Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Week of May 4



Purple Curriculum Updates
Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, the students had a week of assessments. On Monday they took the end of Unit 12 assessment and then on Wednesday and Friday we had end of year assessments. I will hand back the end of Unit 12 assessment next week and I will share the end of year assessments at our final parent-teacher conference.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:
In Pre-Algebra II, we finished up our unit on displaying and analyzing data by learning how scientists estimate population size through a capture/recapture method, and then we talked about scatter plots.  After reviewing the chapter, students took their Chapter 11 test on Thursday, on which they had to graph the data they had collected throughout the week. On Friday we started reviewing for the end-of-year assessment, which will be next week.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:
In Math this week, we started the second-to-last chapter of the book, which is about probability. We began by using tree diagrams and the counting principle to find the number of possible outcomes. We moved on to finding permutations – using diagrams, the counting principle, factorials, and by using permutation notation. Then students found combinations by making organized lists and by using combination notation. We practiced describing different situations as a permutation or a combination. Students did an extension activity working with Pascal’s Triangle and used it to find a number of combinations. We finished up the week with a quiz on the first three sections.

Algebra I with Molly:
This week we learned the quadratic formula. Students heard it sung to the rhyme Pop Goes the Weasel and other tunes to help them remember it accurately. They have now learned 5 ways to solve quadratic equations. They made posters to help remember the methods and when to use each one. They then learned to use the discriminant to find whether there are two, one, or no solutions to a quadratic equation. At the end of the chapter, students learned to write an equation by choosing a linear, quadratic, or exponential model for the set of data. 

Geometry with Holly:
This week we completed teaching in Chapter 12.  On Monday we discussed circles in the coordinate plane and on Tuesday we discussed the concept of  locus as a set of points.  Some of these concepts required a bit more "soak time" so we spent Wednesday reviewing our last three sections prior to taking a quiz over them on Thursday. We spent Friday reviewing the entire chapter for the chapter test on Monday.

Language Arts with Jared:
This week eighth graders took a blue-book-style essay test on To Kill a Mockingbird, and finished watching the film version of it. Sixth graders took their book test on Witness, and then joined the seventh graders in reading Act 1 of "Much Ado About Nothing." Students read through the section of Shakespeare's play out loud in class, we discussed the meaning of many of the passages, and then we viewed a section of a British production of the play. In addition, all three grades started preparing for the end-of-year play, which will be a condensed version of "Much Ado." Each student will be helping out by memorizing lines, building props, arranging costumes, or working on the set.

World Studies with Emily:
Purple roomers continued their study of World War II. This week we mostly focused on the U.S. entering the war. Students learned about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and 7th and 8th graders listened to an interesting audio about whether or not FDR knew the Japanese were planning an attack on Pearl Harbor; some historians believe he did while others do not. The audio also included FDR’s request to Congress for a declaration of war. All classes read a section in our textbook about the U.S. getting ready for the war, including women’s roles, and some of the racial/ethnic issues going on around the country, including segregation in the military and the internment of Japanese Americans. Students viewed U.S. war posters, completed a choose your own adventure about how they would have helped out (victory gardens, collecting can and scrap metal, or writing letters to soldiers), and tried various dishes and snacks from military MREs (Meal-Ready-to-Eat). We will be finishing up our study of the war next week and taking a test on Thursday.

Earth Science with Molly:
This week students learned about volcanoes. They watched a powerpoint with vocabulary about volcanoes, their origins, and their different forms. They did a lab on viscosity to help them understand the different kinds of magma and whether they flow or explode from the volcano. This completed our unit, so we spent some time reviewing concepts and vocabulary. Students will take a unit test next Tuesday.

Spanish A with Rebecca:
On Monday and Wednesday, the students reviewed the grammar concepts and vocabulary covered this year, and also spent time practicing their conversational skills. On Friday, they took the written portion of the End of Year Assessment. On Monday, they will have the listening and speaking portion, but they do not need to do any additional studying for it. Great job, Spanish A students!

Spanish with Olga:
All Spanish classes continued working on review packets, vocabulary games, and general review for the end of year assessment. The students will have a short oral interview with me on Monday, May 11, and the written portion of the test will be on Wednesday, May 13.

Art with Patti:
The students tied and dyed their items for our annual tie dye.

Computer Lab with Holly:
On Monday the students learned how to change the orientation of  a single page within a document as they created an order form for their store catalogs. Afterwards they continued creating their catalogs.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:
This week we watched a great video on gender in the media and sex in the media. Students were surprised by the ways they may be unknowingly influenced by radio, movies, TV, and video games. We watched a Dove Evolution video showing a model getting ready for a photo shoot, then the computer editing that was done to the image. The students agreed that the original person photographed looked very little like the woman in the ad. We ended the class with a short video and discussion about altering the body through the use of steroids.

Thank you from, The Purple Team

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Week April 27

Purple Curriculum Updates
Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, we concluded Unit 12 on Thursday. Unit 12 consisted of solving two step equations, writing and graphing inequalities, square roots, and the Pythagorean Theory. We reviewed in class today with the Chapter 12 test at the end of this unit. We worked all the even number problems. I encouraged the students to use the time between now and Monday to practice with all the odd number problems as it is a good review for the end of unit assessment on Monday, along with their final notebook check. Next week we will begin our end of year assessments. They will have assessments on Wednesday and Friday. The students have review packets for chapters 1-8, which they can continue to practice with, and we review chapters 9-12 in class on Tuesday.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:
In Pre-Algebra II, we continued looking at ways to graph data. We explored Venn diagrams, double-line, and double-bar graphs. We then reviewed Box-and-Whisker plots some more, before taking a quiz on this group of graphing tools. Then we started looking at data, and how best to obtain and represent data accurately. We discussed how to find random population samples, and how to ask questions that are not biased. Students will be using these tools to collect their own data next week. On Friday, we looked at how graphs can appear misleading if they are not created in the truest way possible, and how graphs can be manipulated to support different points of view. We'll be keeping a look out for how graphs are used by the media.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:
The class compared two sets of data displayed on box-and-whisker plots, made scatter plots and used scatter plots to find trends that two sets of data may or may not have, and read and made circle graphs. We worked on choosing an appropriate graph depending on the type of data in order to best analyze the data by practicing as well as making a table comparing all the graphs we studied this chapter. Students took a culminating chapter 10 quiz on Friday. We will begin Chapter 11: Probability on Monday.

Algebra I with Molly:
This week we focused on solving quadratic equations using the zero-product property, then by completing the square. We spent the week practicing solving these accurately. Next week we will learn to use the quadratic formula.

Geometry with Holly:
We continued our study of circles by discussing inscribed angles on Monday, and then the students took a quiz over the first three sections of the chapter on Wednesday, On Tuesday and Thursday, we discussed Angle Measure and Segment Lengths, and finished the week with a half period on Friday where we discussed Tangent Lines and Tangent Ratios.

Language Arts with Jared:
In literature, this week students finished reading their novels. Seventh graders took their book test on Friday, and sixth graders will take theirs on Tuesday. Eighth graders will have a "blue book" essay test on Wednesday. Students also finished their Authors' Tea stories, and orally presented the first few pages to the class. Their homework has been to continue practicing reading them out loud in preparation for the evening presentations. Next week we'll start the transition from Authors' Tea to Shakespeare.

World Studies with Emily:
6th and 7th graders had time on Monday to discuss or finish reading their novels, or work on their book review that was due on Thursday. On Tuesday, all classes presented their historic profile posters with their partners. As a whole, the posters and presentations were very well done. On Thursday we heard Mr. Nathan Kranowski’s personal experience with the Holocaust; he was born in 1937 in Paris and his parents were taken from him in early 1942 and sent to Drancy Internment Camp in France and then deported to Auschwitz, where they were killed. His talk was excellent and age appropriate. Students had a chance to ask some questions afterwards and generally were very respectful and engaged. As I walked Nat out, he complimented the audience. We are grateful that he could share his horrible story and all of his knowledge with us. In World Studies, A-D and C read a couple current articles about an ex-Nazi trial going on in Germany and about the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as finished up a geography activity. World Studies B reflected on NHD with the Blue roomers and explained how it is different from lower grades History Night.

Earth Science with Molly:
Students began learning about volcanoes this week. We spent some time focused on the two major earth science related current events, the volcano in Chile and the earthquake in Nepal. 7th & 8th grade students completed their lithospheric plate movement models and labeled them. 6th grade classes modeled three types of volcanoes and will complete these next week.

Spanish A with Rebecca:
The students reviewed all the vocabulary and grammar concepts of Chapter 4A on Monday, including the verb "ir" and how to use interrogative words when asking questions. There was no Spanish class on Wednsday since the students were visiting Purple. On Friay, the students took the Chapter 4A test. **Next Friday, May 8th, will be the End of Year Assessment. Monday (5/4) and Wednesday (5/6) will be review days. Students are encouraged to review the vocabulary and "Gramatica" sections in their book next week.

Spanish with Olga:
In all Spanish classes, we are working on a review packet that includes the material from the end of year assessment. The assessment will be on May 13.

Art with Patti:

The Charcoal Drawings with a Twist were looking great as students were finishing them up this week. They are use value to show dimension using charcoal and colored pencil, creating a nice focal point. Reminder to bring in something white for tie dye next week!!

Computer Lab with Holly:
The students continued working on their Store catalog projects.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:
This week students learned about our overnight field trip, were introduced to the property where we’ll stay, voted on dinner meals, gave breakfast food preferences, and provided me with tent companion preferences. I encouraged them to let me know if there was anything they were feeling uncomfortable about and to ask questions privately if they’d like. Next we will focus on over-exercise and the use of steroids. Soon after, we will look at body images for both males and females in the media.

Thank you from, The Purple Team