Week of March 30

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, we worked on experimental probability, making predictions from data, and independent events. This was a very short unit, so we will be having our unit assessment on Monday, along with a notebook check. We reviewed in class today and I gave each student an optional study packet to work on over the weekend as time permits.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, students began the week by using tables and graphs to analyze data. They then looked at how graphs can tell a story, and how you can tell a story with graphs. Scattered throughout the week we began investigating the coordinate plane by doing a number of Harry Potter-themed dot-to-dot puzzles. We then ended the week by learning how to find simple and compound interest, and practicing using the calculators to solve problems with exponents.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

We reviewed the Geometry application and extension activity on Monday about sailing. Students continued to practice recognizing and naming solids and their parts as well as recognizing skew lines. We sketched solids, drew base plans and learned how to draw solids from a top view, a front view, and a right view from the given isometric view (corner view). Then students worked on creating nets for solids and then cutting them out and taping them to make the solid. Students took a quiz on the first three sections of this chapter. We found surface areas of prisms by calculating the area of its net and also by using a formula which is the sum of the lateral area and the area of its two bases.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week students learned to factor out a greatest common factor (GCF) from a trinomial. They then moved on to multiplying two binomials using two different methods. By the end of the week, students began factoring simple trinomials into two binomials. On Monday they will take a quiz on sections 9-1 and 9-2.

Geometry with Holly:
This week we continued our study of area by discussing the parts and area of circles (including sectors and segments), and geometric probability.  After a quiz over the week's material on Thursday, we spent Friday reviewing for the chapter test., which the students will take on Monday.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week students continued working on their group picture-book project, sketching out the layout of their stories. In preparation for Authors' Tea, we continued discussing story creation, and students started planning the story arcs for their own short stories. In our literature unit, 6th and 7th graders presented their mini-posters on the setting of Witness, and 8th graders continued analyzing the vocabulary in To Kill a Mockingbird. And finally, we continued a bit in our grammar unit on nouns.

World Studies with Emily:

Sixth and seventh graders took the essay portion of the 1920s and '30s test on Monday. On Tuesday, we read aloud “20^th Century Monsters” from A History of US by Joy Hakim and discussed why good people listened to these terrible leaders and why the U.S. escaped totalitarianism. I previewed our World War Two unit for the students. On Thursday, students defined some terms in their notes as we discussed them. Seventh graders looked over the available novel choices and wrote down a list that each is interested in reading. They are to look over reviews and decide on their top choices for Monday. Sixth graders will also be reading historical novels in three different book groups. Eighth graders will all be reading Night by Elie Wiesel. In class, we read aloud Chapter One entitled “Religious Anti-Semitism” from Understanding the Holocaust by Betty Merti. Students will finish this reading over the weekend. In World Studies, students presented summaries of current events and then played our geography game, which focused on Asia. 

Earth Science with Molly:

On Tuesday, students took an assessment on the Atmosphere and Weather unit. We learned about the magnetosphere of Earth this week and did a lab using magnets. They received new books, Inside the Earth, and began taking notes from a Powerpoint. We read a book aloud: How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World by Faith McNulty. We also made playdough to prepare to create a model of the Earth complete from core to atmosphere.

Spanish A with Rebecca:

The students spent Monday's class reviewing all the vocabulary and grammar for Chapter 3B and took the Chapter 3B test on Wednesday. On Friday, they started working on a fun skit project.

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

We continue working on syllable division. We revisited the alphabet in Spanish, and we spelled words for others to write.  We will have an assessment next week. The students also have a project due on April 17. They can find their topic assignments on Edmodo. 

Spanish C

We continue learning vocabulary for injuries and emergencies. We revisited vocabulary for body parts, and have added new words. We learned new irregular verbs in the preterite tense. Finally, we are learning the past progressive tense. There will be an assessment next Friday.

Spanish D

The students worked on nouns and articles, gender, number, exceptions to rules. We had an assessment on Friday. We watched a cultural video about Panama.

Spanish D+

We continued working with the future and conditional tenses. We started looking at using the past subjunctive in contrary-to-fact situations. We watched a cultural video about Panama.  We had an assessment on Friday.

Art with Patti:

We have been working on collaborative artwork for the auction. The students are working together to share ideas. Projects are in progress, and they are doing a great job!

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students continued working on their Muppet document, which is preparing them for the skills they will be using in the upcoming "Store Catalog" project. 

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week 6th grade students revised their letters to incoming Purple Room students from the current Blue Room. They fixed misspellings and wrote the letters more neatly. We hope to hear back from the Blue Roomers with questions. 8th grade students discussed the important aspects of being a successful students and wrote a “How to be Successful in High School” guide. It was fun to hear their enthusiasm in giving their opinions about this topic. Next time we will focus on healthy eating and nutrition, liking the way you look. Then we will continue this focus and include a discussion of anorexia and bulimia, then healthy exercise and steroids. Soon after, we will look at body images for both males and females in the media.

Thank you from, The Purple Team