Week of February 12, 2018

Winter Elective Updates

Children's Garden
We have enjoyed having these three with us this trimester. They certainly “bring the play” to our afternoon recess.  They meet us on the playground and then read stories when we go inside. Jaden and Leighton lead the kids in active play, and Charlie has read train books and taught us about train routes. One of our students has become very fond of Charlie, and he and Charlie actively seek each other out when they arrive.

Recycle & Reuse

Knitting
We've all been working on finishing up our projects. We've also been reacquainting ourselves with finger knitting.

Intermediate Python
It's the end of Python and what a Blast!!! Mondays and Fridays with the Python Elective have been wonderful!! The students’ TEXT ADVENTURES are a continuous journey. So while we worked on these, students began to work on understanding Class and functions. Learning about classes are so important to Object Oriented programming. The small program students are creating is about Marvel Heroes and their enemies who try to harm them. Time will tell and I surely hope the students feel comfortable with this Beginners level of Python. What I hoped for has been for the students to be able to construct programs to accomplish tasks as means of creative expression. Students should feel comfortable programming loops, understanding variables, importing, using functions and classes. Just having a good understanding of algorithms and how they work overall. Most importantly I hope students have developed confidence when it comes to understanding the basics.


Cooking
The students really enjoyed making mini-cherry pies. Rolling out the dough was a particular challenge! The Golden Graham Smores treats for the January birthday celebration were a big hit. Then the class really wanted to make Dirt Cups, so we had fun making the chocolate pudding and putting it together with crushed cookies and of course gummy worms. To wrap up the tri-mester we will be making chocolate chip scones.

Intro to Graphic Design

Students having been learning basic tools in Adobe Illustrator to manipulate type, as well as turning their original drawing to digital art. They use these skills to design a logo for a business of their creation.

Red Room
Red Room learning buddies have been joining the kindergartners during their "center time." They have been helping two of the younger students (one of which is new this semester) to explore the variety of activity choices in their center. One of them was heard saying "Wow, I want to play with Legos like this every day." :) They also occasionally host an activity that the students can come join, such as decorating bags for Chocolate Party. Having the buddies come visit is a highlight of the week. 

Greenhouse
Students have had a great time growing tomatoes, chard, kale, and a variety of spices in the greenhouse. We hope to do some harvesting with the next elective group!

Board Games
We continued to have a lot of fun learning about new board games. We played Zombicide: Black Plague, Tiny Epic Galaxy, Quelf!, and Sushi Go!.

Music in Film
The students in the Music in Film elective composed (using GarageBand) songs to accompany still pictures, and it was a real treat to listen to these compositions. Then, after creating funny videos, the students composed music (and some included sound effects) to accompany their videos. It's been a fun, creative trimester. The final class meeting will involve watching the videos with the composed music included.

Baking
We had a fun semester.  We practiced kitchen safety and focused on making familiar treats from scratch.  Group dynamics were good and we worked on sharing tasks and being supportive of gluten free and nut free baking needs. We made hot chocolate and whipped cream, biscuits, brownies, cake, scones, and caramel popcorn among other things.

Singing
It's been a really fun trimester in Singing elective. We've recently been working on sight-reading skills, singing a wide variety of music from various genres, and extending Joey's vocal range a little higher (something he expressed specific interest in developing). I have really enjoyed working with Joey. He has a wonderful singing voice!

AV Club
We learned about the introduction into film making. The kids started shooting their first short film. If we had more time they would learn about post production.

Graphic Design
We looked at different playing card decks and identifying the design elements of the cards that were
constrained by function and the elements that were not. We looked at brochure design examples and we talked about the design elements that the kids liked and disliked as a way to get them thinking of design ideas. Illustrator tools/techniques taught in class:
+ Learned to use the Brushes tool and palette and create a new brush
+ Learned to make shapes and change the fill and stroke colors
+ Learned how to draw with the pen tool and add and delete anchor points
+ Learned to use the anchor tool to create curves and work with reshaping curves
+ Learned to use the text tool and convert text to shapes
+ Learned to use the select and direct select tool and when to use each one
+ Learned some of the quick commands for common tools
+ Learned to place images in Illustrator and crop them using the clipping mask feature
+ Introduction to the gradient tool
+ Created a flyer brochure to learn how to create a photo inside of letters in text, by converting text to
outlines and creating a compound path to generate a clipping mask
+ Created a logo with three subtle variations to learn how to use the layers palette, working with locking, hiding and re-ordering layers to show a client the different variations.


Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Seema:
We finished our study of permutations, combinations and probability with understanding experimental probability and learning how to calculate the probability of two or more independent events occurring in succession. On Friday the students took their chapter 10 assessment (several of them need more time to finish). Next we will start chapter 11 on integers and graphing in the coordinate plane.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

On Monday we learned how to make circle graphs (pie charts) from scratch - calculating, drawing, and labeling the exact percentages of data. We then reviewed our chapter, and took our test on Wednesday. We ended the week by learning about finding the area of parallelograms and triangles.

Pre-Algebra III with Ann:

Algebra I with Molly:

They then learned to solve systems of inequalities to find the overlapping range of solutions. They also spent time practicing solving systems of linear equations as applied to real-world situations, choosing the appropriate method to use for solving, elimination, graphing, or substitution. They reviewed, then took their chapter 7 test by the end of the week.

Language Arts with Jared:

We wrapped up our novel units by writing some essays. Sixth and seventh graders learned about writing compare/contrast essays, and how to write (and improve) their thesis statements. They typed up their essays, and then worked through a check-list to revise them into a final draft. Eighth graders continued to learn about untrustworthy authors, and used their knowledge for an in-class "blue book" essay test. We also started a new unit of vocabulary. Mid-week, we introduced our new unit, which is creating (writing/illustrating) a children's picture book in small groups. This will be due before Spring break, and we will be sharing them with the lower grades.

World Studies & U.S. History with Ann:

Earth Science with Molly:

This week, we focused on star systems and galaxies and the big bang. Also, students are beginning to review the Universe Unit in preparation for a test. We are also exploring a bit more about Black Holes. There will be a unit test next week. 8^th grade will take it Wednesday, February 21^st, 6^th and 7^th grade will take it Thursday, February 22^nd.

Spanish with Corinne:

Sunshine Spanish

Sunshine A

This week we started Chapter 3B, maintaining good health. In this chapter students will learn how to talk about the food pyramid, exercise, and food in Spanish.

Sunshine B

This week students reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 7B.

HS Spanish I, part II

This week we finished Chapter 7B, shopping a stores. We learned how to use a direct object pronoun to replace a direct object noun in a sentence, and reviewed the other grammar concepts from the chapter. We will have a test on Thursday the 22^nd. On Friday students submitted a draft of a letter to students in Puerto Rico, I will help edit these letters and then students will create a final draft to send.

HS Spanish II, part I

This week we finished Chapter 3B, asking for and giving directions. We learned about the irregular forms of the present progressive, and reviewed the other grammar concepts from the chapter. We will have a test on Thursday the 22^nd. On Friday students submitted a draft of a letter to students in Puerto Rico, I will help edit these letters and then students will create a final draft to send.

HS Spanish II, part II

This week we finished Chapter 7A, talking about movies. We learned the Spanish present perfect tense (to have done something) and reviewed the other grammar concepts from the chapter. The students have chosen to do a movie project in place of a test for this chapter, and I have given them the rubric that they should follow for this assignment. On Friday students submitted a draft of a letter to students in Puerto Rico, I will help edit these letters and then students will create a final draft to send.

Art with Patti:

Students are given engagement grades for each class. As a reminder, students are informed about their work in different ways. They submit work/create an online portfolio, assignments and grades are sent home weekly through Google Classroom, they reflect on their art in both Artsonia and with Google Classroom. This is a great way to check in with students about grades and assignments.

Sixth - Torn Paper Collage 2/13 & 2/14 - Students continued to fill areas of their collage with torn paper. Throwing on the wheel Students are rotating in pairs each art class to practice throwing on the wheel. They are exploring how to center the clay, open it up, and pull to create a cylinder. They also will use sculpting tools to finish the piece. David, Sam, Kyle and Leighton worked on the wheel. Art Project: "Fun" Reflection For this project students created an artwork based on the theme "fun". They are to use any medium that best fits the project, thinking about composition and creating a focal point. Please answer the reflection prompts below.

Seventh - Cut Paper/Collagev2/14 - Students cut simple shapes as a repeated element for their collage (ie: fish, city building fruit, flowers, etc.) 2/13 - Students painted two papers, one with warm colors and one with cool colors. Throwing on the wheel Students are rotating in pairs each art class to practice throwing on the wheel. They are exploring how to center the clay, open it up, and pull to create a cylinder. They also will use sculpting tools to finish the piece. McKenna, Sam, Rylan and Carson worked on the wheel. Art Project: "Fun" Reflection  For this project students created an artwork based on the theme "fun". They are to use any medium that best fits the project, thinking about composition and creating a focal point. Please answer the reflection prompts below. Art Project: Using "Space" Students completed an art journal warm-up which features positive and negative space. For this projects students will expand on the idea of using space. How do artists create the look of depth, and add dimension on a two-dimensional surface? Students need to think about foreground/background, how to use value, how to use size, how does color change to show depth? What else can you think of?

Eighth - Complementary Paper Weaving 2/15 - Students painted a 9 x 12" paper with the complementary color to the previously chosen hue, with neighboring intermediate colors. 2/14 - Students painted a 9 x 12" paper with a hue of their choice, and also included the neighboring intermediate colors. Throwing on the wheel Students are rotating in pairs each art class to practice throwing on the wheel. They are exploring how to center the clay, open it up, and pull to create a cylinder. They also will use sculpting tools to finish the piece. Nate, Grant, Gavin and Mason worked on the wheel. Art Project: "My World" For this project students created an artwork based on the theme "My World". They are to use any medium that best fits the project, thinking about composition and creating a focal point. Please answer the reflection prompts below.

Check out the art blog at http://bnsartstudio.weebly.com/

Computer Lab with Lorraine:

This week the 6th graders continued to work on their Weebly sites and the 7th graders tried to unlock each other's Digital Breakouts.  This was very fun and many were asking for hints just to "break out".  The 8th graders have worked a little longer on their projects as they have 4 locks as a requirement and are working with great intentions that anyone who tries to "break out" of their Digital site, will have to work a little hard to decode any clues.

http://bnscomputerchronicles.weebly.com/

P.E. and Health with Matt: 

http://matthewperry.co/?page_id=174

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week 6^th grade students were split into gender groups this week. Girls worked independently, while the boys began learning about changes that occur during puberty, specifically, the height-growth spurt. Next week, the girls will focus on the same topic. We are reading from a book called What Happens to the Body (for Girls or for Boys –different books). I discussed with them that I understand that they may feel embarrassed by the words and knowledge that we use, but that over time, they will become more comfortable with the ideas and be better able to make good decisions about their bodies in the future.

This week 7^th grade students focused on Bullying again. They compared the different body language and ways of communicating people use which are either passive, assertive, or aggressive. We read aloud from Patricia Polacco’s book Bully. Next time 7^th grade students will focus on internet bullying.

This week 8^th grade students watched a video about the biology of human reproduction, including how the genetics work. In coming classes, they will learn about opposite gender reproductive parts.

Thank you from, 
The Purple Team