Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Week of January 29, 2018

Purple Curriculum Updates
Pre-Algebra I with Seema:
This week we wrapped up the first six units of chapter 9. The students understood the derivation of the formulae for area of a parallelogram and circle. They also learned how to calculate the circumference of a circle and realized that pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. They took a practice quiz yesterday and I met individually with them today to go over what they needed to study in preparation for the test next Wednesday. They also received a handout summarizing how best to learn this material.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:
On Monday we reviewed our chapter one last time, before taking Tuesday's test on percents. We then celebrated the 100th day of school by doing 100 math problems! We launched into our unit on geometry by working on a giant list of definitions, and then by reviewing skills that they learned last year. We ended the week by learning how to use a compass to make bisectors of segments and angles.

Pre-Algebra III with Ann:
This week we finished Chapter 7. Students took a quiz on the properties of exponents before learning to use scientific notation and exponents to solve world problems. We spent the last two days learning how to translate Base 10 numbers into Base 2 numbers (binary) and back. On Friday, students used the ASCii table to write secret messages in binary. The Chapter 7 Test will be Tuesday.

Algebra I with Molly:
This week students continued to review working with the three forms of linear equations. Students created scatter plots from data, looked for trend lines, wrote equations for the trend line, and were then able to predict further data. They also learned about graphing and translating the function y=lxl. We finished the chapter and took the chapter test in the middle of the week. We began learning about solving systems of equations. We practice the first method of relating two equations by graphing them carefully to find their intersection point.

Language Arts with Jared:
We wrapped up our vocab unit, and took our quiz on Friday. Students are also reaching the end of their first unit on verbs, and will have a linking verbs quiz on Tuesday. Sixth and seventh graders reached the tragic end of their novel Kira-Kira, and are working on organizing their thoughts to write an essay comparing the journey of the two main characters from the two novels we've read so far this year. Eighth graders got to the end of their novel, The Education of Little Tree, at the end of class on Friday, and we will discuss the role of the author next week.

World Studies & U.S. History with Ann:
Students had the opportunity to explore, in depth, one area of WWI that interests them. Some students chose to use their knowledge of MyMaps to chart important battles, some created trading cards about the new technologies, others drew propaganda posters, and others wrote letters to troops describing war efforts on the home front. Each choice was accompanied by an extensive data collection sheet to help students focus their research. The final products are due Tuesday.

On Wednesday, students began creating skeleton outlines/sketches of their NHD projects for History Night. They have a timeline for each project choice to help guide their preparation. We will continue to use Wednesdays as NHD work days! BNS History night is March 1st! NHD Regional competition is March 23 at Radford!

Earth Science with Molly:
This week we created a scale map of the solar system, helping us to understand the relative sizes of the planets and their distances to one another in different scales. Students began learning about stars at the end of the week. They compared constellations visible to us in the Northern Hemisphere at different times of year. 

Spanish with Corinne:
Sunshine Spanish
Sunshine A
This week we finished Chapter 3A, talking about food and drinks. We reviewed all vocabulary and grammar and will have a test next Tuesday, February 6th.

Sunshine B
This week we finished Chapter 7B, shopping and the past tense. Students learned how to use a direct object pronoun to replace a direct object noun to shorten answers to questions in Spanish. We will have a test on this chapter on Tuesday February 6th.

HS Spanish I, part II

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 7A, clothes, shopping, and numbers.  After the test we watched the latest episode of “Eres tú, María?” and began reading from “La gran aventura de Alejandro”.

HS Spanish II, part I

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 3A, shopping and store names. After the test we learned about the history of Mexico’s involvement in World War II, and how many people were granted United State’s citizenship for their participation in the army. We then began watching our video mystery series for this book, “En busca de la verdad” (In Search of the Truth).

HS Spanish II, part II

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 6A, talking about tv shows and sporting events.

Art with Patti:
Students are given engagement grades for each class. As a reminder, students are informed about their work in different ways. They submit work/create an online portfolio, assignments and grades are sent home weekly through Google Classroom, they reflect on their art in both Artsonia and with Google Classroom. This is a great way to check in with students about grades and assignments.

Sixth - Auction: Mosaic Accent Table Pair 1/31 - Students added grout to the glass mosaic to finish the table top. 1/30 - Students finished attaching glass design to tabletops. Throwing on the wheel Students are rotating in pairs each art class to practice throwing on the wheel. They are exploring how to center the clay, open it up, and pull to create a cylinder. They also will use sculpting tools to finish the piece. Gideon and Kyle worked on the wheel.

1/31 - Students glazed their tiles. 1/30 - Students discussed and decided on black, white, and gray glaze pallet for the tiles.

Eighth - Auction: Kitchen Set 2/1 - Students added yellow, orange, green dye to mats, added grout to trivets, and wood burned tree and mountains on cutting board. 1/31 - Students added glue lines to the place mats, glued glass pieces to trivets, and burned tree design on cutting board.

Come to the Chocolate Party on Saturday, February 10 to see all of the collaborative art the students worked on, plus all of the other fun booths!

Check out the art blog at http://bnsartstudio.weebly.com/

Computer Lab with Lorraine:

7th - 8th Grade
This week the students are continuing to work on their Digital Breakouts and have started to design their Google Sites and building "their locks" using Google Forms.

6th Grade
Students continued building their websites using Weebly. Some students are using Wix as they like the added features in Wix. However, if student desire to build a website for their History Day project, the students must use Weebly.

P.E. and Health with Matt: 

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:
This week students worked on a Mid-Year Self-Evaluation, which includes academic and social goals we hope all middle school student achieve before heading to high school. These will be shared during our next conference, along with teachers’ evaluation of their skills.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team

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