Another beautiful and productive week in middle school has gone by! The Middle School is gearing up for its first social event with Upper Elementary students next Friday, 10/20, from 5:30-7:30 pm at school. This is a drop-off event! If you have not responded to the invitation, please do so we can get a final count! Middle School & Upper El Cookout Invitation.
Science
6th-year Earth Science students were able to create their resin molds incorporating an object of their choosing. Students chose between geometric or animal molds for their own representation. Following the completion of this project, students were asked to write a fictional story using key terms from our unit, Fossils, as it relates to the preservation of fossils. Each student was able to share their story aloud to the class and later display their resin mold and story for the entire school to see. After completing the unit Fossils, students worked on identifying dependent and independent variables. Students were asked to analyze and graph data using Google Sheets. Once the data was graphed, students discussed what claims could be made based on the represented graph.
7th year Physical Science students finished their unit, Combining and Separating. Students learned about relevant issues in which we rely on the knowledge of separation, as discussed in the Flint Water Crisis (2014-16), along with the process of desalination (removal of salt from saltwater). We conducted an experiment on the desalination process by saturating water with salt and later boiling it, resulting in freshwater once again. We will begin our next unit, Characteristic Properties of Matter, next week.
8th-year Life Science students began and finished their cell cake project from the unit Cell Theory. Students were instructed to represent an animal or plant cell and its primary organelles using food (candy/cake). Students chose certain candies to represent each organelle they felt was the best representation of the actual appearance possible. Once the construction was completed, students created a key diagram labeling the organelles along with the function served within the cell. Students presented their finished product to the middle school students, which was later enjoyed by all.
Math
In the Pre-Transition math class, students started learning Chapter 2 and are excited to explore the relationship between decimals, fractions, and percentages. This week, they learned about place values for a decimal number, comparing and ordering decimals on a number line, as well as multiplying decimals by values of 10s, 100s, 1000s, etc.
In the Transition math class, students learned the last three lessons in Chapter 2. They discussed how to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find a missing side length as well as how to find a solution for a simple single-step algebraic equation. This class concluded the week by learning to graph inequalities on a number line and writing a mini Chapter 2 assessment.
In the Algebra math class, students reviewed key concepts for Chapter 2 and wrote the Unit Test on Thursday, October 12th. Students practiced using the distributive property and collecting like terms in an algebraic expression. This class demonstrated that they understand related facts for all operations and can test equivalences for two expressions.
In the Geometry math class, students concluded their learning of Chapter 2 and reviewed the key concepts to prepare for the Unit Test on Thursday, October 12th. This class can draw and identify polygons, write conditional statements, and distinguish between convex and nonconvex figures.
Make Joke: Do you know why seven eight nine? Because you’re supposed to eat three squared meals a day!
Humanities
6th grade Humanities was busy this week. With Mr. Newman, the students are working on the five themes of geography. In Mrs. Lamb’s room, students continued their descriptive writing unit by using what they learned about word choice, figurative language, and imagery to imagine they are narrating a nature documentary. Using a one-minute clip of a Great White Shark leaping out of the water, they wrote descriptive narrations, workshopped their work with the class, and made suggestions for Mrs. Lamb’s revision. They are now working on a piece from the point of view of a falling leaf. Meanwhile, students are finishing their class novel, Out of My Mind.
7th grade Humanities classes also had a busy week. With Mr. Newman, students are working on locating information from research and using it to answer questions. They specifically used research about Imperial China. With Mrs. Lamb, students finished drafts of their final writing piece for Ties That Bind, Ties That Break. They wrote a letter as the novel’s protagonist to their late father, explaining changes in China and how her decision to keep her feet unbound has affected her life. Next, students presented their Dynasty research. Finally, the 7th-grade students revised their initial drafts of their Ode poems.
8th grade Humanities classes worked on several items this week. First, they completed their pre-contact American civilizations research with Mr. Newman. With Mrs. Lamb, students self-edited their literary analysis essays about The Outsiders and then received feedback for revisions from Mrs. Lamb. Next, students read two short memoir pieces, preparing to write their own next week.