The Week of June 13th-17th

Hello Everyone,

Two more weeks to go! We are coming to the end of our curriculum studies in Math and Science. We will be wrapping up Math with a unit exam on Wednesday, June 15th, and Science will see Plants for Food and Fibre wrapped up Tuesday, June 14th with a unit exam. We will review for both in class, however, students are encouraged to spend some time preparing at home too.

Math:

Students will write the chapter 12 exam Wednesday, June 15th. Study Guide here.

Math Final Exam preparation: Students will be responsible for applying content related to chapters, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 for their final exam. At this point students can work through chapter review questions out of the corresponding chapters to prepare for the exam. Practise questions for Math Final Exam!

Science:

The unit exam will take place Tuesday, June 14th. Study guide. Powerpoint notes 1, 2, 3, and 4 .

Science Final exam: 7C, 7D, and 7F students will be responsible for knowing, understanding and applying concepts related to Structures and Forces, Planet Earth, and Plants for Food and Fibre on their final exam. The Final Exam Study guide can be accessed here.

Have a great week!

David

The Week of June 6th - 10th

Hello Everyone,

I am a little under the weather this week, sorry the blog wasn't updated Monday. We have approximately 10 days left of instruction before students write their final exams. My goodness time flies! Students have been working diligently over the last two months to get their assignments completed and prepare well for their exams.

Keep it up, only two and a half weeks to go!

Week at a glance:

Math:

We have embarked on our final chapter in Math this week: Working with Data. Students will be exposed to concepts surrounding Mean, Median, Mode, Range, and Outliers. We will work through this week and wrap up the unit early next week. Students will write the chapter 12 exam Wednesday, June 15th. There will be a study guide posted shortly.

Math Final Exam preparation: Students will be responsible for applying content related to chapters, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 for their final exam. At this point students can work through review questions out of the corresponding chapters to prepare for the exam. More information to come...

Science:

This week we will close out our unit on Plants for Food and Fibre. Students will continue to monitor their bean plants, discuss the reproductive processes in plants, soils, and human impacts on plant growth. Thursday and Friday students will have the opportunity to choose and research a plant of their choice and nominate it for: "Plant of the Year". The assignment will be the last one in Science this year. The unit exam will take place Tuesday, June 14th. Study guide. Powerpoint notes 1, 2, 3, and 4 .

Science Final exam: 7C, 7D, and 7F students will be responsible for knowing, understanding and applying concepts related to Structures and Forces, Planet Earth, and Plants for Food and Fibre on their final exam. More to come...

Have a great week,
David

The Week of May 30th - June 3rd

Hello Everyone,

It was nice to experience sunshine once again on Sunday. We were dry enough to take care of Oliver's favorite pass time; mowing the lawn. I am certain he will ask me if we can mow it again tomorrow.

Looks like June is here this week. This frightens me a little bit, as we only have about three and a half weeks of classes left before final exams. Our preparations and efforts will be heightened over the remaining class time. We have lots to accomplish, but remember, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Week at a glance:

Math:

We have been exploring chapter 11 Solving Equations since last Monday and we will look to wrap it up by Wednesday of this week. Students have been working with "one-step" equations and they will take a crack at "two-step" equations Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday will be a review day and Friday, June 3rd, students will write their unit exam. A study guide will be posted here early in the week. Please see Mr. L if you require some extra support with the concepts that we have explored to date. Chapter 11 study guide.

Science:

We continue through Plants for Food and Fibre this week. Students will continue to take care of their plants at school, manipulating variables to determine the effects on their plants over the next three weeks. Students will also explore seed plants, plant processes, and plant  reproduction. Students should begin to consider their "Plant of the Year" candidates as they will be charged with researching and presenting information on a plant of their choice over the next couple of weeks. I am looking forward to it. On another note, Structures and Forces exam results we shared with students last week and students will be taking their exams home on Monday. Plant notes here and here!

Have a great week!
Dave

The Week of May 24th - May 27th

Hello Everyone,

The long weekend almost felt like summer, except for the weather...We were able to spend some time outside getting the yard ready. Braigh and his mom planted flowers most of Saturday while Ollie and I mowed and trimmed the edges of the lawn. It was great to be outside!

Week at a glance:

Science:

Students wrote their Structures and Forces Unit test last week to conclude the unit. Tests will be sent home with students on Thursday of this week. We begin our final unit: Plants for Food and Fibre Tuesday. Students will be growing beans in a group and making observations throughout the remaining four weeks. We will also explore the many uses and functions of plants in our world.

Math:

Students concluded chapter 10 - Patterns and Expressions with their unit test last Friday. They will be sent home with students Tuesday. We will continue to build on what we learned in Patterns and Expressions as we apply it to Chapter 11 - Solving Equations.

*Students who struggled on their Chapter 10 test have been informed that they must attempt the "Practise Test" found at the end of chapter 10, mark it (using answers found at the back of the book), return their tests signed for Wednesday, and see Mr. L for extra help during nutrition break #1 (Wednesday) in order to earn a re-write opportunity on Thursday after school (3:30-4:15). The philosophy is that students must show an effort in preparation before they are able to re-write. Students on the band trip will re-write Monday of next week (3:30-4:15).

Have a great week!
David

The Week of May 16th-20th

Hello Everyone,

Another crazy week ahead of us! There are several activities happening this week.

Monday, May 16th is 7C and 7D to the Crowsnest Pass for a field trip related to Science and Social studies curricula. The bus will be leaving at 8:30am sharp, and we should be back in time for the end of the school day (3:30pm).

Tuesday is the school track meet. Students are to head to school for the usual time, attendance will be taken and athletes will be bused to the University of Lethbridge to compete. Students not participating will remain at school and dismissed at approximately 12:20 on Tuesday. Buses will be running.

Week at a glance:
Math:
We close out our unit on Patterns and Expressions this week. There will be a unit exam Friday, May 20th. Here is the Study Guide. Students are encouraged to begin preparing for the exam as soon as possible, with our schedule Monday and Tuesday, our in class review time will be limited to Thursday of this week. See Mr. L if you are having difficulty.

Science:
We have completed our unit on Structures and Forces and we will have in class review of the material on Wednesday of this week. Unit exam will take place Thursday, May 19th. The exam format will include multiple choice questions, short, and long answer. Attached is the study guide, notes from sections 1 and 2, section 3, and a review activity for section 4.

Have a great week!
David

The week of May 9th- 13th

Hello Everyone,

We had a great weekend enjoying family, friends, and Mother's Day. The boys were very excited to give their mom some special soap and bubble bath. Jen was able to put her feet up for a few hours while the boys went swimming and shopping with Dad.

Time is ticking...the school year is rapidly coming to an end. We are heading toward a stressful and liberating time. Please try to remember that although Spring is here (sort of) we still have much to accomplish be we depart for our summer vacations.


Over the next two weeks we have some special events occurring that will affect our time at school. There is no school this Friday, May 13th (Professional Development Day), Monday, May 16th 7C and 7D to the Crowsnest Pass for Science/Social field trip, Tuesday, May 17th, (Track and Field meet). As a result, we will be very busy and students will be asked to take on a little more at home. Thanks for your support with this.

Week at a glance:

Math:
We will be wrapping up our unit on Patterns and Expressions this week. Students are being introduced to using variables and constants in order to develop expressions. We are currently working through chapter 10. Please see Moodle for further details. Students will write their unit exam on Friday, May 20th. I will post a study guide by Wednesday of this week. Please see Mr. L if you are having trouble, at a nutrition break.
Science:
We will close out our unit on Structures and Forces, students can expect their unit test Thursday, May 19th. Students will be working on activities over the next few days to close out the unit. Powerpoints reviewing sections 1.0 and 2.0 can be accessed here to support preparation for the unit exam. I will post a study guide by Wednesday of this week.

Have a great week!
David

The week of May 2nd-6th

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to May! It is hard to believe the school year has only 8 weeks remaining! Report cards were sent home over the break and students are asked to return the envelopes signed one last time this year.

Students are also encouraged to return permission forms for their Science/Social Studies field trip. 7C and 7D will be heading to the Crowsnest Pass to visit the Bellevue Underground Mine and to do a Frank Slide trail walk on Monday, May 16th. 7F will go on Wednesday, June 1st.

I am energized and excited to be back from an amazing family vacation in Phoenix. The weather was amazing and I have come to understand why people choose to spend a lot of time down there in the winter months. The boys will tell you that their favourite part of the trip was the airplane ride. It was their first experience on a plane. They were hilarious during take off!

Week at a glance:

Math:

We begin chapter 10 this week. We will examine Patterns and Expressions over the next week or two. So far we have discussed and constructed patterns using pattern blocks. Developing patterns using numbers, decimals, and patterns will be explored Wednesday through Friday. If you are having trouble, please make a point to see Mr. L during a nutrition break!

Science:

We have returned to wrap up our unit on Structures and Forces over the next two weeks. We had to temporarily abandon Structures and Forces so that Mr. van Maanen could teach his unit: Planet Earth during his time as a student teacher with us. Most of this week will be spent reviewing sections 1.0 and 2.0 (areas that we have already covered). We will move into the learning outcomes related to section 3.0 toward the end of the week.

Have a great week!
David

The Week of April 11th-15th

Hello Everyone,

Missed you all last week! Wasn't it wonderful to get some decent weather over the weekend? My kids did not want to spend any time inside. We biked, scootered, and played some street hockey too!

I just need to make a final comment about the Structure and Forces projects. Students worked so hard and had a chance to showcase their work again last week before taking projects home. You should be proud of your efforts people. Well done!

Week at a glance:

Science

Last week we wrapped up our discussion on plate tectonics and mountain formations.  This week we are going to discuss the importance of fossils, and what the fossil record tells us about Earth’s history.  If any of the students have fossils they wish to share with the class, they are more than welcome to do so.  Just an advance reminder that the second unit test is on April 19^th.  A study guide can be accessed here.

Math

Aren’t integers just so much fun?  What is an integer? And why is it when you subtract two integers, is it kind of like adding them?  In Math we’ve been exploring integer operations and how we can apply them to the real world like a hockey game, a bank statement and temperature gauges.  This week we’ll wrap up our unit on adding and subtracting integers with a quiz on April 15^th.  A study guide can be accessed here.

Have a great week!

David and Mike

The Week of March 28th - April 1st

Hello Everyone,

Well, the Hockey season came to a successful conclusion over the weekend! I have been excited about having some time back on the weekends. However, I now find myself a little sad that I won't see our team on the ice anymore. There is always next I guess.

Week at a glance:

Math:
Students have their Chapter 7 (Adding and Subtracting Fractions with unlike denominators) Unit assessment on Wednesday, March 30th this week. Mr. Van Maanen has been working hard with students to ensure they have a strong understanding of the material. Review questions can be accessed through Moodle. Please see Mr. Van Maanen if you need extra support during a nutrition break!

Science:
Students will continue to build on concepts related to Planet Earth this week. They completed their first quiz of the unit on Monday.

Have a great week!
David

The Week of March 21st-25th

Hello Everyone!

The first day of spring has apparently re-introduced the season of winter to us. I can't wait to get the old snow shovel out again! I suppose we should remain thankful for the mild temperatures that have come with the snow. It could always be worse.

I spent the weekend chasing my son around for hockey. He played on Saturday, Sunday and practices again today! One more weekend and it is over! Then Baseball season begins. I will enjoy being a spectator for baseball.

Structures and Forces unit projects were amazing last week! Students will spend part of this week presenting their projects to Mr. L. You should be so proud of your efforts people, I know I was!

Week at a glance:

Mr . Van Maanen continues to do an excellent job in the role of student teacher. His lessons are engaging and he shows a genuine care and concern for his students. We are lucky to have him supporting student learning until April 20th.

Science: Now that students are familiar with the differences between a rock and a mineral, we can move on to study more about rocks. Did you know there are three different classes of rock? And that over time, rocks cycle into a different type? There will be a mid-unit test (March 28th, 2011). The study guide was handed out in class today and can be found here. All students are encouraged to develop a half-page study sheet that will be available to them when they write their exam Monday.

Math: If Hank the turtle eats 6/8 of a head of romaine lettuce per day, and 2/3 of a head of iceberg lettuce per day, how much does he eat in total per day? This week we will find out how to add fractions with unlike denominators that result in improper fractions. We will discover multiple strategies to convert these improper fractions to mixed numbers. Remember, if you are struggling with the concepts we cover in class, please check in with Mr. L or Mr. V at nutrition breaks Monday-Wednesday or by appointment. We would be happy to help you!

Have a great week!

David and Mike

The Week of March 14th-18th

Hello Gators!

What a beautiful weekend! I am hopeful that this means that spring is here, I am not sure how many more days of shoveling, cold, and wind we can take.

My family and I enjoyed a much needed getaway to Kimberley over the weekend. Jen and Braigh did some skiing, Ollie and I stuck to the pool and hot tub with the occasional visit to the "Candy Store". The weather was beautiful and there was so much snow, I couldn't believe it.

Week at a glance:

Science: We have an exciting week ahead of us. Students should be making final preparations to showcase their Structure and Forces Unit projects. The showcase date will be Thursday, March 17th. At this time, students will spread their projects around the room and should be prepared to discuss what they have created with their classmates and teachers. I have seen some of the projects come to life over the last few weeks and can't wait to see the finished products. Criteria for the assignment can be found here: Proposal and Written component.

Math: Students completed their Math tests on Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Like Denominators last week. The exams will be sent home today, students are to have them signed and returned as soon as possible. Mr. Van Maanen will be taking students into Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators this week. As always, students who are unsure of the concepts we are covering are invited to see Mr. L at nutrition breaks throughout the week.

Reminder: There are interview times available Friday, March 18th throughout the morning. If times available do not fit with your schedule, please contact me at the school or via email to arrange another time.

Have a great week!
David

The Week of March 7th -11th

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you all enjoyed the week off, I know that I sure did! The countdown is on, only three more weeks of hockey chasing at the LeGrandeur house. We sure enjoy it, but are looking forward to having a bit of time to ourselves on the weekend.

Just a reminder that parent/teacher interviews are scheduled for next week. Check the Lakie website for details about booking. http://gsl.lethsd.ab.ca/Pages/Default.aspx

Week at a glance:

Math: We have been working on a "mini" unit in Math over the last week. Students have been exposed to Divisibility rules, putting fractions into the lowest terms, and adding and subtracting fractions with common denominators. We will complete the concepts by Tuesday. Wednesday will be a review day and Thursday there will be a Unit quiz. Study Guide Here. Students can find review activities in Chapter 6 of their textbooks which can be accessed through moodle: http://gsl.lethsd.ab.ca/Pages/Default.aspx

Science: Students have begun to show some amazing pieces with respect to their unit projects for Structures and Forces. Unit projects will be due Thursday, March 17th. There is a written component to the project as well. The guidelines can be found here. Students will be completing activities from the first two sections of Structures and Forces this week. We are excited to welcome Mr. Vanmaanen from the University of Lethbridge. He is a student teacher and will be responsible for delivering Science for the next 6 weeks, beginning toward the end of this week. Mr. Vanmaanen will be exploring "Planet Earth" with students from 7C, 7D, and 7F. Welcome Mr. Vanmaanen!

Take care, and have a great week!
David

The Week of February 14th - 18th

Hello Everyone,

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Mine was spent coaching hockey, of course. Braigh was excited because his team got to play at the Hurricanes game last Friday. I am certain that the team enjoyed the mini-donuts and shaved ice more than anything. Braigh said his favourite part was playing in front of "all of those people". He later asked me what the score of the Hurricanes game was and who had one. Clearly he was having too much fun with his friends to notice. Oliver had fun at the game too, he enjoys introducing himself to random people. He met a few new people:)

Week at a glance:

Math:
Last week students wrote their Math midterm. Part A included operations (+, -, x, ÷) using decimals and order of operations. Part B was based on concepts that we covered in Chapters 1 - 5. Many students exhibited particular difficulty with operations using decimals. As a result we will be reviewing those concepts in class this week. I will provide students the opportunity to re-write Part A on Friday, February 18th. Midterm results will not be finalized until the end of the week. As a result, the midterm will not be represented on the Report card that goes home February 18th, I will update it in Teacher logic over the week of Teacher's Convention.

Science:
Students have been advised of a long-term science project based on Structures and Forces. Students will have a choice in how they show their learning and I have asked them to develop a proposal for their project that must be approved by parents and myself. (See the PROJECT LINK for details) Students will receive 2 periods per week of class time to develop their project. Some students may need additional time at home to work to developing their project. Projects will be showcased on Thursday, March 17th.

Have a great week and enjoy the Family Day weekend!
David

The Week of January31st - February 4th

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to winter! I can't get over the changes from wind and more wind to snow, and extreme cold over a weekend. I spent the weekend chasing a hockey player around and taking care of a sick one. Although my wife and I were able to enjoy our "Spirit of 51" party on Friday night. It was nice to visit and do a little bit of dancing too!

Week at a glance:

Science: We closed out term #2 with our Midterm last Friday. Students received results today in class so they should have their marks ready to share with you tonight. We begin our next unit: Structure and Forces Tuesday. Students will have the opportunity to look forward to more hands on learning in this unit. Stay tuned, more to come.

Math: Students will be looking at Probability this week in class as we wrap up the first half of our year in Math. There will be a Math midterm on Thursday, February 11th and Friday, February 12th (next week). I will post a more formal study guide later this week. However, students looking to get a head start preparing can refer to the GS Lakie website and MOODLE. Concepts from Chapters 1 - 5 on the Midterm. MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE!

Have a great week!
David

The Week of January 24th-28th

Hello Everyone,

It is rare that I would find myself looking forward to the end of a hockey season, but 7:30am games are really beginning to wear thin! On a positive note, Braigh keeps improving and looks forward to playing everyday. I am excited that the game brings him joy.

We played "catch up" at home this weekend; laundry, tidying the house, and spending time with the boys was nice. It was a nice break in the pace of a busy time!

Week at a glance:

Science: Students completed their unit on Heat and Temperature last week. We closed things out with our first multiple choice exam. Some students were surprised with their results. It can be disappointing and frustrating to work hard in preparation and not to achieve the results one wanted. We will discuss the exam as a class and work the kinks out together. Students, use the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification as we spend the week preparing for our Science Midterm (Friday, January 28th). Study guides were passed to students last Thursday and can be accessed HERE.
Math: We have been flying through our "Mini Unit" on Fraction, Decimals and Percent. We had planned to assess student learning on Tuesday, however, I have postponed the test until Wednesday, January 26th. Students will complete the unit with an understanding of the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percent. I encourage students to see me for extra support during nutrition breaks if they need it. A study guide can be accessed HERE.
Have a great week!

David

The Week of January 17th - 21st

Hello Everyone,

I enjoyed a nice weekend with my two boys, their mom was away on a girls trip. We went swimming, watched movies with popcorn, and played hockey. We were busy and the house was still standing when mom got home. All in all, it was a good weekend. My wife and I are getting to the stage where we are taking our kids to activities all of the time, we feel like we are always running! I am not sure how you all do it!

Week at a glance:

Math: We completed our Unit test on Perimeter and Area last Friday. Students were handed their exams Monday. As always they have been asked to have a parent sign their test so they are aware of their performance. For the most part, students were very successful on the exam. This week we begin looking at a mini-unit on Fractions, Decimals, and Percentage. We will be looking at converting from one to the other and discovering the relationships between the three. If you are looking to support your child, some of the activities that we do can be found on MOODLE Chapter 4. We will be blasting through this unit, looking to wrap it up by Tuesday, January 25th.

Science: We close out our unit on Heat and Temperature this week. Students will have their unit exam on Friday, January 21st. Click here for a copy of the study guide. Students can use edquest.ca for notes on the chapter. Students have also had their 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 activities returned to them to help in the study process. Review will take place Wednesday and Thursday of this week. On the horizon we have our mid-term in Science, Friday, January 28th. Students will be covering concepts covered in Interactions and Ecosystems as well as Heat and Temperature. We will spend next week preparing for the exam.

Have a great week!
David

The Week of January 10th-14th

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to winter! When I left for a hockey tournament in Kimberley, it was a balmy 2 degrees Celsius. Upon my return, I was greeted with drifts and freezing temperatures. I have a feeling we are going to experience this for the next three months.

I had a great time at my hockey tournament, we struggled but it was fun to hang out with the guys!

Week at a glance:

Math: We are concluding our unit on Measurement this week. Students will explore Circumference and Area of a circle. There will be a unit exam on Friday, January 14th. Students have been advised of the content (last Friday) however, I will post a study guide and activities that students will be able to review for their test. Check the blog Monday evening. Click here for practice questions. Study guide here I found a website with some extra practice questions (answers too) that students can work on at home, use the study guide to help you choose appropriate questions. Link

Science: Students were responsible for handing in 2.0 activities for Heat and Temperature today and we will work on 3.0 before designing our virtual homes toward the end of next week. We hope to close out our Science unit on Heat and Temperature early next week, reviewing, and eventually writing the unit test next week (Hopefully Friday, January 21st). 3.0 activity here...

Take care,
David

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone,

I hope that everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season. I relished the time with my family after a busy few months. We stayed in Lethbridge for Christmas and spent time with extended family and friends. Oliver and Braigh were very excited this year! New Years was spent in Invermere with goods friends and here we are back to it on Tuesday.

I will post an update with respect to our Math and Science activities tomorrow, we will tie up a few loose ends and review some of the content we closed with before the break.

See you soon and all the best in 2011!
David