Grade Seven is coming to the end of their Algebra and Geometry block. Over the 4 weeks we have worked with exponents, order of operations, signed numbers and all four arithmetic operations, simple equations with 1 variable, expressions with multiple variables, simplifying expressions and equations, the division of circles into 6, 12, 24, 4, 8 equal parts and the different designs you can make from each type of construction.

The Algebra work, which is very abstract and less grounded in the tangible and physical world, demands both imagination and wakefulness in the students in order for them to understand and manipulate these concepts. To balance the abstractness of Algebra we worked with geometrical constructions that are concrete and visual. The students deepened their work with the circle from Grade 6 using what they knew how to do to create more complex designs and then independently decided what to emphasize with colour creating very unique pieces in their books.

As a class we will spend the final two weeks of term in a creative writing block. Through prose and poetry that we compose ourselves, we will look at three states of soul, expressed as “Wish”, “Wonder” and “Surprise.”