can be viewed at this link:

[|Skeleton review]

WEEK THREE: THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM
What is a muscle? Follow the link below to find out.

[|Kids Health- Your muscles.]

You will be required to complete the names of a selected number of these muscles in your examinations. The names and positions that you should review are of the **Quadriceps, Biceps femoralis, Gastrocnemius, Gluteus Maximus, Rectus Abdominis, Latissimus Dorsii, External Oblique, Deltoid, Trapezius, Pectoralis Major, Biceps brachii,** **Triceps brachii, Sartorius, Achilles Tendon.**

Here are the class resources and some practise handouts for naming the muscles.




With the help of your research you should be able to identify these superficial muscles of the human body. These muscle are attached to the skeletal system and are therefore referred to as skeletal muscles. Their function is to help to provide movement in our bodies.

Below you will find quite an interesting and informative video on the muscles of the human body.

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Try playing this game to see how well you can identify the muscles of the body. (Same rules as before.... **ONLY** click on the **PLAY GAME** button on the bottom right of the game).

[|Anatomy arcade- Poke a muscle]

WEEK FOUR: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND JOINTS
So, how do we control our movements? Every action that we consciously take and even those that are involuntary rely on the communication system of the body that is composed of cells called neurons... which make up our nerves.

Here is a diagram of a typical neuron.



The job of a neuron is to pass information around the body. Different neurons have different jobs... sensory neurons receive information and relay it to the brain. Motor neurons transmit signals from the brain to the muscles. The brain and spinal cord are made up of inter neurons. (Inter means ´between´ .....so inter neurons are ones that lie between sensory neurons and motor neurons). Here is an introductory video on the nervous system: media type="custom" key="24880160" align="center"

A quick review of joints can be obtained in the link below:

[|BBC bitesize - joints and their functions]

Or you may prefer these documents:

A complete overview of the skeletal muscular system may be seen in the powerpoint provided (though some aspects are a bit advanced)

WEEK FIVE: ASSESSMENT WEEK.
This week was to begin with a quiz.... this has now been postponed until next week. Once all classes have completed the assessment the work will be made available below.

Our next task during the week is to complete the dissection of a chicken leg. It is the responsibility of the students to ensure that they bring their chicken leg to class on time and that they are wearing their lab coat and glasses at all times throughout the practical. Instructions will be provided with the rubric in class.

Here is the accompanying powerpoint presentation.



For those of you who prefer to watch video... here is one that shows a dissection of a chicken leg.

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And, for good measure we have included the dissection of the wing also:

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WEEK SIX: DESIGN PRACTICAL

This week the assessments continue as we complete a design workshop and a practical investigation comparing muscle strength or flexibility between group member

In the first assessment it is advised that you read the instructions provided in the laboratory guide at the top of the wiki. If it seems very complicated, don´t worry too much as the concepts will be explained in class and practiced throughout the remaining year and the MYP programme.

=WEEK SEVEN: FINAL PROJECT=

The final project will be based around the concept of disability in Colombia.

There are a number of resources to follow to get some ideas about your chosen topic. For those who are researching prosthetics, we have provided some links to a number of videos.

[] [] []

For the Oscar Pistorius (the blade runner) project:

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Alternatively, the New York Times has this to say on the subject:

[|Disabled or TOO-abled?]

Part of the article leads to this excellent animation of HOW Pistorius´ motions compare to those of an able-bodied sprinter:

[|Blade runner graphic]

Students who are investigating the history of prosthetics may be interested in the following links:

[|A history of prostheses] [|Another history of prostheses] [|In Motion: A brief history of prosthetics]

Quite an interesting video on the subject is shown below: media type="custom" key="24880174"

For the review of how accessible/ inclusive the CCB is for those in a situation of disability the following powerpoint may be worth viewing:



Starter research on the causes of disability may be explored here:

[|Colombian disabilities caused by landmines]

The history of the concept of disability may be reviewed here:

[|The history of the changing concept of disability]

Regardless of your chosen project you should have a look at this EXCELLENT website:

[|The museum of disABILITY]

=END OF UNIT 1.= Well, here we are at the end of the first unit. The majority of the week will be left to the presentation of the final projects. It is essential that you take notes of the information provided. The projects will be made available (if it´s possible) here on the wiki. There may be an essay question in the final exam that is based on the information from the projects. Review the information here.



You will also find this article relating to landmine usage in Colombia helpful:



Remember that the notes you make in class about the presentations of your classmates will be a great help in constructing your essay... so make sure they are GOOD notes!