Weekly Update: December 22nd

The Badger Team would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday and a joyful New Year!  We hope everyone enjoys their break!  School resumes on Monday, January 6, 2020. 

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: We wrapped up our unit on Alexander the Great this week. Students were assessed Wednesday; be sure to check the grade book! When we come back after our two week vacation, we will start a new unit: Rome. Have a great holiday!

Science: After the holiday break we will be finishing up the Metabolism Unit with two summative assessments, a paper and a test. For the paper students will compare claims and evidence about an athletic performance and write and argument to support their claim. The test will include multiple choice and short answer/essay questions.

Literacy:  Most students have completed and submitted their narrated Atlas Obscura projects.  We have dedicated the past two weeks to this in class, and for homework.  When we return from vacation, we'll present projects and get back to Latin Roots!  If you haven't finished your project, find some time during the holiday break to get to the library if necessary, to finish up!  

English: Students finished reading A Christmas Carol this week and completed their unit test.  We also watched the movie together on Friday and discussed similarities and differences among the book, play, and movie.  Students completed a graphic organizer that depicts the character change of Ebenezer Scrooge.  Following vacation, students will receive their January independent projects and work on a character change project in the library.  For now, ENJOY the next two weeks off!  Rest, relax, and spend time with friends and family!  Happy Holidays!

Math: We 

Weekly Update: December 16th

Pencils:  It is very difficult for students to do work in class when they come without a pencil.  Many of us had a set of five "loaner" pencils at the front of the class for a student to use for a class period.  All have disappeared from The Mansion.  Our students have become complacent about preparedness, and it's time for a reset.  Please ask your child if they have pencils in their string bags.  If they do not, or can't remember where they are, can you please purchase some good Ticonderoga pencils for them this weekend?  Personalize them as we do!  Ask your kids -  they'll know how we do this.  

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: We are starting to phase away from Sparta and Athens and starting to shift our focus towards a new topic: Alexander the Great. Students questioned the life and legacy of Alexander the Great this past week. They will continue exploring Monday and will be assessed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Enjoy the holidays!

Science: Students will take a second look at the nervous system lab on Monday and then we are moving on to metabolism and an athlete. Students will apply what they learned about molecules through Elisa to how metabolism affects athletic performance.

Literacy:  Students learned how to do use the Chrome Extension Loom this week, so they can record the voice over narration for their projects.  Hopefully you have seen your children working on these projects at home.  They can't record until their research is complete, their images are selected, their slide shows are produced and their scripts are written.  Although they have been given every class period for two weeks, many remain far behind.  The project is due by Friday, December 20th. Extra help is available after school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  

English: We are nearing the end of our Christmas Carol unit. Students have their final unit test on Wednesday, December 18th. We'll spend Monday and Tuesday wrapping up the remainder of the book and reviewing for our test.  We're also looking forward to watching the movie together as a team on Friday. 

Math: We are still working through solving equations.  This week we will focus on solving equations with negative numbers.  Students will have a test Thursday, December 19th on equations.  The study guide will go home on Monday. 

Weekly Update: December 8th

We had a wonderful time on our field trip this past Friday.  Students looked lovely, and all were respectful and responsible! Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible. We had a blast!

EARLY RELEASE is this Wednesday, December 11th!

Pencils:  It is very difficult for students to do work in class when they come without a pencil.  Many of us had a set of five "loaner" pencils at the front of the class for a student to use for a class period.  All have disappeared from The Mansion.  Our students have become complacent about preparedness, and it's time for a reset.  Please ask your child if they have pencils in their string bags.  If they do not, or can't remember where they are, can you please purchase some good Ticonderoga pencils for them this weekend?  Personalize them as we do!  Ask your kids -  they'll know how we do this.  

December Book Orders went home last week in English and are due back on Wednesday, Decmber 11th to ensure delivery before the holiday break.  Book orders may be placed in person with Mrs. McGuire, or online.  Enter code HLB4Q if ordering online.  Thanks!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students this short week learned about Ancient Greek culture. Specifically, we discussed fables and read The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This upcoming week, we will continue Ancient Greek culture and dive into leadership and public speaking. 

Science: Monday in science students participated in  an hour of code. Students were given time to experience writing code for different programs. The rest of the week we will be focusing on a nervous system lab that will be due on Friday. Students should be completing nervous systems questions each night that are part of the lab.

Literacy:  The two snow days last week put us a bit behind, but students are forging ahead with their Atlas Obscura projects!  They should be researching their obscurity each day at home, and taking notes on their Cornell note document on Google Classroom!  Those without technology at home should be staying after school with me today and tomorrow and Thursday!  We have learned to use Cite This For Me, to cite their resources, and we will be learning to check the authenticity of the images they choose.  Recording the voice over will be the last step.  The project will be due by Friday, December 20th.   

English: Students said they really enjoyed the acting this past week at the play and that it was a nice visual for what we have been reading in class. We are nearing the end of A Christmas Carol and have been discussing the subtle character change of Ebenezer Scrooge throughout the course of the book.  We've also reviewed Dickens' upbringing and how it connects to the Cratchit Family, as well as classical literature and why we still read texts that have been written almost 200 years ago.  Students will have their unit test on December 18th.  

Math: Students are working on solving equations.  We started with learning how to create tape diagrams, for all students struggling with this process there is an instructional video on Google Class. This week we will work towards moving to the traditional algorithm.  Our next test will be Thursday, December 19th. Make sure to do the nightly homework!