Habitat preservation and restoration

2008-05-14 12:54:38

The last few classes, the students have studied preservation as well as restoration of habitats.

They read an article about balancing agriculture with protection of biodiversity. On the field trip to the White Lake grasslands guest speakers Don Gayton and Dennis St.John discussed grasslands ecology and endangered species such as the hairstreak butterfly.

Our own Glenfir Native Plant garden is a hands-on exercise in habitat resoration. Lisa Scott helped the students identify invasive plant species, so that we can prepare the garden for the Grand Opening on Th, May 22, at 2 pm. The grade 7 students will organize and host this event.

Homework assigned:

- complete 3.7 CYU => due Th, May 15

Assignments NHI:

- food web, GHE q - DL

11th hour and land use

2008-05-06 16:07:35

In the last few classes the grade 7 students have viewed some fragments of the documentary "11th Hour" by Leonardo DiCaprio. We have discussed the problems of declining ecosystems and climate destabilization that threaten the inhabitability of the Earth. As well, we looked at the technological solutions available to combat these trends.

Students have studied 3.4 in the textbook: "Land Use and Habitat Loss". They viewed a short video about the work of biologist Mark Olson, who is involved in preserving habitats. In the coming classes we will investigate the competing interests that make land use issues complicated.

Homework assigned:

complete 3.4: Try This CYU => due Thursday, May 8

Assignments NHI:

foodweb 2.3 GHE questions - DL

Photosynthesis, Trees and GHE 2

2008-04-16 10:41:56

Yesterday the grade 7s worked on creating a presentation for K-6 students during the Earth Day assembly (Apr. 22). Different tasks were assigned togroups ofstudents.

Homework assigned:

complete your part(s) write script for presentation => due Th, Apr. 17

Assignments NHI:

food web, GHE questions - DL

photosynthesis, trees and GHE

2008-04-11 12:30:38

On Thursday, the grade 7 students started the project that will culminate in a presentation on Apr. 22 during the Earth Day assembly, on the benefits of trees to people and their communities.

They researched websites, learning about the details of the process of photosynthesis. Then, they watched a video by the Trees for the Future organization, on the benefits of planting trees. Afterwards, we discussed the greenhouse effect.

http://www.plant-trees.org/resources/tftfvideo.htm

Homework assigned:

- answer questions 1-5 on the hand-out, about the greenhouse effect => due Tu, Apr. 15

Assignments NHI:

foodweb for Inv 2.3 -DL

decomposers

2008-04-08 13:04:12

Today wetalked aboutthe food webs that the students created at home. Theusefulness as well as the limitations of our models were discussed.A student remarked that connectionsof the decomposers to other organisms seemed to be lacking. This led to a discussion of the role of decomposers in ecosystems. Then, the students gathered materials and started an experiment involving composting.

Homework assigned:

- 'Google' "salmon forest"; use the listed resources toexplain how the ocean and forest ecosystems are connected by the salmon. => due Th, Apr. 10

see e.g:

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/forests/forests_101/science.asp

http://www.focs.ca/clayoquot/salmonforest.asp

Assignments NHI:

Foodweb (Inv 2.3) - DL

food chains

2008-04-03 16:09:19

Today we discussed food chains, in relation to energy flow and material cycles. The students watched a video documentary on two examples on ocean food chains, and started modelling a food web.

Homework assigned:

complete Inv. 2.3: Modelling a Food web => due Tu, Apr 8th

Local ecosystem

2008-04-02 16:32:43

Last Tuesday, the students presented their Smart notebooks on our local ecosystem, discussing connections between organisms and interactions of organisms withnon-living parts. We also evaluated Mr. Steffler's experiment "soap vs disinfectant".

Homework assigned:

summary of 2.1 Food for All => due Th, Apr. 3

local ecosystem

2008-03-05 13:08:00

Today the students went outside to investigate the local bunchgrass ecosystem. We stopped first at our Glenfir Native Plant garden, and identified some of its species. Then we followed to path around "little Giant's Head, where the students studied the interactions between the non-living and living parts of this more established habitat.

Tomorrow the students will identify the species photographed using field guides, and prepare a digital report.

Homework assigned:

Write a summary of 1.4 The needs of living things => due tomorrow Th, Mar 6

Assignments NHI:

notes on 1.3 - DL, CB

ecosystem

2008-02-28 15:20:46

Students wrote the Chemistry Test today.

After that they drew aweb of all interactions they could remember having with other organisms.

They studied section 1.1 "What is an Ecosystem?" , completed the CYU, and started reading 1.3. "Ecosystems within ecosystems"

Homework assigned:

Study and take notes on 1.3

Assignments NHI:

-

six degrees

2008-02-27 13:59:12

Today we completed our review of unit B chemistry with an online practice quiz.

Students were introduced to the Ecosystems Unit. We defined "ecosystem" and discussed the Earth as a global ecosystem. Naturally this led to the issue of global climate change. Weinvestigated the website called "Six degrees" which aims to give people an audiovisual impression of what the world would look like if it warmed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 degrees Celsius. We concluded with a more encouragingexploration of some of the actions that are taken to curb greenhouse emissions and make our societiy more sustainable.

Visit "Six Degrees" at: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/sixdegrees/

Homework assigned:

prepare for Unit B test => tomorrow, Thursday 2/28

Assignments NHI:

-

matter

2008-02-26 13:38:34

From today onwards homework assignments will be posted here.

Last Thursday (2/21) we reviewed chapter 6 in class, in preparation for the Unit B test (chapters 4-6 with an emphasis on ch. 6), coming Thursday, 2/28. Some studentsdid this by working on the chapter 6 review questions. Others completed an investigation of household products reviewing covered skills.

Homework assigned:

-

Assignments NHI:

6.1 CYU 6.2 CYU - HH (I know she has completed this; she just needs to hand it in)

Science Fair time schedule

2008-01-13 14:35:10

Date of TGS Science Fair: Wed, Feb. 20

> Experimental design, written procedure, list of materials Th, Jan. 24

> Experiments completed Th, Feb. 6

> Results, and Analysis / Discussion Wed, Feb. 13

>Conclusion, Evaluation, abstract, and backboard Mon, Feb. 18

Chapters 4 5 Test

2008-01-13 14:07:10

The grade 7s will write a test on chapters 4 and 5 on Wednesday, Jan 23.

See below for a list of main concepts and skills to review.

Ch.4 "Matter can be described using properties"

- what is a property?(4.1)

- observable and measurable properties (4.1)

- mass, volume measurements (4.3)

- calculating density (4.5)

Ch.5 "Matter is made up of moving particles"

- particle model of matter (5.1)

- explaining changes of state using the particle model (5.1)

- physical and chemical changes: definitions, clues, examples (5.2)

Science Fair

2007-12-20 16:56:16

Still notsure how to get started on your Science Fair project?

Maybe the following website can help. Try it!

http://www.sciencefairs.bc.ca/students.html