Week of April 13

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, the students continue to work with integers (Unit 11). The students have had a difficult time remembering the rules associated with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. I gave each student a practice worksheet on Thursday to work on as they see fit. We had a quiz today and some students have to make corrections to those quizzes and return to me on Monday. Please check in with your student to see if he/she needs to make corrections. We will be having an end of unit assessment on Wednesday next week. There will also be a notebook check.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we reviewed for a quiz on Tuesday, and then spent the week exploring transformations. We investigated translations, symmetry, reflections, and rotations. Students created a poster using tessellating images by translating a shape across the page. On Friday we used the computer to better visualize and practice these skills.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

This week we practiced finding the volume of different kinds of solids: cylinders, prisms, pyramids, and cones. Students drew diagrams and made tables in order to solve different kinds of geometry-related real-world word problems. The class took a challenging quiz on Tuesday, where calculators were not allowed. On Wednesday we finished the chapter with finding dimensions of similar solids by using proportions and explored the relationship between the ratios of corresponding dimensions of similar solids and the ratio of their surface areas and their volumes. Students completed the chapter review and we went over the problems on the quiz. On Friday, the class took the chapter test. Next up is Chapter 10: Using Graphs to Analyze Data!

Algebra I with Molly:

This week students finished the chapter 9 lessons, reviewed, and took a test. We have moved on to chapter 10, Quadratic Equations and Functions. Students reviewed graphing quadratic functions using a table of values at the end of the week.

Geometry with Holly:

We started this week by taking a quiz over last week's study of surface area.  Over Tuesday and Wednesday we discussed the concept of volume for prisms, pyramids, cylinders, and cones.  Then on Thursday we discussed surface area and volume for spheres.  We finished the week with another quiz over the last three days material.  We will have our chapter test this coming Tuesday.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week we spent a lot of time typing our Authors' Tea stories in class. Having gotten the prep work done over the past few weeks, students were able to focus on creating the rough draft of their six-page story. These will be turned in on Tuesday at the latest.  Sixth and Seventh graders took their grammar test on nouns, and also the three grades continued reading in their novels. And in their long-term picture book assignment, the different groups started illustrating pages in their final draft.

World Studies with Emily:

In US History this week, we continued our study of WWII. They answered questions about Hitler and the Nazis in the mid-nineteen twenties to the mid-thirties with partners. All three grades had about half an hour to read their novels on Tuesday, as well as answer some reading questions and reflect in their readers’ response journals.  Sixth grade reading groups got together and had some time to discuss the novel with peers reading the same novel. On Thursday, I lectured with a powerpoint and the students took guided notes. Then they had some time to look at and evaluate primary sources from WWII – propaganda posters from different countries, letters, telegrams, ration books, photos (none that were disturbing), cartoons, radio speeches, song lyrics, advertisements, and a Victory Garden manual from 1942 (that I found in an antique store in C-burg). In World Studies, we listened to summaries of current events and studied recognized, independent countries of the world by locating them on maps and saying and writing their capitals. Students received six maps of regions in Asia. Next week we will work on group research and posters of leaders of WWII as we continue reading and taking notes. 

Earth Science with Molly:

This week we focused on the different types of lithospheric plate movements and their effects. Students took notes on and modeled tension, shear, and compression stress using clay. They also created a flip book of tectonic plate changes over geologic time.

Spanish A with Rebecca:
The students started Chapter 4A, which focuses on locations and expressing where you go to do different activities. They have been practicing using the new vocabulary through written and spoken activities and enjoyed watching the "Videohistoria" that goes along with this chapter. On Friday, they watched the videos of the Restaurant skits that they had written last week!

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

We have been looking at verbs we use to describe how we get ready. These verbs are called reflexive verbs, and are used with reflexive pronouns. The students presented their projects on Friday.

Spanish C

We have been talking about sporting events and vocabulary to describe them. We saw reflexive verbs that are used to express a change in how one is feeling (to get happy, mad, etc.).

Spanish D/D+

We have been reading an essay titled Nombres/Names written by Julia Alvarez about her experiences as an immigrant growing up in this country. This is an authentic piece (not written for learners and not a translation). On Friday the students presented their projects.

Art with Patti:

This week students have continued working on a drawing project. They began by drawing a representational object using charcoal, making sure to include a range of value to show form. The background will include a repeated element (that can be either representational or not), that intertwines around each other.

Computer Lab with Holly:

 This week the students began their "Store Projects".  This project requires the students to use all of the skills they have used this year to create a catalog of items they might sell in their own store.  WE will be working on this project for most of the rest of the year.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes, we focused on health and nutrition resources from the kids.org website, then on body image. We discussed the importance of self-esteem and how to bolster your own self-esteem. We began looking at advertising images and how these may change our expectations for how we “should” look. We also looked at how beauty is seen and used in society. Next time we will focus on eating disorders, then move on to over-exercise and the use of steroids. Soon after, we will look at body images for both males and females in the media.

Thank you from, The Purple Team