Week of October 24, 2016

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
We completed unit 4 study and had an assessment today (Friday), along with a notebook check. The students received their notebook check rubric back today and will receive the Unit 4 assessment on Monday. Next week we begin our work with fractions by adding and subtracting like and unlike denominators as well as with mixed numbers.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

We started the week with a Jeopardy game, reviewing Chapter 3 before Tuesday’s test. Chapter four began with a focus on fractions. We spent the remainder of the week reviewing how to find common denominators in order to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers. We also spent time on solving equations that had fractions in them, as well as putting a lot of effort into showing our work in a neat and orderly manner.

Pre-Algebra III with Andrew:

This week, we continued to work on understanding how to graph linear equations.  We worked on solving systems of two linear equations, and learned how to solve word problems by using these types of calculations.  On Wednesday, we had a quiz that reviewed how to solve linear equations by finding the x- and y-intercepts.  We finished the last part of the week by learning about translations, reflectionial symmetry, and rotational symmetry.  On Friday, we worked on making ambigram artwork with our names, which use rotational symmetry.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we reviewed Chapter 3 and took the test. We began chapter 4 with a focus on fractions, ratios, and proportions. Students learned to use conversion factors to change units, for example from miles per hour to feet per second.

Geometry with Clare:

Chapter 3 is now completed: the students had a quiz Tuesday, and the Chapter test Friday, with time for review, too. The game projects (to help practice the language of proofs) are underway and should be completed next week. We have started Chapter 4, on Congruent Triangles.

Language Arts with Jared:

In language arts, students worked on finishing writing the rough drafts of their stories. A few asked for an extension, and will be turning it in on Monday. Some students also submitted a poem for a poetry contest (which is also due on Monday). Eighth graders took their grammar test on prepositions, and sixth graders took their vocabulary test. The other classes will finish these two tests next week.

World Studies & Civics with Andrew:

This week, we worked on our Fictional Character Election projects, and each students presented his or her initial candidate for the election.  We then held our initial "primary" voting, and narrowed our candidates down to three candidates from each class.  We will continue with campaigning for our candidates next week, before choosing the final candidates for the whole-school election.  We also began studying about the early American colonies, to learn how the Founding Fathers were influenced by world events, philosophical changes, and historical examples in the world around them before setting up the U.S. government system that we know today.

Physical Science with Molly:

This week in our study of matter, we focused on changes of states. Students watched demonstrations and did group labs to help them understand how substances change state. This also gave them an opportunity to practice reading chronometers and thermometers, as well as to explain the reasons for what they observed. Test review and tests will begin next week. Study guides were handed out and also uploaded to Google Classroom. For Science Fair, all students turned in a research summary and a bibliography. Next week they will turn in the beginning of their lab report, which is the introduction and materials with methods.

Spanish with Corinne:

Morning Spanish

Sunshine A

This week we learned negatives and how to express disagreement about interests. On Monday we had a guest speaker from Cuba, and students enjoyed asking questions about culture and history. On Friday we watched The Book of Life to begin learning about Día de los muertos, a Mexican celebration that takes place on November 1^st and 2^nd.

Spanish B

This week we finished Chapter 5B, going to a restaurant. We learned the differences between “ser” and “estar” (to be), and reviewed the vocabulary. We will have a test on Thursday November 3^rd. On Monday we had a guest speaker from Cuba, and students enjoyed asking questions about culture and history. On Friday we watched The Book of Life to begin learning about Día de los muertos, a Mexican celebration that takes place on November 1^st and 2^nd.

Spanish B

This week we continued practicing the new vocabulary from Chapter 6A, and began the first grammar concept of the chapter, making comparisons. On Monday we had a guest speaker from Cuba, and students enjoyed asking questions about culture and history. On Friday we watched The Book of Life to begin learning about Día de los muertos, a Mexican celebration that takes place on November 1^st and 2^nd.

Spanish C

This week we finished the grammar concepts in Chapter 1B, “saber” and “conocer” (to know) and “hace + que” time expressions. We will have a quiz on the second part of Chapter 1B on Thursday November 3^rd. On Monday we had a guest speaker from Cuba, and students enjoyed asking questions about culture and history. On Friday we watched The Book of Life to begin learning about Día de los muertos, a Mexican celebration that takes place on November 1^st and 2^nd.

Spanish D

This week students presented their movies for Chapter 6B. They were all very well done, and reflected the students’ knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar covered in the chapter. We continued working with the new vocabulary in Chapter 7A, and reviewed how to form affirmative tú commands in preparation for learning negative tú commands. On Monday we had a guest speaker from Cuba, and students enjoyed asking questions about culture and history. On Friday we watched The Book of Life to begin learning about Día de los muertos, a Mexican celebration that takes place on November 1^st and 2^nd.

Art with Patti:

For art warm up this week, Purple Room artists learned about artist Eric Carle, created a painted paper, and added “ground” to their artwork. A couple of students are finishing up on their anthropomorphic drawings as well as reflecting on their art. Most students have moved on to their “happiness” themed artwork.

Computer Lab with Lauren:

6th - We had a lesson in effective Google searching.
7th and 8th - We learned about Google Scholar and how it can be used for research projects.

Project management: The students reviewed some of the concepts we learned this trimester, and began finishing the movie project  they've been working on.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

6^th Grade students were the only ones who had Life Skills this week, due to a speaker and Day of the Dead activities. They watched and discussed a video about the science of the endocrine system, those hard working hormone messengers, in the human body. This will lead us to our next sex ed topic looking at how hormones initiate puberty, during which the students will be broken into gender groups. Next time they will continue to focus on the endocrine system and diagram where each gland is in the body. Next time 7^th grade students will begin where they left off last year with puberty and growth spurts, and 8^th grade students will begin where they left off last year with body changes during puberty.

Thank you from, 

The Purple Team