Week of February 2nd

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, the students began Unit 8 Geometry. We have studied about lines, line segments, rays, angles and special angles. The students received their Unit 7 assessments back on Monday. I hope you have had a chance to see them.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we started the week with a bunch of geometry activities. Students made an origami triangle, and then we measured its interior angles. They learned how to use protractors to measure and create angles, and to use compasses to bisect segments and angles. We took our chapter quiz and used IXL to practice identifying different types of polygons, and identifying vertical angles. On Friday we introduced the concept of congruent polygons, and spent some time working on matching angles and sides of two congruent shapes.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

Students finished the Chapter 6 test on Monday and completed the Diagnosing Readiness Chapter 7 Preview. On Tuesday, we reviewed the test, spending some extra time going over a few problems that were missed by more than a couple students. I continued throughout the week to give students warm-up problems relating to Chapter 6. We started Chapter 7: Exponents and Powers on Tuesday by practicing scientific notation and comparing numbers in scientific notation and standard form. Then students learned how to multiply powers with the same base by adding the exponents and practiced with both standard form and scientific notation. We divided powers with the same base by subtracting the exponents, used zero as an exponent, and worked with negative exponents. Students took a quiz on Friday and worked on some challenge problems.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week students learned three methods of solving systems of linear equations. They began by finding intersection points by careful graphing. They then used substitution and elimination methods, both of which require careful manipulation of the equation and calculations. Students did quite a few revisions to their homework due to careless errors last week. They were reminded to slow down, complete their calculations carefully, and plug their solution in to an original equation to make sure they worked.

Geometry with Holly:

This week the students got into the study of trigonometry.  On Monday and Tuesday, we discussed the basic Sine, Cosine, and Tangent functions, and on Wednesday discussed applications of these using angles of elevation and depression.  On Tuesday we also used trigonometry to estimate the height of the school basketball basket.  The students took a quiz over the week's material on Thursday, and on Friday, we switched gears a bit, and discussed vectors, which use some of the trigonometric skills we've learned.

Language Arts with Jared:

In Literature, the sixth and seventh graders reached the sad part of Kira-Kira, and we'll spend next week talking about the repercussions of the events on the family in the novel. Eighth graders are halfway through their novel, The Education of Little Tree. This week all three sections took a grammar test on verb tenses, and will soon begin their new unit on nouns. Also, the A/D group took their vocabulary quiz, and the other two sections will take it on Monday.

World Studies with Emily:

In US History, students read and took notes about Prohibition, new rights for women, the impact of the automobile, creating a mass national culture, and about the roaring 1920s (new fashions and fads, jazz, new writers, and the Harlem Renaissance). Students chose a culturally significant hero or icon from the era, researched them in class, made a small poster for homework, and presented the person to the class as we listened to Duke Ellington and sipped peppermint tea. We watched a few videos, heard many songs by different musicians, and listened to a poem read by a famous poet. There were a few costumes as well! In World Studies, classes voted on a class landmark for our global geography challenge, researched the landmark and worked together on coming up with our nine class clues that will be distributed to other teams around the world. Students are making good progress on their NHD projects; I have checked in with all of them individually. Hopefully your child spoke with your about competing in the Radford competition on March 20^th, and each child returned the form letting me know if he or she wants to compete. There are three more weekends to work on the project before BNS History Night, but I encourage students to have a polished draft by February 18^th, which really means they have two weekends. The weekend of the 21^st and 22^nd should be for final touches and edits that their peers suggested on the 18^th. Thank you!

Earth Science with Molly:

This week students continued learning about and doing investigations about the atmosphere. We began with demonstrations and student labs about air pressure and density. Students learned about the air we breathe and air quality. They received instructions for a weather observation project, where they will not use typical weather instruments, but will collect data in other ways (by their design) on weather variables of their choice. They also presented their adapted alien species creations, which were VERY creative and well thought out!

Spanish A with Rebecca:

The students spent Monday and Wednesday working with the new vocabulary from Chapter 3A, discussing what they eat and drink for breakfast versus for lunch. They practiced expressing whether they like or dislike a certain food. They also learned how to use a noun to modify another noun (for example: "yogur de fresa"). On Friday, they studied how to conjugate regular -ER and -IR verbs, using the verb "compartir" ("to share") as an example.

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

We started a new chapter and we have been talking about movies and television programs. We are learning vocabulary to name types of shows/movies and to talk about opinions we have about them. I talked to the students and encouraged them to attend homework help when/if they need my help. Homework help is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:00.

Spanish C

We have been learning about traditions and celebrations. We have been talking about how people greet each other and how to behave to show good manners. This can be different for different cultures.  The students presented their posters to the class. The posters are displayed in the Spanish bulletin board, in the hallway of the main building. We also started looking at more uses for the imperfect tense.

Spanish D

We are learning about different types of dependent clauses in Spanish. We have been focusing on nominal and adjectival clauses. We are learning how to decide if the verb in the dependent clause should be subjunctive or indicative mood. We have also started talking about adverbial clauses, and learning the meaning of some adverbial phrases.

Spanish D+

The students have joined the Spanish D students in the study of the dependent clauses.

Art with Patti:

Purple room students are continuing to work on their linear perspective drawings. They are coming up with some very creative compositions, and having a fun time exploring linear perspective.

Computer Lab with Holly:

 This week the students finished  writing their restaurant reviews and began creating PowerPoint presentations to present their restaurants to their peers.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week (Friday and next Monday’s classes) were focused on sexual education and students were split into gender groups. 7th & 8th grade students focused on emotions of teens and a general discussion of the ways people use and understand the word “sex,” i.e. gender and differences in sexual organs. Next time we focus on Sex Ed 7th & 8th grade students will review the sexual organs of their respective gender. 6th Grade students focused on hormones and the endocrine system. Next time they will learn about growth spurts and changing bodies during puberty. The next time we have Life Skills, we will finish up our focus on social services.

Thank you from, The Purple Team