Week of March 23

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn the students concluded Unit 9 and had an assessment on Wednesday. On Thursday the students made corrections to those assessments. Today we began a new unit on exploring probability. In particular we discussed tree diagrams and the counting principle.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, students looked at patterns and sequences this week. They analyzed sequences to determine the rule, and identified whether they were geometric, arithmetic, or neither. We then talked about function machines, and looked at finding function rules that would turn any input into a set output. Students reviewed these skills on IXL on Thursday, and then took a short quiz on Friday before our field trip.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

This week we continued calculating areas of circles and irregular figures and we practiced constructing congruent segments, angles, and bisectors (perpendicular bisectors and angle bisectors). Students took the second chapter quiz on Tuesday, reviewed on Wednesday, and completed the Chapter 8 test on Thursday. Thursday night’s homework was a Geometry application and extension activity about sailing using logic, Geometry, and the Pythagorean Theorem. During our short math class on Friday, we previewed Chapter 9 – Geometry and Measurement—by holding different three-dimensional solids and identifying them and their parts to classmates.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week students learned how to apply exponential decay equations to real-life situations, completing Chapter 8. We reviewed on Tuesday and took a test on Wednesday. Our new chapter has us reviewing polynomial expressions. They practiced adding and subtracting polynomials, then finding the greatest common factor for each term of the polynomial.

Geometry with Holly:
On Monday we discussed and derived the formulas for the areas of regular polygons, and followed on Tuesday with a quiz over the basic area formulas we have discussed so for.  On Wednesday we discussed how to obtain the perimeters and areas of similar polygons, followed on Thursday by how to use trigonometry to help determine area.  Friday was a short period, and we continued the lesson from Thursday by discussing the Laws of Sines and Cosines 

Language Arts with Jared:

In English we continued reading through our novels. Sixth and seventh graders took a reading comprehension quiz and were assigned a mini-poster research project to better understand the setting of their story. Eighth graders spent a lot of time using dictionaries to look up definitions of words to better understand their novel. Students continued with their grammar unit on nouns, taking a quiz on the first half of the unit, and then being introduced to a variety of noun clauses. Students continued working in groups on the plot of their picture books, and we brainstormed logical protagonist/conflict/antagonist groupings for Authors' Tea stories.

World Studies with Emily

 In US History, all three classes finished going over Great Depression and New Deal questions, discussing and outlining the two readings that their group was assigned, making a large poster about the two readings, and then presenting it to the rest of the class. Students found the readings interesting and some interesting discussions ensued. All students took a test on the 1920s and 1930s during the second half of Thursday’s class and the proceeding shorter class. In World Studies, students received participation certificates for the Landmark Games. We watched a Discovery Education movie about the diversity of Asia – the general geography of the five different regions and their countries as well as several sections about specific countries’ topography, cultures, and aspects of their histories.

Earth Science with Molly:

This week students in 7^th & 8^th grade students learned about making weather predictions. They also used a psychrometer to measure the relative humidity outside at BNS. We continued learning about Earth’s Water Cycle and completing our note sheet with the concepts of surface runoff, ground water, aquifers, moisture from volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers. We reviewed for the test by doing a convection experiment with milk bottles. We reviewed evaporation using a Dipping Bird and we reviewed pressure by using hand boilers to demonstrate Charles’ law. There will be a test on the unit next Tuesday.

Spanish A with Rebecca:
The blue roomers spent Monday and Wednesday reviewing for their upcoming test on Chapter 3B (scheduled for 4/1). They reviewed how to make adjectives plural, in agreement with the plural nouns they modify, and how to use the verb "ser". They practiced converting sentences describing singular subjects into plural versions. They also practiced having conversations with each other about good eating and exercise habits, sharing their opinions on the subjects. They also completed their Food Pyramid posters, which will go up on the wall in the hallway soon. On Friday, they were on a field trip so there was no Spanish class.

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

We are learning that in Spanish, there are two verbs that mean "to know". They each have specific uses, which we have been practicing.  We are also learning about vowels, consonants, and how to divide words in syllables, as preparation to learn when and why words in Spanish get an orthographic accent mark.

Spanish C

We are learning vocabulary for injuries and emergencies. We revisited vocabulary for body parts, and have added new words.

Spanish D

We had a quiz on our cultural unit from last week. The students have been working on nouns, gender, number, and exceptions to the rules.

Spanish D+

We had a quiz on our cultural unit from last week. We are learning new tenses/aspects: conditional, future perfect, conditional perfect, and pluperfect.

Art with Patti:

For the last several classes we have revisited the ceramic votive sets. Time for color! Students chose a color pallet and have finished glazing their ceramic pieces for the final kiln firing. Those should be complete in the next couple of weeks. They also updated their notebook portfolios with copies of artwork and rubrics.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students continued typing their Muppet projects which, in addition to typing practice, gave the students experience in using some of the less familiar capabilities in MS Word, such as tight text wrap, drop caps, sections, and reformatting to fit.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

Working in gender groups this week, 6th grade students read about changing weight, body shape, and strength related to adolescent growth spurts. Next week 6th grade students will revise their letters to incoming Purple Room students. 7th & 8th grade students read about dating. The next time in both groups we will discuss sex ed. topics, we will focus on healthy eating, liking the way you look, anorexia, bulimia, and steroids. Soon after, we will look at body images for both males and females in the media.

Thank you from, The Purple Team