7th Grade students have ONE homework assignment each week, the Outdoor Adventure Journal, it is due on Fridays. Students are to simply spend an hour outside, exploring, investigating, playing. After the FULL HOUR, students are to convey their experience to me through writing, drawing, poetry, song, video, whatever works for YOU. There are 3 questions that must be answered, in complete sentences, each week that go along with the Outdoor Adventure Journal (OAJ):
1. What surprised you about the experience? 2. How is what you observed connected to what we are learning in Life Science Class? 3. How did the experience make you feel?
Spending time in nature has been proven to increase mental, physical, and spiritual health. Develop creativity and skills in risk assessment. Please take the time to join your student outdoors.
7th Grade science students will start by developing both their science skills and their ecological prowess in the fall (while the weather is nice) through an inquiry based format. As the fall transitions to winter, we too will shift our focus to the smallest details and parts of life science, cellular biology. We will pull these ideas together in a unit called: Evolution, Adaptation, Extinction, Oh My! We will continue our developing our science skills through the spring by studying the kingdoms of life and the human body.
Our major objective throughout the year will be to develop scientific skills such as: observations, research, developing questions, experimental design and execution, then drawing conclusions. This will include a diversity of data collection methods, science reading, and the use of math skills. There will be numerous activities and experiments. Students will be expected to complete homework, study vocabulary, and overall come to class intellectually prepared.
Ms. Leigh will be available for Science specific Study Hall after school on Monday. If your grade is a C or below, this is mandatory. All other students are invited and encouraged to join if they so desire.