A collection of moments from our Grade 7 learning community
Happy October! We marked the beginning of our month-long investigation into all things SPOOKY and SCIENTIFIC!
Right now, we are investigating aspects of microbiology and the invisible world that surrounds us every day.
Click the link below to see what we’ve learned so far!
We have officially begun our first novel study… Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper! This realistic-fiction book follows Melody, a child with cerebral palsy who is non-verbal. Despite her many interests, talents, and skills, Melody is unable to communicate her thoughts and feelings to those around her due to a lack of assistive technology.
Lochdale’s speech-language therapist, Ms. Filippelli, came in to our class to teach us about different forms of communication. We began to learn about how assistive technology, such as communication or “core” boards, can create a ‘voice’ for those who are non-speaking. We discussed why some people may not use verbal communication, or may be more comfortable with communicating in other ways.
Feel free to watch the video below for an interview with Ben, who is a non-speaking person who uses assistive technology. In the video, he explains how using an iPad or ‘core board’ helps him to feel less ‘trapped’ inside his head.
Please note: the video contains a brief mention of people protesting against gun violence.
Have you ever read a book and felt like a character was SO similar to you, it was like looking in a mirror? Have you ever felt like a book provided you with a window into someone else’s life and experiences? These are both examples of how representation in media (especially books) is important!
We have been exploring how books can be mirrors and windows, and examining what books in our class library are examples of one or the other (or even both)!
We learned that many people may not see themselves in books and movies. There may not be many characters that share aspects of their identities, such as: culture, ethnicity, life experiences, religion, background, family dynamic, etc. We surveyed our class library to look for ‘gaps’ in our books. We talked about how reading books about people who are different from us can build understanding and empathy.
Today, we read The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad:
In the story, a younger sister tells us all about her older sister’s first day wearing hijab. We talked about how many people from different cultures and religions may wear clothing, regalia, jewelry, or other items as testaments to their beliefs and backgrounds. To learn more about Ibtihaj Muhammad’s life, including her time as an Olympic-medalist in fencing, check out the video below:
Some questions to discuss at home:
Today, we continued our discussion on evolution by learning about Darwin’s finches. Please view the video below and try your best to answer question 5 on your handout. We will continue our conversation about this on Thursday.
-Ms. Ramen
Have you ever performed a dissection? We learned that dissections were (and are) a tool that scientists use to learn more about the biology and anatomy of plants, animals, and even people. We performed a ‘mock’ dissection using Twinkies! Our students needed to practice their precision, observation, and patience when taking samples, making incisions, and removing ‘organs’ (filling) from their ‘test subjects’.
Our Grade 7s put their baking skills into practice this week by creating mini pumpkin pies! Students had to read through the recipe, measure accurately, work collaboratively, and clean-up afterwards. We learned about the origins of pumpkin spice (which usually includes a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice). For some of us, this was our first time trying this seasonal dessert! If you want to make the recipe at home, click the link below:
What skills does it take to make the perfect chocolate chip cookies? How is baking similar to science? Why is it important to read recipes thoroughly? We began learning about key baking skills this week! Our Grade 7s went through ‘Baking Bootcamp’, where we learned about: when and how to wash our hands, how to keep our materials and workspace sanitary, why accuracy is important, how to use a funnel, how to stir effectively, and how to measure dry and wet ingredients.
While baking may seem like a stress-free activity, it requires many different skills such as: reading comprehension, math (measurement, conversion), cooperation and communication, etc. It also requires a lot of scientific knowledge to make a successful baked good! Feel free to watch the video below to learn how some common mistakes can impact the success of a cookie recipe, and stay tuned for more updates!
Welcome (back) to our Grade 7 students! I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach you (and learn from you) this year. Whether you are returning to Room 22, coming from a different classroom, or are new to Lochdale School, I hope that you feel welcomed into our class community!
Some important information for this week:
I’ll be updating our class blog with more information later this week!
Ms. Ward