Giver Online

 Click here to read online
Or listen to the audiobook in 20-30 minute installments.

Kids Lit

Just a reminder that if you would like to participate in Kid's Lit this year, you should write me a letter indicating your interest. Your letter should tell why you want to participate - say how you think participating will help your learning and what strengths you bring to the team. Be sure to give a description of your reading over the past three months. Hand this to me by Wednesday, October 22.

We Scare Hunger

You've shown an interest in taking action in our community to lessen the problem of hunger. Most of you want to get involved by running a We Scare Hunger campaign. You will make a plan and carry it out; I will offer some support and guidance. As you conduct this campaign, it is important to understand the issue of hunger. Firstly, it will help you to communicate more effectively about it, but more importantly it will strengthen your sense of purpose and you will have a greater feeling of satisfaction since you will be better able to grasp the importance of your action. Here is a list of online resources to help with your research:

ƒFood Banks Canada Hunger Count 
ƒThe Salvation Army Canada
ƒOntario Association of Food Banks
ƒFood Banks Canada
ƒMeal Exchange 
ƒFood Research and Action Center 
ƒThe Hunger Site
ƒWorld Hunger Year
ƒWorld Food Program

Guidance Counselor Visit

This morning our guidance counselor came into our class to show a presentation and gave us information about transitioning to high school!

Since she is the guidance counselor for both John Buchan and the JAGLA she is expecting the grade 8’s and their parents in the John Buchan/Stephen Leacock Library on October 28th at 6:30 pm. ALL grade 8 parents are required to be there, as it is important for them transitioning to high school.

Today she also gave us important websites that you need to look at:

One of the links she gave our class was http://www.myblueprint.ca/tdsb

It is a website that will helps student create a path to their career and plan their career.

Another link is http://www.tdsb.on.ca/goingtohighschool

and this website gives you information on different high schools. If you’re moving you can find out where your new home  high  school. You can also find out information on special high schools (ex: performing arts)

If you have any questions, email the guidance counselor: rita.gill@tdsb.on.ca

Written by Alivea

Peer Reviewed by Maham

Malala Wins the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Malala Yousafzai

In receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace, Malala Yousafzai joins the company of the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Kofi Annan, Neslon Mandela, Kim Dai-Jung and many others. Every year, since 1895, the prize is given to the person or group of persons who have done the most or the best work to bring countries together or to promote peace. The awardees get a medal, a diploma and about US$1 million.

Read more about Malala's win - click the links I've provided. The CBC gives a quick summary of Malala's story, plus they have a video of her response to the announcement. The Gaurdian quotes an Indian community leader who says that Malala is a living representation of Ghandi's message of non-violent resistance. Craig Kielburger has posted a congratulatory message.

Remember that there are always multiple perspectives to any story. This article by The Guardian mentions that one point of view questions the motives of the West for granting this award to Malala. When I say questions the motives, I mean this point of view is distrustful of the West. Someone who holds this point of view might believe that the West is not thinking purely about the work Malala has done for children's rights, but that they might have something to gain from giving this award to Malala.

Interesting fact: Did you know that Mahatma Gandhi never received the Nobel Prize for Peace?

Extend your thinking: How has Malala promoted peace?

Home Work

I'm not assigning any new home work, just  reminding you of unfinished work, or work to be handed in.

Grade 7 Science Lab 

History on Desire to Learn - From home, use your student number and the same password you use to log into a tdsb computer.
Grade 7s go here
Grade 8s go here

Language
About four of you did not hand in your WeDay article.

Scientists in School

We had Scientists Avril and Elizabeth in our classroom today.  In this picture Maham is crushing an alkaseltzer tablet. What was the purpose of crushing the tablet? What conclusion did you draw from the results? 

What else did you learn? What do you want to learn more about? What was interesting? Write your responses below.

Ted Harrison-Inspired Art

Ted Harrison is an acclaimed Canadian artist who uses a technique called serigraphy to paint Canadian (especially the Yukon) Landscapes. His art is characterized by bold lines and vibrant colours. He is often quite playful with colours - one might find pink whales and purple moons.

The task was to paint a landscape that means something to them, in the style of Ted Harrison. Great job on the art project ladies!

Grade 7 Science Lab Report

Measuring Cylinder

Grade 7s Science Lab report is due October 10th. You will report on the experiment done in class mixing substances to see how they interact - you mixed substances you can find in your kitchen. All the information you need to be successful is in your Google drive in the Science folder. You will need the notes you made recording your observation, this should be in your green folder.
 Be sure to:

• Look at the sample lab report to get a sense of what one looks like
• Follow the guidelines I've provided
• Keep checking your work against the rubric.

It's a Solid, Its a Liquid, no it's Oobleck!

To make oobleck we mixed 2 parts of cornstarch to 1 part of water. That ratio made the goo too runny so we added more cornstarch.

Leave a comment below. In what ways does oobleck behave like a solid? How does it behave like a liquid? Type one way - eg. It behaves like a liquid because you can pour it. Add a new response each time, or add to someone's response (in other words don't give me a "What she said" response). Level 4 thinkers will begin to make direct connections to the Particle Theory of Matter by asking I wonder questions or by making guesses about why oobleck behaves the way it does, eg. I wonder how close the particles are to each other, when compared to another liquid like honey that has a similar viscosity.

The Home Work we Talked About

Hello everyone, It's going to be beautiful out this week-end, I hope you get out and enjoy this weather while it lasts!

 Sadly, there is still such a thing as home work, but hey, this home work isn't hurting the trees.

 Math

1. Go to your google drive and find the jepoardy group work in the math folder. For now I just want you to look at it and get a feel of what you're being asked to do.
2. Revisit the websites to explore prisms and pyramids and Euler's Theorem.

Science
Grade 7 - Visit this web-page, read the content and do the activity. (it wouldn't hurt the grade 8s to do it too).
Grade 8 - Visit this web-page and do some reading (read about floating log, floating ship and sinking rock).

Everyone should write a comment in the comment box. Say something like: I did the reading and here is one thing I learned or here is something I knew before, or one question I have, or one thing I am curious about. You must use your own words.

Language
If you know you didn't finish your Oral Communication piece or Thinking Journal entry (Emma Watson' speech) then please finish that so that you can hand it in on Monday.

Wrapping Our Heads Around Geometry

Here is our success criteria, there will be a test on Friday September 26, based on this. We haven't touched 3D shapes at all as yet, we'll use Monday - Wednesday for this. It essentially involves applying what they have been doing so far using different terminology.

Here are some samples of students' work:
Students were asked to list as many properties as they could.

Students had to do the sorting activity on their own, then we displayed the answers here.

 They had to create a shape then name the order of rotational symmetry.

Sort triangles by properties they choose.

Students were given 14 shapes. They had to decide on what properties to use label the venn diagram and choose 4 of the shapes and place them so that only one fits both categories.

This last one is a work in progress. Students are working on describing the relationships between the different sets of quadrilaterals based on their shape properties. In their notebooks, students should be making statements like these: If a quadrilateral is a shape with four sides, then all the shapes should be grouped under "quadrilaterals". If a rectangle is a shape with all right angles and opposite sides congruent and parallel then squares can be grouped under "rectangles". This writing piece was not finished in class and should be done for homework.

What we are Learning Right Now

Much of what we will study this year will be considered in light if our over-arching question: What do societies need to function well?


Language
During the first few weeks we are focused on setting up routines and expectations: Co-creating success criteria, developing learning goals, establishing what an expert response looks like.

Math
We are learning to sort and classify geometric shapes by their properties. This unit ends September 26.

History
We will alternate between History and Geography throughout the year. These are the topics we will be studying until mid-November:
Grade 7: New France and British North America
Grade 8: Creating Canada, 1850-1890

Geography
We will begin our Geography units in November.
Grade 7: Physical Patterns in a Changing World
Grade 8: Global Settlement and Sustainability

Science
Grade 7: Pure Substances and Mixtures
Grade 8: Fluids

The Arts

•  In Drama/Dance we are using various forms (such as role play, writing in role, sound scapes, tableaux, flocking)to actively explore literature we are reading. 
•  In Visual Arts we are learning about the elements and principles of design 
• We wont be doing music this semester.

Physical Education and Health

As students participate in a variety of physical activities and games, these are the look-fors

• Active participation
• Safe practices
• Effective Communication
• Positive Interactions with others

In health students will acquire knowledge and skills related to healthy living. Sample topics include Harassment and Resolution Strategies, Benefits and Dangers of Technology, Mental Health Connections.

Welcome to Our Class Blog!

This will be a virtual bulletin board. I will display student work, post home work and other notices here. I'm looking forward to a great year with all of you!