posted Nov 17, 2009 2:44 PM by Lisa Nelson
Hello Parents:
Important Dates: -Report Cards go Home Today
-Student Led Conferences: Thursday 4pm-8pm, Friday 8am-1pm
Student Led Conference Info:
- To cut down on the time required at the school for Student-Led Conferences, we will be sending home a Pre-Conference package with each student to complete prior to Thursday. This will include a discussion with parents about the report card and some goal setting. Expect to see this Tuesday.
Math/ Science
-Our Heat and Temperature Energy Audit Project is underway. The process is starting by students researching the heating methods, insulation methods, and temperature control methods in houses both historically and in modern day. They will then use this knowledge and their understanding of conduction, convection, and radiation to conduction an analysis of the heating in their own homes. They will be looking at items such as windows, leaks in the home, type of furnace and hot water heater, attic insulation, etc, to critically analyze the effectiveness of the heating in their home. They will then be making recommendations to improve the heating to save money and help the environment. -We are continuing with percents. This week, we will have a problem (POW) that uses percents to solve it and is related to the science unit we are currently studying. Students in 7.4 can expect a quiz mid next week with word problems that require the use of percents in their solution. We will then be moving on to decimal conversions and operations on decimals.
Humanities - In Humanities this week we are preparing our notes for the next vocabulary quiz next week.
- Students are preparing trading cards for some of the significant explorers form Canadian History. These will be great as a reference for future research, study cards, and a fun way to learn about explorers. - Students will be sharing their displays for the show and tell object. We have used Glogster as the medium to for the display.
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posted Oct 5, 2009 10:37 AM by Lisa Nelson
Weekly Update October 5-8
Important Dates: Today: Explorer Project Applications DUETues Oct 6: Vocabulary QuizWed Oct 7: Trip to Glenbow Museum (Still looking for volunteers!) Permission forms and parent letter available on the website. Friday Oct 9: PD Day, No school.
Math/Science: - Math/Science: -We have started reviewing fractions. We have talked about reducing fractions, using equivalent fractions, and are now discussing how to add and subtract fractions. The next POW will deal with adding and subtracting fractions. Mr. Cooper (student teacher) will start teaching 7.3 math this week and will continue until early December. He will be covering the following topics: Adding and Subtracting fractions, divisibility rules, factors and multiples, solving problems involving decimals and percents.-The 7.4 class will continue to be taught by Mrs. Nelson and will cover the same concepts as the 7.3 class. Some of the activities that will be included will likely be a divisibility game, and some sort of mini-project about adding fractions. There will also be some practice sheets to review the material that was covered. -In science, we have started our project for the Plant unit. The students chose a variable to manipulate in order to see how plant growth is affected. As a class, we are in the process of setting up a wiki on which we will keep the data and observations from each experiment. From all of this, we will hopefully be able to see which variables have the greatest effect on plant growth.-The students are also in the process of choosing an Explorer Project topic. The proposals were due today. If you have not signed your child's form, please ask to see it ASAP so I can have a discussion with each group about their project.
Humanities: - Vocabulary tests this week! On Tuesday students will have rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the test. They will have to choose the correct word to complete the sentence. Round 2 will be to unscramble 5 of the words, and in round 3 I will give the dictionary definition of a word and the students will need to identify which word fits that definition. Round 4 and 5 are on Thursday. Round 4 is a spelling test where I will read 5 words and the students will spell them, in round 5 I will be showing a picture on the screen and the students will need to identify which vocabulary word is being shown or which word best describes the image. For example I may show a picture of people carrying a canoe and the students would chose "PORTAGE". - -The written history of the SHOW AND TELL object is due Tuesday. We have been working for 3-4 classes on the research and write up. The history needs to be written in paragraphs telling the audience what the object is, where and when it was used, and who may have used it. This is not family history, this is information that the kids can find online or in books. "A pocket watch was given to CP Rail conductors for not only ensuring the train was on time, but also to help with some navigation. The watch were made in Canada and were attached to a chain. The watches were then tucked into a vest pocket, which was part of the uniform of a CP rail conductor."
- For more about this project please view the assignment explanation on the Humanities page.
Class Website: Class Calendar: |
posted Sep 22, 2009 11:47 AM by Lisa Nelson
Weekly Update September 21-24, 2009
Important Dates: - Fall Camp September 28-30. Start thinking about equipment to bring. -Please Bring in Terry Fox Forms
Math/Science: - In math, the students started the week with a new type of POW. They worked with a partner to solve the problem, and recorded the conversation they had with one another. They were also working on using proper vocabulary in their math explanations. -The Tessellations unit has come to an end. The Students made their own tessellation and explained the transformations that were involved in it. They will be finishing an area review this week, and there will be a 'POP' quiz on Thursday. -The next unit we will start is the Number Concepts unit. This will kick off with a review about fractions, decimals, and percents and we will then be taking a look at how to add and subtract fractions. -The students' Explorer Project Application sheets are to be returned by October 5. -The students will be starting a plant investigation this week. This investigation consists of them choosing a variable to test and designing their own procedure around this test. This investigation will be ongoing for about 10 weeks.
Humanities: - We have completed the "Cheating Essay" and they have been through the first phase of evaluation. All students submitted their papers and were given another student's essay to read and provide constructive feedback. I will be marking these essays through the next week. - We have started our Elaborated Show and Tell project and the students have been sharing their great artifacts. We do not need the artifacts at school, a digital photo or movie taken at home or at a relative's home would be great. - The assignment page can be found on the Humanities Page of our website if you would like to see the 3 phases of it. - Our vocabulary list is complete and will be typed and distributed to students. We will put the testing dates on the class calendar. We will test spelling, using the word in a sentence, identifying the word through pictures and scrambled letters. - Watch for a First Nations craft created at Camp to be coming home with students next week. |
posted Sep 21, 2009 9:45 AM by Lisa Nelson
Weekly Update September 14-18, 2009
Important Dates: - Fall Camp September 28-30. Start thinking about equipment to bring. - Terry Fox Run Monday September 21 in the Afternoon. - School Library Opened Tuesday
Math/Science: - In math, we are working with transformations. The students will be analyzing a tessellation drawn by MC Escher, explaining the rotations, reflections, and translations in the picture. They will then be creating their own tessellation (tiling pattern) using similar techniques to MC Escher. -In Science, we have finished researching a scientist of the student's choice and are starting presentations this week. After presentations are over, we will be revisiting some of the concepts from the plant unit. The students also received Explorer Project Application sheets this week, which are to be returned by October 5.
Humanities: - We are working on our first written assignment in class. The 5-paragraph essay will be due Monday September 21. The topic, "Is Cheating always harmful to both the individual who cheats and the society to which they belong?" We have been planning in class and the students have been learning about the introductory paragraph and how to construct the 3 body paragraphs. Essays will be marked on their spelling and grammar, introduction, and body paragraphs. - We will begin our "Elaborated Show and Tell" project this week. See the document attached on the HUMANITIES page for assignment details.
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posted Aug 24, 2009 2:48 PM by Lisa Nelson
Hello, Parents!
Upcoming Events:
-Thursday August 27 4pm-8pm, Meet the Teacher -Friday August 28- No Classes- Meet the Teacher
This year, Meet The Teacher will take on a new format. A parent letter explains the details. Basically, you would meet with both of your child's core teachers and PE teacher for half an hour, then can meet with their Fine Arts teachers.
Math/Science:
-The students have completed the rough drafts for the design of a Mandala (circle art) that shows their identity. It can be made up of images representing their values, hobbies, heritage... anything that makes them who they are. We will be completing the Mandalas this week and will then be solving circle problems using the formulas the students developed in their circle inquiry.
-In science, we are starting by introducing a few different note-taking techniques. The students have explored a few note-taking strategies and this week, will be choosing the one that suits them best or developing their own strategy. We will also be doing a Plant Scavenger Hunt this week. In order to break up the note-taking strategies, the students got to draw a scientist. The assignment asked them to draw what they thought about when I said the word 'scientist'. This brought out several stereotypes. Most of the scientists were male, with crazy hair, and wearing a lab coat. The second stage of this project is to research a scientist and tell the story of him/her.
Humanities:
- The students have completed their Superstar posters and we have taken the first step in evaluating them, peer feedback. On Tuesday the kids will self evaluate and reflect on their posters. They will then have the opportunity to improve them before handing them in.
- We have begun our first read aloud novel "Sister to the Wolf", by Maxine Trottier. I will be reading it aloud to begin some classes. It will begin to build the idea of the "Clash of Cultures" that our social studies curriculum focuses on in grade 7. - We have also begun building a vocabulary building list that we will create, study and use in 4 rounds of quizzes through the month. The vocabulary words are taken from the work we see in class. The quizzes will test the usage, comprehension and spelling of the vocabulary words.
Physical Education: -The students have their Off-site Boating component of PE this Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Have a great week!
Lisa and Dan
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posted Aug 20, 2009 5:21 PM by Lisa Nelson
Welcome Back, Parents!
Upcoming Events:
-Wednesday August 19- Picture Day! Important for all, as we will have a school yearbook. -Thursday August 20- Camp Sweet Parent Meeting 7pm in the gym -Saturday August 22- Camp Sweet/CSS Work Bee -Friday August 28- No Classes- Meet the Teacher
Math/Science: -We are full swing into math and science already. The students have had two circle inquiries: the first one to discover the relationship between the Circumference and Diameter of circles (where they discovered 'Pi'), and the second to use Pi to relate the length of a circle's radius to the total area it takes up. From this, they developed a few formulas: d= 2r, C= (pi) x diameter, and Area= (pi) x radius x radius. We also talked about what it means to square a number and how the area formula has the radius squared.
-The next step is for students to design a Mandala (circle art) that shows the things they value most in their lives. There is no due date set for this assignment at this point.
-In science, we are starting by introducing a few different note-taking techniques. Now that the students have textbooks, they will be required to use them to preview and review each concept. This should involve some note-taking. About 7 different styles of note-taking will be discussed and a few will be practiced.
Humanities:
- We began the year with our first poetry assignment that was turned in on Friday. It was a poem based on, "Instructions for my Mother" that we titled "Instructions for my Teacher." - We are in the process of creating personal posters introducing us and employing some of the graphic design skills we will be working on throughout the year. There is not a firm due date for this yet. - The students have been re-introduced to the Multiculturalism with the 195 challenge. The goal was to list as many of the 195 countries in the world as they could. We will be completing the list and discussing the demographic make up of Canada. If you would like to see the 195 click here: http://geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/a/capitals.htm- Please ensure your child has a quiet reading novel for class. Our school library will be closed for a short time and students need to have something to read in the morning. - Fine Arts: -As you should have discovered from the notice that went home, the students had some level of choice in their Fine Arts. The class lists for each Fine Art should be compiled later this week. Ms. Peebles has updated her website for dance and drama. It is accessible from the CSS home page, but I have included the link as well. http://web.me.com/css_01/CSS_Performing_Arts/Welcome.html
Physical Education: -The students have their Off-site Boating component of PE this Monday and Friday. On Friday, 7.4 needs to be at school by 8 AM
Electives: Here are the electives available for term 1 and their explanations. Students will be signing up Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.
<mime-attachment.png> Thanks and have a great week!
Dan and Lisa
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