I Was Foiled I chose to take AP Biology in my sophomore year of high school, which I quickly learned was a very demanding course. Even the instructor agreed there was too much material to cover before the AP test. This meant that we flew through each unit, and had very few opportunities to earn extra credit. The one opportunity for extra credit granted that year required to build a water strider, an insect which walked on water, using a small amount of aluminum foil and six toothpicks. This insect had to remain floating on a body of water for at least one minute in order to receive the extra points offered. Believing that my grade could benefit from the extra points, I was determined to meet the criteria for this assignment. Unfortunately, being the procrastinator …show more content…
In an effort to form an insect similar to my other prototypes, I easily shaped the foil into the bug’s body. The antennae had become protrusions from its head, and its eyes were mere indentations. The legs, however, were much more challenging to fabricate from aluminum foil, and because they were separate from the water strider’s body, I had to attach them somehow. By 1:15, I had finished my creation’s legs and was working on a way to attach them to its body. Time and time again, I attached a set of legs to the bug, and they repeatedly either fell off or were too flimsy and caused the bug’s underside to touch the water. After my fifth attempt to find something that worked, I glanced at the clock. In my daze, I thought it read 1:30 but couldn’t be sure. Sleep was beginning to overcome my senses. “You should really go to bed. You look exhausted. It’s not like it has to be finished, you’re not going to get a zero if you’re not done,” my mom told me. She also looked terribly exhausted and in desperate need of sleep. Giving in to her will, I resigned, unable to continue. “Okay. I’ll head
At different times in the spring, within minutes hundreds of thousands of these insects break from their skins or cocoons and emerge. These flies float to the surface of the stream where they sit to dry their wings. At this point, trout in the stream often come to the
The wedge of sunshine that poured in through the tiny window on that fine August afternoon lifted the children's spirits. And a hopeful butterfly fluttered into the basement through Anna's open story as Joseph sat on the floor and read to Willy. He began by clearing his throat and then he revealed, "Far away on a warm hillside where wildflowers bloomed after summer rains there once lived a handsome black caterpillar named Max. All day long Max munched on wildflowers and grew stronger. As Max grew he watched beautiful butterflies flutter by, and he decided that he wanted to fly. So one day he ran off the end of a leaf and lifted all of his sixteen of legs. But he simply floated down and landed with a splat on his belly. Next he scampered to
Taking AP Biology isn’t that bad. It's, for the most part, fun. But it also challenging as well. Taking AP Biology incredible because the class gets to do lab experiment and even digital ones This is also helpful to one’s who want to have a medical career. It’s because this AP class gets into the specifics of the topic that is being
The next morning Sebastian woke up as the sun rose which was unusual for the boy who loved to sleep in. The first thing that needed to be settled was the water transportation and what would be able to float long enough. He found a bunch of bamboo that seemed to be able to withstand the water. To put the bamboo together he used stems as rope or strings. He didn’t know how long he would be on the water so he thought it would be smart to make a double layer of the bamboo. The whole day went by faster than he imagined and soon it was time for him to
I eventually got tired and go to sleep, “ You can do this,” I tell
Upon starting my freshman year in high school, I had been in honors Biology, and it quickly became my least favorite subject. Biology was something I couldn’t understand, no matter how much
I decided to take AP Psychology. My junior year started and psychology soon became my favorite class. Every day, I looked forward to seventh period. The material came naturally to me, and I made connections between what I learned in class and my everyday life. When the AP test came around, I scored a five. I was so proud of myself.
The Order Trichoptera offers around 1400 species of Caddisflies in North America (citation).The caddisfly is found in almost every freshwater habitat. Temperature, water speed, and amount of sun exposure are all specifically selected by certain species (citation). They thrive mostly in cool rushing waters, but are still known to be found in lakes, ponds, springs, and temporary pools. Most often they are found in riffle areas within a cool flowing stream. In the beginning stages of the caddisfly life cycle, they are submerged underwater in a larval form. As a larvae they provide shelter to themselves by constructing a case out of natural materials they find in their environment, and silk which they can readily produce. They choose to either fix it to a rock or permanent object, or they can swim around with it attached
At the beginning of junior year, I had a difficult time with AP Biology. Even though I completed all the practice assignments, I did not do well on the first few lab write-ups and tests. The class was so hard for me that I contemplated dropping. I convinced myself to stay in the class and worked extensively with my teacher outside of class. I tried different studying techniques and methods and found the most effective one for me: pre-reading the textbook sections before my teacher introduced the concept. As this was the first course truly had difficulties with, I recognized that failures in life are inevitable. I embrace a new mindset now that incorporates these challenges into my personal growth. I now use each new obstacle as stepping stones
It didn’t take George a long time to discover puddles that had not yet dried. George only needed to stand on his hind legs to see all the bodies of water around. He would then walk towards the pond, and proceed to use his long trunk to suck up the remaining water. After having used his methods on four different puddles, George casually strolled in the direction of the fifth. He was about to begin consuming the water, when he
“You will never be a catcher.” “ You are way too small.” “I bet the gear won’t even fit you.” “Haha look at how big the gear looks on Liz!” These are all things that were said to me when I first started catching. I was in 5th grade, and I asked my coach if I could catch. I have had much experience in this sport. I mean, I have been playing since kindergarten. I was a little skeptic about asking my coach to let me catch, but I knew I could look past all of the negative things people said about me.
When I lived in Washington, my family had a chicken coop, a dog, and a rabbit. I added to this creature collection by regularly capturing and releasing frogs. Their curious ability to stick to the walls of their containers sparked my interest in researching the causes behind such natural phenomena. My creature collection has since shrunk to a single dog, but by going to college to begin a career in research, I will have the opportunity observe animals once again.
Hydra can move from one place to another by flexing the body and gripping the substrate with the tentacles and then looping the body over the mouth to gain a new position. Explain exactly what mechanisms and principles are involved in this movement? The full answer to this question involves the hydrostatic skeleton formed by the gastrovascular cavity and contractile cells. [5-6 sentences]
Scientists found bodies of some type of creature in a cave. After examination, scientists discovered that this unknown 6 limbed body had scaly skin, a tail, talons, wings, and was very heavy. The wingspan was under 20 feet and it weighed 950 pounds so it is too heavy to fly. Then they found its bladder, which they realized that they actually do fly. Their bladder is the key to flight. Hydrogen sacs were found in the body. Platinum were also found on its teeth. When platinum, hydrogen, and oxygen are mixed together, it creates fire. Therefore,
The waders fit to his under-pits, and his feet swim inside the moulded rubber boots. He begins his exploration, easing through the turbid waters of the bog, surrounded by cedars and pines that smell like cinnamon on hot, humid days. Another child might have had a harder time acclimatizing to the bugs and the bush, but even floating amid the dense waters of his own loss, August fulfils the number-one requirement of his species: he adapts.