Week of February 29, 2016

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

On Wednesday, the students completed the chapter 9 test. For the remainder of the week we reviewed for the end-of-year test. Following break we will begin chapter 10 on probability. I have posted some online math games on Edmodo for students who want to use them as additional review.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

We started this week with a review of finding the volume of cylinders and prisms. We then practiced solving various word problems, before reviewing our unit. We spent some time online, working on more challenging problems with IXL. On Thursday we took our chapter test, and then on Friday we introduced our graphing unit.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

This week students continued working within a binary number system, reviewed chapter seven, and took the chapter test on Thursday. I explained a few of the more difficult problems from the test on Friday.  Also on Friday, students worked on some fun and challenging math problems that required skills from past chapters. 

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we reviewed and applied their knowledge of exponents to exponential functions. They wrote rules for finding numbers in a geometric sequence, then graphed some exponential functions. We will complete the chapter after Spring Break. Students began work on a Pie for Pi Day activity, which will be due the Tuesday after break.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we finished Chapter 9.  On Monday, with Kerstin, the students discussed Tessellations.  Upon my return on Tuesday we discussed Composition of Transformations.  Then on Wednesday,the students took a quiz over the last four sections.  After a review on Thursday, the students took the chapter test on Friday.

Language Arts with Jared:

This week students took a vocabulary quiz. Grammar topics covered included the passive voice and phrasal verbs. We discussed our literary magazine, and students spent some time thinking about what they would like to submit and revising earlier drafts. In our Greek-myth-based literature unit, eight graders read from the graphic novel version of "The Odyssey," and they compared it to a chapter of the original version. They also explored Onomatopoeia. Seventh graders began their novel Nobody's Princess. Sixth graders continued in The Night Tourist, and following an art activity we discussed how authors describe and represent their characters.

World Studies with Emily:

Students mostly worked with their assigned groups to write a script for a Greek myth.  Students worked well together adapting the myth to a performance, making or procuring sets, props, and costumes for their respective myths, and practicing their plays. All groups except for one performed on Friday. And, on Monday or Tuesday, all students read about the role of social media in this presidential election and about caucuses and primaries from a recent Junior Scholastic magazine. Classes also read a bit about presidential candidates, and then anonymously voted for both a Republican and Democratic candidate. I counted and posted our BNS Purple Super Tuesday results. 

Life Science with Molly:

This week students began taking measurements for their egg osmosis lab. Three control eggs were set up and measured each day as well. They are measuring weight, volume through water displacement, length, width, and circumference of their group’s manipulated egg and taking note of the changes. Students completed work on their cell division posters. 7^th & 8^th grade students learned about how cancer occurs and how it relates to cell division. We reviewed for and took the cell unit test on Friday.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish
We continued working on clothing vocabulary, demonstrative adjectives, and irregular verbs. We will set a date for the test when we come back from break.

Spanish B

We continued practicing the past (preterite) tense of -er and -ir verbs, and the irregular verb to go (ir). We learned about the "a personal" and when to use it. We read from "Alejandro"

Spanish C

We continue working with the Past tense and its two variants. We also continue talking about celebrations, traditions, and cultural differences regarding those.

Spanish D/D+

We continue working with the subjunctive mood. We have been looking at the differences between present and past subjunctive, when to use each, and what it means. We have also been talking about "what ifs" by using the past subjunctive with the conditional tenses.

Art with Patti:

Students have been working on or finishing projects based on a master artist. They are creating artworks that are inspired by the artist. I’m seeing a lot of variety in artist choices of media, sizes, and themes. We have also started talking about the element of art, space that will be the focus of the next project.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the student received their third and final week's clues for the Landmark Game, and continued researching then sending and answering e-mail from the other schools.  Due to Sprint Break, the students will miss one week of teamwork to complete researching their Landmarks.  We will have one more class period after we return to finalize their guesses.  However, students may research their landmarks on their own over if they choose to.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week 7^th & 8^th grade students focused on how the characters in the movie Tinker Bell are portrayed. 6^th grade students watched a short section from a Skills for Healthy Living video about Analyzing Media Influences and specifically how food is marketed to us. We discussed the media influence on what we crave and what we choose to eat, then watched a documentary critiquing the Disney prince and princess stereotypes. We will continue to focus on media and self-image when we return from the break.

Thank you from, The Purple Team