Week of December 8th

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, the students continued to work on multiplying and dividing fractions, solving fraction equations with multiplication, and the customary unit. We completed this unit today and will review on Monday and Tuesday next week with an end of unit assessment on Wednesday. There will also be a notebook check. Upon our return from Winter Break the students will be having a cumulative review test. Optional packets are available for students to work through over the Winter Break should they desire. Please have you student check in with me if they or you would like to have a packet.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we spent the week reviewing for Friday's test. We continued exploring scale models, and finished making our scale drawings of the Purple Room classroom. We used IXL online to practice solving proportions and finding unit price. Then on Thursday we used a Jeopardy game to review the entire chapter. We ended the week in Patti's Art Room (our new location), where we took our chapter test.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

This week students wrote equations to solve word problems involving rates and ratios, solved proportions using the Cross Products Property, identified similar polygons by checking to see if the corresponding angles are congruent and the corresponding sides are proportional, as well as found unknown lengths in similar figures. The class took a quiz on the first five sections of the Chapter Five. We started locating dilation images and finding the scale factor of a dilation. Next week we will continue to work with scale factors via models and maps. Our chapter test will be on Thursday.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, students continued working with functions. They graphed functions, including graphs for variable with absolute values and square roots. They learned to write function rules from a set of data and to determine whether a function is a direction variation. They’ve calculated the constant of variation in a set of data as well. We will complete chapter 5 next Monday and take the chapter test by Wednesday of next week.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we continued work on the study of quadrilaterals.  On Monday we discussed the differences in special parallelograms, followed by a discussion on kites and trapezoids on Tuesday.  On Wednesday the students used Geogebra to explore what happens when we connect the midpoints of the sides of any quadrilateral.  We changed emphasis on Thursday and discussed ways to place quadrilaterals on the coordinate plane.  The week finished with the students taking a quiz over the week's material.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week students finished the final drafts of their Compare/Contrast essay, and each took an individualized spelling quiz, focusing on 10 words they've misspelled this fall. Students continued reading in their novels (Sixth graders are reading No Promises in the Wind and Seventh and Eighth graders are reading The Truth About Sparrows). We had many discussions on how the authors explained to the readers the physical character traits, as well as the emotional traits of the characters, which may change throughout the story.Students also reviewed for a grammar test on verbs at the end of next week.

World Studies with Emily:

In U.S. History, students finished their muckraker-inspired poster or political cartoon about social, economic, or political issues that led to many reforms during the Progressive Era. We finished watching the film we started, reading, and taking notes about the Progressive Era. 7^th and 8^th graders started a reading about Ida B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. DuBois on Thursday. We will have a U.S. History test mostly on U.S. Imperialism and the Progressive Era this coming Tuesday. In World Studies, students began working on their NHD theses statements, which we will continue to work on next week and after break. I have asked the students to review the guidelines about each style project (exhibit, paper, website, documentary, and performance) on the NHD website and choose one. I will send home a “how-to” folder of information over the holidays for students to read at their leisure, if they so choose. Lastly, students shared 2014 political cartoons for the current event assignment this week.

Earth Science with Molly:

This week was focused on presentations and peer scoring of students’ science fair projects and work on their Solar System Celestial Body research and posters. We also read aloud the book Starry Messenger by Peter Sis about Galileo Galilei.

Spanish A with Rebecca:

The week, the students spent time reviewing chapter vocabulary, subject pronouns, and how to conjugate regular -AR verbs. They practiced conjugating verbs according the subject in a sentence and figuring out which subject pronouns would best replace other nouns. They also reviewed how to express what classes they like or don't like and why. They took the test on Chapter 2A on Friday. They should relax this weekend and be excited for some fun activities next week!

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

This week we have been talking about gifts, shopping, and places to shop.  We have been practicing the past tense forms of the verbs and saw some spelling changes that happen to keep the sounds of the original verbs. We also studied the direct object, and the use of direct object pronouns.  Finally, we talked about how we need to be careful about translating from English. I explained to the students that they are now at a point where things will not translate literally because of language structures. We will have an assessment next week, on Wednesday.

Spanish C

This week we've had an exciting time. We are learning to follow and give directions in Spanish. We studied vocabulary and looked at maps. We learned how to direct someone to turn left/right, continue on a street, etc. We revisited the direct object pronouns and the informal, positive commands. We will have an assessment next week, on Wednesda.

Spanish D

This week we reviewed and had an assessment on the future tense and vocabulary for careers and professions. I gave the students their tests back. Some have to complete revisions. We also finished the video series we were watching.

Spanish D+

This week the students continued working independently.

  

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 completed the floor plans for their restaurants.  After a lesson on using formulas in Excel, the students began creating spreadsheet to document the earnings from their restaurants.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week students wrote a New Year’s Letter to their future selves. It asked them to think about what kind of person they want to become, where they think they’ll be in 5, 10, 15 years, and what kinds of things they’d like to see or do to make the world a better place. They also worked on completing their portfolio feedback, so these can go home for parent feedback after the break. We will continue focusing on Puberty in January.

Thank you from, The Purple Team