Week of February 6, 2017

Winter Elective Updates

Inclusive Society:

We played a card matching game designed to make us more aware of how socio-economic factors that people are born into can impact their jobs and money as adults. For example, we looked at how poverty limits opportunities for nutrition, education and jobs. We calculated a monthly and weekly budget based on incomes near minimum wage and in the $40K range and figured out a budget for groceries. Then, we went to the grocery store to see how it would be to shop for a week's work of groceries for a family using those budgets. Finally, we brainstormed ways to take action for social justice causes. Then we teamed up with the cooking elective to make "Activist Fortune Cookies", which contained messages of "Ways to be an activist."  We came up with many ideas and categorized them in terms of Knowledge, Non-Silence, Support, and Action. We sold the cookies after school and made $67, which we are donating to GLSEN (http://www.glsen.org/).

Children's Garden:

The boys have been playing running games like tag and soccer with the kids. They've read stories and done some dancing and fingerplay/songs as well. The kids love spending time with these purple roomers!

Music in Film:

The Music in Film students have been hard at work on their final projects. They have been filming, drawing, and composing the music to their own movie trailer. It has been great to see their creative ideas. We will finish the trimester with a Skype session with a film/television composer who lives and works in Los Angeles. During our final class we will "go to the movies" and enjoy watching the trailers of each Music in Film student. 

Tech Exploration:

In Tech Explorations, we continued our study of new technology, including a Tech Demo Day where the students were able to explore some of the tech firsthand. We discussed things such as what the rise of robotics and automation could mean to the future of society, and we touched on the issue and importance of digital security (following the legal battle involving the San Bernardino iPhone). We also held a Redstone Challenge in which the students were broken into two teams and tasked with using Minecraft electronics and logic principles to create an in-game "base" for a Capture-the-Flag style competition.

Graphic Novels:

In the graphic novels elective, we have been learning about different genres of graphic storytelling.  After reading Bone, we then read through a volume of Usagi Yojimbo, which gave a good example of historical storytelling with a mix of culture and adventure, as well as interesting uses of art.  We have also been reading many other graphic novels to look at different aspects of their storytelling and art.  Some highlights include:  "The Comic Book History of Comic Books" for some background about comics themselves; "March" to learn about the black civil rights movement; "Archie" to learn about legacy characters and the concept of the reboot; and "Mouse Guard" to learn about how characters can be written in different ways and forms.

Cooking:

We have been having fun working on a mixture of savory and sweet recipes.  We have made salsa and guacamole with nachos, caramel and even a delicious broccoli soup.  We also had a fun project in conjunction with the Social Justice Elective.  We made gluten free fortune cookies and they provided the fortunes and some labor.  It was a lot of fun to have a big(ger!) group working together on something.

Red Room Learning Buddies:

The Red Roomers continue to enjoy their Purple Learning Buddies. They took small groups of Red Roomers on "invention walks" and listed all the invented things they could find around the school (staplers, telephones, etc). They enjoy center time and playground time with them. And recently they helped them decorate shopping bags for the Chocolate Party. 

Korean:

In the Korean elective we have studied the whole Korean alphabet and continued learning Korean words.  We have learned about Korean dramas, pop music, and modern media. We have seen several videos of the capital of Korea, and also videos of the most visited tourist attractions. We have studied many aspects of Korean culture and language, and have enjoyed learning about the culturally rich country.

Board Games:

Students ended the trimester with some longer campaign-based games. One group focused on Mice & Mystics, trying to help their mice avoid rat warriors and cockroaches. The other group played a few levels of Legends of Andor, exploring the countryside defending their castle from hordes of monsters.

Greenhouse:

Students have been planting, watering, weeding, and finally we've begun to harvest. The greenhouse is warm and smells like summer. The kale, turnips, chard, and radishes are looking great!

Art Extension:

In the art elective, students have been concentrating on creating art of individual interest. This trimester the focus has been on video art, fiber arts, paper mache, and digital art.

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:
This week we finished up Unit 8 and had an assessment on Thursday, along with a notebook check. The students saw their graded tests on Friday, but returned them to me as we have a student who has not taken the test yet. Friday we began Unit 9 on metric measurements.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

This week we spent time working on reviewing what we've learned in our Geometry chapter. Students created pie-charts from scratch, which combined their knowledge of proportions from last chapter, and their use of protractors and compasses from this chapter. Students worked on some review worksheets, and played a game of bingo. On Thursday, we continued reviewing the material online. We ended the week with our chapter test.

Pre-Algebra III with Andrew:

This week was focused on learning more about power rules for exponents.  We practiced these rules a lot, including some work on ixl.com to understand them more thoroughly.  We looked at how to solve a word problem by pulling out key information and turning it into an equation.  We finished out the week by practicing different number systems than base-10.  We learned how to convert to binary, and looked at how different number systems can be used.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week we continued working on solving systems of equations. They applied these to word problems and are now able to choose the best method to use for a given situation. They also graphed linear inequalities on a coordinate plane, shading above or below the line. This was in preparation for next week’s graphing to solve a system of linear inequalities.

Geometry with Clare:

I think we are finally through with Ch. 7, on Similarity. This chapter proved to be quite challenging for all; we took the second quiz Monday, spent considerable time in review for the test, which was taken Thursday. Happily, we have also made a start on Ch. 8, Right Triangles and Trigonometry. Looks interesting!

Language Arts with Jared:

Students finished their novels this week, and we prepared for a book test on Friday by looking at the plot structure, themes, and setting of the novels. Sixth and Seventh graders made progress in their new grammar unit on verb tenses, focusing on the simple tenses and the perfect tenses. Eighth graders are in a unit on nouns, and spent some time working online researching the plural forms of foreign words that have entered our vocabulary. Students also began a new vocabulary unit.

World Studies & Civics with Andrew:

For Civics this week, we focused on finishing up our NHD essays.  We did peer editing on them and assigned final drafts to be due on Friday.  Additionally, we started looking at the Legislative Branch of government, where we read about the structure and purpose of the two chambers of Congress.  We researched about specific representatives and senators from Virginia, and saw some of the legislation that they have been a part of in last year's congress.  We rounded out the week with a computer simulation about how congress-persons work to represent their constituents, as well as try to get re-elected each term.

Physical Science with Molly:

This week we continued our focus on particle physics. Students learned more about covalent and ionic bonding, then stretched their knowledge by researching about the current understanding of antimatter, neutrinos, quarks, and more. Students completed their Science News Skit video. They had the options of re-recording and editing their video. We watched these fun videos of scientists being interviewed about a current discovery in science. They did an excellent job!

Art with Patti:

Together, we brainstormed possible themes that the students could use for a project focused on art for activism. In the eighth grade class we also reviewed the various stages and terms used with clay. Students then continued working on various clay, happiness and art activism projects.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

Students worked on completing portfolio response sheets.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team