7th Grade
MAY 2019
31 May 2019: Last week of school. Students worked on the penny bridge challenge.
Homework: Have a great summer!
24 May 2019: In class, students completed the lab report for the Crash Car unit. In total, five and a half hours of class time was given.
Homework: None
17 May 2019: Students worked on building their car. Race Day Wednesday. Crash Day Thursday and Monday.
Homework: Due May 14: None
Due May 15: None
Due May 16: None
Due May 17: Race Day Worksheet on Google Classroom
Due May 21:Crash Day Worksheet on Google Classroom
10 May 2019: Students began investigating the physics of car crashes in preparation for making paper crash cars. After doing background research and design, teams began to prototype
Homework: Due 8 May: Crash Car Video quiz (on Google Classroom)
Due 9 May: Brainstorming worksheet (Google Classroom) and sketch (hard copy)
3 May 2019: Due to the field trip on Monday, students finished up their CSI test on Tuesday and Wednesday. The celebrated the end of the unit by watching the movie "Clue" on Thursday and Friday.
Homework: None
APRIL 2019
26 April 2019: All lab work was completed on Tuesday. Students took a quiz on identifying five unknown powders on Wednesday. We reviewed for the test on Thursday. We began our test on Friday.
Homework: April 23 (midnight): All fiber tests.
12 April 2019: Students worked on identifying unknown liquids, performing chromatography tests on unknown inks, fingerprinting, and fibers.
Homework: April 8: Powders and Metals Chart, Common names and uses of powders
April 9: Liquids charts (including everyday uses)
5 April 2019: Students are investigating the physical and chemical properties of known powders, crystals, and metals.
Homework: Complete Common Uses of Powders, due April 8th. Powders Chart due April 8th. Liquids chart (including everyday uses) due April 9th.
MARCH 2019
28 March 2019: Students were introduced to the STEM classroom, dichotomous keys, and Crime Scene Investigation.
Homework: Due 28 Mar: Dichotomous Key worksheet
Due 1 Apr: Signed syllabus sheet
MARCH 2019
22 March 2019: Students learned about programming in Arduino.
Homework: None
15 March 2019: Students concluded the Crash Car unit.
Homework: Make sure you have turned in your Race Day worksheet (due 3/12), Crash Day worksheet (due 3/14) and your final lab report (due 3/17).
8 March 2019: Students have begun work on their Crash Car unit.
Homework: None
FEBRUARY 2019
22 February 2019: Students took the final test for Crime Scene Investigation.
Homework: All missing work.
15 February 2019: We continued our exploration of forensics with lessons on absorbancy and elasticity and some quizzes on identifying powders and liquids.
Homework: Due Tuesday, 2/12/19: Elasticity test document
Due Wednesday, 2/13/19: Absorbency test document
NOTE: THE FINAL CSI TEST WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH!
8 February 2019: We continued our exploration of forensics with lessons on chromatography, fingerprints, and the chemical properties of hair and fiber.
Homework: Due Tuesday, 2/5/19: Liquids Lab (with quiz) and Chromatography quiz
Due Friday, 2/8/19: Burn test document
Due Monday, 2/11/19: Acid/Base test document
Due Tuesday, 2/12/19: Elasticity test document
Due Wednesday, 2/13/19: Absorbency test document
1 February 2019: Seventh graders worked diligently on identifying the properties of known powders and metals. They also worked on determining everyday uses for all thirteen of our powders.
Homework: Due Friday, 2/1/19: Powders and Metals chart and Everyday uses of powders.
QUARTER 3
JANUARY 2019
25 January 2019: Seventh graders have begun their CSI unit. We start with identifying the properties of known powders (such as flour, calcium carbonate, and plaster of Paris) and known metals (such as copper, zinc, and aluminum). In this way, when we see an unknown powder or metal at a crime scene, we are able to perform experiments on it to determine what it is.
Homework: Syllabus signature page and Fingerprint Permission are due by Wednesday, January 30th. Continue adding information to the "Properties of Powders and Metals" chart.
January 2019
18 January 2019: Students are working on learning some C++ programming language.
Homework: All missing work due by Wednesday, 1/16/19.
11 January 2019: Monday was final build day. Tuesday was Race Day (no egg). Wednesday was Crash Day (eggs). Thursday and Friday were days to work on the required Lab Report.
Homework: Due 1/9: Race Day Worksheet, Due 1/10: Crash Day Worksheet, Due 1/13: Lab Report
04 January 2019: Students prototyped their car designs and tested them on the track.
Homework: Think about how you can improve your car design.
DECEMBER 2018
18 December 2018: Students continued to work on background information regarding car crashes. Students were also introduced to Google Sheets.
Homework: None
UPDATE (11 DEC 2018): Due to numerous snow days, all assignment due dates will be pushed back accordingly.
14 December 2018: Students began their Forces & Motion (Crash Car) unit with a presentation on the physics of crashes. Students began to design and prototype their vehicle.
Homework: None
07 December 2018: Students finished up their Crime Scene Investigation unit with a hands-on test. Celebration continued with a movie. Then, to honor Computer Science Education Week, students participated in the Hour of Code.
Homework: None
NOVEMBER 2018
30 November 2018: Students learned about other forms of evidence: DNA, shoe prints, tire tracks, handwriting, and motive. They also reviewed and revised for the final test.
Homework: All missing work turned in by Wednesday, 11/28/18, at 3:05.
20 November 2018: Students performed absorbency, acid/base, and elasticity/tensile strength tests on different fibers.
Homework: None.
16 November 2018: Students began to learn about deciphering fingerprints. In addition, they started identifying the physical and chemical properties of different fibers, beginning with combustibility testing.
Homework: Turn in all missing work by Friday, November 16, for late credit.
9 November 2018: Students continued to work on identifying unknown powders, metals, and liquids. Additionally, students learned how to identify ink patterns using chromatography. Students used their freshly gained knowledge to take a quiz on Friday. The Cleveland County Crime Scene Lab lead investigator will visit on Wednesday, November 14th.
Homework: None
2 November 2018: Seventh graders have begun their CSI unit. We start with identifying the properties of known powders (such as flour, calcium carbonate, and plaster of Paris) and known metals (such as copper, zinc, and aluminum). In this way, when we see an unknown powder or metal at a crime scene, we are able to perform experiments on it to determine what it is.
Homework: Syllabus signature page is due by Friday, November 2nd. Properties of Powders and Metals Chart due Tuesday, November 6th.