September 29

Science – States of Matter Review with Bill Nye

We are about to start a unit on the particle theory of matter and to do that we will start with what we learned in Grade 5 when we studied the states of matter. Watch the video below and check out the handout with basic ideas about particles.  Here is the worksheet for this video that we worked on in class together.  If you are absent, be sure to complete.

15.10.15 states_of_matter_and_bill_nye_matter

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September 28

Orange Shirt Day Studies

Today we are going to discuss the impact of residential schools in Canada.  Students will get a base of information and knowledge using the power point shown in class.  Then watch  3 min. video to gain further perspective.  Then, students will work in small groups to discuss the 94 Calls to Action as layed out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.  To do this they will use the kid-friendly version linked below.  Student small groups will have 10 min. to discuss their page of the Calls to Action, pick one, and then plan what they might do in the real world with $1 000 000 to address that Call to Action.  When students are finished with their small group they may either a) use the reflection paper to write out the plan that their group made, b) write out a similar plan with their own adjustments , or, c) write a personal plan of their own design (if they wish to represent on their own).

Here is the link to the 3 min. video

Here is the link to the kid-friendly version of the Calls to Action

child_friendly_calls_to_action_web

Here is the link to the reflection sheet for students to work on after meeting with their group.

 

September 28

Quick Write – Sept. 28 A Solar Storm With Consequences?

What do you think might happen and how might we all react?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/sci-tech/growing-risk-of-once-in-a-century-solar-superstorm-that-could-knock-out-internet-study-says-1.5579689

On August 31, 2012 a long filament of solar material that had been hovering in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona, erupted out into space at 4:36 p.m. EDT. The coronal mass ejection, or CME, traveled at over 900 miles per second. The CME did not travel directly toward Earth, but did connect with Earth’s magnetic environment, or magnetosphere, causing aurora to appear on the night of Monday, September 3.
Picuted here is a lighten blended version of the 304 and 171 angstrom wavelengths. Cropped
Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO
NASA image use policy.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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September 23

Science – Sept. 22 What is Matter (review) and the Particle Theory of Matter

Here is the info covered in class on the Particle Theory of Matter (introduction). We went to this website, to watch the introductory video on What is Matter.  Then we went to this webpage on that site to move forward into the particle theory of matter.  Whilst observing these materials we took Chicago-style notes following Mr. Ewert’s lead. 21.09.22 particle theory notes

September 23

Newsela – Join our Class and Complete your First Assignment

We will be using newsla this year to study the news and situations affecting humans from all over the planet.  Today we are starting with you joining our class on Newsela using this link.  Click on it, join, and start your first assignment.  Be sure to set the reading level for this first assignment to the proper level for your grade. This means: if you are in grade 7 you are to set it to the level between 1000-1100, and if in grade 8 between 1100-1200.

Once you have finished reading the article online, be sure to take the quiz, then complete your article summary for submission to Mr. Ewert.  If you need a copy of the article summary sheet (provided in class), 21.09.23 news article summary or on the assigment directly on Teams.

September 15

Science – Falling Pop Bottles

Soda BottlesToday we discussed falling matter.  To do this we did a formal lab write-up while experimenting with falling pop bottles full of water.  We did the experiment together as a class and practiced our formal write-up skills.

Formal lab write-up format:  Here is a copy of the formal lab format we used complet3e with a rubric to tell students how they are assessed on their formal labs. science lab outline

Here is a copy of the additional assignment materials we used in class: 15.11.02 falling pop bottles lab

Once you have finished your experiments you should watch the video below and find out how Aristotle and Galileo settled the question about whether heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones.

 

September 14

The Great Canadian Election Debate – Let’s Put on Them Political Gloves and Duke it Out!

ndpfed-logo-620x297 Liberal_Party_of_Canada conservativeIt’s national debate time here in Grade 7-8 E!

Canadian Election Debate – Research Organization

In this assignment you are going to be assigned to a political party.  You will consider the issues discussed in class and then research what you think your party would respond to the issues that have been discussed.  To do this you will likely use the website that hosts your party’s election platform.  Some of the questions will be directly discussed on their website but some will not leaving you to have to research the news about related issues that would give you clues about what that party would respond to that issue.

  • For example: perhaps you are researching what the Conservative Party’s policy would be on whether or not Muslim women should be allowed to wear a Niqab or face veil to civic ceremonies but you are unable to find it on their site.
    • Did you try finding a site search bar and putting in key words such as “niqab, veil, or civic ceremonies”?
    • Did you try putting in a google search for those key words along with “Coservative” party and then click the NEWS option in google?

Here is a great website to start with: it has all the major party’s platforms in language aimed at middle school age students.

https://pollenize.org/en/elections/canada-2021

Use the links to the main party platforms on their websites to help you with your research:

Liberal

Conservative

New Democratic Party (NDP)

Use this other very useful links to find the answers to the questions you are studying

2021 Election Platform Guide

 

Use more than just that…here is the full english language Federal Debate that took place last week.

questions you are to research; use the chart below to help you organize your research in preparation for the debate next week when the parties meet head-to-head for our national federal debate.

Type of Issue
Direct question being researched
Examples when your party addressed this issue
Your official response that you plan to debate with
Download a copy of the questions Mr. Ewert gave you to help you prepare for the debate on Friday

21.09.13 election debate questions a

Download a copy of the chart and assignment here if you lost the one Mr. E gave you.

21.09.13 Canadian Election Debate – Research organization

Download a copy of the rubric for the debate if you lost you copy that Mr. E gave you.

15.10.05-political-debate-team-rubric-1786vfp