Mr. Mak's Grade 7 Science Website

Learning Goals: 1) Understand what an ecosystem is. 2) Explain what biotic and abiotic factors are, give examples, and explain how they influence ecosystems. 3) Understand the role of producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem. 4) Explain the difference between herbivores, omnivores and carnivores. 5) Understand the terms individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome and biosphere. 6) Discuss some negative human impacts on the balance of ecosystems and suggest ways to limit this impact. Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJEToQ49Yjc 1. Define, in your own words, what an ecosystem is. 2. List the most common ABIOTIC (non-living) parts of an ecosystem (at least five). 3. List the most common BIOTIC (living) elements of an ecosystem. 4. How do the ABIOTIC (non-living) factors impact the BIOTIC (living) things in a ecosystem? (Hint - 1:30) 5. What are the three main groups of living things in an ecosystem? 6. Define producer. Giv...

Parts of a Microscope Today's Learning Goals: To identify, name and describe the function of all parts on a compound light microscope *Mini-test on this next class! Parts of a Microscope 1. Eyepiece/Ocular Lens – The lens into which the user looks to see the specimen. 2. Diopter Adjustment – Used to alter focus between eyepieces to 3. Arm – A supporting piece of the optical microscope mounted upon the base. 4. Nose  Piece – A rotating turret for switching between objective lenses. 5. Objective Lenses – Lenses with various magnification strengths. 6. Slide Holder – Clips to keep the slide in place. 7. Stage – The platform holding the specimen slide. 8. Coarse Focus – Brings specimen into general focus. 9. Fine Focus – Fine tunes the focus of the specimen. 10. Condenser – Focuses light from the light source onto the specimen. 11. Iris Diaphragm – An opaque iris composed of blades made to pass light through an aperture. 12. Base – The supporting block of the light microsc...

                                                                                  Terrestrial Biomes  Concepts and Vocabulary to be Covered: Ecosystem Biotic Abiotic  Habitat Consumers (Primary / Secondary / Tertiary) Apex Predator Carnivore  Herbivore Omnivore Producers Scavengers  Decomposers Photosynthesis Chlorophyll Cellular Respiration  Food Chain  Food Web Food Pyramid - flow of energy Biological Amplification Leaching – Human Impact Water Cycle – evaporation, condensation, precipitation Water vapour  Carbon Cycle  Levels of ecological organization Organism Species  Population  Community  Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Adaptations  Invasive species Extinction  Endangered ...

Grade 7/8 STEM Challenge #1 – Creating a Basketball Net using simple materials                                              The first net completed. It even rolls the ball back to you when you score! The Task : Using the Engineering Design Process*  discussed in class,  your group will create a  durable ,  portable ,  stable ,  retractable and  aesthetically  appealing  basketball net, with a maximum height of 6 feet. *Define task/research/brainstorm-conceptualize/choose your best solution/sketch blueprints/develop your first prototype/test and make further iterations /consider aesthetics Materials : Cardboard, paper, glue, scissors, string, paper plates, plastic cups, elastics, measuring tapes, straws, duct tape, masking tape, pipe cleaners, plastic bottles (various sizes up to 2L), velcro Success Crit...