TW Food Drive - TOMORROW LAST DAY TO BRING IN ITEMS

Wednesday, Dec. 18th  before lunch is the last opportunity to help us make a difference by bringing in non-perishable food items for the food drive.  Please help us to make this season memorable for families in need.

Ricketts Math - Interactive Website for Volume of a Triangular Prism

Use your knowledge on how to calculate the volume of a triangular prism to complete the questions on the website.  Make sure to show your calculations clearly on paper BEFORE you answer the question electronically so that the website will accurately tabulate your success rate.

Interactive Website for Volume of a Triangular Prism

Ricketts Homeroom Class - Gift Game on Thursday, Dec. 19th

The students in Ms. Ricketts homeroom class will host a "Gift Game" activity for all interested in participating.  Each student who will participate is asked to bring in a gift that is wrapped so that it is unidentifiable.  All gifts must be valued at no more than $10.00 and be appropriate for anyone in our homeroom class

During the game all students will be given a number.  In order, students will choose a gift but can also swap with anyone who has previously chosen a gift.  At the end of the game everyone participating will receive a gift. 

Ricketts Language - Spelling Test # 6 Celebrations

Here is this week's spelling list to honour a diversity of celebrations:

Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Diwali, Summer Solstice, Ramadan, festivities, traditional, feast, religious, Carnival and Chinese New Year

Ricketts Drama - Wexford Variety Show Drama Assignment

The assignment questions are as follows:

1.Choose a particular performance of your choice.  

What was your impression of this performance?

Describe what happened in this performance?

How did the performance evoke ideas, feelings and images for you as an audience member?

2. Choose another performance.

Explain how the performance relates to you as an urban pre-teen / teenager.

3. Which performance did you find the most humourous?  Explain why you found it humourous.

You can e-mail your assignment to:
michelle.ricketts@tdsb.on.ca

Ricketts Language - Visualization and Prediction Reading Test

We have been learning about the reading strategies of visualization and prediction in class.  We understand that effective readers visualize (make a movie in their minds) as they read. This assists a reader to follow the story line and understand the text.  We understand that effective readers make prediction about what they read and use clues from the text to support their predictions.

There will be a test on visualization and prediction on Thursday, Dec. 12th.  You will be given a short story that does not include the ending.  It will be a story from one of the "Chicken Soup" books, similar to the stories we have read in class.

Grade 8 Math - Circles Test and Assignment

You have a test on circles tomorrow, Wednesday. You need to know the following for the test:

• the parts of a circle and how they are related (i.e. radius, diameter)
• how to calculate circumference ( πd )
• how to calculate area ( π x r x r )
• how to construct circles

The assignment that you were given today will assist you in studying and practicing all of the information and skills that you will need for the test.

You are to fill a regular size sheet of paper with a pattern of circles.(They can overlap or not.)

• you must have at least 5 different size circles in your pattern
• you must calculate the total sum of all the circumferences (include your calculations)
• you must calculate the area for each of the 5 sizes of circles that you included
• you should colour the pattern

Ricketts Language - Spelling Test # 5

We have been studying the geometry and measurement strands in math for the past few weeks.  The spelling words this week are as follows:

geometry, measurement, perimeter, surface area, volume, quadrilateral, parallelogram, classification, trapezoid, metric system, centimeter, height

Ricketts Math - Geometry and Measurement Test

There will be a geometry and measurement math test on Tuesday, Dec.10th.  Make sure to review your notes and refer to the pages in the textbook that we have covered in order to properly prepare for the test.

Ricketts Language - Group Magazine Due: Thursday, Dec. 5th

Each group must submit the completed magazine on Thursday, Dec. 5th.  All pages should be completed and demonstrate proper magazine format (no big blank spaces, colour, titles, etc.)

Ricketts Language - Spelling Test # 4 Speeches

We are working on taking our persuasive writing pieces and making them into formal speeches.  We will present to the class.  The words this week are:

formal speech, audience, proper posture, memorize, gesture, alliteration, emphasize, repetition, solution, powerful, confidence and persuade

Ricketts Language - Persuasive Speech

We will present our formal persuasive speeches on Wednesday, Dec. 4th.  We have watched formal speeches given by Malala Yousefzai, Barak Obama and Queen Rania.  We have created success criteria as a class.  Make sure to revise your speech so that it demonstrates the following success criteria expectations:
Success Criteria MUST DO expectations:

·      Pausing 

·      Emphasize some words

·      Speaking slowly and clearly

·      Memorize OR look at your paper infrequently

·      Formal posture and hand gestures

·      Loud – project voice

·      Eye contact – being one with your audience

Success Criteria CHOOSE 4 out of 6 expectations:

·      State a problem BUT provide solutions

·      Alliteration “Let’s text, talk and tweet …” using same sounds in a sentence

·      Repetition of key point

·      Give real world examples

·      Pose a question to your audience

·      Use statistics

Ricketts Math - Grade 7 area of a trapezoid interative site

1. Click on the link to use the interactive tool to create a trapezoid with the following dimensions:

height - 6 units
base AB - 10 units
base CD - 12 units

2.Look at the blue text with the calculation of area. 

3.Click on the box that says "freeze dimensions".  Notice how the area does not change in the displayed formula. The area depends only on the height and base lengths, so as you can see, there are many trapezoids with a given set of dimensions which all have the same area.

4.What is the formula for area of a trapezoid?  Write the formula and make a trapezoid with the same measurements with grid paper and paste it into your math journal. 

Area of a trapezoid

Ricketts Health - Advice column Due: Monday Dec. 2nd as per Fadi

Using the magazine format create 1 - 2 pages of an advice column.  If you choose 1 page ,1 problem  and advise must be about bullying OR cyberbullying.  You will need to include:

• 1 - 2 Problem(s)
• 3 - 6 entries that are advice from peers (or you can make up some appropriate peer advice if necessary)
• Advice from and expert (teenage who has experience problem, guidance counsellor, parent, principal etc.)

Ricketts Language - Advertisement for magazine

The advertisements for the magazine are due Monday, Dec. 2nd.   Success Criteria:

• Appeal to target audience
• Bold text that gets attention
• Colour
• Using different fonts
• Picture /graphics
• Slogan / catch phrase
• Logo
• Layout

·  

Ricketts Language - Spelling List # 3

We are working on persuasive writing text.  The vocabulary words relate to what we understand and use to create persuasive text. We need to state our opinion and justify it with details we have read and our own inferences.  Here is this week's spelling list:

persuasive, opinion, argument, justify, inference, editorial, supporting evidence, statistics, paragraph, conclusion, summarize, point of view,

Ricketts Math - Interactive Geoboard

Interactive Geoboard

Persuasive Writing Piece Success Criteria - Final Draft Due: Wednesday, Nov. 27th

The final draft of your persuasive writing is due Wednesday, Nov. 27th.  The success criteria the class has constructed is below:

- 4 sections ("hook" introduction, 2 paragraphs of detailed proof, conclusion that summarizes writing)
- write with vocabulary and style to match your target audience
- state your opinion in hook introduction paragraph
- make the hook interesting, such as use a question to make the reader answer it as they read
- each paragraph of proof should have its own topic that you use to prove your point
- use a combination of proof from text you have read and make inference to prove your opinion
- use the student example of persuasive writing given in class to compare to your written work
- stay on topic and only include sentences that help to prove your point
- edit for grammar and spelling with a peer editor in class

Ricketts Language - Persuasive writing rough draft due Monday, Nov. 25th

Completed rough draft of the persuasive writing piece.  Make sure to include:

• Introduction paragraph that states your opinion and is "the hook" to interest the reader to continue reading
• 2 paragraphs of proof that support your opinion and justify your opinion 
• Conclusion that is a summary of your ideas and concludes your written work

We will be in the "RETHINK AND REVISE" stage of the writing process so your work must be ready for peer feedback and editing.  

Ricketts Language - Spelling List # 2

We went to Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre this week to support our science curriculum.  Our class is working on filming PSAs that will inform the viewing audience about issues related to biodiversity and interactions in the environment.  Here are this week's spelling words:

environment, abiotic, biotic, biodiversity, invasive species, ecosystem, living organism, producer, consumer, decomposer, fungi, stewardship

Ricketts Health - Advice column problems for the magazine

   Write 1 problem that is related to cyber-bullying or bullying.  Write 1 problem of your choice that would be appropriate for submission in a children's magazine. You should use the examples given in the handout "Talk About It" in class for the proper format for writing your problems.  

Gr. 7/8 Science

Grade 7: Please write out a lab report for the salt solution experiment that you completed in class today. The question that you were trying to answer was: How much salt will dissolve in 100 mL of water and will the temperature of the water make a difference?

Your report should include the question (Hypothesis), a list of the equipment you used (Materials), the steps you followed to carry out the experiment (Procedure), what you saw happen during the experiment (Observations) and an answer to the question (Conclusions).

Grade 8: We discussed the meanings and processes of diffusion and osmosis in class. (Remember that they are basically the same process, but osmosis involves a membrane or barrier.)
I would like you to make two simple, colour diagrams to illustrate the ideas of diffusion and osmosis. You can use any of the ideas/examples we discussed in class or you can come up with your own.

Both grades are expected to hand in their work tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 13th.

Ricketts - Science, Drama and Media Literacy

The Public Service Announcement we are completing in class that relates to Biodiversity and Interactions of Living Things is due Thursday, Nov. 114th.  Work must be completed at school so be sure to use your co-operative work time wisely.  Looking forward to being informed and educated by viewing your PSAs!

Ricketts Language - Advertisement Spelling List # 1 - Edited version thanks to Anna and Sarah!!

The class will have a practise test Monday and the final test on Thursday of this week.  Here is the spelling list for this week:

advertisement, commercial, promotion, celebrity, convincing, target audience, humorous, improved, coupon, guarantee, product placement, logo

Ricketts - Math Geometry and Measurement Word Wall vocabulary words

Create one page each for the 2 vocabulary word wall words you received today in class.  Each page should include:

• the word
• definition 
• 2 - 3 pictures to describe the word
• should be made with MINIMAL white space on the paper - we need to be able to read it from across the classroom
• colour and attention to detail demonstrated

Ricketts Math - Interactive Website for Geometry and Measurement

Protractor for measuring angles

Paragraph about the life of Malala Yousefzai

We have learned about Malala and her life story over the past few days. Write a paragraph to explain who she is and her life story.  Write it as if you were explaining who she is to someone who has never heard of her before. It should be about 5 - 10 sentences long..  Sentences should be SPECIFIC.

Ricketts Language - NEW DUE DATE - Monday Nov. 4th Optional article / feature for magazine

The optional article / feature ( examples include: comic strip, nail art, video game / movie / book reviews, horoscopes etc.) for the group magazine is due Monday, November 4th.  Student have been give many classroom periods to work on this project and are also expected to do work at home to complete this assignment.

Ricketts Math - Data Management Problems Solving Question and Test

Wednesday, Oct. 30th - 1 Problem Solving based question on the topic of Data Management will be completed independently and then submitted.  Students should review their notes and the "Problem Solving in Math" strategies.  The strategies will be posted so no need to memorize.

Friday, Nov. 1st - Data Management Test  - Students should review their notes on the various types of GRAPHS and PLOTS that were covered.  Also, review the concepts covered such as SURVEY QUESTIONS, BIAS, MEDIAN, MEAN , MODE.

Ricketts Science - Research on topic for group PSA

Complete your own research on the topic for your group's PSA.  As a group you will then use the combination of the research collected to write and plan your PSA. Make sure to record where you found your information in case your group needs to complete more research in the future. Due: Friday, October 25th.  These are some websites to gather your information.
Ministry of Natural Resources

Rouge Valley Conservation Centre

Rouge Park

Ricketts- Language, gr. 6 Social Studies and gr. 7 Geography

We have completed jot notes from research and a organizational planning sheet. Be ready to share your work for PEER EDITING ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.  The article for your magazine is due: Monday October 28th. Make sure you follow the assignment instructions:

Gr. 6

·         Name of country

·         Map

·         Capital

·         Climate

·         Landscape

·         Economy / Exports / Major Industries

·         Main religion

·         Special celebration or special sport from the country

 Gr. 7

·         Name natural disaster

·         Provide general information about the type of disaster Ex. What is a typhoon?

·         Map of physical area where disaster took place

·         Section that describes what happened DURING disaster

·         Section that describes the AFTERMATH and long-term consequences

OPTIONAL SECTION - YOU MUST CHOOSE AT LEAST 1 FROM THE LIST OR 1 OF YOUR OWN

·         Quotes from actual people that lived through the disaster

·         Steps that could have been taken to lessen the effects of the disaster

·         Explain memorials dedicated to victims of the disaster

·         Your own idea for a section for this article

BOTH GR. 6 AND 7 include these FEATURES in your article:

·         Title

·         Sub-titles

·         Map

·         Graphics (pictures) and captions

·         Some paragraphs

·         Bolded Words

·         Colour

·         Fast Facts / Fact Boxes

Ricketts Math - Graph, table or chart to represent data from magazine

Due: Thursday, Oct. 24th - Submit your own graph, table or chart to represent the data you collected from the magazine.

Ricketts - Math Data Management Sampling

We started a new math unit for the strand of Data Management today.  Complete homework about sample questions in a survey for homework. 

Ricketts - Language, gr. 6 social studies and gr. 7 geography

The organization planning sheet of your article (gr. 6 country, gr. 7 natural disaster) is due Monday, Oct. 21. Remember to have a specific section for each of the topics you need to cover.  Also, balance your pages with graphics and written text areas.

Quebec City Trip Registration

Some students appear to have lost/misplaced the information for registering for our grad trip. Ideally we would like to have the initial registration done by the end of October. If any parents have questions about the trip, please call Mr. Marshall at the school.

You DO NOT have to pay for the trip by the end of October. You only need to register your son/daughter and pay the $99 deposit.

Link for registration: www.eftours.ca/enrol
Tour Number: 1430751ND

Thank you to those students/families who have already registered.

Jot Notes for gr. 6 social studies gr. 7 geography

Grade 6 students are working on researching a country and gr. 7 students are researching a natural disaster.  The jot note page of your research is due : Thursday, October 17th.  You need to have a minimum of 4 jot notes for each section on your research work sheet.  You will be using these jot notes to make a magazine article about your topic.

Success criteria:

• notes need to be in your own words
• notes help to summarize important information about your topic

Ricketts Math - Questions in math journal "Place Value" worksheet

2 Math journal questions about 1 000 000
AND
Place value worksheet
Due: Thursday, Oct. 10th

Ricketts - Language and Health RECIPE PROCEDURAL WRITING

The PUBLISHED final copy of your healthy recipe is due Tuesday, October 15th.  Be sure to use the "Success Criteria" in a previous post to finalize your work.  Also, be sure to use the feedback you received from your peers during the RETHINK AND REVISE step of  your writing.  ** Student may print at school on Tuesday Oct. 15th if necessary.

Ricketts - language and health

Complete the DRAFT step of the "Writing Process" for your healthy snack recipe. The "Success Criteria" as outlined by students:

• fun and interesting title
• paragraph to introduce recipe
• sections for "Ingredients", "Equipment" and "Steps"
• at least 3 pictures with captions and pages have colour
• steps that are numbered and follow proper sequence
• food in a format that will entertain kids
• understandable vocabulary for ages 8 -15
• written with spacing making it easy to read
• edited for grammar and spelling - sentences make sense
• 2 pages in format for magazine for readers aged 8 - 15

Ricketts - Visual Art

Complete your 4 types of LINES art.  Make a design using 4 different types of lines in the four sections of a folder piece of paper.  We are examining the "Elements of Design" and have looked at VALUE (light, medium and dark shading) and LINE.

Ricketts Homework - Health and Language

Complete your health folder title page.  The page should be coloured and have images that relate to healthy living.  For your  procedural writing healthy snack recipe, find pictures you will use OR draw your own pictures to use on your 2 page recipe.  The recipe should have a minimum of 3 pictures.

Ricketts Math - Exponents Test

There will be a test on the topic of EXPONENTS on Friday, Oct. 4th.  It is recommended that you review your math notes in preparation for the test.

Parent Meeting

We will be holding a meeting for the parents of ALL of our grade 7 and 8 students on
Wednesday, October 9th at 7:00 p.m.

This meeting will be to inform parents about the grad trip that we are planning for the grade 7 and 8 students this year. It will be a three night trip to Quebec City and we would like all students to come on this trip.

A representative from EF Tours will be present to answer any and all questions that you may have. If you have any concerns about your son/daughter attending an overnight trip, please come to the meeting to get all of the information.

This trip will be an exciting, memorable and educational experience for your child.

7/8 Graphing Fractions

I want you to finish the graph we started in class.
The points for the x-values should be at 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., up to 16.
The points for the y-values can be found using the equation I explained in class:
    y =  1   +    1   

             2        x+1

For example, if x = 1, then y =   1   +    1   
                                                  2        1+1

                                         y =   1   +   1 
                                                  2        2

7/8 Reading Comprehension

Students identified the following words from a reading in class that they did not understand:

pseudonym           interpose           seized

entrenched            rhetoric             deliberately

inextricably           alliteration          knack

inflammatory         invective            prestige

They are responsible for reading definitions for four of the words and being able to explain what each of those four words mean. The three columns of words above are the groups of words I assigned.

There will also be a spelling test of these 12 words on Friday.

7/8 Science & Math

Here is the website link for the Particle Theory activity I would like you to watch and complete:
BBC Bitesize Science

Hopefully, after the demonstrations in class and watching the activity above, you will have a better understanding of the particle theory. So, I would like you to review your answer to the balloon popping question and make any changes or additions that you feel would make your explanation better.
I will be collecting your balloon popping response. (You can find the original question in the post from Thursday, Sept. 26th below.)

For math I would like you to finish your graph of the equation  y = 1/x .

Ricketts Language - CASI reading test

There will be a CASI reading test on Monday, Sept. 30th.  Please review SUMMARY, MAIN IDEA and CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-FICTION TEXT.

Ricketts - Math Homework

Complete both sides of the math worksheet that gives you practice with standard and exponent form and also square root.  Be prepared for a math test the week of Sept. 30th on the topic of EXPONENTS.

7/8 Math - Multiplication Tables

Write out the multiplication tables for the numbers 5 to 9. Show the multiplications starting with zero and ending with 12 (e.g. 5 x 0 =, ... , 5 x 12 =  )

7/8 Science - Particle Theory

Use the four ideas of the Particle Theory of Matter to explain what happens when a balloon is popped.

It may help to consider what is happening to the air particles while the balloon is being inflated.

Procedural Writing Example

Look at home for an example of procedural writing.  If you need to make a photocopy of it or type it into a document to bring it in that is fine.  DUE: Friday, Sept.27th.

Welcome Parents to the TW Curriculum Night

Thank you for coming to our annual Curriculum Night.  We look forward to a successful year of learning!

When working from school and home...USB or E-mail???

Students need to be able to work at school and at home when completing assignments on the computer.

Option # 1 - Use a USB.  Students are responsible to bring their own USB to school if they choose this option.

Option # 2 - Send your work via e-mail. Students have been shown how to attach a document onto an e-mail and send it to themselves if they choose this option.

Chibi Friends On-Line

This message from Fei... The Chibi Friends comic series is not only available in our TW library but is now accessible from the internet. We also need another editor and story writer, please send your applications to chibifriends421@gmail.com.

Comics can be found at www.chibifriends421.blogspot.com

Supplies for Class

Students should have:

Binders, sections for all subjects (we did this in class during the first week), pencils, eraser, calculator, ruler, pencil case, lined paper and a lock for gr. 7 students

Optional: markers, pencil crayons,  glue, notebooks, scissors, grid paper, pencil sharpener, French-English dictionary and reading material

Ricketts Science - Wildlife in Rouge Park research

Complete the research worksheet by going to the Rouge Park website. 

Ricketts - Math Test Thursday, Sept.12th

We have been studying prime and composite numbers and also factors and multiples.  We did a pop quiz on Tuesday for practice and made test questions for each other to work on today.  Please review for the math test Thursday, Sept. 12th
* Just a quick note to say I am really pleased with how well my students have worked in class even though it has been so hot. Your efforts are appreciated and you are a great bunch!! *

Ricketts language - Rough Draft of Award

A rough draft of the "Award for my Classmate" is due Wednesday, Sept. 11th.  Please use the example given in class to help you with the writing. 

Ricketts' class homework due Tues. Sept 10th

Sorry for the late posting - this page would not load properly and I could not post until now.
Language - Complete 10 sentences with descriptive adjectives and adverbs that you can use for the "Award for my Classmate" assignment.

Complete work assigned in math class today:  
Math gr. 6 - textbook page 44 Questions 1 - 8
Math gr. 7 - textbook pages 16 - 17 Questions 1 - 9

Math Homework for Ricketts class

 Factors and Divisibility due Monday, Sept. 9th

Welcome

Hello students and parents to the blog for students in Ms. Ricketts' and Mr. Marshall's classes. We will use this blog to post information about trips, clubs, teams, info from the office and, of course, homework. Please bookmark the page and check it regularly for updates. You can also sign up for email notifications of new posts by using the link on the right hand sidebar below our funny cartoon.

Thank you,
Ms. Ricketts
Mr. Marshall