Clay Picasso Faces and One-Point-Perspective

The seventh graders finished beautiful clay face relief sculptures in the style of Picasso. They looked at many examples of his cubist style and then created their own interpretations. Here are a few samples.

Last week we moved on to a one-point-perspective project that combines perspective drawing with the style of an artist in the design of a birds-eye-view city scape. Here are a few samples that they saw in order to inspire their creativity. 

  

Finishing fractions and exponents unit

This week in 7th grade math we are finishing up our fourth unit on fractions and exponents.  This week we reviewed scientific notation for writing really big and really small numbers.  We will have a review day and play a Jeopardy math game tomorrow.  We will then take out unit test on Thursday.

I hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable two weeks off and safe travels to those going out of town.

Upcoming assignments:

Unit 4 test on Thursday Dec. 17
Alternative Assessment due Thursday Dec. 17
Ruler Project due Friday Dec. 18

Week 16: 7th Grade Science

Week: 16

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Topic:  The Circulatory System

Objectives: 

Explain the function of the cardiovascular system.

Describe the structure and function of the heart.

Sequence the path taken by the blood the the CVS.

Essential Question:

How is our cardiovascular system like a transportation system?  

Key Terms:

CVS

atrium

ventricle

valve

septum

pacemaker

artery

capillary

vein

This week the kids will see how special an organ the heart is and how hard it works. They will understand that the heart is virtually a pump in a closed loop system.   Each student will learn how to calculate their pulse rate at rest and see how exercise affects their pulse rate.  Lastly, the class will sequence the flow of blood to and from the heart.  

Differentiation:

Inferring

Calculating

Data Interpretation

Sequencing

Hour of Code

The middle school students participated in Hour of Code today using TinkerBox HD a physics-based building environment. What does that mean? It means it is a virtual environment with objects that operate and interact as they do in the real world, with gravity, simple machines, and based on scientific concepts. Students built upon their experiences with code from Hour of Code in previous years and moved into a visual learning environment. They had the opportunity to practice with puzzles and create their own Rube Goldberg machines.
Throughout the experience today, students were asked to problem solve, think through situations sequentially, and examine cause and effect behaviors. They interacted with one another offering support and creative solutions. The TinkerBox HD app is on your child's iPad. Ask them to show you how it works.
For further information and coding opportunities, the code.org site is a wonderful free resource with coding and app creation opportunities for children. I would also encourage you to check out Scratch Jr. (works well as an iPad app) and Scratch for more advanced coding experiences. Scratch offers a platform for students to write code and create a game that can be shared with others in a safe online setting. Your child might also be interested in experimenting with a Makey Makey (If I explain it, I won't do it justice). Take a look at this wonderful device that makes it possible to turn bananas into a keyboard. You might also look into the Tynker app. This app provides coding and problem solving challenges for all ages and levels. Coding is the perfect opportunity for kids to utilize their problem solving and spatial reasoning skills over the winter break.
A special thank you to Ted Grunebaum, Heidi McDermott, Margaret Steele, Vince Menees, Julie DePrey, David Tipton (dad to William in kindergarten), and Mike Check (dad to Josie in 1st and Braeden in 3rd). They each enjoyed facilitating the experience for the kids.

Pickleball Tournament

Congratulations to Grizzly Bear Army (Aidan and Elena) for defeating the Purple Chocolate Hippos (Linnea and Julian) in the Championship round of our 7th grade Pickleball tournament! Grizzly Bear Army will now get the chance to win a free Slim's lunch if they can beat Mr. Hotaling and Mr. Hirsch!

Week 15: 7th Grade Science

Week: 15

Topic: Project Fair

Dear Parents,

I hope you all enjoyed Project Fair as much as I did this year.  I always enjoy all the different ideas the kids come up with and through all their hard work they really become an expert in their field.  Thank you also for all your support and patience during this long process.  

Next, the seventh graders will begin to look at the Circulatory System and how it is our bodies transportation system.  

Hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday.  

Sincerely,

Mr. T

Rational numbers and exponent rules

This week in 7th grade the class is continuing to work on our unit on factors, fractions, and exponents.  This week we will be learning about rational numbers and how to order and simplify negative and positive fractions.  Then for the rest of the week we will be learning about the rules for multiplying and dividing exponents.  We also are beginning to work on the ruler project that will be due at the end of next week.

Upcoming assignments:

Quiz on sections 4.5-4.8 on Monday Dec. 14
Test and alternative assessment due on Thursday Dec. 17
Ruler Project due Friday Dec. 18

7th Grade Language Arts: Tour Project

7th graders continue drafting their tour scripts this week.

Upcoming Due Dates:

Book Review First Draft Due: Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Book Review Final Draft Due: Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Book Club Tour Presentation: Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Unit 4 Factors, Fractions, and Exponents

This week in 7th grade math we have begun our fourth unit on factors, fractions, and exponents.  We started the week by working on divisibility and learning the divisibility rules for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10.  Tomorrow, we will learn about what exponents are and how to do order of operations with exponents in them.  We will also learn about the Sieve of Eratoshenes, which is basically a way to identify all the prime numbers. (I will give extra credit on quizzes and tests for knowing the prime numbers 1-100.)  On Thursday, we will go over prime factorization and apply it to finding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of numbers and sets of numbers with variables and exponents.  Friday, we will work on simplifying fractions and fractions with exponents and variables in them.  This week I will also be introducing the ruler project that we will be working on this month.

Upcoming assignment:
Quiz on Monday Dec. 7th

Week 14: 7th Grade Science

Week 14

Topic:  Temperature, Thermal Energy, and Heat

Objectives: 

How does a thermometer work?

Describe how thermal energy is related to temperature and heat. 

Explain the significance of a high specific heat.

Essential Question:

Can different objects at the same temperature have different energies?  It’s all about the particles. 

Key Terms:

temperature

celcius

absolute zero

Kelvin scale

heat

thermal energy

specific heat

While working on their Science Fair Projects the kids have been exploring the concepts of thermal energy, heat, and temperature.  What do these words really mean and how do we use them in our everyday lives?  This week the kids analyzed “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and concluded that the author was only partially correct about the bowls of porridge. 

Dinner Discussion: Is it correct to say in the winter, “Close the door you are letting the cold air in.”

Differentiation:

Observing

Compare and Contrast

Measuring

Data analysis

Upcoming: The Transfer of Heat

7th Grade Language Arts: December Projects

Seventh graders started writing book reviews this week.  During the review writing process, our focus will be on crafting attention grabbing introductions, providing an interesting portrait of the novel’s story, developing opinions, and giving explanations that show strong analysis and conclusions.  Additionally, students will do research about the author or other interesting details to provide insight beyond the story.  Lastly, students will include their own recommendation for the novel.  

Students will draft their writing during class time this week and submit their first draft for teacher feedback through Schoology next week.  A plan for improvement for the final draft stage will be discussed during workshop conferencing.  Students will have opportunities during class to share their reviews with classmates inside and outside their book club groups.

They will also begin working on their group project this week.  Students will create a tour and will serve as a tour guide for the settings of their book club novel.  Their tour will include the following:

• A minimum of five different tour stops that are points of interest from the novel.
• Description of an important event from the novel that occurred at each of the tour stops.
• Artwork, music, props, and/or costumes to help recreate the scene.
• Group members playing the main characters from the novel.
• Interaction between the guide and the characters as the tour takes place.

Groups will plan, write, and rehearse the script prior to the presentation day.

Upcoming Due Dates:

Book Review First Draft Due: Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Book Review Final Draft Due: Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Book Club Tour Presentation: Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Powers and Limitations of Government

Over the past two weeks, the 7th graders have been learning about the powers of state and federal governments.  They also learned about the limits placed on government and the rights given to the people.  Student have been discussing their opinions about how powerful the government should be.
Check out some of their conversations below.  Later this week, students will learn about the Bill of Rights.

Upcoming Date:  

• Constitution Test: Thursday, December 17

Questions for your 7th Grader:

• Should the federal government be more powerful than state and local governments?
• What powers should be given to the people, with no interference from government?