Stats and Circle graphs based on this blog as of 23 Dec 13

Google, who controls Blogger, keeps all kinds of statistics. The following two pictures are great examples of the application, use, and representation of statistical data. This data would be essential for many different reasons, such as market research including target demographics, editing, crowd-sourcing, advertising, and census data.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3x99ajwijobfyf0/Blog%20Stats%2023%20Dec.JPG

https://www.dropbox.com/s/etxakqugkdlsxh9/Blog%20Stats%2023%20Dec%202.JPG

Holiday Bingo Open Challenge - Due 8 Jan 14 open to all 7/8 students

Click on the link below for the Bingo Challenge. This is NOT an assignment. It seemed like a good idea just in case a few of you were already starting to feel a bit bored without school (it's not that crazy an idea...from being busy day to day and week to week to suddenly changing gears to being completely academically relaxed...).

The PDF states it is due on the 20th, but this is incorrect, and they need to be in on the 8th. A reminder is on our calendar.

Further, if any of you, from any class or grade, would like some worksheets or assignments to boost skills and/or stay sharp, feel free to send an email to the science teacher...after 26 Dec 13.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x17z8tc1rszfop9/Class%20Community%20-%20Holiday%20Bingo.pdf

Follow-up to Math Unit 2 Rewrites

Students and parents of those who participated in the Unit 2 review and rewrite will receive a follow up email after 26 Dec, but prior to the new year. It will contain a brief analysis summarizing both test results and professional observations, as well as providing important review sheets to be completed prior to the start of the calendar year.

Returning Ender's Game

All Grade 7 students are required to return their issued school copies of the book tomorrow, prior to the break.

Returning Signed Grade 7 Math Tests

There are many students who have yet to return the test. Ensure they are ALL back tomorrow.

Pizza forms due tomorrow

Sorry for the fast turn around

Grade 7 Science - Take your Ecos Home

Many thanks to all 7s for their displays around the school to showcase your learning.

Please take you projects home by Thursday (last calendar school day of 2013).

Both classes were reminded yesterday.

Unit 2 reassessment tomorrow at lunch

Field Trip to Enders Game

All fees collected were returned today. The movie was free as there was confusio  at the theatre.

Grade 8 Science - more pitch humour

http://www.popsci.com/blog-network/boxplot/waiting-tar-ball-drop

Sciencw team cancelled thurs lunch

Still at vball.

See you tomorrow at lunch to finalize sketches. We build scale models next week.

Grade 8 Science - Viscosity Inquiry Lab Report Due Thursday 19 Dec, 1200hrs

Success Criteria

Observations:
Include a table/chart of your calculations. Your calculations may be neatly hand-written on a separate piece of paper.
Include a paragraph of sensory observations (primarily sight).
If you are able to construct a graph with your data do so. If your data is capable of being represented in a graph, and you do not, you will lose marks.

Conclusion:
2-3 sentences to answer your purpose question (we provided feedback, if you needed to update your purpose from your proposal make sure you do)
2-3 sentences confirming or correcting your hypothesis
4-5 sentences discussing what you would do differently next time, or how you modified your original procedure mid-experiment.

Application:
1 concise paragraph (7-8 sentences) that answers the question "so what?"

Your marked proposal will be stapled to the back of your completed lab report.

Volleyball enthusiasts and android users unite

Not sure if there is a charge, but a great game and teaching tool for 5-1 (we play 4-2 in 7/8)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spear.spikemasters

Why solid precipitation is awesome

http://www.natureknows.org/2013/11/amazing-macro-photography-of-individual.html?m=1

Grade 7/8 Science Team - Thursday meeting is TBD

Thursday's practice is dependent on the progress of the 5/6 Boys Volleyball team at their playoffs.

The blog will be updated.

There will be a session on Friday to finalize our sketches for our boats and prepare to make scale model prototypes.

Math Tests Returned to be signed and returned by 19 Dec

Today the tests were returned and each solution was discussed thoroughly. Students need to bear in mind that all reasonable additional time for review and tutoring is made available as often. For example, a review session for Area of a Trapezoid was offered last week. Interest was expressed, 3 teachers were available, and no one came.

Generally the class did well, and generally we have work to do.  The justification for such a contradictory statement is based on the 4 parameters of assessment:

Knowledge/Understanding - the rote arithmetic skills connected to this unit

Communication - using pictures, diagrams, words, examples to support your response

Thinking - understanding the meaning/process of concepts (why/how)

Application - using the skills from this unit in a similar context, and combing skills together


In this categorized form of assessment (moving beyond a holistic approach), students and parents are able to determine more accurately the areas of success and growth. Specific questions are designed to focus on specific areas of the curriculum. Further, this specifically prepares students for the assessment process used in secondary school.

The class average was 64%

Students who scored below 70% will be invited to participate in review and re-assessment under the following conditions:

a) attend both review sessions Friday (13 Dec) and Tuesday (17 Dec) prior to school at 0800hrs; and

Session 1 - review terminology, GCF, LCM, Rates and Unit Rates, factor trees

Session 2 - review BEDMAS, power notation

b) attend the re-assessment Wednesday 18 Dec from 1145hrs to 1230hrs

Students who would like to participate must email the teacher by 7pm Thursday night, and have their signed math tests on hand for both sessions.

Ender's Game Culminating Task

Today you received your instructions for the Culminating task. Similar to the last one, there is an independent part and a group part. Much to your delight, there is no writing for the group part, as we are looking for a creative showcase of our learning.

Remember that all the options in Part 1 have graphic organizers that need to be reviewed by one of the three of us before you start your draft.

While you could submit this after the deadline, that would mean that a) higher expectations; and b) work over the break.

This is our last assessment piece for the calender year. As such, and as a reward for the continuous hard work, we will scale back the math and science homework, focus more on in class learning activities and review, and the pick up the pace again in January.

--- Project Information ---

Success Criteria

1.     It is important to format your assignment in a clear and organized manner.  That can be clearly communicated during your oral presentation of your project. 

2.      Your approach will need to be creative and representative of your own strengths.

3.      The information included in your project is generated from the novel and the content should be detailed and descriptive. 

4.     Your written work should be typed, edited and free of errors (grammar, spelling, or punctuation)

5.     Your presentation will be 5 to 7 minutes long.  You need to be familiar with your project so that when you present you do so with ease and familiarity with the content included in your project. 

6.      Please ensure your project is visually appealing.

Part 1 - Individual Work

Choose 1 (one) option from the three categories. Your responses shall be typed, 3 paragraphs of 7-8 sentences each (it shall not exceed this limit). When submitting your work be sure to include a cover page that specifies what question you are responding to. Each of your paragraphs shall have evidence from the book to support your opinion. You will also be required to follow the same citation guidelines.

Option 1 - Themes and Characters in Ender's Game

Themes: Leadership, Conflict, Growth, Resilience, Imagination, Compassion

Characters: Bean, Petra, Peter, Dink, Valentine, Alai, Ender

Choose either 1 theme and 3 characters, or 3 themes and 1 character (each of these will form their own paragraph). You will need to have your outline/organizer approved prior to writing your draft. Discuss either how each of the themes are related to a character, or how three different characters are connected to a theme from the book. You are responsible for 3 paragraphs of writing.

Option 2 - Gaming

In this option you will reflect on the meaning and the purpose of three important games, the Fantasy Game, the Battleroom simulations, and the Command School Simulator. In the novel each of these games served a purpose for the children, and a different purpose for the teachers. In each paragraph (one per game, 7-8 sentences) you must discuss how the game was important to both the teachers and the children.

Option 3 - Character Contrast (2 paragraphs, 10-12 sentences per paragraph)

In this option, you will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between Anne Frank and Andrew Wiggin. You may consider how they interact with people, their own growth and maturity in the book, how they relate to adults, how they respond to difficult situations...there may be other topics for contrast. Be careful not to get carried away. You must have approval before writing a draft.

Part 2 - Group Work

We already spent some time doing a drama-language connection (and again, bravo to all). In your groups of 2-3, select one of the options.

1. Props and Objects from Ender's Game

Your group is to construct 2-3 objects found in the novel. Try to draw from your own inspiration rather than what you saw in the movie. You are not to consider clothing (that is another option)

Suggestions: 

Ø  Ender’s Desk

Ø  Valentine’s Star of the Order of the League of Humanity, First Class

Ø  Main Page design for the Fantasy Game

Ø  Poster advocating for the Battle School

Ø  Queen’s Silken Cocoon

Ø  Replica of the students lockers

2. Scene Dioramas

Similar to the Ecosystem project, you are to re-create a scene from Ender's game within a shoebox. Please use found materials as best as possible to keep costs low.

3. Costume Fashion Show

Create 1-2 items of clothing that you would find in the "Ender-verse." Please use found materials as best as possible to keep costs low. The costumes do not need to be life-size, or made out of the correct material (for example use construction paper). Your sketches of your costumes will need to be approved prior to starting the final product.

Presentation and Paper Due Dates: 19 December 2013 periods 7 and 8

Time Management Part 2 - Wednesday at Lunch

Part 2 of the seminar will be at Wednesday at Lunch. All 20 of you are expected. It is fantastic to see the interest swell from the original 4 who signed up to almost a 1 in 6 ratio.

Remember that Part 1 and the At Home Survey needs to be signed off by your parents in order to attend Part 2. The At Home Survey also needs to be signed off by your homeroom teacher.

There are no exceptions.

Please have your packages ready to go while we devour lunch.

7A Field Trip Reminders

1 - come to school on time

2 - full back packs remain in your locker. We will have lunch at school when we return.

3 - personal electronic devices remain out of sight during transportation, and naturally during the filming (Timeplay use is permissible). Best advice, keep it in your pocket. There are no exceptions. If it distracts your awareness during trip then you will submit it to me. If you feel that it may distract even the best of intentions that you may have, then allow me to offer to hang on to it for the duration of the trip in my field pack.

4 - concessions will be open. Be reasonable. devouring all the food in sight will only be ridiculous. Enjoy, but do not over indulge. Devouring a good amount of popcorn is always good for the mind.

5 - Be respectful. Clean up your mess in the theatre and any other trails you leave. Offer your seat to someone. Keep your voices down.

6 - Be Ambassadors of Bedford. Dress well. Dress warm. Mind your manners. However you act during a trip reflects the teachers and adults who go with you, and the students who share your school's name. Set a precedent that encourages your teachers and school to take you on more trips, not less.

There will be a field trip briefing starting promptly at 0855hrs, or following announcments. Routes, groupings, deployment, and emergency procedures will be reviewed.

If you have medication (prescribed, precautionary, required) ensure you have it with you and be prepared to provide a visual confirmation.

Weekend Homework

Geography - qs 1-3, pg 78-79, and define all of the "words matter"

Library: natural disaster inquiry: pick a natural disaster and write an informative (summary) paragraph 7-8 sentences. Typed or handwritten. You will have class time to work on it, and it is due at the end of the next period (Wednesday).

Health (strings only) worksheet as well as health test

French worksheet (ir verbs) if you did not finish it in class

Ender's Game: finish chapter 13 and 14 as well as writing your main ideas and summaries for those chapters.

Gift card donation deadline is fast approaching. If you are stuck for an idea, pool donations togethet with 3 other students and see your teacher.

Monday 9 December is PJ day. Tuesday 10 December is the field trip. Thursday 12 December is the school dance.

Today...at Director's Cut...

...was a great day. Job well done to each and every one of you. I've bragged about you to everyone. What a tremendous day of creativity, with a dash of tetris.

Again, well done, and thank you.

Ender's Game Field Trip, Tuesday 10 Dec

Today the field trip forms went home. Please have them completed and returned by Friday. Cost is $12 including admission and bus fare.

Many thanks to all Grade 7 Families; it seems to be quite frequent of late that letters are coming home requiring students/families to pay for enrichment opportunities. We thank the community of families and students for their continued support towards teacher's and student teacher's initiatives.

Time Management Seminar Part 1 Follow-up

Many thanks for the 16 of you who signed up for the 2-part seminar.

Please complete the section on "1 in 30", and have your parents sign off that Part 1 is complete.

Next, complete the At Home Discussion and Reflection with your parents, and have your homeroom teacher sign off that it is complete before Part 2 starts.

Further, as we had such interest, the 24hr activity can be found at www.studygs.net/schedule

Several students have approached me to join the seminar for Part 2. A repeat presentation of Part one will be at Friday at Lunch. You must email me by Friday morning at 0850hrs to register. Please be on time at 1135.

Everyone will be at Part 2, next Wednesday at lunch. I have to cap registration at 25.

Writing Emails to Teachers, Coaches, Adults...

This is not to discourage students from writing emails to ask questions and continue positive dialogue with their teachers, however the purpose of this post identify the teachable moment before you...

Any email, despite it's content, is comparable to writing a cover letter for a job or scholarship. There are certain formal techniques which should be applied.

Basic Outline:

Dear _______________,

1st paragraph - state why you are writing. Use complete proper sentences. Do NOT use text slang, acronyms, or any other colloquialism that would give a potential employer a reason not to choose you.

Are you informing, or persuading? Does your paragraph get to the point? Do the sentences flow logically?

2nd paragraph - if needed - state any questions, or concerns you have. If you are writing to complain, or ask for an extension, provide a reason.

Sincerely/Respectfully/Regards,

Your Name
Your Class
Your School <if you are writing someone outside of your school>

Most teachers have a preset signature block with their emails. Use that as an example.

Taking the time to write a teacher an email shows that you are interested in your learning. Taking the time to write a proper email demonstrated that you are invested in your learning. Every opportunity you have while your at school is an opportunity to learn something new, try something again, and master something known.

Interesting Dance Videos and 2 cents on Making Connections

 Consider the 5 elements of Dance when you view them...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PiX-DW8Qk4w&desktop_uri=%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DPiX-DW8Qk4w

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CvQBUccxBr4&autoplay=1&desktop_uri=%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DCvQBUccxBr4%2526autoplay%253D1

If we make subject to subject connections, then we are able to explain how the idea of perspective drawings and fore, middle, and back ground shapes (visual art), as well as mathematics enlargement and reductions (math gr 7), combined with Science's optics (science gr 10), shadows (every time most of you walk in front of a teacher's projector), and foreground background (visual arts), in collaboration with Dance...well then that explains quite a bit in these sequences...

"Drawing" attention to (writing about) these cross-curricular connections is a key requirement to consistently achieve Level 4. There are many occurrences in your weekly (and perhaps daily) learning where you can connect the ideas from one subject to another.

Urgent: Director's Cut for 7A pushed to Thursday

The instructor who was scheduled to make it in tomorrow has Strep Throat; we are in the process of rescheduling to run our workshop on Thursday.

As such, tomorrow will be Core + French all day (Our TCs will plan the day accordingly).

Grade 8 Inquiry Science - Viscosity Lab Report - 8A and 8B Proposals due Thursday 5 Dec at 0850hrs (8C will work in class on Friday)

In preparation for our labs next week, as well as compensating for the Director's Cut workshops, lab proposals are required.

Lab preparation work is required homework. For our last lab only 4 students across the entire grade completed the prep work.

Your density and flow rate worksheets will be homework-checked on the day of the lab (double period).

8C - we will set up the lab on one day, and run trials on the second day. You may need to set  up more than one "station" in order to run several labs at the same time. Remember your team of teachers are here to assist you prepare, but not do the work for you.

Success Criteria:

Purpose: Stated as a question (Level 4 question why/how might/will)

Hypothesis: 2-3 sentences. If...then... We think this because....(make reference to Particle Theory/pages in the textbook to get level 4).

Materials: (type and quantity, and consider that you have to run multiple trials)

Procedure: (the exact steps to do your experiment - you will be assessed on how well you follow these)

A Level 4 proposal as all four requirements properly stated. A Level 3 would have all 4 requirements, but missing some details (ie hypothesis does not have explanation sentence, materials do not have quantity, procedure is vague). Level 2 would be missing 1 of the 4 sections, a level 1 would be missing several sections, or all sections are incomplete.




Use the link below to access an organizational template. Do not simply write in the boxes and submit it as your proposal.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uw421a4yxcb1i1e/Science%20Lab%20Report%20Organizer.doc

Time Management Seminar

Reminder to all 7/8 students who are interested. There are 5 spots remaining.

Rotary Cancellation Reminder

As posted on our Class Calender, rotary is cancelled for all 7s and 8s this Wednesday and Thursday for the Director's Cut workshop.

Time Management & Homework Lunch and Learn Seminar

Grade 7 and 8 students who would like some extra guidance on Time Management and Prioritization are invited to attend a 2-part Lunch and Learn seminar.

Part 1 - 4 Dec

A long time doing homework versus efficient time doing homework
Procrastination and work avoidance cues
Goal setting and time limits for homework

Part 2 - 11 Dec

A, B, Cs of Prioritization
Follow up to Goal Setting

Students who would like to attend this seminar MUST email the Room 16/7A teacher by Tuesday 3 December. Arrangements will be made with your core teachers to use some of these strategies for up coming assignments. Students may also be eligible for addition 1-on-1 coaching as required.

Seminar source information and documentation from the RCACS SLC QSP and IGs. Original target audience for this seminar was 16 year old students. There are key transferable concepts that will be highlights during each part. More emphasis will be placed on scenarios and application of these strategies.

Upcoming Dates, Due Dates, Homework Summaries...etc etc etc

Health: for Band due on Wednesday, for Strings due on Thursday

French booklet due on Monday

Geography due on Tuesday

Math from Mr Persaud is due on Tuesday (4 pages, assigned this past Monday...and remember we planned out how to do a little bit each night...hopefully you stuck to your plans)

Language Main Idea and Summaries - we finished chapter 10 today...start working on your summaries

Math from Mrs T from yesterday due on Monday (6 circle questions, calculating circumference).

Science: finish up your paragraph (summarize the activity, highlight something fun/concept that you understood better) and sketch your project. This is not due until late January...but better to do it now and start preparing examples for your portfolio...we will talk more about this on Thursday.

Remember that there is no Rotary on Wednesday or Thursday. On Wednesday is our Director's Cut workshop (some of you still need to bring forms and fees back). This will give us a chance to catch up some core work, work on Ender's game, and dial back the homework just a touch.

There is a tentative field trip to watch Ender's Game on 10 Dec. Cost approx $12 including TTC fair and admission. Stand by for details.

PJ day on Monday 9 Dec

Today at the end of the day we discussed the school initiative for gift-card fundraising.

Keep up the good work...3 weeks until the break!

Grade 8 Science - "Mini" Density

"One Mini, 28 people..."

Two applications of...dense...


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/mini/9680859/One-Mini-28-people-and-a-new-Guinness-World-Record.html

O Canada! Verse 2 - 4

There is rumblings calling for a change to the lyrics of the national anthem. We may be living in a time where that does happen.

 

http://ohcanadaanthem.com/

 

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.

Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.

How dear to us thy broad domain,

From East to Western sea.

Thou land of hope for all who toil!

Thou True North, strong and free!

Chorus:

God keep our land glorious and free!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies

May stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise,

To keep thee steadfast through the years

From East to Western sea.

Our own beloved native land!

Our True North, strong and free!

Chorus

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,

Hold our Dominion in thy loving care;

Help us to find, O God, in thee

A lasting, rich reward,

As waiting for the better Day,

We ever stand on guard.

Chorus

 

 

<please excuse the wiki use: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Canada>

Attention 7 Strings

Reminder your health assignment is due tomorrow

Grade 8 Science - Most Boring Experiment - Pitch Drop

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57608508-1/become-an-official-witness-to-the-next-tar-pitch-drop/

http://www.theninthwatch.com/#

Background Information: http://smp.uq.edu.au/content/pitch-drop-experiment 

CORRECTION TO SCIENCE TEAM APPLICATION

The intention for the application to be due today was flawed as there was an error on the due date on the form.

As a result, all applications shall be submitted NO LATER THAN Thursday 28 November 2013 at 0850hrs.

Many thanks to those whose common sense corrected my oversight.

Attention Grade 7 and 8 Volleyball Team

Refer to the bedfordpark678.blogspot.ca for an important note regarding assignments and tests that are not yet signed and returned. Do not plan to travel with the team for Thursday's matches unless they are returned. You have 1.5 days.

Welcome to 7A dance! Today we discussed the 5 elements of dance. They are:
Body awareness - shapes, full and whole body movement, facial expression, levels
Time - musicality, tempo, beat, pace, speed
Relationship- to each other, to the space, to a prop, emotions, facial expression
Space - where are you placed in the room, levels
Energy - quality of the movement, flow, sharp, direct, indirect, fluid

We also discussed Shapes:
How do we make shapes in our body?
-use of the whole body, limbs, torso, spine, etc.
-levels will help to demonstrate
-shapes can start as triangle and circles
-they can also show an interpretation of lyrics or stories in different ways

Lets compare and contrast the two videos viewed in class, The Dying Swan and Set Fire.
What energies are similar or different?
How do the dancers use imagery in each sequence?

Set Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQ_RDb0lcE

The Dying Swan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW3GAjAKges

Learning Opportunity Fees

1 - Character Canoe - just a few outstanding $15
2 - Director's Cut (letter went home today) $21

Grade 7 and 8 Science Team Applications

Applications are due on 27  Nov NLT 0850hrs. No Exceptions.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y35e3escjm79r84/Science%20Team%20Application.pdf

Grade 7 Math - Unit 3 Outline

Copy and paste the link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i2w8gkvqe1m9o46/Mathematics%20Unit%203%20Outline%20-%20geometry%20and%20measurement%20and%20data%20management.pdf

Grade 7 Science Test Review Questions

These are the recommended review questions.

Pg 23 #3,5
Pg 30 #3,6
Pg 32 #5,7
Pg 47 #1,3,4,6
Pg 54 #1,4,5
Pg 56 #6
Pg 67 #3,6
Pg 82 #1,3
Pg 88 #25, 33, 34

Students from each class were assigned a question, and required to post their response in the comments below. If you are having posting issues, please email me your responses by Sunday.

Formatting:

Pg ___ Q ___

<4-5 sentence response>

Initials 7A/7B

Reminders and week summary

Character canoe fees

Directors cut fees

Math pg 96 1-5 pg 219 1-4,6,8,10 pf 223 1-7

Language chapter 4-8 main idea and summary paragraphs

Science test on friday extra review on monday at lunch for girls on the basketball team.

Geography pg 66-69 Qs 1 and 2, the 2 diagrams and "words matter" definitions

French review section D, and there is an open book test on Tuesday.

French dvd forms due asap

Health project (poster on healthy lunch) due next week for strings musicians and in 2 weeks for wind/percussion (aka "band")

Spend at least 30mins per weekend day practicing music.

Free enders game novel on google play

Publisher seanetix first app avail. Seems to be okay.

Battleroom is a fun app. All looks okay. Install avg just to be sure.

Grade 8 Science - More videos to help study

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zwxw3ughmydxwbz/Cell-Structure-and-Function-Advanced-Biotechnology-Podcast-1-2%5Bwww.savevid.com%5D.mp4

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qd4q018qwqdtckd/Cells-Cells-Parts-of-the-Cell-Rap%5Bwww.savevid.com%5D.mp4

Science - Grade 7 and 8 Unit Outlines (copy and paste address)

Grade 7

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1n197lyfms1cmlx/Grade%207%20-%20Science%20and%20Technology%20Unit%203%20Outline%20-%20Systems%20-%20Structures.pdf


Grade 8

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w38upm1xxnwam53/Grade%208%20-%20Science%20and%20Technology%20Unit%203%20Outline%20-%20Fluids.pdf

TED Talk on Bacteria...and Squids have a circadian rhythm too!

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120614-how-bacteria-talk

Jump to 14:38 - mind blown but watch the whole talk.
 

Science - There are no limits to what you can accomplish...

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130701-perfecting-early-cancer-detection

Grade 8s...this is why all branches of science are important at your age...

Pancreatic cancer is a killer – and one that is very hard to detect. One of the reasons its survival rate is so poor that it has few symptoms in the early stages.

Partly spurred by the death of his uncle, 16-year-old scientist and researcher Jack Andraka vowed to find a quick and cheap way to test for signs of the disease.

Andraka's research – incuding writing to 200 science professors – led to him developing  a dipstick diagnostic test which searches for a biomarker for pancreatic cancer. It can also be used to test for lung and ovarian cancer.

He tells BBC Future about his quest.

Director's Cut Workshop 4 Dec 2013 (Day 4)

This workshop will be all day.

The cost for the workshop is $21; cheques payable to Bedford Park with "Director's Cut" in the memo. A letter will be coming home this week.

There will be no Rotary on 4 and 5 December. 7B also has the workshop on  4 Dec.

Grade 8s have theirs on 5 Dec.

Grade 8 Science - Cell Biology Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcXdfofLoj0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zsdYOgTbOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpj0emEGShQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvTfkMhEw3g

http://wolfbat359.com/phagocytosis2.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6hn3sA0ip0g

Upcoming Science...

Grade 8s will start their next unit in Hydraulics and Pneumatics next week, with a 4 week half-unit block dedicated to Viscosity taught by Ms Templeton.

Grade 7s will start their next unit in Structures right after their test, including an understanding of ergonomics and aesthetics taught by Ms Zhang.

Grade 7 Ecosystems Test - Friday 29 November

Grade 8 Science - Banana DNA Extraction Lab Preparation - NOT testable material

Have a read through the following instructions, and click on the links for additional references. These steps are...simplified...compared to the one we will actually do in class. Single periods will be used to prepare for the Lab, and doubles to run the lab itself.

Terminology (due during the single period, where we review the procedure - and not part of the test these are actually all mixture terms...):

Precipitate (and not in the context of precipitation)
Filtrate

Preparation questions (also not required for the test, but necessary for the lab):

What is distilled water? How do we make it? (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Distilled-Water)

Why is it important to mash the bananas?

Why does the alcohol float on the water?

EDTA is a key ingredient in the soap used in this experiment. What does it stand for?


http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/interactive/item/banana_DNA_extraction_kids_experiments

WHAT TO DO:
1. Dissolve about 1 gram of salt in 100 millilitres (ml) of water.
In terms of safety, there's actually no reason to wear latex gloves to dissolve salt in water. We just like wearing them.  There's also no need to do this in a lab, but they wouldn't let us out.
2. Mash up about ½ banana (or about ½ cuppeas) in the salt water to make a banana soup. Be sure it’s mashed up really well.
Mashing up the banana helps to break down the cell walls and will make DNA easier to extract. Salt helps DNA solidify later in the experiment.



3. Pour banana soup through a coffee filter into a new clear plastic cup. You'll only need about 5-10 ml for the rest of the experiment. Toss out coffee filter with banana bits (or save for banana bread!)Cells need to be nice and mashed up before you can extract DNA. This is why we need to filter the clumpy bits through the coffee filter.


4. Add a few drops of washing up liquid to your banana soup. Swirl the mixture but do not shake - no bubbles!! (You can also do this with jazz hands).Washing up liquid is made of grease, which is very similar to cell membranes. The grease will penetrate the membranes and break them up, allowing the DNA to escape from the nucleus.



5. Let mixture sit for about 5-10 minutes.

6. Add about 1-2 millilitres of pineapple juice. Stir GENTLY!
When you broke open the cell membrane with the detergent, not only did you release the DNA, you released lots of proteins in the cell too. Some of these proteins are attached to the DNA. Pineapple juice contains an enzyme which will break up those proteins and make the DNA unravel, making it easier to see. 
7. Slowly pour rubbing alcohol into your cup until it forms a layer equal in volume to your banana soup mixture. The alcohol layer should sit on top of the soup mixture. Swirl mixture.We use rubbing alcohol because it separates the DNA from the rest of the proteins and grease that are in the banana cells. DNA likes to be in alcohol, which is less dense than water—which is what grease and proteins prefer.


8. You should see some whitish stringy stuff at the bottom of your alcohol layer. You can use a wooden stick like a toothpick to ‘spool’ this out of the mixture. Congratulations, you’ve extracted DNA!

Grade 7 Science - Reminder of required readings from the Ecosystem Unit

Introduction to Ecosystems, classifying biotic and abiotic components, review food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids Pg 10 - 33

Examine population cycles, primary and secondary succession, bioinvasion Pg 48 - 51, 63 - 65

Dragonfly Pond Activity (zoning, land use) Discuss Human Impact 68 - 71