Tuesday 30 September 2014

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.
Saturday 27 September 2014

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.
Saturday 20 September 2014

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.


Tuesday 16 September 2014

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.
Wednesday 10 September 2014

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!