Update

Hi 7B,

I hope you're all enjoying a much deserved break so far! This is just a friendly reminder that if you haven't completed your article on Pompeii, make sure that you have it done for January 9th.

A quick refresher: we started writing the article together on the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii in 79AD. Your task is to complete the article based on the knowledge we've developed as to how volcanoes erupt and what causes them. Be sure you use your imagination and "interview" survivors. The Monday we're back, I'll be collecting them for feedback.

Have a Happy New Year!

-Mr. Charalambous

It's done!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow (Wednesday) your stories are due! Please ensure that they're neatly illustrated and have been thoroughly edited.

I'd just like to stress that we remember what we've been focusing on: fiction is written with a purpose. Stories always have themes and messages that the author wants to communicate to the reader. Your theme and message need to be clear in your story.

At any rate, a "well done" goes out to all of you! I know that you've all put a lot of effort and work into your respective stories and I'm excited to read them!

-Mr. Charalambous

Newspapers

Dear parents:

This past week, our focus in geography and language has been reading and writing news articles with a particular focus on the global environment and natural disasters. With Canada's recent decision to withdraw from the Kyoto Accord, this has provided us with an opportunity to engage in a discussion on our roles and responsibilities as stewards of the planet.

Please continue to encourage your son or daughter to read articles (in print or online) pertaining to the environment and to discuss its content with you.

Best regards,

-Mr. Charalambous

So just how far is 600 light years?

Let's revisit some number sense:

We know that light travels at the approximate speed of 300,000 kilometers per second.

There are 60 seconds in a minute:
300,000 x 60 = 18,000,000km in a minute

There are 60 minutes in an hour:
18,000,000 x 60 = 1,080,000,000km in an hour

There are 24 hours in a day:
1,080,000,000 x 24 = 25,920,000,000km in a day

There are 365 days in a year:
25,920,000,000km x 365 = 9,460,800,000,000km in a year

That number times 600 years:
9,460,800,000,000 x 600 = 5,676,480,000,000,000km

Basically, Kepler-22b is 5,676,480,000,000km away from Earth -- meaning that travelling at the speed of light, at 300,000km per SECOND, it would take you 600 years to traverse 5,676,480,000,000km across space!

Doesn't sound THAT far? To put that into perspective, consider this: a beam of light travels 7.5 times around Earth in just 1 second!

Kepler 22-b: Earth-like Planet Confirmed

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet in the "habitable zone" around a star not unlike our own.

Click here to read the full story

Oliver the Musical

Hey 7B,

Please don't forget to bring in your money and permission forms for Oliver the Musical. We leave on Wednesday!

-Mr. C

Student Led Conferences 2011

                                    to 7B!

Student Led Conferences

Just need to remind you all that the reflections for language and math are due tomorrow. Lets stay focused!

Mr. Charalambous

Eric Day Tomorrow

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder, pending weather, it is Eric Day tomorrow (after morning recess) and so please remember to bring in your donations, and if you can, wear orange or blue.

Mr. Charalambous

October 29, 2011

Check out this really cool link from the BBC. 

The world's population is expected to hit seven billion in the next few weeks. After growing very slowly for most of human history, the number of people on Earth has more than doubled in the last 50 years. Where do you fit into this story of human life? Fill in your date of birth below to find out!

Click here!

LSG

October 19, 2011

For all those interested in finding out more about LSG, please visit the following link:

LSG

Mr. C

"Hope" Assignment

October 13, 2011

Tomorrow your HOPE assignment is due. Don't forget our success criteria:

• An introductory paragraph on what the movie is about and how "HOPE" is reflected throughout it
• 3 paragraphs that explore the different types of evidence that support HOPE -- e.g., Vince's friends...etc
• And your final paragraph that offers your own connection to HOPE and how it helps you further understand the film

Also don't forget that the graphic organizer is due along with your (preferably) typed response.

Don't forget...

October 11, 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, let's not forget what's due tomorrow: your data management assignments!

Have a great day!

-Mr. Charalambous

TIPS for conducting research

October 6, 2011

1. Let the research GUIDE you. In other words, be open minded. If you're setting out to prove that XBOX 360 is better than PS3 but your research says otherwise, don't dismiss the evidence. It may just be that PS3 is better.

2. Use legitimate websites. Don't rely on websites like answers.com or yahooanswers.com for your research. Remember what we said about websites that aren't sourced -- they may very well be filled with bias.

3. What is the SIGNIFICANCE of your statistics/research. If you're researching who was a better general (Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan), why should I care if, say, Alexander the Great's armies had longer hair? Give me relevant research and tell me why you chose it.

Homework Update

October 5, 2011

Just a reminder that you're to work on your math research assignment (due Tuesday!) and you can start thinking about how you're going to organize your response to "Invincible."

Curriculum night is tonight; see you then!

Hepititis B Shots!

Don't forget we have our Hepititis B shots tomorrow!

Great Job!

October 3, 2011

I know we had that back to back assessment today  (So Few of Me and the Data Management Test) which, *phew* was a lot, but you guys did great! Well done!

Math Test on Monday!

September 30, 2011

A reminder that our Data Management Test is on Monday. Practise the review sheets that I gave you today and you'll do great! Best of luck!

CNN vs Fox News

September 28, 2011

Courtesy of FOX news

Here are those images that I showed you today in class. Look how the then president-elect, Obama, is depicted in both newspapers. What can you infer? What do they imply?

 

Courtesy of CNN



"If you aren't paying for the product, you ARE the product"

September 27, 2011

This is a really interesting article that I came across. Have a read.

September 26, 2011

Just a friendly reminder for tomorrow: finish math questions 1-3 on pages 114 and 115 in your workbook. Also the graphic organizer is due tomorrow for formative feedback. Make sure you get it done!

Rights and Responsibilities

September 22, 2011

I've taken the opportunity to post our class' Rights and Responsibilities agreements online. Sort of a reminder of the things we agreed to adhere to throughout the year.

Math Quiz Tomorrow

September 21, 2011

Just a reminder that we will be having that math quiz tomorrow (Thursday). It's on everything we've discussed so far in Data Management (bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs and mean, median and mode). It should be pretty straighforward -- no surprises!

Please remember to bring your calculators and protractors if you have them! Use the review sheet questions!
Best of luck!

Math Update

September 20, 2011

Hey everyone,

Some good news to update you with: Mrs. Norris will be uploading all our slides in math to her blog at http://www.norrisclassblog.blogspot.com/.  If you missed anything or would like to revisit some notes, they'll be on her blog under "Math."

-Mr. Charalambous

Update

September 19, 2011

Looks like we're up and running earlier than expected! Remember to periodically check in to see our class' latest updates.

-Mr. Charalambous

P.S. Don't forget that your first Reading Response on "Something from Nothing" is due this Thursday. Also, don't forget the math question posted earlier today -- due tomorrow!

A Work in Progress...

Hey 7B,

So I'm sure you can clearly see that our class blog isn't up and running just yet. My goal is to have it fully functioning by the end of September. Here you'll be able to get the latest updates in Language, Math and Geography. Stay tuned.