Week of January 4, 2016

Elective Updates
Stop Motion

We have read and discussed several graphic novels, especially those that are personal narratives. We've discussed the mechanics of comics and comics storytelling, done lots of fun exercises to practice these mechanics, both independently and as a group, and worked independently on individual personal narrative comics. Our aim is to put out a 'zine before the elective period is up.

Children's Garden

We've been playing outside on nice days. I've asked the students to read out loud to the kids, which they have done, or to play with individual kids during rainy days (we dance or do small activities like drawing, puzzles, games, etc on indoor days). Earlier in the trimester, the girls asked to paint with the kids in the style of Jackson Pollock, which we did outside and the students enjoyed.

Greenhouse Elective

We've planted our two plots in the nearby YMCA greenhouse with a variety of greens. When mixing in soil from starter plots we ended up with a variety of nice volunteer tomato plants. The plot is looking beautiful. Soon we will be able to sample some of out sugar snap peas!

Red Room

The Red Room Learning Buddies have been helping the kindergartners with educational games (Match-It games) and mini theme-related projects (human body system diagrams, magnet craft), as well as playing with them during their center time (which the Red Roomers LOVE).

Python Programming

During this first six weeks our students have learned about calculations and variables; string and lists; if-then-else statements; iteration and loops; and functions and modules, to include Turtle graphics.  As we learn new concepts, the students have been building progressively more complex programs. 

Philosophy
Our philosophy elective has been an exciting overview of topics ranging from Socratic thinking to metaphysics and the nature of truth. Using excerpts from Homer's Odyssey as a method of inquiry, students discussed (and often debated) a variety of topics. Later we explored more contemporary examples such as Turing's Halting Problem and Schrodinger's Cat.

CookingWe have cooked some eggs, veggie stuffed shells, apple crisp for the purple room birthday and two batches of cookies. We have learned about following directions and the lack of importance of supper accurate measurements. All the students have been having fun with everything except cleaning up, but they do that without complaint. 

Board Games

We have played a number of games between the two groups, including Settlers of Catan, Seven Wonders, Tiny Epic Kingdoms, Tiny Epic Galaxies, Flash Point, and the Big Book of Madness. We're trying to introduce them to games that they haven't played before, and types of games (deck-building, European) that they haven't seen before.

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

This week we have begun to study chapter 7 on ratios and probability. The students have learned to compare ratios by setting up proportions with fractions to solve for missing variables. This is a new and challenging concept, and the students seemed to enjoy the challenge. In the coming week I will cover: scale drawing, percent/fraction/decimal conversions, circle graphs, and estimating with percents. If your student struggles with decimal multiplication, he/she may need additional practice, so that they will be successful with these new concepts. I will hand out the chapter 7 study packet on Friday, January 15^th following week.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

We began this week with a quick review of the first five chapters of the book, in preparation for Thursday's mid-term assessment. We then continued on where we left off in chapter 6, studying percents. We used IXL on Friday to practice a number of percent problems.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily (Alex):

Our class began exploring the concepts of sine and cosine as the ratio of side-lengths of a right triangle. While applying these concepts, students had an intensive review of the first 5 chapters of the course, completing a mid-year assessment at the week’s end. These past several months, students made substantial progress in their problem-solving and mathematical reasoning abilities.

Algebra I with Molly:

Students spend the first three days of the new year reviewing chapters 1-5. They took a multiple choice style mid-year assessment over the last two days, on which they were permitted to use calculators. The mid-year assessment will count as a single test grade.

Geometry with Holly:  

This week we have been reviewing all of the material that we have learned so far this year in preparation for the Mid Term Assessment which the students took on Thursday.  On Friday, the students brought in, presented, and tested the bridges which they had built to demonstrate many of  the geometry topics we have learned so far this year.  We had many original and unique designs in the bridges which were surprisingly strong; all held between 100-150 lbs. before either collapsing or just tipping over.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week we began our new unit, focusing on Norse mythology. We looked at the Norse origin myth, and discussed the World Tree (Ygdrasil) in depth. We'll be looking at the various myths, and then at how authors used and modified these myths to create their own unique stories. 8th graders are reading Runemarks by Joanne Harris (in fact, they started it over winter break). 7th graders are reading selections from The Gospel of Loki (also by Joanne Harris), which retells all of the myths from Loki's perspective. (and as this is a novel intended for an older audience, we will be skipping some chapters that deal with Loki's more "life-skillsy" adventures). And finally, the 6th graders will be reading Odd and the Frost Giants, by Neil Gaiman. At the end of our unit, I would also like to show the students the movie "Thor" (PG-13), for yet another example of how material can be re-interpreted into something original.
In grammar, students continued in their verbs unit, with 7th and 8th graders preparing for a linking verbs quiz on Tuesday. We are also in the midst of a new vocabulary unit, and all students will be having an individualized spelling quiz on Monday.

World Studies with Emily (Alex):

This week classes reviewed previously studied civilizations by making a large timeline, placing these societies in a reasonable, chronological order. Through this exercise, students reflected on the civilizations studied, making comparisons and summarizing information from throughout the trimester.

Over the last several weeks, students developed an original language and put it into practice in an interdisciplinary art/history project. As the projects are completed, students present their language and art project (handmade paper or clay tablets) while discussing the advantages and structure of their language. The creativity and originality of these projects has been astounding!

Classes also developed a rough draft of their thesis statement for their NHD projects, narrowing their focus to logically justifying their claims with evidence from research. As this project increases in intensity over the next few weeks, students are encouraged to “take a stand” in their projects while continuing to research supporting detail for their topics.

Life Science with Molly:

We began science watching the 2015 Science Year in Review from the BBC. Together we conducted an epidemic simulation. An unknown student shared an infectious disease as we simulated the exchange of bodily fluids with acidic and basic solutions. We tested to see who contracted the disease and traced it back to the original carrier in each class. This was an interesting exercise to wrap up our first unit on microorganisms. We began our second microorganism unit with a focus on plant and animal cells.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish

We are reviewing grammar that we learned in December. We are learning vocabulary for food.  We played Scrabble to practice words we've learned.

Spanish B

We have been reviewing the material we started before break. We are studying how to talk about clothes and buying.  We also revisited stem changing verbs and demonstrative pronouns.  We will have an assessment next Wednesday.

Spanish C

We are learning how to give and follow directions as well as vocabulary to talk about places in the city. We are looking at maps and giving directions to each other form point A to point B. 

Spanish D/D+

We are working on dividing words in syllables and learning rules for placing accent marks on words in Spanish.  The students are enjoying this unit.

Art with Patti:

On our return, students are finishing up their ancient civilization language project as well as clay projects if necessary. As they are finishing those up, they will transition to the next project. They will create an artwork based on a master artist of their choice.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students practiced their formatting and location skills in Excel by creating and playing the game, Battleship.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

We began the new year watching a Ted Talk about a 75 year study about happiness. The students learned that developing and maintaining good relationships in their life will likely be the most important factor in determining their present and future happiness. Students took time to review and update their academic and social goals for the year. They also completed a social and academic self-evaluation listing goals the teachers hope to see them develop before they graduate from BNS in 8^th grade. Next time we discuss Sex Ed. topics, 6^th grade students will learn more about changes during puberty, such as growth spurts. In 7^th grade, the girls will discuss breast growth and changes during puberty. Boys will discuss male breast changes and male genital changes and growth during puberty. 8^th grade boys will focus on masturbation, before moving on to female sex organs and 8^th grade girls will focus on male sex organs. It has been requested by more than one parent that we discuss pornography. I will include this in a future focus on sex in the media and on the internet.

Thank you from, The Purple Team