Math and Science Week in Review
Week of November 28th - December 2nd, 2022
Math:
In math, students have been working on our next unit, Patterns and Relations. They have been practicing work with order of operations, isolating variables, working with input and output tables and some classes have begun their work with graphing.
7-1 & 7-2 Have their Pattern unit test on Tuesday, Dec 6
Science:
In science this week, the grade sevens started a new unit on Planet Earth. We looked at the layers of the earth, creating a booklet and art and craft project breaking the layers down. Some classes also worked on learning about minerals creating a Mighty Mineral project and some worked on their Interactive Dynamic Tectonic Plate activity, depending on the availability of technology.
ASSIGNMENTS:
7-1 & 7-2 Science: Interactive Dynamic Tectonic Plate Activity
7-3, 7-4, 7-5 & 7-6 Science: Mighty Mineral Project - Overdue
Week of November 7th - November 11th, 2022
Math:
This week all students completed their final unit test for adding and subtracting integers. Next week, our new unit in math will focus on patterns, and involve activities with input and output tables and graphing the values.
Science:
This week classes were planning and designing the final structure build which will end the Structured and Forces unit. Students were given recyclables, popsicle sticks, plastic cups, glue, scissors and tape, and they were challenged to design and build a structure that has a function (and hopefully works), is aesthetically pleasing, and that can withstand a certain force. Choice of materials for strength was to be taken into consideration. Students will do a demonstration and present their structure to the class at the end of the week.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Science: Final Structure Build and Presentations - due at the end of next week
Week of October 31st - November 4th, 2022
Math:
This week we had practiced both simple equations and word problems that related to addition and subtraction of integers. Next week we will be having a unit test that will pull together their knowledge of what an integer is (and isn’t), which integers have greater values than others, and how to add and subtract them.
Science:
This week classes were either researching about an interesting structure in the world or about what caused the catastrophic events of the Titanic’s sinking. In both, students had accessed online sites of information and needed to find multiple web pages to strengthen their information.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Science: Research project is due Monday November 7th
Math: Unit Test for Integers is Monday November 7th
Week of October 24th - October 27th, 2022
Math:
This week in math we continued our work with Integers. Students used number lines and integer tiles to practice different ways of answering the same questions. We had a scavenger hunt for students to explore different words that relate to negative and positive numbers, such as below, above, gain, lose, discounts and profits.
Science:
Students studied different case studies involving bridge disasters and discussed the implications when planning is incomplete. They watched a documentary on the Titanic, learning about the improvements made to many different structures as a result of tragedies. Some classes completed a lab on the strongest shape, building towers of books on top of paper shapes.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Please check PowerSchool as there are many missing assignments
Math: No assignments at this time
Science:
OVERDUE: Golf Ball Bridge Lab Report & Fern Hollow Current Event 7-5 & 7-6
Strongest Shape Lab Due: Wednesday, November 2
Week of October 17th - October 21st, 2022
Math:
This week kick started our Integers unit. Students are learning about the definition of an integer, and what numbers can be classified as an integer. They are beginning to explore where integers can be seen in real life, such as with temperature, money (budgeting, profits and losses). They will be learning how to add and subtract integers using both integer tiles and the number line.
Science:
Our structures unit is almost coming to a close. Students have been completing a research project about cool structures and will be participating in a Gallery Walk, showcasing their work and learning about different structures around the world. All classes have now completed the bridge/ramp building activity aka the Golf Ball Lab. This lab tested patience, teamwork, planning and problem solving skills, having to create a bridge that is able to roll a golf ball, using only straws, tape and paper clips.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Math: No assignments at this time
Science: Golf Ball Bridge Lab Report (due today)
Structures Brochure (due date varies between classes due to sharing of the technology)
*If your child is away or working on a project at home, please check both the Math and Science Google Classrooms for more information. It is updated regularly.
*Grades are being uploaded into PowerSchool regularly so please check it so that you are aware of your child’s progress.
Week of October 11th - October 14th, 2022
Math:
This week kick started our Integers unit. Students are learning about the definition of an integer, and what numbers can be classified as an integer. They are beginning to explore where integers can be seen in real life, such as with temperature, money (budgeting, profits and losses). They will be learning how to add and subtract integers using both integer tiles and the number line.
Science:
Our structures unit is almost ending. Students have been completing a research project about cool structures and will be participating in a Gallery Walk, showcasing their work and learning about different structures around the world. All classes have now completed the bridge/ramp building activity aka the Golf Ball Lab. This lab tested patience, teamwork, planning and problem-solving skills, having to create a bridge that is able to roll a golf ball, using only straws, tape and paper clips.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Math: No assignments at this time
Science: Golf Ball Bridge Lab Report (due today)
Structures Brochure (due date varies between classes due to sharing of the technology)
*If your child is away or working on a project at home, please check both the Math and Science Google Classrooms for more information. It is updated regularly.
*Grades are being uploaded into PowerSchool regularly so please check it so that you are aware of your child’s progress.
Week of October 11th - October 14th, 2022
Math:
This week we had written and reviewed our Circle Geometry unit test and had spent some time going over some of the questions the students had a little more difficulty with to help close some of those missing gaps in our understanding of the topic. We began to prepare for our Integers unit as well which we will be diving deeper into next week.
Science:
In Science, our classes had studied some examples of different kinds of bridges as well as structural failures in some famous examples. One such example was this year in January, where in Pennsylvania the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse was studied and students tried to determine what caused the collapse. We are also in the process of planning, building, and recording our results of our own straw bridges in which we need a golf ball to travel the length of their constructed bridge without toppling or falling over.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Overdue Math: Circle Art Poster
Due Science: Fern Hollow Bridge Collapse Activity
Week of October 3rd - October 6th, 2022
Math:
This week in Math we wrote the unit final test for the circle geometry unit. The students spent the first half of the week preparing for the test by practicing what they have learnt this year to date. Classes then spent some time working on different math skills, such as learning about bisector lines, math fears and deeper thinking into math equations. We will begin our new unit next week, Integers!
Science:
As a result of materials for labs, the science classes for the next few weeks will not be working on the same things at the same time. Some classes completed a strongest shape lab, testing out the strength of three different 3D shapes. Some classes began the process of building a bridge for a golf ball bridge lab, where students are designing a bridge with a limited list of materials and need to have a golf ball to successfully roll from one side of the bridge to the other. The other classes studied and wrote the mid-unit test for the Structures and Forces unit. We will be building structures for the end of this unit, if you could collect materials for then (cardboard, popsicle sticks, tape, etc.) it would be greatly appreciated.
ASSIGNMENTS
Play Dough Lab (7-5 & 7-6) is OVERDUE
Unit Test: Structures & Forces Mid-Unit Test is on Friday, Oct 14 (for 7-5 & 7-6)
Week of September 26th - September 29th, 2022
Math
This week in math the classes have been finishing up their posters that display their understanding of circles in geometry in a creative way. Students are also preparing for their Circles in Geometry Unit test next week in which they will demonstrate that they know how to:
- Define and measure the circumference of a circle
- Define and measure the area of a circle
- Find and define radius and diameter
- Use a compass to make a circle with a specific radius
- Read a word problem and use it’s context to figure out what the question is asking as well as how to solve it
Teachers have added additional study resources on top of what has already been done in class to their Google Classroom. If you haven’t seen Google Classroom yet, we encourage you to have your student login at home and show you! This way we can all ensure that students are able to access it from home as well.
Science
This week we had our first real hands-on science lab in which students explored the subtle-but-important differences between weight and mass. The students explored using both triple beam balances and spring balances to determine both mass and weight (in Newtons) of various classroom objects. See if they can explain the differences between weight and mass to you at home! In general, we hope that they can explain that mass is the matter that makes up an object or substance, and that regardless of gravity the mass will always stay the same. Weight is similar, but is affected by gravity - so the weight of an object, substance, or person on Earth would be much more different than that of the weight on the moon, or Jupiter!
Week of September 19th - September 22nd, 2022
Math:
In math, we learned how to calculate the circumference and area of a circle, and about pi and its origins. We used string to measure the diameter and show that it can be wrapped around the outer edge of the circle 3 full times, with a little bit of the 4th piece, which proved pi to be approximately 3.14. Students made a poster showing their measurements of the radius and diameter, and calculations using the formula for circumference and area.
ASSIGNMENTS
Circle Art Poster due Monday, September 26, 2022
Science:
We continued our unit on Structures with a lot of new information about what makes structures fail, with focus on the design itself, miscommunication that may occur between the designer and the builder, foundational weaknesses and unexpected forces. One class studied a real life event of a bridge that collapsed in Pennsylvania last January, and wrote responses to questions that got them thinking about what might have gone wrong. The other classes will complete this same activity in the next week or two.
ASSIGNMENTS
Hollow Fern Bridge Collapse Response Sheet (Ms. Smart’s class only), due Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022
Week of September 12th - September 16th, 2022
Math:
In math, we continued to learn about parallel and intersecting lines, and how to use a compass to create the perpendicular bisector of a line. We used compasses to draw circles, and also learned how to draw a circle using the center point and a ruler. We introduced how to find the perimeter (circumference) of a circle. If your child does not have a geometry set, and/or ruler, please ensure they have one for next week.
ASSIGNMENTS
Mondrian Art and Maze activity to demonstrate understanding of parallel and perpendicular lines.
Science:
We continued our unit on Structures with a lot of new information and vocabulary about what makes structures stronger or weaker (materials and types of joints) and how external and internal forces have an impact on the structure. We are teaching students how to participate in class, view PowerPoints and take shortened, but effective notes about the new topics and vocabulary. Next week, we will complete assignments based on the new vocabulary, and prepare the students for their first science lab involving mass and weight.
Week of September 6th - September 9th, 2022
Our first week in math was an introduction to our Geometry unit in grade 7. After an introductory task that involved sharing numerical facts about themselves, we began to review specific vocabulary learned in previous grades in order to help their successes when we really begin to dive into geometry.
In Science we have begun our Structures and Forces unit by defining and going into great detail about what a structure actually is. We moved away from thinking about structures as very tall buildings, as we have learned even a shoe could be considered a structure. We introduced categories such as both natural and manufactured, and then even further subcategories like mass, frame and shell.
ASSIGNMENTS
“All About Me” - Students did a short introduction of themselves using both mathematical and scientific facts about themselves. On their “Numbers” page, they split the page up into 8 sections, where each section would be a numerical fact about themselves. For an easy example, they are all currently in Grade 7. On their “Science” page, they could share facts about their favourite planets, animals, or even science units from the past.
“Structures Poster” - Since this week’s theme in science has been about structures, students were given a poster to categorize natural and manufactured structures into mass, frame and shell structures.
