Gabriella Alexis

12/4/14

Living Env.

Dear Evaluators,
During the first trimester of science we have learned about the cell functions, matter/air,
diffusion. We started the trimester with mass and matter, learning about the difference in them
both. We then moved on to cell functions and learned the vocabulary of all the organs,
molecules etc. The classes most recently went over diffusion and used starch and glucose in the
lab to demonstrate it. For me, some interesting ideas or activities from the first trimester of
Science were when we did the Gummi activity, where we used gummy worms and bears to test
what would happen if they stayed in water for over 24 hours, which was apart of the diffusion
unit, and the Is Sammy Alive? poster, where we were supposed to use the cell function
vocabulary and certain symptoms of the made up patient Sammy to depict what is wrong and
whether he will live or not, which was apart of the cell function unit. I found these activities
interesting because I learned more about how the cell works and how they function in organisms.
In the Sammy project, I learned what cell functions are vital to us organisms and in the Gummi
activity, I learned that gummies are like humans. If they stay underwater for too long, they get
bloated just like how if humans stay in water for too long our skins get pruney.

During the trimester I did the Gummy Bear Lab project and I was required to predict
what would happen if I left a gummy bear and worm in water for 24 hours or more. Before the
project and after the project, data was to be recorded for both the gummy bear and gummy
worm. I did this project by gathering my materials first and collecting the data of their weight,
height and length then using them to find the volume. Afterwards I put my gummies in the

separate cups of water and left them there until the next day. The following day I took the
gummies out of the water and took the same measurements to see if anything has changed. The
concepts or skills that this project focused on were the ability to make and respond to your thesis.
Doing this project helped me to better understand what diffusion is in an easier and entertaining
way.
So far in Science class, one of my strengths is responding to the thesis I make because
when I make my thesis for the projects we do, Im able to tell whether my thesis was wrong or
not and explain why. One area I need to improve is in writing the conclusions for the projects
and I plan to work on this by focusing more on emphasizing on what the main idea of the whole
project was instead of rambling.

Sincerely,
Gabriella Alexis