Year+7+Maths+and+Science

After teaching Year 7 for nine years I will not a have a class in 2012. But I shall leave these resources her for others to use. media type="youtube" key="ty33v7UYYbw" height="198" width="244"
 * This page is for my Year 7 Maths and Science class.**

In **Term 1** we spend time getting to know each other, working with the ideas of how scientists create knowledge and then look at a unit on Matter - Solids, Liquids and Gases. This year (2011) we are fortunate enough to be working with Dr. Dominique Hes and her team from The University of Melbourne's Architecture Faculty. Dr. Hes specialises in the development of sustainable architecture. We will be completing a project using her expertise and digital equipment to asses and evaluate our Homesteads. This information will be used to inform the work of the school's Architect - Mr. Steve Hofer (a past student and local architect working in the area of sustainable design) - as he plans the redevelopment of these buildings.

Sustainable Homestead Project

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 * Term 2**

We are starting Term 2 this year a Famous Scientist project. This will be undertaken under the direction of the Schools Librarian who has set up a wiki for the students to report to - Famous Scientist Project

Our first unit will be about Cells and Microscopes. It looks at the creation of Cell Theory and the development of the technology that enabled the wonderful work in medicine and biochemistry that followed: The Microscope. The students will complete a series of activities via a WikiQuest. Our Cell WikiQuest

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The second unit this term will be an exploration of Separation Techniques. This allows us to investigate mixtures of matter, colloids, suspensions, solutions etc and we do it with a focus on water. The students will need to complete work from their text books and from the Wiki Clean Clear Water. In 2010 we worked with Dr. Hes and her team of architects from Melbourne University to develop and build a sustainable toilet. This project will continue in 2011.

We started our studies in Science by looking at Electric Circuits and the generation of Electricity, investigating alternative ways to produce electricical energy.
 * Term 3**

I started with an overview using my Prezi slideshow. media type="custom" key="7311493"

Then we carried out a series of experiments. The students surveyed their own homes for their contribution to climate change, prepared their own experiment to compare conductors and insulators and completed a presentation on alternative energies to the class. Classroom Tasks Alternative Energy Projects

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media type="youtube" key="XI5nBUidKqo" height="183" width="212" The first homework task for this unit is to answer the questions on the Blog about magnets and compasses. I'll put up my answers later, once everyone has had a go at answering the questions. [|Blog Homework]
 * Forces Unit**

In class we are completing a series of short experiments/activities with reflective questions.



Then, we'll finish up with the students completing an investigation which will include an experiment that they design for themselves. I want them to put this on their own wiki's, which I'll link here: []

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http://eggdropsplat.wikispaces.com/

In Term 4, we'll spend a lot of time working on the classification of animals and plants and developing an understanding of the use of keys for the identification of organisms. I ask my students to create keys of the major groups of animals and plants using ICT. They then test these with real organisms. We also visit the Zoo and complete a short project on one animal; looking at it's classification and adaptations.
 * Term 4**

We'll also spend some time on a dig, investigating the intersection between the social science, maths and science as we uncover the secret lives of the ancient "Crudenites" who inhabited the school site in the past.

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