TEAM P
Team P students are practicing working as a team of scientists to solve a problem in a short period of time. This practice will help prepare us for our upcoming FOSS Chemical Interactions' work. This unit of study focuses on observations, both qualitative and quantitative, and how to inference and support our observations with multiple pieces of evidence.
TEAM A
Team A students have been busy settling into 8th grade and learning new skills and expectations. From developing methods to solving problems and exploring nonlinear functions in math and practicing lab safety in science to applying word map words within the context of early American history and analyzing how Bradbury develops characters in one of his science fiction thrillers. The students on Team A have been so busy that we're already more than halfway through the first marking period. Please join us in encouraging your student to work hard, stay focused, and try his or her best!
TEAM N
Our team is off to a wonderful start! The students have been extremely motivated to learn!
Language Arts - The learners are reading new and exciting books and analyzing the elements of fiction. They are also working on narrative writing pieces, learning new vocabulary, and studying figurative language.
Science - Learners made a mini-pond that will be explored in the next few weeks. The Microscope unit is just beginning. The students will explore structures and organisms that are invisible to the unaided eye.
Math - Students are working on integers and graphing in all four quadrants.
History - The learners are currently studying the early river valley civilization of Mesopotamia. We have identified the location, geography, and physical features of the first major river valley settlement. Students are examining the contributions of the Mesopotamian people in regards to architecture, religion, writing, government, and hierarchy (social class structure).
History - Mr. Lawson
Student's on Team T History are researching River Valley Civilizations, they used an iBook called the "CSI Training Manual." They used this interactive ebook to learn about the Five Components of a Civilization. Once students complete this Training Manual they started to research the four river valley civilizations to identify the Five Components for each of these civilizations. This is all to prepare them to complete the Ultimate Ancient Civilization Challenge. In this Project Based Learning Unit the students will be creating their own civilization using their knowledge from the four river valleys and how those civilizations created their Five Components of a Civilization. Students will be presenting their unique "Civilizations" in late November.
Language Arts - Miss Barkus and Mrs. Howell
Team T students are off to a great start in 7th Grade Language Arts! Our current focus of study is the Elements of Fiction (character, setting, theme, plot, point-of-view, mood). Together we have traveled to the futuristic world of Venus through the short story, "All Summer in a Day," where we explored an alternate setting. We learned that many hands make light work in "City Green," as volunteers work to grow a community garden. We walked in the shoes of a boy named Murphy Murphy, in a tragically hilarious tale, "What's the Worst that Could Happen," as he endures the growing pains of being 13. We questioned how we would have responded similarly or differently to the narrator in, "The Fight," as he is challenged on the first day at his new school. We empathized with Jose in, "The Born Worker," as he undergoes a life-changing event and learns the importance of staying true to yourself and to your values. We have many more people, places, and events to explore in the world of fiction! Hang on! It's going to be a great journey!
Math - Miss Hanes
Honors math students on Team T are currently working in chapter 4 proportional relationships and expressions or are in Chapter 5 working on writing variable expressions for word problems. The non-honors classes are working in chapter 2 and 3 basic arithmetic skills such as: multiplying and dividing fractions, decimals and mixed numbers; graphing in all four quadrants and integer operations.
Science - Mr. Heisey
In science, students are completing the first unit on what it means to be living. We started the year by interacting with our first living organism - a cricket. Students enjoyed running experiments on food preference with these insects. Mr. Heisey even showed them how a cricket was able to "drive" a car that he purchased. We then did our first lab experiment in which the students ran tests on five unknown materials to determine whether they were living or nonliving. Finally, we had a team-wide debate about whether certain items were living or nonliving. The next unit that we will be starting involves the proper use and care of microscopes.
Team H
SCIENCE
We are learning to use the Microscopes in 7th grade. Today we observed Brine Shrimp and fed them yeast. We were able to see them eat and digest their food!
We are learning about the Periodic Table in 8th grade. Students will be conducting their own research project by profiling an element of their choice.
MATH
8th grade: Is working through chapter 2 materials. Students will have the opportunity to work in groups next week on specific skills they need for the Chapter 2 Test.
Honors 7th: Completely self paced and doing their own assignments based off of pre-tested skills. Students work on IXL's, worksheets, and projects to showcase their knowledge and application of the standards.
8th grade: This week they have completed a self paced solving equations unit. Students work on worksheets to practice the skill. Once completed, they became helpers and were assigned a peer to assist. Next week we will be working on writing equations from word problems with a project and proportional relationships.
HISTORY
Both the 7th and 8th grade students on Team H history have incorporated aspects of PBL (Problem Based Learning) in their early school year assessments. Students are working on research, time management, and presentation skills.
LANGUAGE ARTS
In seventh grade, students have been learning strategies to analyze texts. We read a play to analyze for character types and themes. Students are preparing to start Edmentum, which we are piloting this year.
In eighth grade, Students shared artifacts representing characters and events in the books Hope was Here by Joan Bauer. Pictures show some of these collections.
All of the Team E teachers recently completed a presentation for students about academic integrity. Because students now live in a digital world where technology is used daily, the Team E teachers wanted to be proactive with students. Teachers assisted students in identifying what is acceptable electronic collaboration.
In the classrooms of Team E, teachers are incorporating a variety of teaching strategies. Students are completing self-paced projects, working collaboratively with their peers on group projects, as well as participating in whole-group instruction.
Team R
Team R students have adjusted to their new school and are showing good citizenship by helping each other be successful.
In Language Arts, students have been learning to think like detectives as they analyze evidence in order to write a Text Dependent Analysis. They've also been exploring the literary elements of narrative.
Students examine unknown materials in Mr. Santoro's Science class to discover if they are living or nonliving.
In History, Team R students explored survival of early man. They participated in a Hunters Gatherers Simulation Game to determine if they could survive and were given opportunities to make choices that would determine the outcome of the game. The students learned many valuable lessons especially that it was key to work in groups and the discovery of using fire extended early man's existence. We have now moved into our civilization study beginning with Ancient Mesopotamia.
Students began the year by working to develop a growth mindset that will give them confidence as they face challenges this year in math. All students are working in small groups at a variety of paces, as we customize our curriculum to meet their learning needs.
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