Paleontology: Dig Field School I had the opportunity to participate in the DIG Field School through the University of Washington & Burke Museum. Dr. Greg Wilson, postdocs & students provided an engaging experience for teachers. This short video shows the process and topography of Hell Creek, Montana. We found numerous microfossils and macrofossils. It was a fascinating experience! 

UCI Medical School

Apply for the ALMA program: ALMA Scholar

Welcome to MCHS Biology and Global Studies!

I look forward to another year with Wonderful Wizards! 

Carbon Footprint Calculator   

Earth Day (April 22)...Every Day!

Welcome to MCHS!

Thank you for the Fedco Grant offered through the Orange County Community Foundation for funding a field trip for 147 MCHS students to the Natural History Museum and California Science Center to see the Body Worlds Pulse Exhibit and Endeavor.  Biology, Medical Core (CTE) and freshmen Physical Education students attended.

Thank you to the California Science Center for a grant to cover the admission to the Body World Pulse Exhibit.

NASA Ants in Space/Microgravity & Links

Marian Diamond, neuroscience pioineer: " target="_blank">My Love Affair with the Brain

The link below is a short video of paleontologists working on fossils at the LaBrea Tar Pits:

La Brea Tar Pits Teacher Workshop      

Here are our Wonderful Wizards performing gel electrophoresis to determine the sex of the condor specimen. Future biotechnologists!!! Click on the link below:

California Condor Genetics

Thank you to San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Education for providing the California Condor biotechnology kit. Students have learned about the restoration of the condor population, genetics and utilizition of gel electrophoresis to idenitfy the sex of this incredible bird. It has a wing span of 9.5 feet!

San Diego Zoo Condor Link

Condor Cam

 Micro trash

Biology and Global Studies Students: Please view and take notes on this Story Map:  Climate Migrants

Global Studies Students are participating in the iEARN/BRIDGE program to collaborate on global hunger issues.https://iearn.org

Middle College High School Supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

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Watch our video of students creating Sugar Skulls (click on the link below):

Creating Sugar Skulls

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 Tech Club creating a design on Tinkercad to resolve a problem. Inspiring ideas together!

Make a Difference and Tech Clubs create sugar skulls in preparation for Day of the Dead.

 Diet Analysis

 Supertracker          Estimated Calorie Intake

 Calculate BMI

Facts about Hunger

Zero Hunger

UN SDG Hunger

Future Scientists:  

 

 

 

 

 

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Biomes: UCB Biomes

 

   

 Biology :  Mitosis Video

 

 

 

National Geographic Mapmaker 

 

 

 

 

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Orange County Food Pantries     

Our city of Santa Ana is a designated Tree City! Explore the following link and identify the trees in our community.

 

http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/green/TreeProgram.asp

 

Designated Tree Species of Santa Ana  

 

http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/green/documents/DesignatedTreeSpeciesPics-UpdatedFeb2015.pdf

 

 

 Future Scientists:  

  

Our MCHS Make A Difference (MAD) Club had a wonderful Mexican Independence Day Celebration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        Newly Harvested corn: Bollo

 

 

  

This is another wonderful year at MCHS!           

Here are a few photographs from my wonderful summer in Panama. I spent six weeks in Panama teaching English through the Panama Teacher Match Program offered through Partners of the Americas. I met many new colleagues, students and friends.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 http://carbonconnections.bscs.org/curriculum/unit-03/carbon_calculator/index.php

Teachers flying aboard SOFIA June 2015:

Ralph Peterson, Cliff Gertman & Susan Groff

 

Orange County Register MCHS article November 2015:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/college-690511-high-school.html 

I had the opportunity to attend the Big Ideas Fest in San Jose in December. Here is an article on my experience: http://susanjgroff.weebly.com/teach.html

 

I traveled to the Philippines through the Teachers for Global Classrooms program. Here is my web-site and blog for the program:    http://susanjgroff.weebly.com

 

 

 

 

 

Aquarium of the Pacific Boeing Teacher Institute July-August 2015                              

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org

USC Wrigley Marine Institute:  

http://dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/ 

Thanks to a generous grant provided by Boeing, I had the opportunity to learn new lessons and resources from the fantastic staff at the Aquarium of the Pacific. We visited Catalina Island where we stayed at the USC Wrigley Marine Institute. We attended marine research lectures, went kayaking, snorkeling in the day and at night. Thank you to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a fabulous training program!

 

 

 

http://www.nsta.org/publications/press/extras/files/virus/Virus-Activity7.pdf 

 

http://www.gse.uci.edu/news/2014/groff_newsletter_w14.php

 

 

 

 

 San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research (Peek at the condor cam at the link below

 

 

 http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/polar_bears/denning.html

 

http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/icr/conservation_education/ 

 

Panda Cam/Atlanta Zoo Twin Girls  http://zooatlanta.org/panda_cam

 

 

During the 2012 summer I was fortunate to  participate in the Teacher Workshop in Conservation Biology.  The program was fabulous providing extraordinary training and cutting edge research in conservation of animals and plants. We will be performing unique laboratories throughout the year to support our biology curriculum. The staff and workshop at Safari Park provided a terrific experience!  The Conservation Education Program at the Safari Park sponsored a field trip for all MCHS biology students last year and once again this year. It was a fantastic experience, where students performed a biotechnology lab on the estrous cycle of elephants and toured the Safari Park.

 

 

MCHS Biology students performing biotechnology lab, identifying the stage of the estrous cycle of their respective elephant specimens. The students did an outstanding job!!! Way to go Wizards!

 

https://www.sausd.us//site/Default.aspx?PageID=25668

 

 Conservation articles:

 

 http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/what_we_do_preserving_wildlife/in_the_lab/

 

California is a Hotspot!!!    E

 

http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/california_hotspot/habitats.htm

 

 

Fall/Autumn Why leaves change color:

http://science360.gov/obj/video/e00c9384-d185-4874-b3f7-d8465a92d2b1/chemistry-changing-leave

http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/california_hotspot/

 

Homeless Shelter Resources in Santa Ana

       http://www.suntopia.org/santa_ana/ca/homeless_shelters.php

 

 

 

Thank you MCHS Stand Up to Cancer Club, Students, Staff, Alumni and Friends for your extraordinary support! You are truly exceptional people!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan.Groff@sausd.us

 

(714) 953-3900 Ext. 53922

 

NASA SOFIA Ambassador

 Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

                                http://www.sofia.usra.edu

 

 

 During the summer of 2013 when I was receiving cancer treatment, Carlos and Josephine Sanchez surprised me with a biplane ride...one of my dreams! Many students from the class of 2010 donated money to make it a reality! Thank you to all of my students who have enriched my life!

 

SKYWEEK: Check out what is happening this week in the sky.  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/videos/skyweek

 

Biotechnology Workshops for High School Students:http://www.ocbiotecheducation.org/for-students.html

 

My favorite resource for everyone! This is where I fell in love with biotechnology and  C. elegans (a little nematode) in 2007!        http://DNALC.org

Profiles of Scientists and Engineers (Nice links = 10 pts EC for two)

http://science360.gov/series/Profiles+of+Scientists+and+Engineers/711d5cab-8416-40f7-9297-099c1f37a9bd

 60 Minutes Dinosaur:Bird Connectionhttp://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5658449n 

 

 http://www.freerice.com/index.php

 

Learn vocabulary,  practice math, chemistry and foreign language words to help end world hunger:  Log in and maintain your score for extra credit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Extra Credit Wizards!

 

 

Follow the actual photographs from NOAA http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/gallery/images/category/operation_breakthrough.html

 

 

Extra, extra credit! Take notes and describe what you learned from the following link:

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/guess-embryo.html

 

Ask A Geneticist: http://www.thetech.org/genetics/ask.php?id=81            

 

 

 

 C. elegans in the Classroom:   http://ww.silencinggenomes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, we wish to thank Fred Ceballos at EuroAmerican Propagators for his generous donation of starter plants for an MCHS fundraiser and to support our campus beautification. 
http://pweuro.com

 

 

Landscaping and gardening donations requested:

 

We are in need of equipment/materials, supplies and community participation!

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Wizards Butterfly Page!

 

 Visit The Exploratorium to view images of various organisms!

 

 

http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging_station/features.php

How to Build a Beating Heart!!!! Truly Amazing!!!!!

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/4828/Overview#tab-Videos/09346_00

Create a Concept Map (Simple Mapper) using the Genes to Cognition Site and explore the brain:
http://www.g2conline.org/

Earthquake Preparedness Information Create an earthquake survival kit with your family over spring break for extra credit. Use this time to review the guidelines together.     

 http:///www.oes.ca.gov/

Use your Encyclopedia Britannica account to research and support learning. Share site with your SAUSD siblings to teach them the love of learning!!