E. H. Sutherland Elementary School

10015 S. Leavitt Avenue
Chicago, IL 60643

773-535-2580
773-535-2621 fax

Catherine Gannon
Principal

Maureen Elwood
Assistant Principal

Ms. Annie Malone, Counselor/Case Mgr

Ms. Jeanmarie Ford, School Clerk

Click here for the 2009/10 Sutherland Parent Handbook in pdf format.

Click here for
Matrix of School Wide Expectations.

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Visitors since
9/1/04

7th Grade - 3rd Quarter Objectives 2009/10

MYP Level 2

Math

During this third quarter the students have been working hard to prepare for the ISAT exam.   Problem solving techniques are being explored and improved.  The "Problem of the Week" has not been given as a homework assignment with a week to consider how to respond.  These extended responses are being practiced in class.    The students will be expected to complete two problems during a 40 minute time period for the ISAT.

Students are using algebraic and analytical methods to solve problems.  They spend time in class working with their partner to find new ways to describe problems and to make predictions. All the students should continue working on their own to master the concepts that have been covered in class.

Students should continue using Study Island as a means to review math topics.  It is helpful to study the lesson before completing the test.  Practicing multiple choice question tests is helpful for ISAT preparation.

Websites for exploring math topics.

Humanities

Western Hemisphere

United States Constitution

Major project

How do we make a more perfect union?

Skills

Critical Analysis
Investigative Research

Language Arts

Language Arts is comprised of three main components: grammar, vocabulary, and writing.

7th grade students will become skilled at note taking, annotating, and managing their time wisely.  Activities in the classroom are designed to promote independent, small group, and whole class learning.  Students will move between reading and language arts activities, working at a pace that challenges the individual. The pink grammar workbook is used daily to reinforce concepts taught in class.  Our main focus for first quarter will be capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, and subject/verb agreement.   Vocabulary units are started on Monday with exercises assigned daily, culminating with a test on Friday for that unit.  The ORANGE vocabulary book should be brought home nightly.  Writing takes place daily.  Daily journal entries, two short-response to literature paragraphs, two poems, a fable, a short story, and a mini-research project will be written during the first quarter. 

Reading

Reading and writing are intertwined as a vast majority of our writing comes from our reading.  We start with Folk Tales and progressed to Fantasy; our novel of choice, The Hobbit. Students will be reading either Tangerine or Freak the Mighty to wrap up the first quarter.  Our collection of short stories, novels, non-fiction, and poetry takes us in search for answers to our guiding question for the quarter…How does culture influence our thoughts, beliefs, actions? 

Science

For third quarter, students will be working on different lessons covering all the science standards for the state of Illinois. This will help them review and prepare for the ISAT.

After ISAT the students will begin: Introduction to the Human Body
Here is what 7th graders will learn from this unit:
    * The human body is a single structure but it is made up of billions of smaller structures of four major kinds: cells, tissues, organs, and systems.
    * An organ is an organization of several different kinds of tissues so arranged that together they can perform a special function.
    * A system is an organization of varying numbers and kinds of organs so arranged that together they can perform complex functions for the body.
    * Ten major systems include the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and the reproductive system.
    * Body functions are the physiological or psychological functions of body systems. Survival of the body depends on the body's maintaining or restoring homeostasis, a state of relative constancy, of its internal environment.
    * Human life process includes organization, metabolism, responsiveness, movements, reproduction, growth, differentiation, respiration, digestion, and excretion. All these processes work together, in fine-tuned balance, for the well being of the individual and to maintain life.
    * Life depends on certain physical factors from the environment, which include water, oxygen, nutrients, heat, and pressure.
    * Useful terms for describing body parts and activities include:

• Directional terms
• Terms describing planes of the body
• Terms describing body cavities

.
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
* Reading assignments from texts and outside sources.
* Lecture, class discussion, multimedia presentations, and Internet research.
* Homework including reading and writing assignments.
* Investigations, group activities, demonstrations, student designed experiments, and self-driven research.
* Each student will keep a science notebook and folder throughout the year. The notebook is a professional collection of all work done in science. The notebook is a very important part of each student’s grade especially when they may use it for a quiz/test. The notebook will be checked periodically and graded at the end of each unit throughout the year. Always have your notebook with you in class!

ABSENCES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the assignment for the day/days you missed. The assignment(s) is/are due the day following your return, or in special cases, within a reasonable amount of time upon your return as decided by myself. A test or quiz must be made up the day following your return to class. In order to minimize make-up work stress call your science class study buddy:

MISSED LABS AND VIDEOS:
If you miss a lab or video while you were absent that cannot be made up, you will need to find a current event article in the newspaper or magazine that is science related. Read the article and write a one-page summary including your personal reflection about the article. Attach the actual article to your summary and turn in for credit on the missing lab or video. Please write the name of the missed lab or video on your summary so that I will credit the proper assignment. Science summaries should be turned in within one week from the missed lab or video for credit. Please do not use weather related articles, natural disasters or fire articles for your summary.
*Note: You will still be responsible for the work you missed on the test. See me before school or by appointment to get a copy of what you missed, or ask your study buddy.

ABSENT FROM TEST REVIEW OR TEST DAY: If a test has been previously announced and you are absent the day before the test and miss the classroom review, you will still be required to take the test when you return, so be prepared. If you are absent the day of the test, you will need to make up the test.

ATTENDANCE: During the class period many things happen which cannot be made up. Laboratories, activities, and discussions that take place during a class are all very important. Students who miss a class period miss valuable information and experiences.

TARDINESS: Being late is impolite and disrupts the classroom environment. You must be in your assigned seat with materials ready BEFORE the bell rings. Repeated tardies will result in parent contact. 

GRADING POLICY: Grades will be based on labs, reflections, handouts, notes, homework, quizzes, tests, projects, research, participation, and organization. Almost all of the student’s work is reflected in their science folder and notebook; therefore it is the majority of each student’s grade.

Break Up of Science Grade:
Projects/ Labs = 30%
Class work = 25%
Test/ Quizzes = 20%
Homework = 10%
Class participation= 15%

HOMEWORK: Homework will be assigned as dictated by class progress and prearranged due dates discussed within the class. Homework is often an extension of the day’s activities (i.e. If you don’t finish the work in class, you need to finish it as homework). There may or may not be new homework every night. Homework that is completed on time will be rewarded with positive grades; whereas, incomplete homework will damage your grade.

MATERIALS: You are expected to bring:
- 5 subject notebook
- science folder
- paper
- pen or pencils

Every student must please bring in the following material to donate to the science classroom: baby wipes
* PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR YOU MAY BE ASKED TO BRING IN MATERIALS FROM HOME FOR A LAB. THESE MATERIALS WILL BE A PART OF YOUR LAB GRADE.

 It is also suggested for students to have their own colored pencils, a highlighter, glue stick and scissors.
 
*Each paper must have the proper heading. The heading must be placed in the upper right hand corner and include your Last name, First name, homeroom and Date.
*Assignments that are not a part of the science notebook should be titled, neat, legible and written in either black/blue ink, or typed on the computer (NO LIGHT COLORED GEL PENS, they are too difficult to read). Papers not complying with these standards will be graded down.

**Daily Science will be posted on the front board each day.

French

Quoi de neuf?
What's new in French?

The language of love is being highlighted by the original creation of valentines by 7th graders who have indeed discovered sooo many things that they love which are all French! 8th graders learned a multitude of amorous expressions all intended for family, relatives, and the ones they truly love. Shortly thereafter, MARDI GRAS will be upon us, and some talented 8th graders have formed a Cajun band to play percussion instruments, which accompany the music of New Orleans. Crowns, jester sticks, doubloons, and masks are all being designed to celebrate this French holiday and to create the ambiance of this fun-filled time of the year.
The 8th grade classes are learning about going to places and talking about future plans...some are even making their own business cards! They are also discovering about one's family and buying clothes. 7th grades are learning about how to talk in reference to the things they do every day, about other people, and their possessions.

Each grade level has been working very hard on this year's event known as Festival de la Mode for your enjoyment and pleasure which will be held on the French Labor Day...the first of May. Parents will be able to savor a delectable meal served by students after which a Festival of Fashion will be staged along with a vendor fair and display of student work all coordinated to the theme of beauty, style, charm, couture, and elegance. Please support this by encouraging your child to complete work with quality and to devote the time necessary to be an integral part of this program with dedication to upholding their role in learning lines and in practicing their roles. If you wish to become involved, please contact the P.T.A., Ms. Simons, Mrs. Mastropaolo, Ms. Casey, or Mr. Wax to offer your support and talents.

Websites for exploring math topics include:

www.classzone.com 
http://archives.math.utk.edu/popmath
http://mathforum.org/k12/k12.html
http://www.cut-the-knot.com/content.htm
http://members.aol.com/bbyars1/contents.html
http://scienceacademy.com/BI//index.html
http://www.eyelid.co.uk/numbers.htm
http://webmath.com