Welcome, Scientists!

Welcome to 7th grade science!

Ms. Natalie Keigher

nkeigher@lisle202.org

630 493-8242

1/17/2012 - Work and Power Notes Instructions<-------CLICK HERE!

1/23/2012 - Newton's Laws Reading Output Instructions<---CLICK HERE!

1/17/2012 - Physics Reading Instructions for 1/17/12

1/9/12 - Your homework is to read pages 9-13, 22-24 and do a modified reading output. For each section, (Measuring Distance: p.9, Calculating Speed: pp. 10-11, Describing Velocity: pp. 12-13, Acceleration: pp. 22-24) you should take notes, then do the question(s) from class before moving on to the next section.

The questions can be found here: Physics Reading Questions (<--click it)

12/14/2011 - Review Power Points and Study Guide for Earth's Changes Assessment

Powerpoints (with photos for review: name each landform, what made it, erosion or deposition?)

Chikuminuk Lake

Recognizing Erosion and Deposition

Point of Arches

Earth's Changes Study Guide (Assessment Monday, 12/19)

Part 1: Demonstrates an understanding of the inside of the Earth and plate tectonics.	Text Readings, Activities and Other Learning Resources (these are resources you can use to review and study!!)

Structure of the Earth I know what the Earth is made of. I know the characteristics of each layer of the Earth. I can explain how convection currents work in the mantle.	Inside Earth 1.1 (Ch.1, Sect.1) Inside Earth pp. 16-17 Postcard From Earth’s Interior Modeling Convection Currents (p. 37) Internet Activity Inside Earthp. 16 (upper left) ScienceSaurus Green 176-177 Blue 158-159
Theory of Plate Tectonics I can explain what the theory of plate tectonics states. I can explain several types of evidence that support the theory of plate tectonics.	Inside Earth pp. 32-33, 1.3, pp. 23-27 Shifting Continents ScienceSaurus Green 181-182 Blue 177
Plate Movement I know how and why tectonic plates move. I know which events and landforms are caused by plate tectonics. I can use volcano and earthquake data to identify plate boundaries.	Inside Earth pp.28-29, 34-35 Mapping Earthquakes and Volcanoes ScienceSaurus Green 183-185

Part 2: Demonstrates an understanding of Catastrophic Earth Changes	Text Readings, Activities and Other Learning Resources (these are resources you can use to review and study!!)

Volcanoes I can identify the three main types of volcanoes and explain how each is created. I know the conditions that cause volcanoes	Volcano Brochure Inside Earth 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 ScienceSaurus Green 187 Blue 178-179
Earthquakes I know the difference between P waves, S waves, and combination (surface) waves. I know the conditions that cause earthquakes. I know how earthquakes are measured. I can use data to find the epicenter of an earthquake	Earth Science Poetry Inside Earth 2.2 Finding the Epicenter ScienceSaurus Green 186 Blue 180-181
I can identify and explain the creation of other tectonic landforms such as: Mid-Ocean Ridge Rift Valley Deep-Ocean Trenches Mountain Ranges	Inside Earth 34-35, 100-105 ScienceSaurus Green 187 Blue 174-175

Part 3: Demonstrates an understanding of Uniform Earth Changes	Text Readings, Activities and Other Learning Resources (these are resources you can use to review and study!!)

Gravity (Mass Movement) I know how erosion and deposition caused by gravity works. I can identify 4 types of mass movement and explain the different conditions that create them.	Earth’s Changing Surface 67-69 ScienceSaurus Blue 182
Running Water I know how erosion and deposition caused by running water works. I can identify landforms created by running water and explain how they formed.	Earth’s Changing Surface 72-81, 3.3 ScienceSaurus Green 192 Blue 172
Glaciers I know how erosion and deposition caused by glaciers works. I can identify landforms created by glaciers and explain how they formed.	Earth’s Changing Surface 3.4 ScienceSaurus Blue 173
Waves I know how erosion and deposition caused by waves works. I can identify landforms created by waves and explain how they formed.	Earth’s Changing Surface 3.5
Wind I know how erosion and deposition caused by wind works. I can identify landforms created by wind and explain how they formed.	Earth’s Changing Surface 3.6 ScienceSaurus Blue 173
Erosion and Deposition I can tell the difference between a landform caused by erosion and a landform caused by deposition.	Identifying Landforms Power Points

11/7/2011 - Homework: research and understand at least one concept below (IN ADDITION to the one you did in class today)

Compare and contrast Continental Drift and the Theory of Plate Tectonics
Explain subduction (what happens? What type of boundary is involved? What types of plates can be involved? Which landforms occur?)
Compare and contrast the Great Rift Valley and the Himalayas (How are they forming? What types of plates are involved?)
Compare and contrast the formation of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Nyiragongo and Mt. Kilauaea
Relate earthquakes to convergent, divergent and transform boundaries

Even better: research MORE than one if you have time. The more you are able to anticipate what your fellow students are teaching you tomorrow, the more you will learn!

Information for the Shifting Continents homework:

First, find the locations of fossils that have been found, and indicate the fossil location on your sheet with the outlines of the continents and countries (in class, we found Madurai, India on a map, then put a green G on your "prehistoric landmasses" page in that location):

Fossil Name	Description	How to put it on your map	Present-day Location
Glossopteris	A fern	Green “G”	-Southern tip of India, near Madurai -Prince Harald Coast, Antarctica -Southern tip of Madagascar -Oates Coast, Antarctica -Southeastern Australia
Cynognathus	A land reptile	Orange “C”	-Southeastern Argentina, near Bahia Blanca -Southwestern South Africa, near Cape Town
Lystrosaurus	A land reptile	Red “L”	-Wilhelm II Coast, Antactica -Madagascar, North of Antananarivo -Central India, between Bangalore and Hyderabad -Eastern Tanzania, near Dar es Salaam
Mesosaurus	A freshwater reptile	Blue “M”	-Eastern Brazil, near Salvador -Cameroon, West Africa

If you do not have an atlas at home, use Google Maps or other online maps to help you find the above locations.

Then, follow the directions on the "Shifting Continents" page. Use page 20 in your textbook to help you!

Be sure to do the questions on the back of the paper.

This assignment is due on Friday.

This year, we will be learning Earth science and physical science over the course of sevaral units:

Fossil Finders (nature of science, inquiry, fossils, geologic time)
Catastrophic Earth Changes (inside Earth, earthquakes and volcanoes)
Uniform Earth Changes (erosion and deposition)
Physics (motion, forces, work, energy)
Matter (elements, compounds, mixtures, physical and chemical changes)
Waves (sound and light, wave interations)
Magnets (polarity, behavior, how magnets are used in our lives)

Mastery Learning

7th grade science incorporates mastery learning into the classroom. After completing lessons on a particular topic or groups of topics, a "rest stop," or status check is conducted.

A rest stop is a set of two quick assessments, with activities between them. If a students does not demonstrate mastery on the first rest stop assessment, they are assigned activities to support them in gaining mastery in this particular concept. The student can then show mastery or improvement in this area on the second rest stop assessment.

A student who shows mastery on the first rest stop assessment will be given activities to deepen and stretch their knowledge. These students do not take the second rest stop assessment, as they have already demonstrated mastery.

Grading

The 7th grade science gradebook is organized by learning targets, rather than assignments, quizzes, tests, etc. The grade entered for each learning target represents a student's level of knowledge in that particular area. When a student improves in any given area, their grade is changed to reflect this.

Pre-assessments will be given for each unit. Students will be aware of and chart their pre-assessment scores. These scores will NOT be placed in the gradebook.

Scores will be added to the grade book after each rest stop and after the end of the unit assessment.

Effective Learner Scores

Each unit will include an effective learner score. The following characteristics of an effective learner are factored into the score:

Being on time to class
Bringing the necessary materials
Quality and promptness of assignments
Contributing positively to class (volunteering answers, raising hand, not distracting others)
Contributing positively to group work (working with, not against others)