We had another great week in Middle School. The highlight was probably at the start of the week when we had 5th grade students from Upper Elementary mix in with our grade 6/7 classes to take a trial run at Middle School. The grade 6/7 students were great hosts, and the 5th grade students left feeling excited about next year!
Announcements:
- 6th & 7th Grade Research Presentations Thursday, February 26th.CLICK HERE for more information.
- Please check for appropriate winter attire for the outdoors. Most students will go outside with their younger peers during Community Service each week.
- MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
- MS Flower Schedule
Science
On Monday, 6/7 classes had “moving up day,” and our 5th graders were able to see what the science class is like in Middle School. They had a great time, and our current students were excellent role models.
Middle School students started a new chapter from the Discovery Education e-book. This week, 6th and 7th graders learned concepts about the states of matter, where they are found in nature, the differences between them, and how they occur. They also learned how altitude and atmospheric pressure affect the boiling point of water. Students showed a lot of interest in learning about Plasma (the fourth state of matter). They also had some classwork and videos to support the acquired knowledge.
8th Graders started a basic lesson about microscopes and their use; they learned their parts and how they work. They were also able to navigate the use of microscopes by first understanding how to use them properly. Also, we started a new laboratory activity, preparing a specimen of onion skin and learning how to make slides. Students learned about the use of dyes (Methylene blue) to have a better contrast in order to identify onion skin cells under the microscope. Students enjoyed themselves as much as Ms. Ray did, working on hands-on projects. The class is currently working on a laboratory report of this activity.
Humanities
All Humanities classes continue to highlight notable Black Americans at the start of each class this month.
Grades 6 & 7 students continued to work on their research projects. They wrapped up their research notes this week and spent several class periods working on their essay drafts. They organized their work into three sections: What happened (identify the moment in history and any relevant background/context), The immediate impact and its effect, and the long-term effect (modern/today). The classes also had a lesson/refresh about writing introductions and completed them in class. Next week, the classes will compose a conclusion, add citations, edit, and revise their papers. They will also work on their presentations!
8th grade Humanities classes took a further look at Puritan society in colonial New England. Then, they explored the Salem Witch Trials, first looking at the Afflicted Girls. They are watching a 2024 National Geographic documentary in parts about this time in history. Additionally, each student continued to work on their expert projects, even reaching out to some experts.
Finally, in 8th grade Leadership this week, students took part in an activity called “Lion, Fox, or St. Bernard”. This involved answering two series of questions about themselves to determine their Leadership Style. The first set of questions asked them about tendencies they have and how they react in situations. The second asked them similar questions, but how they would respond under pressure. It was interesting to see how the results reflected who they are and also that their Leadership style might change when they are put under pressure.
Math
Pre-Transition: This week in Pre-Transition, students explored various types of angles and angle relationships, including complementary, supplementary, vertical, and linear pairs. They are now able to apply these relationships to determine the measure of unknown angles with confidence. Students also began their introduction to algebraic equations, learning how to solve for missing variables and build a strong foundation for future algebraic thinking.
Transition: Students made excellent progress this week as they mastered solving one-step algebraic equations and inequalities. They also learned how to accurately graph inequalities on a number line, reinforcing their understanding of solution sets. After completing Chapter 5 with an end-of-chapter assessment, students eagerly began Chapter 6, where they were introduced to geometric transformations and the concepts that will guide our next unit of study.
Algebra: In Algebra, students wrapped up Chapter 4 and transitioned smoothly into Chapter 5. So far, they have developed an understanding of algebraic fractions, including what they represent and how they function. Students are now able to multiply and simplify algebraic fractions, continuing to strengthen both their procedural fluency and conceptual understanding.
Geometry: Geometry students have been moving full steam ahead in Chapter 4. This week, they completed their study of geometric transformations and can confidently perform translations, rotations, and reflections. Students are developing a deeper understanding of how figures change position and orientation while preserving key properties.
Algebra II: Algebra II students concluded Chapter 3 and began Chapter 4, diving into the study of matrices. They are learning how to create data matrices, interpret elements within a matrix, and understand how matrices are used to organize and analyze information. This new topic is building their analytical skills and expanding their mathematical toolkit.
