Week of December 12, 2016

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
We finished the week with the students creating individual math board games. The students were very creative in their creations and we look forward to playing these games on our first math game day next year. Enjoy you winter break.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

We began the week with a day of review, before taking our Chapter 5 test on Tuesday. We then started talking about percents, and looked how to convert between percents, fractions, and decimals. We also took time to focus on very small and very large percents, and on strategies to remember how to recognize them in math problems. On Friday we played the math game "24" to review multiplication and division skills. I placed an optional review packet in parent boxes for students to work on over the winter break. We will be having our mid-term cumulative assessment on the Friday we return.

Pre-Algebra III with Andrew:

We continued this week with our work on ratios and comparisons.  We took a look at comparing the scales and sides of similar triangles, and how to set up ratios to find unknown lengths.  We also went over, briefly, how to use the trigonometric sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to find unknown lengths of right triangles.  The mnemonic device SOH-CAH-TOA helped us to figure out how to find these ratios.  We spent the end of the week in review, and then took our Chapter 5 test on Friday.

Algebra I with Molly:

We began chapter 6 with a study of rate of change and the slope of a line. Students learned how to write linear equations in the slope-intercept form from the y-intercept and the slope of a graph.
The last week of the year in Algebra was spent on linear equations. Students learned to find the slope of a line, then labeled linear equations with the standard form and the point-slope form. We reviewed when and how to use each type of equation, as well as practicing transforming between the different forms. When we return, we will spend a couple of days reviewing, then take the mid-year assessment. An optional Review Packet was sent home over winter break.

Geometry with Clare:

The week began with the Chapter 5 test, and we have made a good start on Chapter 6, Quadrilaterals. Being so close to the winter break, we took time to use origami to make "snowflakes" and also to do some art. Starting with some work by a few famous cubist and other modern artists, the students brainstormed topics of importance to them and how to represent these with angular geometric shapes. Their work was largely done in black and white (chalk on black or charcoal on white). The results are outstanding and are on display in the geometry room - not much use over the break, I know, but I plan on leaving them there for several days in the New Year, and I recommend you stop by to look at them. On a different note, there is some minimal homework for the break, mostly preparation for the first Chapter 6 quiz, which will be on Wednesday 4th January. After that, we will be preparing for the mid-term cumulative assessment.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week students took their vocabulary quiz, and their individualized spelling quizzes. We also finished reading Animal Farm, and discussing the parallels to Russian history. On Thursday and Friday we watched a film version of the book. I also put in parent boxes some optional handwriting review pages for students who had a need of handwriting practice indicated on their Fall trimester reports.

World Studies & Civics with Andrew:

This week, we covered an introduction to the NHD essay. The essay will be due at the beginning of February, and we went over the specific details of what it needs to cover.  We discussed how to use research to complete each section of the essay, and we talked about the importance of the thesis statement.  We worked on improving thesis statements to make them stronger.  In the middle of the week, we reviewed what we have been learning about the development of the Constitution.  We reviewed how to complete a document-based question by using some primary sources concerning the Constitution.  Then, students took a document-based question as an assessment for this whole unit on Thursday and Friday.

Physical Science with Molly:

Students spent the week presenting and peer evaluating science fair boards. There were many creative and well-conducted projects presented. I am impressed by their hard work!

Spanish with Corinne:

Morning Spanish
This week both Sunshine Spanish classes reviewed material from the chapters, watched videos from the video series, and enjoyed a game day on Friday.
Spanish B

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 6B.

Spanish C

This week we reviewed for and took a quiz on Chapter 2A. 

Spanish D

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 7B.

Computer Lab with Lauren:

This week, we spent lots of time on typing practice. The 8th graders began practicing typing from written works instead of a typing program, to practice not looking at their hands.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

Students spent time presenting their Science Fair Boards to their peers during Life Skills this week.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team

Week of January 3, 2017

Winter Elective Updates

Inclusive Society:

We've had many interesting discussions about different groups that can be marginalized in our society. Here are some of things we've read, listened to, viewed and talked about: We listened oral histories in a program called "Unheard Voices" by people who had played some role in LGBTQ history. We read part of The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and talked about what he may have meant about being invisible as a Black man in white society, and we also wrote in journals about times we've felt invisible.

We looked at different responses to the U.S. Presidential election results. We've also listened to a few TedTalks on why we think the way we do, passages from authors like Wiesel about the importance of taking action, and interviews with people who are finding safe and conscientious ways to be active in an inclusive society. Now, we're turning to look at poverty in the United States, which will involve a grocery shopping field trip to make a food budget for a family living on minimum wage.

Children's Garden:

The kids eagerly await their arrival each Monday and Friday. The boys play soccer and tag with the kids outside and inside they have read to the students and played body movement games.

Music in Film:

The Music in Film students have been busy composing and recording. As a group they have recorded videos, analyzed the music from many short video/film clips, and discovered about the famous film composer John Williams. The students have been working independently on composing music to accompany their recorded videos. They are so creative! Soon we will Skype with a professional film composer, and the students will begin working on their final project.

Tech Exploration:

We have split the time in half, doing Minecraft Mondays and New Tech Fridays. On Mondays, we are using Minecraft to explore concepts like logic gates and critical thinking, and using redstone to automate different things in the game. On Fridays, we are watching and discussing keynote announcements from the major tech companies. We are also learning about different new technologies hitting the market (USB type-C, VR, etc).

Graphic Novels:

In our Graphic Novels class, we have been looking at the graphic novel form, and we have seen how illustrations and visual cues make graphic novels different than regular text novels.  We read Bone by Jeff Smith, which gave us a good introduction to character creation and storytelling through pictures.  We also read a sample from Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai.  In this selection, we looked at some different explorations of using the graphic medium to tell stories.  We also learned some interesting aspects of Japanese culture and how it is often different than Western culture.

Cooking:

We have been working on refining basic kitchen skills like measuring (doubling and halving), knife skills, and planning out recipes from start to finish. We have made a mix of sweet and savory items, even learning an invaluable lesson of recovery—turning a hard-as-rock cookies into a delicious crust for cookie bars.  Everyone has been enthusiastic and fun to work with.

Red Room Learning Buddies:

Red Room Learning Buddies have been helping the kindergartners with concept puzzles and other learning skills. The kids really love for them to join in their end-of-day play in centers. They join in building, drawing, play dough playing, and more. And...they set a fine example for the kindergartners.

Korean:

This semester we have briefly gone over the Korean alphabet, learned a couple Korean words, and several similarly sounding English words in Korean. We have studied the modern economy of Korea, the tourist industry, as well as some traditional culture and superstitions. We have also watched a Korean music video, and blogs of English teachers in Korea.

Board Games:

In our board game elective, we've been looking at European style board games. Students have played Tokaido, Tiny Epic Galaxies, Kingdom Builder, and 1775: The American Revolution.  

Greenhouse:

Students have had a great time planning the plots and planting seeds in the greenhouse. We can't wait for things to really begin to grow!

Art Extension:

Students have been exploring a variety of projects that include digital art, fiber arts, paper mache, and video making. 

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
It is good to be back with the students. We began Unit 7 this week on ratios, rates, and proportions. The students have been doing well. We have several quizzes a week in this class. I have started incorporating previously learned concepts and skills into these quizzes to help prepare the students for the end of year assessment.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

We spent this week in a fast-paced review of the first five chapters of the book. On Friday students took a mid-term assessment on the first half of the year. Next week we'll continue on in Chapter 6 by looking some more at decimals and percents.

Pre-Algebra III with Andrew:

This week in Pre-Algebra, we began reviewing the first 5 chapters of our course.  We took some practice assessments, and looked over some information and methods that we needed to refresh ourselves about.  We will take our mid-year assessment next week, and we will then begin looking at Chapter 6 to learn about fractions, percents, and decimals.

Algebra I with Molly:

Students spend the first two 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 Clare:

It was really nice to see my Geometry guys again! This week, we reviewed the lessons covered so far in Ch. 6 and then the students took a quiz Thursday. We started the Bridge Project with models and discussions; this is due 20th Jan. Directions will also be on Google Classroom, in case the paper copy goes missing! We have practiced writing theorems and are proceeding with the rest of Ch. 6.

Language Arts with Jared:

Students worked on their new vocabulary units and continued work in their grammar units, focusing on troublesome verb pairs (sit/set, raise/rise, lie/lay). Students also learned about literary circles, and broke into small groups to discuss their new novels. Sixth and seventh graders are reading Red Scarf Girl, by Ji Li Jiang, and eighth graders are reading Snow Falling in Spring, by Moying Li. Both of these books are autobiographies about growing up in 1950's & 1960's China, and experiencing the Cultural Revolution.

World Studies & Civics with Andrew:

This week in Civics was spent working on our NHD projects.  We started to hammer out our thesis statements, while looking at examples of good and bad thesis statements and what makes them work for NHD.  Students came up with rough drafts of their working theses, which they then had peers review for them.  Finally, we took a look at the Library of Congress website, in the search of finding some good primary sources for our essays and projects.  The NHD essay will be due at the end of January.

Physical Science with Molly:

This week we celebrated the scientific advances of 2016. Students began a current event skit project. They read articles from Science News looking for one they’d like to learn more about. They will work on this project once a week for the month. We also began a focus on atoms and smaller atomic particles. We learned about and watched videos created with the scanning tunnel electron microscopes.

Spanish with Corinne:

Morning Spanish

Sunshine A
This week we reviewed all of the material that we have covered. This includes the date, colors, numbers, weather, and parts of the body. We began reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Spanish on Friday.

Sunshine B

This week we reviewed the material from Chapter 6A, things in a bedroom. We reviewed comparisons and stem changing verbs. We will have a test on Chapter 6A next Thursday, January 12. We began reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Spanish on Friday.

Spanish B

This week we began Chapter 7A, talking about clothing stores and how much something costs. We practiced numbers and describing words for how clothes fit.

Spanish C

This week we began by reading the first chapter of Harry Potter in Spanish. Then we started Chapter 2B, talking about what clothes you bought. This chapter reviews vocabulary from last year and adds new words about sales, discounts, and bargains.

Spanish D

This week we began by reading the first chapter of Harry Potter in Spanish. The students took turns reading the book out loud to practice pronunciation. Then we started Chapter 8A, taking a vacation by plane.

Art with Patti:

Still more clay! All middle school artists have had the opportunity to work on the wheel and practice throwing. Most are still working on hand building clay “pairs”. This can include pinch, slab, coil, or a combination. As students finish up clay, they will revisit a two-dimensional artwork they were previously working on. Parents, as always, are invited to check out their child’s art and sketchbook, which also includes some dialogue about grades and progress.

Computer Lab with Lauren:

7th and 8th grade learned about the responsibilities internet content creators have when submitting original content online.
6th grade learned about online personas and the positives and negatives to how you portray yourself to others online

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

No Monday classes (no 6^th & 8^th).

7^th Grade students focused on the puberty growth spurt, while split into gender groups. Boys learned about the weight and strength spurts. The girls focused on their changing body shape. Both watched interesting time-lapsed x-ray/photography showing changes in bone structure over the first 22 years of life.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team