Week of November 10th

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn we began Unit 5 talking about estimating sums and differences with fractions using the benchmarks, 0, 1/2, and 1. We have also been adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. The students will have an end of unit assessment next Friday, so that means a notebook check as well. Students need to put some time into studying for this test. I will have extra practice sheets available for those students who request one.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, We started the week with word problems, before looking at the customary system of measurement. We measured all sorts of objects around the classroom, including determining how many miles tall each student was. On Thursday we played a review game of Jeopardy, and then continued review on the laptops on Friday. Our chapter test will be on Tuesday.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

In Pre-Algebra III this week, we worked with equivalent forms of rational numbers by simplifying fractions, writing fractions as decimals, and writing decimals as fractions (both terminating and repeating decimals). Students compared and ordered rational numbers, as well as added, subtracted, and multiplied fractions and mixed numbers. We took a quiz on the first five sections of Chapter 4 on Friday.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, we applied the skills learned for solving proportions to similar triangles. Students solved for congruent sides and applied this to real-world situations, such as finding the height of a tree using lengths of shadows. Later in the week, we worked with map scales and calculating distance on a map. We finished the week solving percent problems using proportion equations.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we began chapter 5 and the study of relationships within triangles.  On Monday we used Geogebra to explore  midsegments and angle bisectors within triangles, topics we discussed in detail on Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Thursday we discussed points of concurrence, and explored these using Geogebra on Friday.

Language Arts with Jared:

We started our Short Story unit this week, and spent a lot of time analyzing short stories, focusing on character development, setting, plot arcs, and reading comprehension. 6th graders read "Chivalry" by Neil Gaiman, "The Three Questions" by Leo Tolstoy, and "Charles" by Shirley Jackson. 7th graders read "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman, "Gator" by Robert Sawyer, and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber. 8th graders read "The Cop and the Anthem" by O. Henry, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog" by Mark Twain, and "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. In our grammar unit, all of the sections are working with linking verbs, and will have a quiz on Tuesday. Students have also been presenting to the class the poem that they memorized.

World Studies with Emily:

We started the week off with voluntary student sharing of the first round of Immigration Menu projects. There were many thoughtful and historically accurate poems, short stories, letters, newspaper articles, skits, packed trunks, and diary entries. After some reading in our textbook about imperialism, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Spanish American war, all classes watched related sections of the Ken Burns documentary The Roosevelts. Some students read two primary sources from different newspapers about the USS Maine exploding in 1898. We also did a fun and meaningful activity about why and how primary sources are valuable by writing individual accounts of Messy Day 2014 and discussing “official histories”, raw material, perspective, and bias. Students worked on their final round of Immigration Menu projects as I explained the Excel graph in more detail and provided statistical data for their use.

Earth Science with Molly:

We began this week with a Sun, Earth, and Moon unit test. Students completed a variety of question types, including multiple choice, diagrams, and essay questions. Students began the new unit with a mystery activity about a hypothetical sound message from space. They learned about SETI and transmitting binary code using radio waves and translated a binary message in class. This began our new unit on space and the universe. On Thursday, students read about our solar system and learned about some of the changes that have been redefined over the last couple of decades, such as Pluto being defined as a dwarf planet. They watched a brief video by Bill Nye introducing the history of Astronomy. Students shared more of their progress on their science fair projects. I hope to see them turn in their final data tables early next week, so that they will not need to spend time over the break working on science fair (finger’s crossed)!

Spanish A with Rebecca:

The students practiced their new vocabulary for class subjects and  words describing order (first, second, third, etc) this week by  writing out and talking about their school schedules. They are also
learning how to describe the classes they like and dislike as fun,  boring, practical, interesting, hard, and easy. They also spent a  class reading a short magazine focusing on cultural, historical, and
geographical aspects of Mexico, writing answers to comprehension  questions. We will discuss his material further on Monday. They should study their flashcards this weekend

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

This week we reviewed and had an assessment. We started a new chapter- all about clothing and shopping. We also listened to music and practiced a song for the Thanksgiving Feast.

Spanish C

This week we reviewed and had an assessment. We will be revisiting the past tense in detail, as the students do not have a solid grasp on this tense. I have given them a dry-erase page that they can use to practice the forms. We also listened to music and practiced a song for the Thanksgiving Feast.

 Spanish D

This week we finished the unit about travel and tourists, reviewed the subjunctive and had an assessment on Friday. We will be practicing a song for the Thanksgiving Feast next week.

Spanish D+

The students continue working independently. They are studying a chapter on the simple future tense and the conditional tense, which is new material for them. We will be practicing a song for the Thanksgiving Feast next week.

Art with Patti:

Students are continuing to work on hand building votive sets out of clay and rotate turns throwing on the wheel.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week we continued working on the Restaurant project.  On Monday the students learned how to import the graphs they created last week into templates in MS Word.  They used these to create professional letters requesting fictional potential investors to invest in their restaurants.  Later in the week the students created menus for their restaurant.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week we discussed the final slide of Matt’s presentation on social media and focused it on all online communication. The slide presented the idea to “THINK” before you post, with the following reminders T=is it true? H=is it hurtful? I=is it illegal? N=is it necessary? K=is it kind? We went back to the idea of stress and discussed positive outcomes of stress and negative outcomes of stress. Students watched a video called Help, I’m Stressed, which presented good strategies for students their age to use when coping with stress. We’ll complete this unit next week focusing on how to address and deal with stressful situations created by your friends. After the Thanksgiving Break, we will begin to discuss (or review with the 7th & 8th grade students) puberty and their changing bodies.

Thank you from, The Purple Team