Math and Science Week in Review

Week of November 27th – December 1st, 2023

Math

This week in math we finished up the Grade 7 Census Report. The final good copy was due Friday 1 December. Some students chose to take the project home in order to complete it, please check with your child to ensure their work is finished. The assignment and rubric are on the Google Classroom. We also began a new unit: Cartesian Co-ordinate Plane. Students made foldable notes to review the four quadrants of the plane and how to plot the points. We played Co-ordinate Plane Battleship and a version of Tic Tac Toe to review plotting coordinates. Next week we will begin Translations which includes, translations, reflections and rotations around the origin of a co-ordinate plane. 

Science 

We jumped into the hands-on part of our Structures and Forces Unit with a building challenge using toothpicks and plasticine. Each team was given 25 toothpicks and 25 grams of plasticine. Their challenge was to build the tallest free-standing structure possible by using strong shapes. We also learned about mobile and fixed joints and had the opportunity to view Mr. Richardson’s Moravian workbench as an example of interlocking pieces and specialized joints. He did not use a single screw to put his workbench together! We ended the week learning about external and internal forces.  Ask your student about Friday’s lab where they got to see the result of compression, tension, torsion and shear on a sponge. Next week we will be creating golf-ball bridges out of straws. Stay tuned for some cool creations! 

Assignments

Math: 

Census Report: Friday 1 December

Co-ordinate Plane Quiz: Tuesday 5 December

Science: 

Sponge Lab Write-Up: Monday 4 December

Week of November 20-24th, 2023

Math

This week in Math students have completed measurements and the survey for the Census at School project.  With our sets of class data on statistics such as height, arm-span, favourite subject, dominant hand, and dozens more, students will be demonstrating their understanding of measures of central tendency to summarize and explain the data. When we’ve finished, we’ll have a description (mathematically) of the Average Grade 7 student.

Science

In Science this week, we have started our next unit: Structures and Forces.  Students were challenged to create a structure out of a single piece of paper to hold as much weight as possible, as high as possible. Afterwards, we analyzed the factors that contributed to a successful design.  We will be looking at how to classify different types of structures, and working on building our vocabulary for this unit. Next week we will continue with more hands-on building and designing (and testing).

Assignments:

Mean practice sheet, median practice sheet, overdue

Mean Median Mode and Range practice sheet - Due Thursday Nov 22.

Average Grade 7 calculations - Due Monday Nov 27

Week of November 6 - 8, 15-18, 2023

Math:

In math this week, we continued our investigation into Statistics and Central Tendency; looking at the definitions, calculations and reasons to use  Mean, Median, Mode and Range.  We have begun a project in which students collect measurements and information, finding measures of central tendency for the data, and looking at finding correlations in the data.  

Science:

For our final week in Ecosystems, students watched a documentary called David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, where human impact on various ecosystems throughout the globe were observed and discussed as a class.  Students were asked to write a response about the various things they had learned, how they felt, and what possible solutions they would be able to try to consider to help sustain the planet’s health as well as our own. 

Assignments: 

Finding the Mean practice - Overdue

Finding the Median practice

Week of October 30th – November 3rd, 2023

Math:

On Halloween we played a new review game called “Trashketball”. Ask your student to tell you about it! Students wrote the Decimals Unit Test and will be getting their results by early next week. We began our new unit, Central Tendency, yesterday. You may have noticed your student busy tallying up their Halloween candy for an activity on Mean (Average) next week. Students worked on a “mean” practice booklet that is due on Monday. (Some classes will start this on Monday). We have an interactive measuring project planned for next week. Remember, it is a three-day week with the Remembrance Day Assembly running on Wednesday.

Science: 

We began our study of biogeochemical cycles with a focus on the water cycle and the carbon cycle. Students are creating posters to feature both cycles along with the effects of pollution and how it is carried around the planet through these natural cycles.  Next week we will study biological succession, invasive species, organisms on the threatened list and extinction events.  

Assignments:

Mean practice booklet (7-3,7-4,7-7,7-8) - Due Monday, November 6th.

Caribou Summary - Overdue

Week of October 23rd -27th, 2023

Math: 

Students continued to work on multiplying and dividing decimals and order of operations. The notes and practice questions can be found on Google Classroom. Students had the opportunity to solve a variety of thinking problems using the vertical white boards along with Problem of the Week.  The Multiplying and Dividing Decimals test is on November 1st. We will spend time reviewing the procedural steps and working on word problems to prepare. Our next unit is focused on Central Tendency where we discover the terms Mean, Median and Mode. Students will be introduced to an interactive project to explore these terms. 

Science: 

Students finished up their discussions on the Northern Alberta Caribou problem. This transitioned into notes and class discussion on the impact humans have on the environment. We measured our Ecological Footprints and made commitments to change one thing on the list in order to lower our numbers. Students continued adding words (Natural Resources, Sustainability and Ecological Footprint) to their graphic organizers. Next week we dive into the water cycle and the carbon cycle to see how materials (including pollution) get transported around our planet.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Multiplying and Dividing Decimals Test: Nov 1, 2023

Caribou Summary Paragraph: Overdue

Week of October 16th- 19th, 2023

Math:

In math this week students have been working on strategies for multiplication and division.  After reviewing methods for dividing and multiplying whole numbers, we progressed to decimals.  Students have continued to work on error-checking strategies such as estimating to verify answers are reasonable.  Next week we will be introducing Order of Operations and using this and our skills in decimal operations to solve problems.

Science:

This week in Science students learned about human impacts on ecosystems.  Students calculated their ecological footprint scores (the amount of land required to support a given lifestyle).  We examined the difference between wants and needs and looked at the ecological costs and sustainability of our western lifestyle.  

We also watched a documentary about the loss of woodland caribou habitats in Alberta. Students are summarizing the documentary, and then will be assigned into committee groups based on the various stakeholders involved in this ongoing current event.  Next week, students will examine the evidence and opinions, and make recommendations based on their stakeholder position. Finally, each group will vote on a strategy to address the issue.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Billion Dollar Caribou Summary: Monday 23 October

Decimal Multiplication and Decimal Division practice sheets: Monday 23 October

Week of October 10th - 13th, 2023

Math:

Students worked on representing multiplication and division using models. They then transitioned to using mental math and procedural steps to calculate. Next week we continue our focus on division of decimal numbers and whole numbers. Students will be doing timed mental math on the division of whole numbers. We also continued exploring rich thinking tasks by doing the Problem of the Week and using our vertical whiteboards.

Science:

Students learned about the predator prey relationship and how it relates to animal populations. They studied a graph showing the Canadian Lynx and Snowshoe Hare populations over 100 years. They had independent analysis questions to complete and hand in for assessment. Students reviewed for their upcoming test through vocabulary work and a Jeopardy game.  Next week we begin looking at human impact on ecosystems around the world.

ASSIGNMENTS

Math: 

• Multiplication and Division practice (ongoing)

Science: 

• NOTE: Ecology Test Postponed to Monday 16 October for 7-3, 7-4, 7-7, 7-8
• Adaptations Animal Poster (past due)

Week of October 2nd - 6th, 2023

Math:

Students had the opportunity to try another rich thinking task using the vertical whiteboards. They also did more mental math practice adding and subtracting decimals. They practiced ordering and comparing decimals using number lines and tenths and hundredths charts. By next week all students will have written a quiz to check their understanding on these concepts. Next week we will continue with multiplication and division of decimals. Have your child show you the new note package we started today.

Science:

Students build their own “Pyramid of Numbers' ' and calculate how much energy transfers from one trophic level to the next. We reviewed Food Chains and Food Webs through notes and videos. Finally, on Friday, students had the opportunity to play an outdoor game simulating Predator-Prey relationship. Next week they will work on a predator-prey population graphing assignment and complete all relevant vocabulary using their graphic organizers. There will be a quiz on all concepts studied so far on Friday 13 October.  Review questions and games will be done throughout the week and posted on Google Classroom. The best way to prepare is to ensure your child knows the vocabulary and can explain it to you!

ASSIGNMENTS

Math: 

• Place value practice, rounding practice and number line practice (past due)
• Decimals (add and subtract), Number Line Quiz for 7-4 and 7-8 on Wednesday 11 October

Science: 

• Ecology Test Friday 13 October 
• Adaptations Animal Poster (past due)

Week of September 25th - 28th, 2023

Math: 

Students continued to practice mental math through adding and subtracting decimal values including two decimal places. We reviewed place value (using place value charts), rounding and number lines.  We introduced collaborative problem solving using the vertical whiteboards. The students worked hard to solve the “four 4s” problem. Four Fours Puzzle - Solution Next week we begin multiplication and division of decimal numbers. 

Every Thursday, students have the opportunity to try the University of Waterloo “Problem of the Week”.  Check Google Classroom for the problems and solutions. Here is the problem from Thursday 21 Sept https://cemc.math.uwaterloo.ca/resources/potw/2023-24/English/POTWC-23-A-N-02-P.pdf

Science: 

Students completed their Adaptations Animal Posters. We began our study of niches in ecosystems using graphic vocabulary organizers. The niche with the highest “gross” factor was definitely the decomposers. Next week we will dive deeper into the concept of food webs, trophic levels and energy pyramids.

ASSIGNMENTS

Math: Place value practice, rounding practice and number line practice due Tuesday 3 Oct

Science: Adaptations Animal Poster (was due Tuesday 26 Sept)

Week of September 18th -21st, 2023

Math: 

This week in Math, we reviewed decimal numbers.  Students investigated decimal parts of a whole and place values for whole and decimal numbers. They reviewed strategies for operations involving decimal numbers and practiced adding and subtracting numbers with decimal places as well as ordering decimal values on a number line.  Next week we will expand our review to include multiplication and division strategies for whole and decimal numbers.

Science:

Over the course of the week, students worked on building vocabulary for the Interactions and Ecosystems science unit. Students learned about adaptations in living organisms, both behavioural and physical, and how these adaptations allow them to survive and reproduce in their environment. We began an adaptations poster project where students have the opportunity to create their own organism with adaptations to survive in a new ecosystem.

ASSIGNMENTS

Adaptations Poster Project, September 26, 2023  (Note: Class time will be given on Monday)

Unfinished Decimals practice worksheets, September 25, 2023

Week of September 11th-15th, 2023

Math:

This week in mathematics, students continued to practice their compass-using abilities to create artwork that followed a specific complex design in which they were able to color and complete.  The circles were precise measurements which allowed the art itself to show near-perfect symmetry and then was colored with very interesting and aesthetically pleasing designs.  Throughout the week students also had the opportunity to complete a few check-ins to see what they remembered about the previous year’s strategies involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with and without decimals.

Science:

We have introduced our first official Science unit of the year which is Interactions and Ecosystems.  We will start the unit with a review of information from the previous years and prior knowledge which will help students connect with the material that they are about to dive into.  Topics such as interdependencies, energy transfer, food webs with interconnected complexities, and environmental management (and more!)  are all topics that will be discussed throughout the unit.

ASSIGNMENTS

Penny Boat Lab - overdue 

Science Safety Contract - overdue

Math Circle Art - Due Friday September 15

Week of September 5th - 8th, 2023

Math:

Our first concept of the year is an introduction to circle geometry. We learned terms such as, circumference, diameter and radius. We started learning how to use the compass from our geometry set. Next week we will proceed and start an art project.

How to use a compass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNmVzHugF3s&ab_channel=Mr.Pen

Science:

We learned about the Scientific Method and did an introductory lab. Students designed and built aluminum boats with two types of bottoms (flat and v-shaped). They tested to see which boat could hold the most pennies. They recorded their data and graphed it.  Next week we will continue with more hands-on activities to practice the scientific method.

ASSIGNMENTS

Aluminum Boat Lab–Monday, September 11

(If not handed in yet)