Grade 7/8R Update

Here's a quick update on what has been happening in Gr 7/8R lately...

Math:  Full steam ahead through Chapter 5, Data Management.  Students have been working collaboratively in groups and individually, on the concepts of census, sample, inferring and evaluating data, different types of graphs, evaluating trends, stem and leaf plots, and measuring central tendency.  We will be delving into histograms soon, so for you mathematicians, google histograms and check them out!

English:
Reading:  We are our own detective agency!  We are reading a variety of materials and watching a variety of videos, and making inferences based on the content we read.  We are reading between the lines, and combining our background knowledge with clues from the text to make conclusions.  Today we did some guided reading and conferencing to see how sharp our inferencing skills are getting.

Writing:

We have been working on a personal anecdote for the last few weeks, and have been using the "google docs" program through toolstogo.  It's very conveneient for both teacher and student.  Final Drafts are due January 29th.  Many have been handed in already.

History:

Grade 7s are working on New France.  We have studied the background of New France, roles of Champlain and Cartier, missionaries, the courers de bois, the relationship between the First Nations and Europeans, and look forward to getting into government and daily life in New France.  Thus far we have completed trading cards of missionaries, a speech, and skits for evaluation.

Grade 8s are working on the Confederation of Canada, which has turned out (surprisingly to some) interesting.  Today was a particular highlight in watching the skits of the five factors leading to Confederation.  There may have been actual potatoes and Irish memorabilia brought in by the actors participating in the skit based upon the Fenian Raids.  Thus far for evaluation we have completed trading cards, skits, and have a quiz on the horizon.

Science:

The Grade 8s are working on the "Cells" unit.  We have looked through microscopes at slides. created our own mock cells, and investigated selectively permeable membranes with iodine and cornstarch.  We have done various dramatic activities to further examine the cell and its' make-up.  We look forward to our first major lab report next week. 

Phys-Ed:  

We are currently working on basketball skills, drills, and scrimmages.

Religion:

We have analyzed the Apostle's Creed, and dissected its' true meaning.  We have looked at the definition of a Creed, and are currently working on our own personal Creeds.

Goals:

We are shooting for the following:

Completing all of our work to the best of our ability, and not leaving it to the last minute.

Being prepared for class.

Maintaining an organized space.

Proofreading our work.

Giving detailed responses.