Week of November 2, 2015

Purple Curriculum Updates

FALL ELECTIVE UPDATES:

Yellow Room Helpers

For the second part of the elective, Purple Room Pals helped the YR's practice reading thermometers in F and C degrees (as temperatures went from room temp to hot water temp to ice water temp); conducted a fun experiment in which the YR's predicted and then tested on the PR's how many "raindrops" (from eyedroppers) it would take to make a cotton ball cloud "rain" on their heads; facilitated the YR's using a nonfiction book to determine definitions for weather words; played an interactive student-made board game called "Seasonal Squares"; led stations that taught the YR's about Native American Pow Wows, traditional Navajo weaving, how the Plains Indians used different parts of the buffalo as food, clothing, tools, etc., and "The Legend of the Three Sisters" (corn, beans, and squash); and helped the YR's make their own God's Eyes (a tradition of the Shoshone tribe). 

Book Club

The book club hit a new record this trimester, reading all 4 books of the Jaguar Stones series. While we were ultimately a bit disappointed in the series (the protagonist never grew as a character over the series, and never died the gruesome death we were hoping for at the hands of the Death Lords), we did learn a lot about Mayan mythology.

Music Elective

In the second half of World Music students participated fully in class activities including writing and teaching their own pentatonic compositions during our unit on Eastern music.  

Children's Garden

Each BNS student read a story to the class on different days, made giant floor puzzles, and played dancing games with the kids on rainy days. Kylan organized and led an all school art project, Tate played informal ball games with the kids, Joey initiated running games and helped the kids recognize letters, and Elijah played pretend games with the kids. 

HTML Elective
In the HTML/CSS elective this fall, the students used Codecademy to learn how to design and format content in websites.  After learning the basics, students created a variety of projects, including their own version of the Airbnb website.

Cooking Elective

In the cooking elective, the students have learned how to use a waffle maker; how to roll out pizza dough; how to make truffles; and a way to make an entire meal and only have to clean one pan (fish and veggies in parchment packets).

Stop-Motion Elective

Students explored different ways to create stop motion videos using materials such as clay, cut paper, drawings and photo graphs. They used Movie Maker to create the videos. 

Red Room Learning Buddies

The Learning Buddies have been helping Red Roomers learn in small groups--much to the delight of the Red Roomers! They have taught matching games, made rainbow bead necklaces, and demonstrated hand shadows. More recently they have helped the kids glue hexagon design boards, cut circles for "Stop, Slow, Go" traffic lights, and fold paper airplanes. They did a terrific job of talking with the students about the tasks involved. 

Geocaching & occasional Greenhouse Elective

We have had a great time finding geocache locations near BNS and along the Huckleberry Trail. We've become better at finding them, but still have some that we'd love to go back to for another look. We have found locations for our new Geocaches, but will need to wait to get them approved before they can become official Geocaches. We've spent a couple of days at the YMCA Greenhouse preparing our two BNS plots for use during the Winter Greenhouse Elective.

Backcountry Skills Elective:

This week our Backcountry Skills elective reviewed the course's key concepts including: wilderness emergency assessment, the 5 C's of survival, the Rule of 3's, and prioritizing steps to survive. Our final class involved a wilderness-survival simulation in which our group was stranded in an alpine forest overnight awaiting rescue. Students were given basic equipment (cordage, combustion tools, tarp for cover, container for purifying water) and tasks to complete to successfully maintain core body temperature and caloric intake while rescue arrives.

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

The students took the chapter 4 test on Tuesday. I noticed a trend while grading their test. Most of the students mixed up the least common multiple and greatest common factor. The Blue Roomers also struggled with certain word problems and fraction-to-decimal comparisons. Because these are essential math concepts, I plan on reviewing these concepts on Monday. As homework, the students will need to correct their tests and share them with you. Please sign your student’s test, so that I know you’ve seen it. For the rest of the week, I will continue to teach the concepts in chapter 5. The students will learn about adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, and then apply this knowledge to one-step algebraic problems.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we spent the week with fractions. We looked at adding and subtracting fractions with common denominators, adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators, and adding and subtracting fractions with whole or mixed numbers. Midweek we took a quiz on these review topics. We then looked at these same topics with multiplication, focusing on converting to improper fractions and reducing before multiplying to solve. Finally, we introduced division into the mix, and discussed the concept of reciprocals. On Friday we reviewed these skills on IXL.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily (Alex):
This week students finished our study of linear systems in Chapter 3 with a take-home quiz and chapter review exercises. Students took their chapter test on Wednesday and did a fantastic job overall finding graphical solutions to linear equations. Toward the end of the week we finished our exploration of transformations, culminating in a group activity and set of videos dealing with the golden ratio and mathematics in nature.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we worked on solving percent problems using proportion equations. Then moved on to calculating percent of change, increase or decrease. We also found the greatest possible error in measurement and likely ranges for errors in measuring to a given unit. We ended Friday beginning a focus on probability. 

Geometry with Holly:

We began the week by reviewing how to solve systems of equations, which the students used as we studied congruence in right triangles and the Hypotenuse - Leg Theorem (HL).  On Tuesday we pulled together all of the previous material in this chapter as we discussed how to separate overlapping triangles and use corresponding parts of congruent triangles.  On Wednesday the students took a quiz over the last half of the chapter material. Finally, after reviewing on Thursday, the students finished the chapter by taking the chapter test on Friday.

Language Arts with Jared:

We spent much of this week in Language Arts working on our NaNoWriMo writing projects. Students had a goal of reaching 25% of their story by the end of the week, and collectively, the Purple Roomers have already typed almost 100,000 words! When not typing in class, we spent time discussing our in-class Egyptian-themed novels. 8th graders also spent Friday discussing "Julius Caesar," which we will see at the Lyric Theater on Tuesday night. 8th graders had read this play in class two years ago, so we discussed the plot and looked at old photos from their performance. 6th and 7th graders will get a chance to look at a powerpoint summarizing the plot of the play in class on Tuesday, so that they will better understand what is happening on stage.

World Studies with Emily (Alex):

Early in the week classes were divided into groups for our new unit covering Ancient China and Egypt. Each group is responsible for researching and responding to specific topics in a given time period for each culture. Students spent the week developing a general overview of the regions while organizing their group's responsibilities. Next week students will begin designing their PowerPoint presentations while exploring the best method to communicate information.

Our NHD research checks are once again in full-swing! Students have improved the quality of their note-taking as checks are now evaluated for thoroughness in addition to completion. As the month continues, classes will have the chance for a one-on-one consultation to ensure they are properly relating their topics to the theme. They will continue to develop their specific/focused topic in preparation to write their thesis statements later this trimester.

Life Science with Molly:

This week we began learning about microorganisms in small focused groups. Students were assigned partners and chose one of the following to become an “expert” on: viruses, bacteria, animal-like protists, plant-like protists, fungus-like protists, and fungi. They will be researching these organisms and teaching their classmates using a poster they create. Students used their notes from the VT Duck Pond to create a mini-poster showing the classification and overlap of the different species. Students were introduced to our new luna moth cocoons and began recording observations about this new organism. They also drew comparative diagrams of the four other insects we have in our classroom: Milkweed Bug, Assassin Bug, Bess Bug Beetle, and Lady Bug. For the science fair, students completed a bibliography for their research and wrote a preliminary lab report, complete through their plan for action. I will take a look at their plans, while they are working to gather supplies.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish

We have been learning more verb conjugations and new vocabulary to describe ourselves. We have also been working with the "to be" verbs, ser and estar.

Spanish B

We reviewed for our assessment by going over the "organizer" page in our workbooks, completing a crossword puzzle, and playing Pictionary to help us remember the vocabulary words.  We had the assessment on Wednesday.  On Friday we started the new unit" all about our houses! We also sang in Spanish.

Spanish C

We reviewed for our assessment by going over the "organizer" page in our workbooks, completing a crossword puzzle, and playing Pictionary to help us remember the vocabulary words.  We had the assessment on Wednesday.  On Friday we started the new unit, talking about places we went and things we did (yes, that is the past tense about to show up!). We also sang in Spanish.

Spanish D

We continue working on the subjunctive mood in nominal clauses of various types.  We reviewed for the assessment by going over the "organizer" page in our workbooks, and completing a crossword puzzle. We had some time to sing after the test.  We continue learning about the subjunctive mood, this time in impersonal clauses to express emotion or opinion.

Spanish D+

We are reading poetry by Rubén Darío (La Princesa está triste) and other short poems.

Art with Patti:

Middle school students are working on a variety of projects. Some are working on paintings where they are deciding how to use all of the spectrum colors, including a neutral. Some students have started making handmade paper to use for their Ancient Civilization language. Others have started working in clay. Seventh and eighth grade students also viewed a TEDx talk by artist Phil Hansen: Embrace the Shake. He shares his perspective on how limitations can be beneficial.

Computer Lab with Holly:

After an intermission last week to reinforce basic table building using borders and formulas, the students continued their stock market trading and spreadsheet updating.  This week, the students learned how to add conditional formatting to their spreadsheets to help them easily identify whether their stock portfolios were making or losing money.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week 7^th & 8^th grade students met again with philosophy student J.C. Wright. They had lively discussions about fault and existence. I have enjoyed watching the students feel comfortable defending their opinions in a setting where this is no right and wrong. This week 6^th grade students watched a video introducing the many changes that hormones initiate during puberty. They were broken into gender groups and each watched a video tailored to their gender. In future classes, 6^th grade students will meet with J.C. a final time next week, then learn more about changes during puberty, such as growth spurts. In 7^th grade, the girls will discuss breast growth and changes during puberty. Boys will discuss male breast changes and male genital changes and growth during puberty. In 8^th grade, the boys will focus on ejaculation and in the future, wet dreams and masturbation, before moving on to female sex organs. In upcoming sex ed. classes, the girls will learn about masturbation and review menstruation before moving on to male sex organs.

Thank you from, The Purple Team