Week of February 21, 2017

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
We continue with finding perimeter and area, to include the surface area of rectangular and triangular prisms. We also worked on finding the area and circumference of circles. The students should practice these new skills on their own. Next week the students will have an end of unit assessment on Chapter 9. That test will occur either Thursday or Friday, along with a notebook check.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

This week we spent a lot of time working on surface area and volume. Students cut out nets of figures, and turned them into 3-D shapes, before they then calculated the surface area and the volume of the figures. We also talked a bit about square roots and the Pythagorean theorem. On Friday we worked on IXL to find more challenging examples of these problems.

Pre-Algebra III with Andrew:

We began exploring some geometry topics this week in class.  We learned about different types of angles, and how to classify vertical angles, alternate interior angles, and corresponding angles.  We looked at the topic of congruence, and discussed ways to determine if triangles are congruent--SAS, ASA, and SSS methods.  We practiced solving word problems by looking for smaller patterns.

Algebra I with Molly:

We began Chapter 8 with a focus on exponents. Students reviewed basic operations with exponents and learned how to simplify bases with negative exponents. We will continue learning more operations with exponents through next week.

Geometry with Clare:

We had a short but busy week - the students worked hard but we still have not quite managed to finish Ch. 8. The students took a quiz on the second part of the chapter, and did some review. We also made inroads into Lesson 8-6, the last in this chapter, on Vectors. This is a challenging topic and, while not a significant part of the curriculum, is important for many later math and science applications, hence why we have spent some time on it. We looked at several Khan Academy videos as an introduction, before tackling the lesson in the text. We will wrap this up in the coming week, though.

Language Arts with Jared:

Students took a vocabulary quiz this week. Sixth and seventh graders continued to work on verb tenses - sixth graders were introduced to the progressive tense, seventh graders were introduced to the perfect progressive tense. Eighth graders continued on learning about noun clauses. In our literature unit, sixth and seventh graders continued learning about the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII in their novel Weedflower. Eighth graders spent time discussing the interplay between history, memory, and facts as they discussed the events in their novel 1984.

World Studies & Civics with Andrew:

This week in Civics was a little bit short, but very busy.  We spent a lot of time inside and outside of class working on our NHD projects.  We made sure to get our scripts and materials ready, as well as continuing to find primary research to enhance our work.  We also reviewed some issues from our studies of the Legislative Branch, and introduced the idea of filibusters and how they work.

Physical Science with Molly:

This week students reviewed for the test, reinforcing concepts and making sure they understood the difference between covalent and ionic bonding. This week they mixed their first synthetic polymer in class.

Spanish with Corinne:

Morning Spanish

Sunshine A

This week we reviewed vocabulary and grammar from the chapter in preparation for a test next Tuesday, February 28.

Sunshine B

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 6B.

Spanish B

This week we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 7B. Due to a change in schedule the test was split between Thursday and Friday.

Spanish C

This week we reviewed for and took a quiz on Chapter 3A vocabulary and direct object pronouns.

Spanish D

This week we reviewed present tense stem-changing verbs, and then learned about stem-changing verbs in the subjunctive. Many of the stem-changers are the same in the subjunctive, except for “-ir” infinitive ending verbs. We will continue to work with these verbs next week to make sure that students understand the irregulars.

Art with Patti:

Students worked on adding color to their linear perspective warm up, if they have completed their clay projects. We also reviewed how artists can use linear perspective as well as other techniques to imply depth, like overlapping, more to less details, change in color from bright to dull, and changing size. The students were also shown examples of how Picasso, Warhol, Haring, Banksy, and Muniz used their art as a means of bringing attention to a particular social injustice. Students also continued adding to their “Happiness” or “Activism” projects.  

Computer Lab with Lauren:

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

7th grade students watched a video on self-esteem, emotional struggles, eating disorders, and health issues. 6th & 8th grade students did not have Life Skills this week, due to having Monday off.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team