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Grade 7: Earth & Space Systems
Grade 7: Earth & Space Systems
Heat in the Environment
Heat in the Environment
For PDSB Educators: if you are looking to reach out to the Peel Field Centres for further ways to connect your learning to the environment visit the PDSB Field Centre Share Point site.
For PDSB Educators: if you are looking to reach out to the Peel Field Centres for further ways to connect your learning to the environment visit the PDSB Field Centre Share Point site.
Nature Journaler: @billiejooutdoors
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to plants and animals in the environment and how they adapt to heat retention and loss as well as the environmental impact of an increase in heat to the planet. Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to plants and animals in the environment and how they adapt to heat retention and loss as well as the environmental impact of an increase in heat to the planet. Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the statement "I wonder..." becomes very important at this age all the way up to 18 years as students deepen their understanding of the world around them. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs and even poetry. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the statement "I wonder..." becomes very important at this age all the way up to 18 years as students deepen their understanding of the world around them. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs and even poetry. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encourage to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
Photo by: Christine Chapel
Observing the Moon
Observing the Moon
Let’s observe our nearest neighbour in space, our Moon!
Let’s observe our nearest neighbour in space, our Moon!
Even though the moon looks so bright in the night sky, it actually does not have any light of its own. It's a reflection of light from the sun. The moon appears to have a different shape every night. This is referred to as “phases”. As the moon orbits around the earth and the earth orbits around the sun, this causes us to see different parts of the moon.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes the moon is visible during the day? Why is that?
Watch this video, from Turtlediary, that explains the phases of the moon: Phases of the Moon
Once you have viewed the video, create a chart with 31 circles to represent a moon on a blank sheet of paper.
Pick a date to start observing the moon. This activity can be done outside or inside by a window. (Although, keep in mind sometimes you can't always see the moon from the same window). Look at the moon and take a quiet moment to observe it.
1) On your worksheet:
Record the date and time of your observation under each circle
Observe the moon and fill in the circle according to how the moon looks. Write down the phase of the moon
Try to predict what phase the moon will be the next night
Remember to do this until the moon looks like it did on the first day of your observation.
2) Now watch this next video, by Inside Science, about what Earth would like if there were no moon: What Would Happen if there were No Moon?
Think about how our climate would be different if the moon didn't exist. How different would it be for you and where you live?
Now that you know the importance of what the moon does for our planet, share with someone what you have learned and encourage them to also chart the moon and observe it.
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Sweet Water - Importance of Heat
Sweet Water - Importance of Heat
An important part of this land is the trees. We, in Southern Ontario, are extremely fortunate to live next to our special Sugar Maple trees. Long before Europeans arrived on this land Indigenous people received the gift of sweet water from the maple trees. This provided them a much needed first harvest of the year. Sweet water, commonly known as sap, contains minerals, oligosaccharides, amino acids, organic acids, and phenolic compounds.
An important part of this land is the trees. We, in Southern Ontario, are extremely fortunate to live next to our special Sugar Maple trees. Long before Europeans arrived on this land Indigenous people received the gift of sweet water from the maple trees. This provided them a much needed first harvest of the year. Sweet water, commonly known as sap, contains minerals, oligosaccharides, amino acids, organic acids, and phenolic compounds.
There are many ways sweet water is harvested and used. At the PDSB Field Centres we use taplines to collect sap from Sugar Maple trees and then bring the sap to the sugar shack to be processed. Research how maple sweet water (sap) is processed to make maple syrup and answer the following questions:
There are many ways sweet water is harvested and used. At the PDSB Field Centres we use taplines to collect sap from Sugar Maple trees and then bring the sap to the sugar shack to be processed. Research how maple sweet water (sap) is processed to make maple syrup and answer the following questions:
At the field centres we use an evaporator to heat the sap, how does it work?
How is heat produced when using an evaporator?
What effects does heating have on maple sap? Use the particle theory to help explain
Use the following terms to explain how the heating process works for making maple syrup: temperature and conduction
What is a hydrometer? How is it used in the making of maple syrup?
At what temperature must the boiling point be in order for maple syrup to get to its finishing point? Explain how the weather and air pressure impact this temperature.
Now get outside and thank the trees for all they provide. Remember they are alive even in the winter time, but need to slow down and conserve energy during the cold months. Sound familiar?
Now get outside and thank the trees for all they provide. Remember they are alive even in the winter time, but need to slow down and conserve energy during the cold months. Sound familiar?
Curriculum Link: see Matter & Energy
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
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