Welcome to Mrs. Meirik's Grade7/8 Webpage!

Welcome Spring!

Our English curriculum for March included an oral novel study of the book entitled  "The Little Prince".  Students engaged in thought provoking discussion questions, as well as writing their own "bonus chapter" for this world-renowned book, which was subsequently performed as a dramatic representation.  Simple, yet, amazingly complex themes, are cleverly intertwined throughout this small chapter book. 

Our term three CASI reading assessment will be completed after the March Break. 

Moving on to Shakepeare, our class will study a brief overview of some of Shakespeare's best known works, in creative ways such as comic strips.  In addition, we will focus on the incredibly descriptive language Shakespeare used.  To complement this unit, our class, along with the entire intermediate division, will travel to the Herongate Barn Theatre, in Pickering, on March 31, to view a special production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-Abridged".  It will no doubt, be an enriching experience!

Following this English unit, our class will turn its attention to persuasive writing and delve into an interactive programme from Nelson Literacy Place,  which culminates with a persuasive writing piece entitled "How Easy is it to be 'Green'?"

Math strands for March are Geometry and Measurement.  Currently we have examined properties of geometric figures including prisms, pyramids and polyhedrons.  Students have explored the use of linking cubes, dot paper and nets, in order to build these structures and sketch different views of them.  Currently we are working on the measurement component, calculating volume and surface area of the various figures.

We will be re-visiting the patterning and algebra strand, balancing equations and solving problems with variables.

Next, we will continue with our number sense strand, with a study of integers and addition and subtraction of positive and negative quantities.

New and Exciting Math Resource-Reminder!

The Government of Ontario has initiated a new on-line math tutoring program for grade 7 through 10 math students.  It is available from Sunday to Thursday evenings, between the hours of 5:30pm and 9:30pm.  The format is live and interactive, complete with a whiteboard for students to draw figures.  In addition, there is a growing database on a variety of math topics sorted by grade.  Students were instructed on how to create an account and many have already utilized this service with much enthusiasm!  This should greatly assist our students in getting the answers they need to both complete, and to understand, their math assignments.  The website is http://HomeworkHelp.ilc.org Check it out!

Congratulations to our WILDCAT WINNERS 

Our September Wildcat Winners:

Lauren T., Nolan, Hilary, Charlotte (Kindness, as voted by their peers)  and Jacob (Oral Communication)

Our October Wildcat winners:

Charlotte (Visual Arts) and Alana (Empathy)

Our November Wildcat winners:

Alana and Curtis(History)

Our December Wildcat winners: 

Jeremy and Lauren T. (Music) and Logan (Integrity)

Our January Wildcat winners:

Hilary, Alana, Lauren W. (Math) and Trent (Perseverance)

Our February Wildcat winners:

Sadie (Science) and Lauren T. (Responsibility)

Lauren (Responsibility) and Sadie (Science)

Great Work!

Mrs. Meirik's grade 7/8 class reigned supreme of the four intermediate classes at

Uxbridge Public School for the 'Points Challenge' for the month of October.  Points are awarded  for each period based on class overall behaviour, homework completion, focus and productivity. For this incredible feat, we were awarded a pizza lunch on Friday October 30, 2009.

For November, we recorded our highest ever points total on November 20, 2009,  96 points out of a possible 100!  This was in large part due to our vow of silence that day.

Is it possible to make it three months in a row? 

Yes it was!  In fact we made it FOUR months in a row! We

won the points challenge for December and January also. 

 For this accomplishment, we were awarded a movie/snack

morning.  Way to go class!