Team Update: Week of May 29th

Class Updates:

Social Studies: We are moving right along in Social Studies! This past week we made quite the dent in our Renaissance unit. With this upcoming week being a short week (due to Memorial Day and Step-Up Day), we will still continue our research and discovery of the Renaissance and have an assessment on the early years of the Renaissance on Friday. 

Science:  This week we figured out that there are dominant and recessive genes.  Students enjoyed practicing this new discovery by making babies with their lab partners.  Look for pictures next week!   Click HERE to see more about what we are doing in class.

Literacy: WooHOO!  The twelve units of Latin roots are complete!  Your children have learned 158 Latin roots - a feat which will assist them from now on, as they navigate vocabulary!  Next week there will be a test on Part I of The Omnivore's Dilemma, so expect to see a study guide come home, and help your student prepare!  Have a wonderful weekend!

English: This week we continued reading Freak the Mighty and began exploring literary elements within this story. Next week there will be a test on the first half of Freak the Mighty; the study guides were sent home today! Students should start studying this weekend to prepare for the test on Thursday, May 31st. We will continue to read next week and explore heroism within literature and real life.

Math: We have spent this week learning about different types of angles.  Students should know the terms vertical angles, adjacent angles, complementary angles, and supplementary angles. At the end of the week we discussed how to use algebraic thinking to solve for missing angles.  Next week we will continue to work through more problems finding missing angles.  Our next quiz is on Friday, June 1st.

Team Update: Week of May 21st

HELP!  We all need tissues to help the kids with allergies!  Donations appreciated!

Progress Reports will go home on Monday, May 21! 

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Students completed their Performance Tasks on the Middle Ages Tuesday and started our unit on the Renaissance on Wednesday. We will continue learning and researching about the Renaissance for the next few weeks.

Science:  We are currently trying to figure out if there are patterns to the way that traits are passed down.  Students have analyzed human pedigrees.  We will continue to observe plants that we have crossed and grown to figure out these patterns.   Click HERE to see more about what we are doing in class.  QUIZ THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE!  What should you study?  Look at the green anchor chart in your binder, everything that is on that so far will be on the quiz.

Literacy: There is only one unit of Latin roots left to conquer, and we'll complete it on Friday with the test!  The Omnictionary due date has been pushed to May 31st.  Students are plowing through the remainder of the first section of The Omnivore's Dilemma, and should expect a short writing assignment this week and a test on the overarching concepts of the first unit within the next week or so.  They will have lots of notes to study, and will be provided a specific study guide. 

English: This week students took their final test on The Giver, and then we dove right in to our unit on Freak the Mighty. The first mini-project for Freak the Mighty will be assigned this week and should be completed entirely at home. Students will continue to read Freak the Mighty this week, as well as other supplementary stories.

Math: Friday was our last day of percents!  Our next unit will be on angles (vertical, adjacent, complementary, and supplementary), and constructing triangles.  Students will learn to use compasses an protractors to create different types of triangles. There are lots of new topics and skills to learn this unit that student's haven't been exposed to in the past. 

Team Update: Week of May 7th

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Students did a lot of reviewing this week in regard to the Black Death and the Late Middle Ages. Student took an assessment on those topics this Friday. Make sure that you check x2 for their updated grades!

Science:  This week in science we dissected flowers.  Thank you to Hannafords for donating one flower for each badger student!   Click HERE to see more about what we are doing in class.

Literacy: We are examining some of Michael Pollan's rules for eaters from his book Food Rules.  They thoroughly enjoyed comparing the nutritional labels on the variety of snacks that were in the room for the day, and I suspect more of your children will be reading the labels more frequently now!  The artists are working feverishly today to finish their Word Art, and I'm looking forward to posting some pictures of them as soon as they're all complete.  Latin 11 test Friday, May 11th. 

English:  Students spent this week continuing to read The Giver and are looking forward to uncovering some of the mysteries of the strange futuristic world in this story. Students also explored the writing style of Lois Lowry by writing their own personal memoirs. They were very creative in their figurative language use! Next week we will finish up The Giver and students will break down the ambiguous ending by writing their own final chapter of the novel. Remember that the last IRP is due on Monday!

Math: We are half way through our percent unit!  Most students did very well on the quiz last Thursday.  We will be spending this week learning about tip, tax, discounts, and markups. Just a reminder we do not have a Go Figure this month, yay.