Here it is, Thursday afternoon. It was great to see most of you on our first official Zoom call today! Things keep changing here in this new world of schooling, and so I have some information that is new since this morning.
We will continue to meet for 15-20 min, tops, at 10:00 (every day except Wednesdays), until April 13. At that point, things will change into more’ official’ lessons. I am not going to give you too much information about those yet, because it will likely change….meanwhile, let’s continue to use these 2 weeks to ease in, wrap up our Physiology block through writing, reading, and main lesson pages, have fun, develop mindfulness and conflict resolution skills, and more.
Thank you to everybody for your flexibility and patience. All of our instructions come from the Oregon State Department of Education, and I know they are working hard right now to determine what is the best path for all of Oregon’s students.
Be well, stay flexible, and keep in touch. I would appreciate emails from students and parents letting me know how your family is doing, how I can serve you best.
Ms. Stephens
Hi 7th grade!
We look forward to seeing you at 10 am today. When we meet at 10 am in April, it will always be at this same Zoom address. You can Join the Zoom Meeting here:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/493668459.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
A LITTLE SCIENCE:
Remember that cracker science experiment that we attempted? It grossed everybody out, and then we quit doing it? Let’s do some science today….here are the instructions. I invite you to try it at home and let us know how it went when we meet on Monday. You will need Iodine to do this experiment. It’s something that is often in our homes, so ask your parents. If you don’t have the ingredients, don’t worry about this experiment, just keep reading….
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10i139_LNXJoCFhVhl6xI5Yo9hj5RyqzFq_jCpY2cf0U/edit
If you don’t have the cracker experiment, you can review the digestive tract with this great video called “Making Poo.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aemI64NAK08
PHYSIOLOGY:
Today, we want you to think back to our work in Physiology before the early spring break began. Please use the back of the Female Reproductive System page for the Journey of an Ovum (see picture below). Don’t forget your title and border!
If you have not yet finished your Male Reproductive System main lesson page, this is also a great day to do that! Then we will have wrapped up the reproductive systems. (Remember, save those fancy new blue main lesson books- we will begin using those in about a week!).
MATH FOR EVERYONE--FROM MR. MOTT:
Hey 7th graders!
Math is going to look a bit different for the rest of the year but that doesn’t mean we won’t still be working and having fun!
Check out my video for today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iKKBQDL6ik The notes are on the separate PDF. please copy it through, and give it some color and care like a main lesson page. Do it on a blank piece of paper or in a notebook you can use just for math.
HERE ARE THE MATH NOTES: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V6MBXXbVQm4wrGaEi4whyY51J8D2wlKJ/view?usp=sharing
We’re going to be creating a bunch of these so try and keep them organized!
Video on connect four:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWPi1pZ0Po
For the card game:
Take out the face cards (or leave them in for added challenge) and draw cards, black cards are positive numbers and reds are negative. Add them up, write them down to keep track, and try to get to 21. See if it's possible.
See you soon!
Ms. Stephens
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April 6, 2020
Hi 7th grade!
I sure wish I was going to see you at school today instead of on Zoom! However, I have a fun game to try out this morning and I am looking forward to seeing your faces. The sunrise this morning was so beautiful- did anybody see it? We will see each other at 10 am today. Remember, when we meet at 10 am in April, it will always be at this same Zoom address. You can join the Zoom Meeting here:
REVIEW:
By now, you have probably completed the Male Reproductive System and the Female Reproductive System Main Lesson Pages. On a new page, please finish your Journey of an Ovum. Don’t forget your border & title!
Here is what to write on the back of the Journey of an Ovum page. Make lines in pencil with your straightedge, and write in pencil, have an adult or sibling check your work, and go back over it in pen. Fill in the blanks first:
The Journey of an Ovum
The female reproductive system prepares Each month, the _________________ invited a thick, soft lining made up of tissue and blood to grow along its walls. The lining contained nutrients that would be needed to nourish a growing baby if a pregnancy was to occur. Once the lining had grown, it waited for the ovaries to do their job.
You see, the ovaries contained special reproductive cells, each called an _________________. Each month, one of these cells would reach maturity and be released from the _________________. This month, it was the right ovary that got to release an ovum. The left one would have to wait until the next month. The ______________, which wait for the ovaries to release an ovum, waved their numerous arms. The waving arms grabbed the ovum that was just released and gently guided it into one of the tubes. After about a day of travel, the ovum began to dissolve. When it had disappeared, the brain sent a message to the lining of the uterus telling it that a fertilized ovum wasn’t going to arrive, so it could leave the uterus. Slowly, the lining passed through the _________________, into the _________________, and out of the female’s body.
As soon as the lining was gone, the uterus invited a new lining to start to grow. This time around, it would be the ovary and fallopian tube on the left that would do all the work. Then, the process would start all over again. The process is called _________________.
********The Journey of an Ovum Answer Key:
uterus ovum ovary fallopian tubes cervix vagina menstruation***********
5 Paragraph Essay: Drumrolllll please…..
Tomorrow we are going back in history to that time we were writing a 5 paragraph essay about the stages of baby development in utero. You will need your blue main lesson folder today (you took these home the last day of school, so go check your backpack). Please bring your rough draft, your notes, and your graphic organizer to the zoom call.
OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA:
Do your best to read Chapter 16 & 17, about the Polyface Farm, for tomorrow. There will be a quiz! Just kidding, kind of.
MR. MOTT MATH:
Hey 7th grade
No need to stand up…
First off check out the video:
Then try out the notes, add some of your own thoughts to them as well, and take care to show the number lines and the direction you go when adding negative numbers. This is still how I do this kind of math in my head.
The game:
And lastly the riddle:
Good luck!
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April 7, 2020
Good morning 7th grade!
See you this morning! Read Chapter 16-17 of Omnivore’s Dilemma before you join us, if you can. Remember: when we meet at 10 am in April, it will always be at this same Zoom address. You can Join the Zoom Meeting here:
Chromebook/Internet Reminder:
As more of you receive Chromebooks to use from PPS, please let me know. I have to look up some information in your student account so that you can log in successfully! If you still need a chromebook or wifi in your household, there is information on how you can access it here:
https://www.pps.net/page/1913Omnivore’s Dilemma:
Spend about 20-30 minutes reading the next 2 chapters of Omnivore’s Dilemma.
Artistic Geometry (approx. 90 min- this is a 2 day activity! Draw it today, color tomorrow)
Today, let’s do what we always did on Tuesdays….and dive into artistic geometry. You will love this! We are going to learn how to use some of what we have learned about using a compass and straightedge to draw a beautiful mandala.
If you have a compass, you can use this pattern:
Notes: When you are finished, please erase your pencil marks and color in your design with colored pencils. We will add this to your geometry main lesson book some day!
BONUS: a recipe
Finally, let’s try making a soufflé, just like Michael Pollan did at the end of chapter 17. Here is a recipe for a chocolate soufflè. If you have these ingredients, try making this dessert today. If not- try it out after your family goes to the store next time. Take a picture and send it to me, if you do! This recipe serves 2 people, so you may need to double it- or even triple it! We don’t have bittersweet chocolate, but I do have a bag of very dark chocolate chips- we are going to try and substitute them.
Mark Bittman’s Chocolate Soufflé (for beginners) (approx 1 hour)
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1 tablespoon butter for dish (approximately)
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1⁄3 cup sugar, plus some for dish
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3 eggs, separated
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2 ounces good quality bittersweet chocolate, melted
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1 pinch salt
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1⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar
DIRECTIONS
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 2-cup or one 4-cup soufflé or other deep baking dish(es). Sprinkle each with sugar, invert it and tap to remove excess sugar.
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Beat egg yolks with all but 1 tablespoon sugar until very light and very thick; mixture will fall in a ribbon from beaters when it is ready. Mix in the melted chocolate until well combined; set aside.
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Wash beaters well, then beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar until whites hold soft peaks; continue to beat, gradually adding remaining tablespoon sugar, until they are very stiff and glossy. Stir a good spoonful of whites thoroughly into egg yolk mixture to lighten it; then fold in remaining whites, using a rubber spatula. Transfer to prepared soufflé dish(es); at this point you can cover and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.
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Bake until center is nearly set, 20 minutes for individual soufflés and 25 to 35 minutes for a single large soufflé. Serve immediately.
From Mr. Mott: (approx 30 min)
Hey 7th Grade!
Check out the video for today and then you can copy the Negative Number Notes into your Math Composition Book if you have one:
This lesson is all about the ways we use negative numbers in addition and subtraction. I know my drawings aren’t the best, but those are supposed to be baskets with balloons and weights. Hope you guys can follow along and copy it for yourself. Did any of you play the pinata game? Well then try out this one too:
https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/casey-runner.htmlIf that’s super easy for you then check out these extra problems too, on the separate document. Riddle:
Happy Tuesday!
Ms. Stephens
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April 7: Specials & Bonus Math for 7th grade
A message from our movement teacher, Ms. Kennedy:
Hello Middle School Students and Families,
I hope you all are safe and healthy. I have attached a link to the Movement & Health websites. These are the websites you will go to for all assignments. Click on the page that lists your grade and you will find everything you need for your assignments.
Movement Monday 1-3 pm
Health Tuesday 3-5 pm
Of course, you can reach me at any time on email, however, my response time will be much quicker during office hours. I can also make myself available for video chat during office hours if you prefer.
Stay safe, wash your hands, and stay home!
Ms. Kennedy
Music ideas from Ms. Nicole:
Here are two music mindfulness videos:
Next are two music videos.
David Bowie "Ground Control to Major Tom"
You will be writing their own lyrics to this song soon!
Next, a song about these times:
Harmoniously and love to each of you,
Ms. Nicole
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April 9, 2020
Hi 7th grade,
First, I am so very sad to announce that we will not be allowed to meet as a class again this year. Sending you each a spatially distanced hug while we process this new information from our governor. It’s hard to believe we were planning for an extra week of spring break and now we are having in-person classes at all. I’m grateful we have the opportunity to get back together as a class next fall for 8th grade- we have so much to look forward to.
In fact- I look forward to seeing you at 10 am today! We will talk about the rest of the year a little bit on the call. When we meet at 10 am in April, it will always be at this same Zoom address. You can Join the Zoom Meeting here:
Bring to zoom….
Your top 3 strengths from the Via strengthfinder!
DO YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE LESSONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE PVS WEBSITE?: If you want to review previous days without the hassle of going through your email, look right here:
Ms. Stephens - 7th grade OFFICE HOURS: Please sign up here for a 15 min chat with me Friday if I didn’t get to talk to you yesterday. The link to join at your scheduled time is:
https://zoom.us/j/7581291908Feel free to sign up with a friend or by yourself. Need help on math or another subject? Bring it with you! I have some questions to ask each of you, so please don’t hesitate….
MAIN LESSON: (30 min reading, 45-60 min main lesson)
The weather outside is just beautiful! Do you have seeds to plant? If so, take some time today to tuck them into the soil in a pot or garden bed. Just like Joel Salatin at Polyface Farm, you will be happy to have them sprout and bring you signs of summer later this year. Also just like Joel Salatin, you will eat using the very shortest food chain possible!
____ First, read chapters 19-20 from Omnivore’s Dilemma today. Believe it or not, we are almost finished with this book! Unfortunately, you will read about the death of his cow #534 and why Michael Pollan didn’t save him from the slaughterhouse. Michael also commits to going vegetarian. Look for 3 reasons going vegetarian is philosophically complicated, and 3 reasons why he decided not to stay vegetarian. Do you agree with his reasoning? Why or why not? Be ready to discuss or write some reasons in the comments tomorrow on zoom.
_____Next, complete your grass observation main lesson page (see yesterday’s Main Lesson).
_____Finally, take out that dusty 5 paragraph essay you probably had nearly finished before we left for spring break. It was about how a baby develops during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy. I want you to reread it and make any edits so that the writing doesn’t feel choppy. Especially look at where one paragraph changes into the next! You may remember that these areas are called transitions. For this essay, we are writing about how things change over time, so you will find yourself probably needing words like:
Ask a family member or friend to help review your writing and see if your transitions make sense! You may have to call somebody and read your writing to them, or you may have somebody you live with able to do that. If you do not- Ms. Kim and I are both available to help you- just email us and we will set up a time! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR ESSAY, look in your blue MAIN LESSON FOLDER. If you still do not have it, send me a note. If it’s because you didn’t do it, I will send you the information to do it! We used a graphic organizer and notes about baby development.
MR. MOTT MATH: (30 min)
Hey 7th grade!
Todays riddle
Last riddle solution:
This whole lesson is about negative numbers being multiplied and how to understand it. The notes cover one way to look at it, with walking on a numberline. Understanding that facing one way vs another or walking in one direction or another will make you move either positive or negative. I mention in the video the idea of filming yourself walking forward and backward and then reversing the footage to show what negative times negative looks like. If you are able to film yourself doing that I would love to see it!
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