Science & Technology Course Overview 2003-2004

What Will We Be Learning About?

We will be covering five main units this year (approximate timelines):

Structural Strength and Stability (September-October)

Pure Substances and Mixtures (November-December)

The Earth's Crust (January-February)

Heat  (March-April)

Interactions Within Ecosystems (May-June)

As we explore these topics, we will learn basic scientific concepts; develop skills of inquiry, design and communication; and relate science and technology to the world outside the school. Each unit will include a major assignment, which will vary in format from unit to unit.

What you need to know this week:

You will need:

1 binder dedicated to science (not a section of those big, crazy zipper binders)

5 dividers

llined paper

calculator

pencil, blue or black pen, ruler, coloured pen for underlining)

a good attitude

You will be marked on:

Surprise, open book quizzes (instead of marking notebooks)

Scheduled quizzes and tests (you will be given at least one week?s notice on announcement board)

Design projects (including those completed during tech time)

Research projects

Habits of successful sci.tech. students:

Keeps an up to date notebook

Gets as much work done in class as possible

Prepares for quizzes (makes sure notes are up to date ahead of time, studies using study guide)

Participates in class

Thinks about how class learning relates to own life

Is safe during experiments

Things to Start Collecting:

While some of our design projects will take place at school during science or tech time, others will take place as home projects. For these projects, you will need to provide the materials. While I will give you specific outlines for projects in each unit, I suggest you and your parents start collecting or saving the following types of materials that prove to be useful later in the year:

Styrofoam (like the type that is shaped around electronics in boxes, or used as insulation in building)

Bubble wrap

Duct tape

Water bottles or 2 L. pop bottles

Scouring pads

Film canisters

*Also, if any of your parents are woodworkers or carpenters, Mrs. Watson and I gladly accept donations of wood scraps for our ?freebie bin?, very useful later in the term when we build catapults and when the grade 8 students build their hydraulic and pneumatics projects.

My Web Site:

I have designed a web site for the grade 7 parents and students of Stanley Park Senior Public School. I have given each of you a sticker with the site address on it to be placed in your planners so if you forget your science notebook at home, you can still look up my site. The purposes are to allow you or your parents to email me, as well as at home access to notes, project outlines, and study guides where appropriate. I hope you find it helpful.