Welcome back, Middle School families! It was a great first week of the spring trimester. The students were refreshed and energized as we entered these last couple of months of school.
Humanities
6th grade Humanities classes are studying Ancient Egypt. They researched some specific vocabulary that will be useful in their study of this time of history, as well as building knowledge as they read the novel The Eye of Ra by Ben Gartner. This book surrounds the building of the Pyramid of Djoser and includes the infamous architect Imhotep. The students are learning to make their own annotations as they read in lieu of comprehension questions and will eventually be leading their own book discussions. Finally, we got back to Poetry Tuesdays this week and discussed the many usages of some words as well as etymology.
7th-grade Humanities classes dove right back into their class novel, A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park. This piece recounts the experience of Salva Dut, a Sudanese man who was part of the Lost Boys of Sudan, fleeing his country to safety from rebel military groups in the late 1980s. The class also watched a video in two parts about the geography of Sudan: political, physical, and human. They will continue with this region next week, focusing on South Sudan and its independence in 2011. 7th-grade students will be making annotations moving forward with this novel, and we discussed how to do so when reading by recognizing something important, having a reaction, making a connection, and asking a question. Finally, students returned to regular Poetry Tuesday readings with a poem called “Guilt” by Jed Chambers.
8th grade began the week in Mr. Newman’s class. In American History they are continuing their examination of the Civil War and its outcomes. The class will be studying how the country was divided prior to and just after the war and what challenges lay ahead. In conjunction with this, they began a book with Mrs. Lamb called She Came to Slay, by Erica Armstrong Dunsbar. This biography, published in 2019, details the life of Minty (a.k.a Harriet Tubman) and her predecessors. 8th-grade students are annotating and leading class discussions. This book is bringing about many questions about slavery, so they are exploring more about its history in the U.S. as well. Students also checked in with Mrs. Lamb regarding their Expert Interviews and have a big check-in on Tuesday, April 2.
Science
In 6th-year Earth Science, students are delving into the fascinating topic of what causes seasons on our planet. This past week, they dedicated their time to creating artistic representations that capture the essence of the unit’s objectives. Through their creativity, students are gaining a deeper understanding of how the tilt of Earth’s axis and its orbit around the sun contributes to the changing seasons we experience throughout the year.
In 7th-year Physical Science class, students have been immersed in a fascinating project constructing pinewood derby cars, all part of the Kinetic Energy unit. Throughout this hands-on experience, each student has been tasked with applying key concepts of both kinetic and potential energy, as well as delving into the relationship between energy, speed, and velocity. Once the young engineers complete their builds, an exhilarating race awaits, putting their newfound knowledge to the test in a thrilling display of scientific principles in action.
8th-year Life Science students have continued to work on our unit, Heredity and Genetics, focusing on genotypes and phenotypes. As students construct their unique “Monsters” family, they witness firsthand how specific traits are inherited by the offspring. This hands-on approach not only brings genetics to life but also deepens students’ understanding of how traits are passed down through generations in living organisms.
Math
In the chapter, Ratio and Proportion, Pre-Transition math students are delving into the world of ratios and proportions which are essential concepts in mathematics. By grasping the ratio comparison model for division, students can effectively compare quantities. Furthermore, they are exploring reciprocals, uncovering the multiplicative inverse property crucial for solving equations. Additionally, students are mastering the division of fractions and mixed numbers, which provides a solid foundation for more complex math problems. Equally important, they are learning to solve equations of the form ax=b, a fundamental skill with broad applications in various mathematical contexts.
Transition math students are currently covering the chapter Patterns Leading to Division. This week’s lessons have been filled with exciting concepts such as integer division, the rate model for division, division of fractions, negative numbers, equations and inequalities, and the ratio-comparison model for division. By exploring these topics, students are building a strong foundation in division that will not only help them solve mathematical problems but also see the connections and patterns that exist within numbers.
Linear systems in Algebra are a fundamental concept where equations involving multiple variables are solved simultaneously to find a common solution. This week, students have been exploring different methods, such as substitution, addition, and multiplication, to solve these systems. They have also learned about the relationship between systems and parallel lines, as well as delving into matrices and matrix multiplication. By mastering these techniques, students are better equipped to solve real-world problems that involve multiple unknowns and variables.
The geometry class has been exploring the area and perimeter of various polygons. They discovered how the formula for the area of a triangle came about. They are applying conversions to finding the same area: square miles to feet, square yards to square feet and square inches, and square miles to square acres. Given tesselations, students can predict its area.
Have a wonderful weekend! To those celebrating, Happy Easter.
