On the next slide, a series of themes have been put together to showcase the importance of our environment.
“Environment Day 1” on slide 2, kicks off with an investigation on interactions in the environment. Two unit themes are provided. Each includes a slide deck linked with a series of provocations and learning activities that can be implemented throughout the unit.
A Problem-based learning task focused on “Interactions in the Environment” is found on Slide 4. This task can be completed at the end of the unit once all the themes have been addressed.
Slides 5 - 7 contain additional resources, activities, and cross-curricular connections.
Some slides have “Loopback Opportunities” stated within the speaker notes. These are suggested connections to meet cross-curricular expectations.
Our environment is vital and needs to be managed sustainably.
Choose your focus, use the linked slide deck as a guide to approaching the strand from a problem-based perspective.
If you are looking for a novel way for students to track their own learning as you work through these strands, please continue to slide 3.
Detailed Units
Ongoing Tracking of Learning: Meaningful Notes
This file contains an ongoing list of templates that can be used by students to complete their meaningful notes, as outlined in “Building Thinking Classrooms” by Peter Liljedahl. Please feel free to add/modify as you see fit.
Meaningful Notes and Templates
Throughout learning, model and use these templates to model and support students as they learn to create and maintain meaningful notes and self-assessments.
Assessment of Learning:
Interactions in the Environment PBL
This project can be introduced at the start of the Near the completion of this unit, we have attached the following project-based task for groups of students to choose from.
Additional Resources:
Literacy Connections
Read Alouds:
“Safe As Houses” by Eric Walters
“A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park
“Amal Unbound” by Aisha Saeed
“Hawk” by Jennifer Dance
Picture Books:
“Over and Under the Pond” by Kate Messner
“A Good Trade” by Alma Fullerton
“Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth” by Rochelle Strauss
“The Lorax” by Dr. Suess
“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein�
Cross - Curricular Connections (Grade 7)
Grade 7 Science:
Interactions in the Environment: Human activities have the potential to alter the environment. Humans must be aware of these impacts and try to control them.
Pure Substances: Pure substances and mixtures have an impact on society and the environment. (Overall expectation 1)
Understanding the characteristics of matter allows us to make informed choices about how we use it. (Overall expectations 1 and 3)
Grade 7 Geography:
A2 Natural events and human activities that change Earth’s physical features can have social, political, environmental, and economic consequences.
A3 Earth’s physical features can be created or changed by both natural processes and human activities
B1 Resource development is affected by social, political, economic, and geographic factors.
B2 The ways in which people extract and use natural resources can have social, economic, political, and environmental consequences.
B3 There is a relationship between Earth’s physical features and the distribution of natural resources and how people use these resources to meet their needs and wants.