Hands-On Science for Manitoba, Grade 7

Jennifer E. Lawson, PhD, is the creator of the Hands-On books published by Portage & Main Press. As senior writer and editor for the series, she has contributed to more than 50 publications for teachers and students. Jennifer provides professional development workshops for educators locally, nationally, and virtually, and is a Workplace Wellness Advisor. Her most recent book is a collective effort called Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout her extensive career in education, Jennifer has worked as a classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, principal, university instructor, and school trustee. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

• Introduction to Hands-On Science 1Program Introduction 1 The Foundations of Scientific Literacy 1 Hands-On Science Outcomes 2 Program Principles 6 Program Implementation 6 Classroom Environment 7 Time Lines 7 Classroom Management 8 Science Skills: Guidelines for Teachers 8 Assessment Plan 14 The Hands-On Science Assessment Plan 14 Assessment Sheets 16 Unit 1: Interactions Within Ecosystems 27Books for Students 28 Websites 29 Introduction 31 1 Introduction to Ecology 32 2 Ecosystems: Small Places to Big Spaces 35 3 Abiotic and Biotic Elements of Ecosystems 38 4 How to Use a Microscope 42 5 Succession: The Order of Things 45 6 Building Blocks in an Ecological Food Pyramid 53 7 Human Action and Ecosystems 61 8 Energy Cycles in Ecosystems and the Importance of Plants 66 9 Examining Organisms in Soil 72 10 Bacteria 76 11 Microorganisms and Food 80 References for Teachers 83 Unit 2: Particle Theory of Matter 85Books for Students 86 Websites 87 Introduction 88 1 Scientific Theories 90 2 Pure Substances and Mixtures 96 3 Solutions, Solutes, and Solvents 100 4 Rate of Solution 105 5 Separating Mixtures and Solutions 108 6 Dangerous Mixtures and Solutions and Their Effects on the Environment 114 7 Heat and Temperature 119 8 Thermometers 123 9 Effects of Heating and Cooling on Volume 127 10 Changes of State 131 11 Heat Transfer 135 12 Producing Heat 141 13 Design Challenge 145 References for Teachers 148 Unit 3: Forces and Structures 149Books for Students 150 Websites 151 Introduction 153 1 Classifying Structures 154 2 Nature’s Structures 159 3 Centre of Gravity 162 4 Effects of Internal Forces 167 5 Effects of External Forces on Structures 172 6 Stress, Fatigue, and Failure 177 7 Investigating Beam Bridges 179 8 Types of Bridges – Structural Forms and Components 184 9 Designing, Constructing, and Testing Bridges 191 10 Increasing Strength of Materials 193 11 Structural Efficiency 197 12 Researching and Evaluating Bridge Designs 200 13 Product Research and Design 203 References for Teachers 206 Unit 4: Earth’s Crust 207Books for Students 208 Websites 209 Recommended Videos 211 Introduction 213 1 The Continental Drift 214 2 Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Structure 218 3 Earth’s Changing Surface 222 4 Mountain Formation 228 5 Earthquakes 233 6 Volcanoes 241 7 Rocks and the Rock Cycle 247 8 Classifying Minerals and Rocks 254 9 Erosion and the Landscape 259 10 Soil 262 11 Resources and their Extraction 269 12 Geological Resources 273 13 Mining and the Environment 278 References for Teachers 281Access Digital Resources 282