Week of April 11, 2016

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

Students took the chapter 11 test on Tuesday, the 12th. I returned these tests on Friday, the 15th. We have begun studying chapter 12 on inequalities and solving two-step equations. This chapter is only 5 sections long. Therefore, we will complete this chapter on Wednesday, the 20th. We will review for the chapter 12 test on Thursday, the 21st Blue Roomers will take the chapter 12 test on Friday, 22nd review for the end-of-year test.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In math we began the week with a craft project, making tessellations as an introduction to our transformations unit. Then we spent a lot of time on the laptops working on transformations. We used the computer program to manipulate points and shapes, learning about translations, reflections, and rotations. We ended the week by looking at how we could use graphing to help solve word problems.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

This week we continued to study different aspects of probability, mainly the probabilities of independent and dependent events. Students took a quiz on the first four sections of the chapter. We also solved odds in favor and odds against problems and studied different ways of sampling a population and writing survey questions, working on avoiding biased questions. Students wrote a question and surveyed the BNS student population using stratified random sampling.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we reviewed Chapter 9 and took a test on polynomials and factoring. At the end of the week, we moved on to chapter 10, Quadratic Equations and Functions. Students reviewed graphing quadratic functions using a table of values at the end of the week.

Geometry with Holly:

We started the week with a quiz over space figures and surface area in polygons.  On Tuesday we discussed volume in  pyramids and cones, and then on Wednesday we discussed surface area and volume in spheres.  On Thursday we discussed surface area and volume in similar figures.  We finished the week on Friday with a quiz over the weeks material.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week in English, students finished writing and editing their Authors' Tea stories. They also made a title slide for their presentation next week. We discussed public-speaking skills, focusing on talking loudly, clearly, and slowly, and practicing this at home (and during class) so that they get used to the speaking the words they used in their stories. We also worked on a new vocabulary unit, and read a bit in our in-class novels. Next week we'll have a full run through of our Authors' Tea performances during Monday's morning classes. As a reminder, sixth graders will present at 6pm on Monday, April 18th, seventh graders will present at 6pm on Tuesday, April 19th, and eighth graders will present at 6pm on Wednesday, April 20th.

World Studies with Emily:

Classes worked on performing the Readers' Theater murder mystery called “Who killed Marc Antony?”, listened to each character answer a few questions after the play in order to make their best guess for who sent the letter that caused Antony to commit suicide, answered questions about the play, and discussed the events and ideas. The play highlighted how individuals experience the same series of events differently and therefore impact how history is written, which emphasizes the importance of a diversity of perspectives in order to produce a fuller, more accurate understanding. We reviewed general information about Ancient Rome and just scratched the surface of the fall of the Roman Empire. All three classes took a culminating documents-based test on Friday.

Life Science with Molly:

This week students continue to learn more about heredity, genetics, and DNA through an activity. They chose traits for an alien species for which they constructed a piece of its DNA based on those chosen traits. They began construction of the DNA strand using wiki stix to represent the bases on Friday and will continue this next week. Students spent a second science session researching for their biome project. They are finding plants and animals with specific adaptations to their chosen biome.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish
This week we finished the section on Direct Object Pronouns, and on Friday students took a short quiz. Next week students will receive their graded quizzes and writing assignments, and they will be in their portfolios. We also reviewed vocabulary to talk about members of the family. Students received the review packets and study guides for 6th and 7th grade, and are encouraged to work through them at their own pace. Homework help is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:15-3:45, or I can work with them during study hall to answer any questions.
Spanish B

This week we started reviewing for the end of year assessment, which will be on May 4 (written) and 6 (oral).  The students have a study guide. They will also get a review packet next week. We did a verb review, with an overview of all the verb tenses we've learned.  We also watched another episode of "¿Eres tú, María?" and we only have one more episode left. The students got an assignments for a project to be done at home. They will need to research a famous Hispanic/Latino person. They will make a poster and present in class. It needs to be done in Spanish. They can come to Spanish homework help (Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:15-3:45) if they need help.  They have a list of names to choose from, but if they'd like to study someone else that's ok, as long as they check in with Corinne or Olga. It is due on April 27.

Spanish C

This week we reviewed and had an assessment. I have returned the graded assessments to the students- they should be in their portfolios. Also, we started reviewing for the end of year assessment, which will be on May 4 (written) and 6 (oral presentations).  The students have a study guide and a review packet. We will be working on the review packet in class, but the students should start preparing for the assessment.

Spanish D/D+

We completed a unit on vocabulary that can be confusing (false cognates- words that sound like English, but are different in meaning). The students also did a wonderful job reciting a poem that they memorized. I was very pleased with their efforts. We also started preparing for the end of year assessment, which will be on May 4 (written) and 6 (oral).  The students have a study guide. They will also get a review packet next week. 

Art with Patti:

This week students added any type of finishing to their warm up paintings and turned those in. We have been talking about ways to make more dynamic compositions, and have started talking about the rule of thirds in art. Students also continued working on their projects. Most of them are working on how to use “space” in their composition.  

Computer Lab with Holly:

The students began work on their Zoo project catalogs.  So far they have formatted their catalogs to print as folded brochure with a book fold and page numbers.  They have created formatting styles which will allow them to insert a table of contents, and have started work on creating the cover which includes a logo.  They  have completed working on the first of five major sections of their catalogs.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

8th grade boys continued our discussion of pornography this week. They watched a Ted Talk discussing the physiological and neurological changes that result from addiction, specifically found in people addicted to pornography. They also watched an ABC News story focused on a teenager who has given up watching pornography. 8th grade girls will have this class next week. 6th grade students were given a chance to finish our discussion of pornography from last week and also spent time researching the animals for their zoo project. 7th grade students had their initial class on pornography this week, which is described in the blog for 4/4. In coming classes, 8th grade students will split into gender groups and learn about the sexual anatomy of the opposite gender. 6th &7th grade students will continue on their focus of changes during puberty.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team

Week of April 4, 2016

ELECTIVE UPDATE

Philosophy and Stop Motion
This trimester, students have used age old thought experiments and contemporary stories to explore
questions such as what makes a friend? Can computers think? What is the right thing to do? And so much more. Their hard work and collaborative discussions will culminate in a series of stop motion videos expressing some of the students' favorite stories, each with a hint of philosophy embedded within to inspire critical thought for the
audience.

Cross-Stitch
In this cross stitch elective, the students have been learning by doing.  Each student has their own counted cross stitch kit, which they have been making steady progress on completing.  During this first six week period, the students have learned: how to select and read counted cross stitch patterns, prepare their fabric, prepare and organize their threads, start and end their threads, and how to work their stitches to maximize the overall neatness of their product, both on the front and on the back.  Initially the students progressed a bit slowly, but now that they are getting the hang of it, they are moving much more quickly.  It is exciting to start to see their patterns come to life.

Literature Magazine

Students have organized their files on the computer, and took pictures of all of the students in the Purple Room for the index. They also completed an ambitious cover-design project, which involved having each student design a letter for the cover. We are now scanning in artwork, and looking at writing samples for inclusion in the magazine.

Red Room Learning Buddies
Purple Learning Buddies have helped Red Roomers with a stargazer craft, with their Authors' Tea story reading practice, and playing in centers. Their arrival each week is a highlight for the kids. :)


Cooking

They have all participated and not complained about doing the dishes afterwards. They are sometimes so eager to help, it's hard to keep up. I always ask them to tell me at least one thing they learned during class. Funny what kids remember! We have made vegetable and tofu stir-fry, snicker doodle cookies, pizza, rice crispy treats made with vegetarian marshmallows...hope they were good. And today we are making apple turnovers. We've looked through many cook books and talked about time frames, they find the class time frame to be a little short for some yummy meals. But, my goal is to help them be able to make a meal at home for their families. :) Hopefully they will follow through.

3D Printing

What we have done so far is demo the printer, explore online projects to see the some of the possibilities, had each student select something for printing, and printed it, discussing the issues involved.  We are now learning to use design software, which can be tricky, but I am confident they will be able to design cool stuff very soon (if not already able).  Next steps, design something and explore scanners.

Yellow Room Pals

Our Purple Room Pals have primarily been helping with two on-going Yellow Room activities. First, they've assisted YR writers during the rough draft (revising)  stage of their Authors' Tea Stories. Also, for several weeks they have been leading and assisting the YR's in completing a rotation of magnet experiments. 

VT Engineering

We've talked this semester about roller coasters and their design issues with some Newtonian math and formulas included for each child to solve for velocity starting and ending, accelerations, force of gravity, and unit conversions.  We had two visits from the Concrete-4-Kids team and learned about ratios (R-S-C 3-2-1, C-W 1-2) and concrete compression versus tension strength, while making and breaking our home-made beam which failed at 10 lbs. in tension.  Next we started a 2-part module in GIS with an introduction to GIS and Google Maps and learned how to create our own word map tour.   The second half includes topics in Air Traffic Analysis, Water Filtration, a Roller Coaster design module, Arctic Coastal Erosion, Error-Free Problem Solving, Engineering Design Method, and Land Development Design! 

Greenhouse

We have been to the YMCA Greenhouse each Wednesday, tending what has been planted. Students have been weeding and watering the plots. We have begun to harvest and sell delicious kale, lettuce, spinach, turnips, radish, and swiss chard from the garden cart outside the school on Wednesday afternoons!

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

We have completed chapter 11 on integers and coordinate planes. I passed out the chapter 11 study packet on Friday, April 8th. Monday, April 11th, we will review in class. The chapter 11 test will be on Tuesday, April 12th. Then we will begin chapter 12 on equations and inequalities.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

We started the week practicing graphing linear functions, and checking to see if an ordered pair is a solution to a given function. From there we discussed slope, and made sure students could recognize positive and negative slope. Then we learned about non-linear functions, and looked at graphs involving absolute values and squared variables. At the end of the week we took a quiz on this, before taking notes on transformations, which will be the focus on next week's lessons.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

We started Chapter 11: Probability on Monday by looking at a few pages in The Cartoon Guide to Statistics. We used tree diagrams and the Counting Principle to find the number of possible outcomes, and then we found permutations using diagrams, the Counting Principle, factorials, and permutation notation. Students learned about combinations (where the order of the items isn’t considered, unlike permutations where order matters) and combination notation. The class studied and worked with Pascal’s Triangle as a way to find a number of combinations. We found experimental probabilities and theoretical probabilities and played some games.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week students learned different methods for factoring, including how to factor a four-term polynomial. They also learned to recognize special cases to apply “short-cuts” when factoring. We will finish the chapter 9 lessons on Monday, review, and take a test next week.

Geometry with Holly:

The students began the week by taking the Chapter 10 test on Monday.  Then on Tuesday we began Chapter 11 by studying space figures and cross sections.  On Wednesday and Thursday we developed formulas for the surface areas of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.  We finished the week by developed formulas for the volumes of prisms and cylinders.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week students continued to work on their in-class novels, and to brainstorm their Authors' Tea topics. On Wednesday we got out the laptops, and students began writing their Authors' Tea stories. We continued this throughout the week, and eighth graders also began a new vocabulary unit.

World Studies with Emily:

Students received their graded NHD project rubrics and put them in their portfolios. All three classes watched two videos from Discovery Channel’s Ancient Rome series: Rise to Power and Struggles for Power. Students answered questions about the videos and discussed some of the main ideas and events. I showed all grades a bunch of photos of Roman ruins in Tunis because my younger sister is there for a month and sent me some great photos with descriptions. Students reported on their current event summaries and played a geography game concentrated on the Mediterranean region. 8^th graders began working on a Marc Antony readers’ theater murder mystery activity. 

Life Science with Molly:

This week each class went on a field trip to ESS Technologies, Inc. We were hosted by Andrew Franz, father of Gavin, for a tour of the production facility where custom packaging equipment is designed and manufactured. We got to see a production line that erected a box, loaded bottles in it, added an information leaflet, closed the box, applied a tamper evident seal to the box, inspected the box label with an OCR camera, and loaded the box on a pallet. We saw three different robots in action. We discussed the design process, electronic controls, machine safety, how robots are changing manufacturing, programming methods, and the necessary college degrees for this type of work. It was a great opportunity to see engineering design in action! Students have begun a joint project between science and computer lab. They are designing a zoo set in a particular biome. They conducted their first research session during one of our science classes this week. We continued to focus on heredity, genetics, and DNA this week.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish
This week we continued to work with reflexives and also learned about using direct object pronouns to take the place of the direct object in a sentence. Students turned in a writing assignment on Friday to finish up our section on reflexive verbs. We also reviewed all of the tenses and forms that we have learned this year, and took online quizzes to help students practice verb conjugation.
Spanish B

This week we finish the chapter on recycling and volunteer work.  We reviewed and had a test on Friday. We also watched another episode of "¿Eres tú, María?" The students continue to enjoy it and are coming up with good theories about possible solutions to the mystery.  We will have an end of year assessment on May 4 (written part) and May 6 (oral part). We will have a full review, but the students should be studying at least 10 minutes every night, particularly for vocabulary.

Spanish C

We continue to learn words and phrases to describe medical emergencies (rains, broken bones, etc) and solutions (stitches, casts, crutches, etc). We learned a group of irregular verbs in the past tense, and we revisited the preterite/imperfect distinction.  We will have an assessment next Wednesday, April 13. Also, we will have an end of year assessment on May 4 (written part) and May 6 (oral part). We will have a full review, but the students should be studying at least 10 minutes every night, particularly for vocabulary.

Spanish D/D+

We have been learning about articles in Spanish. We revisited the la/el distinction in definite articles and their plural forms; and the indefinite articles. We also learned all about the neuter article "lo". We have been focusing on when to use/when to omit the articles in Spanish.  The students have several deadlines coming up- they need to complete a quiz on Edmodo by Monday morning.  They have  poem to memorize by next Friday, April 15. We will have an end of year assessment on May 4 (written part) and May 6 (oral part). We will have a full review, but the students should be studying at least 10 minutes every night, particularly for vocabulary.

Art with Patti:

For the expressive warm up painting this week, students added something that included positive space as well as created a focal point. They also continued working on their artist inspired projects, or the next project, which focuses on the element of art – space.

Computer Lab with Holly:

On Monday and Tuesday, students completed work on their Character bios, focusing on using styles, section breaks, and table of contents.  Then on Wednesday and Friday, the students were introduced to our final major project for the year, the Zoo project.  This is a cross-curricular project between Computer Lab and Science, where the students will create a unique island zoo based on a biome of their choice, and then create a catalog describing their zoo, its biome, the plant and animals which live there, plus  a new animal they have specifically designed to exist in their biome.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

7^th grade students learned about “sexting”. We discussed what it means and watched a video on sexting and the dangers of inappropriate online sharing, as well as the legal issues.

6^th & 8^th grade students focused on pornography this week. We defined and discussed what it is (pornography is written, graphic, or oral depictions of erotic subjects intended to arouse sexual excitement in the audience). I addressed that it is perfectly natural to be attracted, curious about, or be turned on by pictures of people, even naked pictures of people, but that pornography is something they should be cautious of. Pornography is often an unhealthy or unrealistic portrayal of people having sex, often degrading to women. We discussed that pornography can be addictive and that the chemicals that are released in the brain while someone is looking at and excited by pornography are the same chemicals that are released when other addictive behaviors or drugs are being experienced. I described that by watching pornography regularly you would be training your brain and your body to be turned on by pictures instead of real people and unrealistic, sometimes violent images, rather than by actual tenderness, caring, and loving of a real person.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team

Week of March 28, 2016

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

This week, we have focused on integer addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Next week, we will focus on various applications for integers, such as solving equations and graphing   a coordinate plane. We will complete chapter 11 by the end of the week. The chapter 11 test will be on Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

Students continued working on functions and graphing this week, and they worked on another dot-to-dot project. We wrapped up our chapter with a discussion of how to write equations to solve word problems, and how to transform equations by rearranging the variables. We then reviewed all that we covered this chapter. On Thursday, students took their chapter test On Friday, students worked on better understanding the coordinate plane on IXL.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

We continued reading graphs critically and choosing the best graph for the data set/s and explaining why that particular graph shows the data well. We solved word problems by making diagrams. We reviewed the chapter by making a table comparing all the different graphs we had studied. Then students took a culminating quiz.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we moved on to multiplying two binomials using two different methods. Students learned to factor several different styles of trinomials into two binomials. We practiced this throughout the week.

Geometry with Holly:

We began the week by extending material we had learned on Friday to discuss the Laws of Sines and Cosines, a very challenging activity for the students.  After a review, on Tuesday the students took a quiz over the last several sections' material.  Then on Wednesday, we finished the chapter material by discussing geometric probability,  We spent Thursday reviewing the entire chapter in preparation for the chapter test on Monday, and finished the week by viewing the movie Flatland.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week students finished their outside-reading-book dioramas, and presented their books and displays to the class. They also continued reading their in-class novels. We took this week to introduce their Authors' Tea projects. As 6th graders are focusing their piece on dialogue, we spent a lot of time analyzing how the author of their in-class novel, The Night Tourist, formatted her dialogue, used dialogue tags, and described the emotions and actions of the speaker. 7th graders are focusing on writing a vignette, so we discussed the requirements of a vignette, and read examples from the novel The House on Mango Street. 8th graders are focusing on writing an interior monologue piece, and we explored the formatting options for interior monologues.

World Studies with Emily:

This week we read about ancient Rome from a couple different sources and in a couple different styles. Students labeled and colored a map of the Roman Empire and learned about the government and laws of the Roman Republic. Students listened to their classmates summarize current events and seventh and eighth graders played a geography game based on the Mediterranean. Eighth graders began a Discovery Channel video series on Ancient Rome. 

Life Science with Molly:

This week we continued to focus on heredity. Students did an activity called Crazy Traits creating an alien, then mating them and crossing their alleles for each trait. These alien families can be seen in the science room. Students observed a long-term experiment we set up where a water plant, elodia, was enclosed in an inverted cylinder under water. After putting the plant in the sun for a week or so, we were able to observe the oxygen made by the photosynthesis process in the plant. We began incubating a new batch of eggs donated by a local farmer who possesses a rooster, so we hope the eggs will be fertilized. On the half-day, 8^th grade students learned about the unique cells of Henrietta Lacks which were collected and used in labs for many years. 6^th grade students were joined by the rising 6^th grade class where they continued to do the alien allele activity.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish
This week in Spanish we began studying reflexive verbs. We practiced being able to recognize when a verb is reflexive or regular, and how to conjugate the verb and choose the correct reflexive pronoun, and we also worked on building sentences using these verbs.
Spanish B

This week we learned about several irregular verbs (decir in the present, hacer and dar in the past). We also learned about Indirect Object Pronouns. We will be having a test on Chapter 8B on Friday April 8th.
Spanish C

We have been looking at vocabulary to describe injuries, emergencies, visits to the doctor's office and the emergency room.  The students have revisions from their last test due on Monday (since today was a half day, I gave them until Monday to hand me the revisions). We also revisited the past tense, and will continue to review this grammar aspect. 

Spanish D/D+

We continue working with "if clauses" and the past subjunctive. We also started looking at articles. We revisited the basic rules of feminine/masculine articles and started looking at some exceptions and why they are exceptions. We will continue that material next week.

Art with Patti:

Students started class adding to their expressive paintings. This week’s focus was negative space and gesture. They also continued working on their artist inspired projects, or the next project, which focuses on the element of art – space.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students created character biographies of characters from their favorite books or movies.  This project allows the students to practice some of the MS Word skills (e.g. section breaks, styles, Table of Contents) that they will need to use when we start our final project next week, the Zoo Project.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week 6^th and 8^th graders had life skills time and learned about “sexting”. We discussed what it means and watched a video on sexting and the dangers of inappropriate online sharing, as well as the legal issues. 7^th graders did not have class due to a half day, but will cover this next week.

Thank you from, The Purple Team