Week of December 1st

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, the students received their Unit 5 tests back on Monday and most completed the corrections the same day. There are some who are having continued difficulty making those corrections. Please check in with your student to see how they are doing. We began Unit 6 this week. The students have been working on multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers. We will have an end of unit test the week of December 15th. The exact day has not been determined yet. There will not be any homework over the winter break, but if your student would like an optional math packet to work on over the break please have them (or you) ask me.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we began the week reviewing the material that we had covered before Thanksgiving break. We had our chapter quiz on Tuesday, and discussed how drawing diagrams can help solve word problems. We then looked at solving proportions, and then used this skill to find missing sides in similar polygons. We then ended the week by working in partners to create a scale drawing of our math classroom. This way we'll be able to remember what it looked like, as next week we'll be relocating to the Art room as the Purple Room construction project expands.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

Students finished up Chapter Four: Real Numbers, spending a couple days on the review after some time off for Thanksgiving. They took their chapter test on Wednesday and did quite well. We started Chapter Five: Applications of Proportions on Thursday, beginning with learning about ratios and rates, and choosing and converting units. We will focus and work hard to finish this chapter before winter break.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, students did an activity with the game of Scrabble. They calculated the probability of drawing the letters “ALGEBRA” as their first 7 tiles. This required some calculations with large numbers and was found to be very unlikely. Students reviewed chapter 4 and took a test on Wednesday. Thursday, we began chapter 5, which is focused on graphs and functions. Students learned to test whether a relation is a function and had a fun time labeling and interpreting graphs.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we started Chapter 6 and the study of Quadrilaterals.  We started the week by discussing the types of quadrilaterals, which they already knew, but with emphasis on the specific detail of what makes each type of quadrilateral unique.   On Tuesday and Wednesday we discussed the qualities of a parallelogram and then how to proved a figure is a parallelogram.  On Thursday the students took a quiz over the weeks material, and then we finished the week with a Geogbra lab exploring the relationships between a parallelogram and its diagonals.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week we worked on wrapping up our short story unit, with students working on writing a compare-contrast essay. They took their rough outlines they had made before Thanksgiving break, and turned it into a rough draft. We then discussed in class where areas could be improved and modified. We'll work in class on finishing the final draft next week. Students also began reading their first novel of the year. Sixth graders are reading No Promises in the Wind by Irene Hunt. Seventh and Eighth graders are reading The Truth About Sparrows by Marian Hale. We'll be using these books to analyze characterization. Students are also preparing for an individualized spelling quiz on Monday, and are working on reviewing for a grammar test on verbs at the end of next week.

World Studies with Emily:

This week in U.S. History students finished up reading about turn-of-the century U.S. imperialism and read about the Progressive Era. Students took notes on the major problems of the late 19^th century that led to the social, political, and economic reforms and consumer protections of the early 20^th century, and took notes on those reforms as well as the “muckrakers” (investigative journalists) who exposed various corruptions to the public and inspired reform. We watched part of a movie about the Progressive Era. Students are working on political cartoons, posters, or story plans from the perspective of a muckraker about a reform they take seriously. In World Studies, we are starting to quickly move into the next stage of NHD research. Students did some thinking about the big picture of their topic – what they know at this point, immediate impacts, long-term impacts, and what they still need to find out. We began discussing annotated bibliographies and theses. Next week, students are required to turn-in primary source research checks with a couple sentences about the relevancy to their project. We will work on thesis statements next week. 

Earth Science with Molly:

This week students brought the rough draft of their lab reports in on Tuesday. They made editing and revision marks, catching their own mistakes and omissions, then passed them over to a peer for feedback. 7th and 8th grade students wrote abstracts for a peer’s science report, which they were able to build upon for their final version. Thursday they turned in their final science fair lab report. They received their display board rubrics and display boards, which are due next Tuesday. Students are expected to attend the Science Fair to present their information on Thursday 7pm 12/11. Parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to attend. When not working on the science fair this week, students read about Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors and worked on their celestial body posters. Students were very excited that our PongSat experiments were returned from California. Students are completing any tests for this experiment and describing their findings for the last week of school before break (this project is optional for 6th grade students).

Spanish A with Rebecca:

This week, the students reviewed subject pronouns, figuring out which ones could replace different names and nouns in a sentence. They also learned how to conjugate regular -AR verbs in the present tense and have been using these in different conversation and writing activities. This is review for those who were in Turquoise last year. On Friday, they practicced interviewing each other about which activities they do, using the new -AR verb endings they learned on Wednesday. The test on Chapter 2A will be on Wednesday, December 10th. Monday will be a review day for all vocabulary and concepts.

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

This week we revisited stem changing verbs in the present tense. We also started the past (preterite) tense! This is very exciting, as it is a brand new verb form and tense!!

Spanish C

This week we revisited direct objects and direct object pronouns. We also revisited some irregular past tense verbs. On Friday, we started the "videomisterio" miniseries for this year.

Spanish D

This week we practiced the future tense and the vocabulary for professions and fields of study.  We learned irregular verbs in the future tense.  Our assessment is next Wednesday.

Spanish D+

This week the students continued working independently. They had an assessment on the future and conditional tenses.

Art with Patti:

Students are continuing to work on hand building votive sets out of clay and rotate turns throwing on the wheel.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students have been using the skills they learned last week in PowerPoint to create a floor plan for their restaurants.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week we began our focus on Puberty. I introduced the topic, then we split into gender groups. Each group separately watched a video called Straight Talk About Puberty for Girls (or Boys). While one group watched the video, the other group worked on completing portfolio feedback. Next week we will focus on a New Year’s Letter to their future selves. We will continue focusing on Puberty in January.

Thank you from, The Purple Team