Week of January 25, 2016

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

I continued teaching lessons from chapter 8 throughout this week. Chapter 8 focuses on geometry concepts, such as measuring and classifying angles and polygons. Next week we will wrap up chapter 8, and I will send home a review packet on Friday, February 5th. This would normally be a math game day, but I am moving math game day to Monday, so that the students do not have to study over the weekend and take the test on Monday. The students need to study the vocabulary from this chapter and practice identifying/measuring geometric shapes. I suggest making flash cards for this test.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

This week we began Chapter 7, and students were excited to learn about geometry, as it was a fresh change of topic. We went over tons of vocabulary, making sure they were familiar with all the terms (lines, rays, points, obtuse, acute, complementary, supplementary, etc.), and familiar with how to write and label them properly in their work. With protractors we practiced measuring angles, and with compasses we worked on bisecting line segments and angles. We had some simple math problems of figuring out the missing angle in a triangle, and finding supplementary and complementary angles. On Friday we went to the computer to work on math problems that were more challenging than those in the book.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

The class took a quiz on percents and proportions on Tuesday. We practiced writing equations to find parts of wholes and whole amounts or percents, and we calculated percent of increase and percent of decrease, as well as solved problems involving markups and discounts. 

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we spent time reviewing for our Chapter 6 test. Students completed the test and began learning about solving systems of equations. Friday they related two equations by graphing them carefully to find their intersection point.

Geometry with Holly:

We began the week on Tuesday with a quiz over the last two (and most challenging) sections of Chapter 7.  Then after reviewing on Wednesday, the students took the chapter test on Thursday.  We finished the week by beginning chapter 8 and the study of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse.

Language Arts with Jared:

Students began the week with a grammar test on verbs. We then began our new unit, which is focusing on verb tenses. Sixth graders finished their in-class novel (Odd and the Frost Giants), and seventh and eighth graders are nearing the end of their novels as well. Students are also close to finishing our their study of Norse mythology, with a look at the events that led up to Ragnarok. They also spent class time brainstorming in groups and working on typing up a rough draft of their own myth based upon Norse mythology.

World Studies with Emily:

We continued to spend our time on NHD essays and learning about ancient Persia. Students spent one class period reading, editing, and then discussing their classmates' essays; most students proofread three essays. We then spent three classes reading excerpts from books and watching a couple videos about ancient Persia in the third and fourth centuries BCE. We viewed some artifacts and ruins from the Persian Empire, and read about two of them including the Cyrus Cylinder--deemed the first declaration of human rights--and a golden chariot model found near the Oxus River. The videos also introduced ancient Greece, which we will focus on starting next week. 

Life Science with Molly:

This week students drew a plant cell step by step and reviewed the function of each organelle. Students learned about the cell in its environment and specifically how diffusion and osmosis play an important role in cell equilibrium. On the microscopes this week, students learned several methods to mount and stain cheek cells. We began learning about earth worms this week. I brought in a composting box with a healthy population of red worms.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish

Spanish B

We are learning the past (preterite) tense of -ar verbs.  We are also practicing how to use vocabulary in context.

Spanish C

We are learning the imperfect (past) tense of regular and irregular verbs.  We have been talking about things we used to do and play with when we were younger.

Spanish D

We continue working with the future tense and learning vocabulary to talk about things in the future.

Spanish D+

We continue working independently.

Art with Patti:

Collaboration! The students have been doing a great job in working with each other to create some beautiful art pieces which will be showcased and auctioned off at the Chocolate Party. The sixth grade has been working on a beautiful mosaic bench, the seventh grade has created a clever Wizarding World of Harry Potter chess set, and the eighth grade has been collaborating on a nature inspired kitchen set. 

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students continued playing the Game of Life and reviewing their spreadsheet skills.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week each class focused on body image in the media. We discussed what we mean by “media” and what “body image” is. We watched a short video segment from the title Skills for Healthy Living Analyzing Media Influences. We spent most of the time discussing how and why we are affected by what we see and hear before and after watching the video. We will continue to focus on the topic of body image and the media in the coming weeks. During our class meeting, a student brought up the missing middle school student. Time was spent discussing the balance parents and teachers face when allowing middle school students more independence, while also keeping them safe.

Thank you from, The Purple Team