Grade 7 Week 11: Body Systems

We begin our own new unit on the Human Body.  We will be looking at one or two body systems each week for the next few weeks.  Important questions:

How do these systems work together to maintain homeostasis?
What is the function of the skeletal system?
What systems interact with the skeletal system to maintain homeostasis?

Contract Week 11 has you examine body systems in general or our first highlighted system, the Skeletal System.

Grade 7 Diversity of Living Things Unit Exam

First, I would like to say I miss you and I am sorry that I can't be there today and I missed yesterday. However, test is still Thursday.  Where have I said that before...but I actually mean it for the seventh graders.

Yesterday you were asked to get your notes in order if you haven't already and to have one question of the day for me today. Here is your opportunity to ask me that question.

In addition to that, you are now assigned one response to one other persons question, but don't stop there. There more questions you try to answer the better shape you will be for the exam.

Remember, this exam is about the Diversity of Living Things:
The big idea to learn is how are living things the same and how are they different?
Chapter One: What are the characteristics of all living things?
Chapter Two:  Compare and contrast multicellular organisms and single celled organisms?
Chapter Three:  What are the characteristics of Plants from moss to flowering trees?
Chapter 4:  What are the characteristics Invertebrates from sponges to arthropods?
Chapter 5:  What are the characteristics Vertebrates from fish to mammals?

Grade 7 Week 10: Birds and Mammals

How are birds adapted to living on land, water, and air?
How do birds fly?
What adaptations aid flight?
How are mammals adapted to live in most places?

This week's contract again asks that you research a species of bird or mammal and report to class this Friday.

Grade 7 Week 9: First Vertebrates

We also begin our final section before the exam. We begin looking at tthe first vertebrates: fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

What special characteristics do fish have for survival under water?
How are amphibians adapted to life in water and on land?
Why do they have to go back to water?How are reptiles able to survive completly out of water?
How does it make a shell around its egg?
How does it have scaly skin?
This week's contract asks you to again choose one unique species of the selected Chordate phyla. This friday you will share the characteristics of your vertebrate.

Grade 7: "Invertebrates of Planet Earth"

Over next three days, we will be wrapping up our invertebrate unit with another look at invertebrates in a seleceted Planet Earth episode.

What types of inverebrates do you find in that habitat?
How are they adapted for survival?

Also, do not forget that the final day for your Science News presentation is this Wednesday. The Science news worksheet can be found in the Resources section of the wiki.

Grade 7 Week 8: "Advanced" Invertebrates

This week we finish our look at the diversity of invertebrates by looking at the more complex phyla: mollusks, echinoderms, and arthropods.

Compare and contrast the different phyla of invertebrates that we have discussed.

The insect collection is out to showcase invertebrates. Take a look at it and take another look at some of the EC Challenges like the birding photography or the aforementioned insect collection. You are also more than welcome to give a few suggestions on similar projects that showcase a diversity of living things. All are done just like we did the herbarium: collect and describe.

Week 7 contracts can be found here.

Grade 7 Week 7: "Simple" Invertebrates

This week we shift gears from plants into animals. As we have done with plants, we want to again showcase the vast diversity of living things these next few weeks.

Give us a few examples of how invertebrates adapted for survival?

Freshwater Hydra (Cnidaria) in our class tank.


Freshwater Flatworm(Planaria)


While we are on the subject, while you are studying the diversity of living things why not take another look at some of the EC Challenges like the birding photography or the insect collection. You are also more than welcome to give a few suggestions on similar projects that showcase a diversity of living things. All are done just like we did the herbarium: collect and describe.

Week 7 contracts can be found here. Over the next few weeks, with WKCE testing and assemblies, schedules will be different. So, this weeks contract will be spread over the next two weeks, due November 12.

Check this out:
Biology4Kids.com: Invertebrates
hosstuffworks.com - Invertebrates: Animals without backbones - a video 3rd hour used for a presentation

Grade 7 Week 6: Flowers, Fruit, and Seeds

After the great job on the herbarium we finish our section on plants with seed plants.

How do angiosperms and gymnosperms reproduce?
How does each differ from how spore producing plants reproduce?
If spores still work, why would fossil records show a change to seeds and then further to flowers and fruit?

Contract week 6 has you back outside looking for flowers, fruits and seeds or looking at how we use plants in our daily lives.

Grade 7 Week 5: Plants

After we come back inside after the successful Mushroom Hunting we now take on the Kingdom of Plants (so we can head back outside and complete this years Herbarium).
This weeks questions:

What types of plants are there?
How has each type adapted for survival?
How are plants adapted to life on land?

The contract for this week takes you outside as well. One has you starting your own herbarium by collecting samples, drawings, or photos of plants around your home. The other choice has you looking for spore producing plants around your yard to create a terrarium. Have fun!