It was an exciting week for the middle school community as we prepared for the first annual Fall Cook-Out Event. Big shout out to Mrs. Lamb and the leadership classes for hosting the event, baking delicious treats, and decorating the gym for some festive fall fun!
If you have not yet signed up for a student-parent-teacher conference with your child’s respective advisor, please do so by using the sign-up genius ASAP. As a reminder, we have a Professional Development Day for all teachers on Friday, October 27th, and no regular classes will take place. Oktoberfest is just one week away and will be a jam-packed event for the entire family to attend; check your inbox for the link to purchase tickets in advance.
MATH
In the Pre-Transition math class, students discovered the pattern of multiplying decimal numbers and practiced translating decimal numbers in word form into digit form. This class can properly round decimals to a given place value, and they are starting to grasp the idea of converting between decimals, fractions, and percentages.
In the Transition math class, students concluded their learning of Chapter 2 and wrote the unit test on Wednesday, October 16th. This class reviewed how to translate words into algebraic expressions, use the Pythagorean Theorem to find distances in real situations, and graph solutions to simple inequalities. Next week, we will begin to explore more problems with fractions, decimals, and percentages.
In the Algebra math class, students practiced solving multi-step algebraic equations for any unknown variable. This class can graph ordered pairs from a table of values and make algebraic equations from a real-world situation. We will continue working with the distributive property and collecting like terms as we manipulate more complex equations next week.
In the Geometry math class, students are studying arcs, angles, and transformations of a figure. This class explored different properties for parallel and perpendicular lines this week and could make conclusions about different figures given in a specific question. This class wrote the Chapter 3 quiz this week and should start to prepare for the unit test scheduled for Wednesday, October 25th.
Make Joke: Which tool is best for math? …..The multi-pliers
SCIENCE:
6th-year Earth Science students worked this week on identifying the main layers of the earth. Students were assigned a partner to research a layer of earth (inner/outer core, mantle, and crust) and later present their work to the class. Students were asked to include the depth, temperature, thickness, and fun facts about each layer in their presentation. From this research and research found in their tech books, students will begin creating a stop-motion video depicting tectonic plates and their influence on shaping our planet.
7th-year Physical Science students have continued working on identifying physical and chemical properties of matter. As a part of this unit, students conducted an experiment that tested how temperature influences solubility. Students were provided with three different temperatures of water, adding recorded amounts of sugar to them until the sugar no longer was able to dissolve in the solution. Students formulated their hypothesis beforehand, anticipating the warmer water (solvent) to allow more sugar (solute) to be dissolved in the water. After the experiment concluded and their data was recorded, each student will format the information as a formal lab report.
8th-year Life Science students are just finishing their “Structure of Life” unit. This week, students continued their research and class discussions around data and information regarding what cancer is and the work conducted to address this disease. Students learned about certain factors that influence the mutation of cells within the body, such as smoking or exposure to high levels of UV radiation. Students have been able to apply our past unit, “Cell Theory,” to our current unit as it relates to the behavior a cell might undergo when exposed to detrimental factors.
Humanities
All Humanities classes this week completed their first Current Events Assignments. The goal of Current Events is to teach students how to navigate what’s going on in the world, the media, and learn how to form an opinion and have respectful discussions about it. Students are assigned a current events date once per month. Using the guidelines posted in their Google Classroom, they find an interesting news item, write about it, and present it to the class. A key component is to write and discuss the impact of the event/issue now and moving forward. Students then lead a discussion. Topics were diverse this week, and Mrs. Lamb was impressed with the first Current Events of the year.
Additionally, 6th grade students completed drafts of a creative writing piece in the point of view of a falling leaf. Then, they watched a mini documentary about a teenage girl from New Zealand who has a similar life experience to Melody, the main character from Out of Mind. They have planned a brief writing piece comparing the two and will draft it next week.
In addition to current events, 7th grade worked with Mr. Newman and started discussing Human Nature in preparation for learning about John Locke and political economic systems.
8th grade, in addition to current events, planned and began drafting personal memoirs. After reading and analyzing a couple of memoirs, they learned about the idea of writing about a pebble- write about one pebble, not all of the pebbles. Then, they read sample memoir beginnings and are drafting them. They will continue their drafts next week. With Mr. Newman, students are learning about colonization of the 13 Colonies.
