Week of June 15 and June 22
In science, there are 3 lessons to read through. If you're comfortable and have the time, you can take jot notes. There are no questions to answer. Then there is a building project to complete. This can take some time, so don't leave it until the end. You can choose either to build a solar oven or a thermos. Use the information from the lessons you read over to help you to determine what materials would be best to use.
Be sure to ask your parent or guardian before using any materials.
Take photos of the process and of the final product. It is due on Wednesday, June 24.
Be sure to ask your parent or guardian before using any materials.
Take photos of the process and of the final product. It is due on Wednesday, June 24.
Week of June 8
This week you have some notes to take, some questions to answer and a lab experiment.
Remember to put your notes and responses to the questions into your duotang (if it's at school, then hang on to these notes until you are able to get your stuff from your locker).
Remember to put your notes and responses to the questions into your duotang (if it's at school, then hang on to these notes until you are able to get your stuff from your locker).
Week of June 1
There is no science work this week. Please check Mrs. Spatola's Google Classroom for Geography work this week.
Continue to seek out the materials required for next week's science lab.
Continue to seek out the materials required for next week's science lab.
Week of May 25
This week you have some notes to take, some questions to answer and a bit of prep work for our next science lesson. I'm planning on a lab you can do at home, but you'll need a few things to complete it. I've provided you with a list of materials you'll need to do the lab. It's an optional activity, but if you can find all the things you need around your house, I'd like you to give it a try.
Remember to put your notes and responses to the questions into your duotang (if it's at school, then hang on to these notes until you are able to get your stuff from your locker).
Remember to put your notes and responses to the questions into your duotang (if it's at school, then hang on to these notes until you are able to get your stuff from your locker).
Week of May 19
There is no science work this week. Please check Mrs. Spatola's Google Classroom for Geography work this week.
Week of May 11
This week you have some notes to take, some questions to answer and a short video to watch. Remember to put your notes and responses to the questions into your duotang (if it's at school, then hang on to these notes until you are able to get your stuff from your locker).
Week of May 4
There is no science work this week. Please check Mrs. Spatola's Google Classroom for Geography work this week.
Week of April 27
Last week you had Geography, so this week we're back to science (Mrs. Spatola and I are trying to ensure you have time to complete your work, knowing that many of you have limited access to technology because you are sharing it with other members of your family).
This week, I'm asking you to do a simple lab experiment on Rate of Melting. Click the link below to the lesson and worksheet.
This week, I'm asking you to do a simple lab experiment on Rate of Melting. Click the link below to the lesson and worksheet.
Week of April 20
There is no science work this week. Please check Mrs. Spatola's Google Classroom for Geography work this week.
Science is Everywhere
I love the photos you've been submitting - you proved that science is all around us! Your written explanation proves that you understand the research that you've done. You are all such talented photographers. Check out some of the amazing photos taken your classmates.
Week of April 13
This week you'll have a science task to complete. It will be due on Friday, April 17. Please share your assignment with me (your science teacher) and with either Mrs. Spatola or Mr. Brown (whoever is your English teacher).
For this task, you'll be taking a photograph (it's your choice what the subject is) and you'll identify what science is taking place in your photo. You must be the one who takes the photo (you cannot use one that you find online).
Details about your assigned task and ideas of what you can photograph can be found here:
For this task, you'll be taking a photograph (it's your choice what the subject is) and you'll identify what science is taking place in your photo. You must be the one who takes the photo (you cannot use one that you find online).
Details about your assigned task and ideas of what you can photograph can be found here:
Week of April 6
We'll be beginning to connect with each other virtually this week. Science will be put on hold for this week as we reestablish a connection and learn how to use the new platforms we will be using.
Week of March 23
I will not be expecting any work in science during this week. Check back next week.
Week of March 2
We'll have our lab experiment this week because one lesson went long last week and everything was delayed by one day. Then we'll review the unit before having our unit test on Friday. Here are some questions that might help you better realize which concepts you need to study more of:
Week of February 24
Because there is no strike currently set for this week, we'll be having a lab experiment this week. Prepare for it by reviewing the safety rules we went over in September as well as ways to separate mixtures (both mechanical mixtures and solutions).
Week of February 17
This week, our focus will be on how mixtures (heterogenous and homogeneous) are separated into their parts.
Week of February 10
In science this week, we'll look at how to separate mixtures. How we do this will depend on what type of mixture we're dealing with.
Week of January 20
As you know, there will not be school on Monday, therefore your States of Matter poster assignment will be collected on Tuesday. Perhaps you can use the extra day to conduct additional research in order to beef up your paragraphs.
We'll examine the differences between different types of mixtures, namely mechanical mixtures (heterogeneous) and solutions (homogeneous). There will be a test on Friday on everything we've covered during this unit so far, including the particle theory, so you may wish to brush up on that.
Here are some practice questions to help you prep for the test:
We'll examine the differences between different types of mixtures, namely mechanical mixtures (heterogeneous) and solutions (homogeneous). There will be a test on Friday on everything we've covered during this unit so far, including the particle theory, so you may wish to brush up on that.
Here are some practice questions to help you prep for the test:
Week of January 13
We'll be wrapping up our Creature Projects this week when you finally hand in your creature models. I'm really looking forward to seeing your ideas come to life!
The rest of this week will be a continuation of the Particle Theory. Now we'll look at how the pure substances and mixtures are different and what particles have to do with them.
The rest of this week will be a continuation of the Particle Theory. Now we'll look at how the pure substances and mixtures are different and what particles have to do with them.
Week of December 16
This week, it's all about the Particle Theory. You'll be asked to memorize the 5 parts of the Particle Theory of Matter. On Tuesday, you'll have a test. You'll be expected to write it out and draw corresponding pictures.
- All matter is made up of tiny, invisible particles.
- Particles have empty spaces between them.
- Particles are constantly moving in random directions.
- The hotter the particles get, the faster they move; this causes them to spread further apart.
- Particles are attracted to each other; the closer they are, the more attracted they are.
Tips for Writing Your Creature Report
How to (Easily) Create a Bibliography
There are many options available on the internet to help you create your bibliography. If you find one that you are more at ease using, go ahead. Just be sure that your completed bibliography is accurate and arranged alphabetically. Below I've included the steps for using Citation Machine.
1. Log into Citation Machine (I've included the link below)
1. Log into Citation Machine (I've included the link below)
2. Click on the button labelled "I only want to create citations"
3. Choose APA or MLA
4. You will see a variety of tabs (Book, Magazine, Newspaper, etc...) -- choose the one labelled Website
5. After you've copied and pasted the URL of the website you want to include in your bibliography, paste it into the box that says "Find a website by URL or keyword" -- then click Search websites
6. You should see the website listed -- click on the "Select" button
7. Scroll down until you see the "Final Step" button and click on it
8. If you know the day that you first used that website as a source of information, then add it to Date Accessed (if you don't remember, try to estimate or use today's date)
9. Next, click on "Create Citation"
10. You should see your citation ready to be copied - paste it onto your Bibliography
11. Be sure that you organize all of your sources in alphabetical order
3. Choose APA or MLA
4. You will see a variety of tabs (Book, Magazine, Newspaper, etc...) -- choose the one labelled Website
5. After you've copied and pasted the URL of the website you want to include in your bibliography, paste it into the box that says "Find a website by URL or keyword" -- then click Search websites
6. You should see the website listed -- click on the "Select" button
7. Scroll down until you see the "Final Step" button and click on it
8. If you know the day that you first used that website as a source of information, then add it to Date Accessed (if you don't remember, try to estimate or use today's date)
9. Next, click on "Create Citation"
10. You should see your citation ready to be copied - paste it onto your Bibliography
11. Be sure that you organize all of your sources in alphabetical order
Week of December 9
I'll go over how to complete a bibliography this week and give you some time to work on your report. The typed report and bibliography will be due on Friday, December 20. Please share your google doc with me by midnight.
We'll also begin our new unit on Pure Substances and Mixtures. I will give you a new Science Dictionary and I'll introduce the Particle Theory - it's a super valuable thing to know about because it helps to explain so many cool things that happen in our world. It's so important, that we'll practice it and practice it over and over until you've memorized it. Next Monday, we'll have a test on it.
We'll also begin our new unit on Pure Substances and Mixtures. I will give you a new Science Dictionary and I'll introduce the Particle Theory - it's a super valuable thing to know about because it helps to explain so many cool things that happen in our world. It's so important, that we'll practice it and practice it over and over until you've memorized it. Next Monday, we'll have a test on it.
Week of December 2
Now that I've returned your Planning Guides, we'll begin to write our reports. Ensure you bring your guides and any additional research you've done.
Week of November 25
This week we'll explore how Indigenous Peoples viewed and cared for the land and compare to how we view Forestry today.
I'll also be giving back your Planning Guides. I still have not received them all - they are very overdue. I'll go over how to improve your research in order to write a comprehensive written report.
I'll also be giving back your Planning Guides. I still have not received them all - they are very overdue. I'll go over how to improve your research in order to write a comprehensive written report.
Week of November 18
Don't forget to bring back your signed test on Monday. This week we'll look at succession and stages of growth in an ecosystem and how that affects the community that lives in a particular habitat.
Week of November 11
You'll be having a test this Thursday. It will include what we've learned about producers, various consumer roles, energy pyramids, food chains and webs.
Be sure you have an updated Table of Contents and Science Dictionary. There are a lot of terms to know, so spend some time this week reviewing all of them.
Be sure you have an updated Table of Contents and Science Dictionary. There are a lot of terms to know, so spend some time this week reviewing all of them.
Creature Tips
As you continue to work on your Creature Project Planning Guide, here are some tips to help you complete the package:
How to Complete Creature Worksheet
How to Complete Creature Worksheet
- you can complete each area using jot notes, rather than full sentences
- give as much detail as you can - this will help you when you begin to write your report
- mention why the behavioural or structural adaptation is useful for surviving this specific feature
- provide your source of information
Example Response from the Planning Guide
How My Creature Deals with Low O2 Levels in Bowlily Lagoon
- in mammals, a protein called myoglobin is responsible for storing oxygen
- when levels are low, an animal could rely on this storage
- in fish, the swim bladder allows it to stay afloat
- more recent research suggests that the swim bladder's other role is to help fish survive when the oxygen levels in their environment drops
- based on this research, my creature will have a larger than normal swim bladder and has adapted to have highly concentrated levels of myoglobin
(source: How Animals Evolved to Live in Low-Oxygen Locales, by Perrin Ireland | July 9, 2013)
Notice that the example response is in jot form, but is still quite detailed. I've also provided my source, to prove that I've done my research and to help me create my bibliography later.
The Planning Guide will be due on November 5.
The Planning Guide will be due on November 5.
Create-A-Creature
We’re beginning a new project, one where you will use your imagination in combination with your research to come up with a new species that is perfectly adapted to a given habitat.
Here are some helpful hints to get you started:
This project will combine research, writing, scientific knowledge of adaptations, and a creative component of bringing your creature to life.
Here are some helpful hints to get you started:
- Begin by doing some research on your own - read over each feature of the lagoon and find a "real" animal that lives in the same type habitat. Ask yourself what type of adaptation allows them to safely live there. Use that adaptation, or a similar one, for your own creature. For example, the water is relatively shallow and warm, so start by researching aquatic animals that live in areas like this and model your creature around one of these (so not a narwhale, more like a clown or angel fish)
- Your creature should not be an exact copy of a real animal, but it should have adaptations derived from real animals. For instance, it could change colour to match its surroundings like a cuttlefish, have sharp claws like a crab, and breath air at the surface like a dolphin.
- Once you've figured out what features and behaviours your organism will have, imagine what it will look like. Draw a picture of it and colour it the way you imagine it to look. From that drawing, you'll cut out its outline from wood and paint it.
- A good place to start is the library. Ask where they keep their books on oceans, fish, and other aquatic life. Online, be sure that you are researching warm, saltwater lagoons.
- Do a little bit of research each night and keep a record of all of your research (I suggest a Google Doc)- not only so you can refer back to it, but so that you can also create a bibliography once you're done.
This project will combine research, writing, scientific knowledge of adaptations, and a creative component of bringing your creature to life.
Week of October 21
You'll finally have a quiz on Tuesday, which will cover all of the stuff we've read and summarized from the textbook. On Friday, you received a list of things you can do to help you to prepare. Hopefully you've made sure that your notes are complete and that you have reviewed (and reviewed and reviewed some more) your science dictionary. There were quite a few terms defined so far and you should have a very good understanding of all of them before the test.
After the test we'll switch gears to a major research project. It's a big one and will take a long time to complete. You'll be expected to work on it at home and at times, at school too. Please be sure to have your work available at school on the days we will dedicate to research in the classroom. More details to follow.
After the test we'll switch gears to a major research project. It's a big one and will take a long time to complete. You'll be expected to work on it at home and at times, at school too. Please be sure to have your work available at school on the days we will dedicate to research in the classroom. More details to follow.
Week of October 15
We'll be continuing to learn about the parts of the ecosystem this week. Our foci will be on the interactions that exist between biotic (living) elements and how adaptations help both plants and animals survive. They'll be a quiz at the end of this week on all the notes and definitions we've done so far. I'd recommend that you start to study your science dictionary and review the notes we've taken in class.
Week of October 7
It sounds like you missed science on Friday due to an assembly. We'll pick up where we left off this week. We will review duotang organization, expectations for entering the class and getting started and how to take notes after reading non-fiction text. Our topics this week will cover classification of ecosystem elements and what living things (biotic elements) need to survive.
Week of September 30
You'll have one more day to work on your posters before they are due. Please email them to me by Tuesday evening.
We'll begin our first lesson from the textbook this week. Be sure to bring your duotang; I'll walk you through how to read and take notes, fill in your science dictionary and table of contents.
We'll begin our first lesson from the textbook this week. Be sure to bring your duotang; I'll walk you through how to read and take notes, fill in your science dictionary and table of contents.
Climate Strike
Here's the presentation that I shared in class on Friday.
Week of September 23
Last week you each got a Canva account, which we will use this week to work on a poster assignment on the human impacts on the environment. I'll ask you to choose one action or repercussion of human acts that you'd like to draw attention to. Next, you'll find out a fact/statistic related to that action. This will be the basis of your poster. I'm looking forward to the choices you make and posters you create.
Science Duotang Organization
You should have 2 green duotangs for science. Some of you have requested to use binders, but I think I have been pretty clear on my rationale for using duotangs instead (i.e. they are lighter, stay more organized, binder rings and/or zippers on binders break, and I’d like it if at the end of the year you had your science notes organized and ready to use as a reference for upcoming years). In each duotang, you’ll need 3 dividers.
Below you’ll find the steps we went over in class for how to set up your duotangs for success this year:
Science Duotang #1
Science Duotang #2
Leave this second duotang either at home somewhere you won’t lose it, or in your locker (be sure that it doesn’t get wet, dirty, damaged, etc…).
Below you’ll find the steps we went over in class for how to set up your duotangs for success this year:
Science Duotang #1
- On the outside of the duotang, print the subject (Science), your name (Capitalize the first letter of your first name and your last name), your class (either 7A), and the duotang number (1/2)
- On the inside, the first page should be the Table of Contents (I handed that out in class)
- Your second sheet is the Science and Technology Syllabus
- Next you should have the Class Rules, Routines, and Expectations
- Now insert your first divider. Label it “Science Dictionary” (or Sci Terms if your divider is too small for the full label)
- After the divider, insert the Science Dictionary
- Then the second divider can be inserted. Label it “Interactions in the Environment”
- You can put your lined paper next so it’s ready for your notes
- Lastly, the third divider, which you’ll label “Mixtures”
Science Duotang #2
- On the outside of the duotang, print the subject ((Science), your name (Capitalize the first letter of your first name and your last name), your class (either 7A), and the duotang number (2/2)
- Create another Table of Contents
- Insert your first divider. Label it “Science Dictionary” (or Sci Terms if your divider is too small for the full label)
- You’ll get a new science dictionary later, so for now, just leave the divider as is
- Then the second divider can be inserted. Label it “Heat in the Environment”
- Lastly, the third divider, which you’ll label “Structures”
Leave this second duotang either at home somewhere you won’t lose it, or in your locker (be sure that it doesn’t get wet, dirty, damaged, etc…).
Week of September 16
Don't forget, you have a science quiz on Tuesday on the safety rules, as well as the classroom routines and expectations.
I'll help you organize your duotangs and dividers that day too, so please don't forget to bring them. By the end of the week, I'll take you into our computer lab, and Ms S and I will show you how to use Canva to create a graphic poster/PSA.
I'll help you organize your duotangs and dividers that day too, so please don't forget to bring them. By the end of the week, I'll take you into our computer lab, and Ms S and I will show you how to use Canva to create a graphic poster/PSA.
Watch This...
Course Outline
Grade 7 Science Syllabus.pdf | |
File Size: | 1425 kb |
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