Riddle Me This: Week #2

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

That’s a wrap! Production week for Riddle Me This, the 2021 Middle School written and produced play, is behind us! The children were incredibly patient, flexible, and hard working. It has been an absolute pleasure for the teachers to work with the students. From the genesis of the play’s concept to writing the dialogue, creating the set, and filming, it has been an amazing experience! With having to keep Covid protocols in mind, adding another layer of challenge during the entire process, the students stayed positive and made the show a great success.

We can’t wait to share the show with you once the editing is complete! Thank you for your support!

Middle School: Riddle Me This Week #1

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

It has been a wonderful return to school following spring break. It has been great to see all of the students and to be working on the amazing play they wrote: Riddle Me This. 

We started the week with a full cast, read-through over Zoom. From there, the day has been divided into thirds with each group working either on the stage blocking with Ms. Sutherland, building the set with Ms. Reid & Mr. Brown, or running through lines and additional rehearsal time with Mrs. Lamb. By Wednesday, the set was looking great and almost half the play was blocked!

Next week, the Middle School looks forward to finishing rehearsals and starting to film! Stay tuned!

Middle School: Pi & Play!

Posted on by Michelle Lamb
Pi Day
On Friday all students celebrated Pi Day which officially takes place on March 14 (3/14). Students enjoyed a read aloud story of Sir Cumfrance, they learned how Pi was discovered and used in the early days as well as enjoyed a tasty, circular cookie to celebrate the round theme. Each class participated in a 6-part station activity where everyone had an opportunity to calculate the circumference of a pop can, find the surface area of a toilet paper roll, and play a probability game to roll the correct digits to Pi from a 10-sided dice. Students enjoyed the day of hands on practice to calculate equations using Pi and reflect on how circular objects are used in the real world.
Fun Facts About Pi
1. there are over a trillion digits to Pi
2. its a irrational number that never terminates and never repeats
3. the world record for memorizing the most pi digits is 67890
Math Joke: 
What’s the math teacher’s favorite dessert?………………………Pi.
Why shouldn’t you eat too much pi?……………….You’ll end up with a big circumference

Riddle Me This: Middle School Play

The 2021 Middle School play, called Riddle Me This, is written! We have spent the last two weeks writing the script after the 8th graders developed the overall main idea of the play during the winter months. This year’s added challenge of Covid protocols and how to write a play where we need to remain in cohorts, 6-feet apart took some extra brainstorming. In the end, the decision was to write one play, not three smaller ones, which the scenes, when put together, gave one story.

The main idea was developed over the winter and was initially two plot plans that were developed and then presented and voted on by the entire middle school. In the end, the idea of a fun evening at Escape Room gone wrong was perfect for the production. It allowed us to have two “rooms” playing the game and a third “control room” twisting the game and puzzles for the others.

Character development is the next pivotal piece in developing the play. Who will bring this story to life? Each student had a chance to develop a character, whether it was to be played by them or someone else. This involved imagining a personality, appearance, how they will affect the plot, and writing examples of what this character might say. The magic comes in when each student presents his/her character. The rest of the class can contribute ideas, which then solidifies their role. Developing the characters has been a favorite portion of the process for me.

Finally, it’s time to write! This year, the writing process was done differently. We used Humanities classes over the last two weeks, and we used two mornings to write. Students remained in their cohorts to write their scenes. Now, I am going through each scene to ensure that plot goals are carried through, digressions are removed as much as possible, characters stay true to who they are supposed to be, and the play comes together the way it is originally intended. Students should have final scripts posted to review during the first week of break!

We hope everyone enjoys their break and look forward to immersion weeks when we return! More to come!

 

 

 

 

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by msutherland
We can’t believe it’s already the first week of March and only one more week before spring break. With spring weather coming, we are still asking that students are mindful of their clothing: layers for colder weather and with the warmer weather, shirts and shorts that are appropriate in length. Thank you!

Humanities

This week is Week 1 of playwriting for the MS play! This week, all students developed their characters and wrote the first three scenes. We have a goal of finishing the play before spring break and look forward to a Covid-friendly immersion experience once we return from Spring Break. More to come about the process and product in next week’s blog!
Meanwhile, 6th graders are finishing up with their class novel, The Egypt Game, and the 7th graders are finishing the memoir, Four Perfect Pebbles. 8th grade students are busy with their expert project, with several students conducting expert interviews.
Science

6th year Earth Science students are currently learning about Natural Resources. As part of this unit, students will identify what a natural resource is, where they come from, and what the differences are between renewable and nonrenewable fossil fuels. Students have just presented their research on what products are most environmentally friendly, recycled or bamboo based products.

7th year students tested their knowledge and taste buds, enjoying banana pancakes as part of our unit “Heat and Temperature.” Besides enjoying the pancakes, students were asked to reflect how energy was transferred to the skillet in addition to the heat to pancakes. Students were able to explain the transfer of heat through conduction from the skillet to the batter which speeds up the molecules within the batter to spread apart, solidifying a perfect pancake.
8th year Life Science students were able to demonstrate the 25′-30′ journey of food through the digestive system. Modeling this system required students to simulate the mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth by tearing apart small pieces of bread, accompanied by the addition of juices and beans. These items were then mixed thoroughly in a sealed bag (stomach) and poured into a nylon stocking (intestines). Despite the squeamish nature of students during this activity, they were able to identify portions of the system in which enzymes in our body assist in the breakdown and potential absorption of energy from the food we ingest before its exit.
Math
In Pre-Transition class, students concluded their study of Chapter 7. We participated in a scavenger hunt review game to go over key concepts of division properties. Students learned about dividing positive and negative numbers, using fact triangles to solve for missing values, and practicing dividing decimals without a calculator.
In Transition class, students also concluded their study of Chapter 6. We reviewed concepts such as properties of parallelograms, the Triangle sum theorem, and calculating distances between two points. This class made helpful review questions for each other and supported their peers with a team teaching activity.
In Algebra class, students are excited to continue their learning of exponent properties. This class has a successful  understanding of simplifying square roots and cube roots, calculating distance on a coordinate grid, and rewriting powers of products and quotients. This class will have the Chapter 8 Unit Test on Tuesday, March 9th.
In Geometry class, students are able to build their understanding of knowing properties for various types of triangles and regular polygons. This class can identify rotational symmetry, isosceles trapezoids vs regular trapezoids, as well as finding missing side lengths and angles in a given shape.
Math Joke: Why was the equal sign so humble?…………….He knew he wasn’t less than or greater than anyone else.

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

It is the last week of February, and we had a glimpse of spring weather this week (following a wintry Monday). Coming into March, students have been talking about the last year quite a bit and discussing many of the events that have occurred for them personally. We are happy to report that all are having positive conversations with anticipation for the spring season at school!

Humanities

This week, 6th graders were focused on reading! They continued their class novel, The Egypt Game, and learned more about the ancient civilization of Egypt including information about Nefertiti, mummification, and hieroglyphics. Additionally, students all completed current events presentations.

The 7th grade class continued learning about the rise of Hitler, particularly in the years 1933-34. They also began reading Four Perfect Pebbles, a memoir by Marion Blumenthal Lazan, about her Jewish family’s experience during the Holocaust. This profound book also includes information regarding Germany and the Netherlands during World War II. 7th graders also completed current events presentations.

The 8th grade finished the Constitution, particularly the judicial branch of government, checks and balances, a refresher of all three branches, and they read the Bill of Rights. Students also completed a unit of vocabulary and worked on the play!

Math

In Pre-Transition class, students are continuing to work with division problems and understand how we use this operation in the real world. Students are able to find the quotient of a rational number sentence, determine if a fraction is a repeating or terminating decimal, and understand the rules of dividing positive and negative numbers. Students took the chapter 7 quiz 2 on Friday and should continue to practice their skills with the daily homework.
In Transition class, students are exploring unique ways to use angles and lines with geometry. This class can identify a complementary and supplementary angle, determine missing angle types such as acute and obtuse, as well as understand properties of parallelograms. This class will conclude chapter 6 before spring break and then begin learning key basic algebra concepts.
In Algebra class, students are excited to learn more exponent properties and building our foldable notebooks. This class is excited about simplifying negative exponent expressions, evaluating square and cube root expressions, and rewriting powers of products and quotients properties. At the end of the week they will participate in a carousel station exercise to help students memorize the property names.
In Geometry class, students are able to build their understanding of polygon shape properties. This week they specifically focused on kites, trapezoids, parallelograms and rhombuses. This class has been excited to play with real shapes and understand the complex connection between shapes and space in the real world today.
Math Joke: 
Which king loved fractions? ………………………..Henry the ⅛
Do you know why seven eight nine? ………………………………Because you’re supposed to eat three squared meals a day!

 

Science

6th year Earth Science students finished up their unit, Phases of the Moon, and have just begun their new unit, Natural Resources.  Throughout this unit, students will become familiar with what a natural resource is and what differentiates a renewable from a nonrenewable resource. Students will look at past and present environmental issues that are based on the application of natural resources.
7th year Physical Science students are working on their unit, Heat and Temperature. This past week students performed an experiment identifying how the heat of hot and cold liquids reach thermal equilibrium based on their initial thermal energy. Concluding this experiment, students were asked to write up a formal lab report interpreting the data obtained while conducting the lab.
8th year Life Science students finished their unit, Circulatory System, and are now just beginning their unit on the digestive system. To begin the unit, students are sharing prior knowledge they are familiar with such as, “Why is the digestive system necessary for the body’s health?” and, ” How do structures in the digestive system function?” Concluding this unit, students will gain awareness about how the food they put in their body is directly attributed to the energy (or lack thereof) that they exhibit throughout the day.

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Thank you, students and parents, for taking time to have meaningful conversations during parent conferences. The students’ reflections and goals are important for growth and progression as we soon transition from winter to spring.

Science

6th year Earth Science students are working on Phases of the Moon. This week students spent time creating visual representations of 8 main moon phases using their own light source (sun) and styrofoam ball (moon). Students illustrated each phase of the moon and then defined what was observed and the transition that occurred as the “moon” was rotated in a clockwise direction around the “sun”.

7th year Physical Science students began their new unit, Heat and Temperature. The objective of this unit is to identify the similarities and differences between heat, temperature, and thermal energy. Students will conduct a variety of hands-on activities/examples that assist in their working knowledge of the objectives.
8th year Life Science students are finishing up their unit on the Circulatory System. Last week students were assigned to illustrate the human body, incorporating all aspects of the circulatory system discussed thus far. Students were asked to include the heart, lungs, arteries, veins, and any additional information they felt supported their understanding of the unit. Mr. Brown was very happy with the work from each student. Great job.
Humanities
6th grade students are now studying Ancient Egypt. They made maps of the physical area as well as labeled important cities. They are also reading The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. This fictional story follows one group of kids who create a secret game involving characters, rituals, and references to Ancient Egypt. We will learn alongside them in our study of the civilization.
7th grade Humanities students continued studying the rise of Adolf Hitler after learning about World War I and its effects on Germany economically, politically, and socially. They studied the formation and platform of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) and how antisemitism played a role. Next week, they will read Four, Perfect Pebbles, a memoir about the Holocaust written by Marion Blumenthal Lazan.
8th grade continues to study the Constitution, presenting five compromises made during the convention and their lasting effects on history, most notably the Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan) and the Three-Fifths Compromise. Then, students read the Articles of the Constitution surrounding the establishment of the Legislative and Executive branches. Finally, they continued to read in An Indigenous People’s History of the United States the effects of expansion on the alliance of tribes in the Ohio Country (land between the colonies and the Mississippi River).
All classes read and analyzed poetry this week, and all completed a unit of vocabulary. Next week is a current events week!
Math
In Pre-Transition class, students are learning unique ways to use division in the real world. Students are able to use the rate model to determine a single unit price, use an array model to draw divisibility statements, compare composite and prime numbers, and draw a factorization tree. We are continuing to work on our skills with integer division and identifying the quotient, dividend, and divisor of a number sentence.
In Transition class, students started their work with the Geometry unit and understanding transformations on a coordinate grid. Students can determine rotational symmetry of a figure, translate a set of ordered pairs on a coordinate grid, and can reflect an image over a given line. Next week, we will continue to work on our tessellation art projects which will be posted on the classroom walls.
In Algebra class, students were excited to build foldable notes for the chapter 8 exponent unit. Students are learning about power rules, product rules, quotient rules, and zero exponent rules. Students have begun to study for the first assessment of this chapter which will take place on Tuesday, February 23rd.
In Geometry class, students are learning about polygons and reflection symmetry in chapter 6. They have discussed inscribed angles and central angles in a circle, finding reflection symmetry in real world objects, using isosceles triangles to prove symmetry, and classifying quadrilaterals using a hierarchy system.
Math Joke: 
Why did Pi get its driver’s license revoked?………………….. Because it didn’t know when to stop.
What shape do you always have to be careful of?………………… A trap-ezoid!
Have a great weekend!

Middle School: Research Presentations

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Thank you to all who came to watch our 6th & 7th year scholars give their virtual presentations on Wednesday and Thursday evenings! Research Night was the culmination of a multi-week investigation into a topic surrounding the theme, Great Discoveries. Students used an inquiry-based research method to develop and support their thesis statements.

The expository paper included 3-5 pages of writing, in-text citations, transitions, an interesting introduction, and a summative conclusion. Skills such as locating reliable resources, word and sentence variation, organizing information, and paraphrasing were included.

For their presentation of 5-10 minutes, students were asked to use the research that was relative and interesting to their topics to achieve the answer to the question, “What do I want my audience to walk away knowing?” The visual component to their presentations included audio clips, video segments, pictures,  and some quotations relating to the topic. The students focused on their voices being the main focus for information.

The Middle School teachers are incredibly proud of the students showcasing their individuality in their topics. Congratulations!

**Snow gear is encouraged when there is snow on the ground! We love to jump in it, throw it, build with it, slide through it, etc. and want to keep students as comfortable and dry as possible when they come back inside.**

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Brr! It’s cold out there this week! Students had fun in the snow and even a Middle School vs. Upper Elementary snowball fight across the field! Inside, Middle School students kept warm and busy.

Please make sure your child/children has a warm jacket, gloves, hat, and any other necessary cold-weather accessories for recess. Of course, we will not be outside for extended periods in temperatures below 30 degrees with the exception of a brief mask break.

Humanities

This week, 6th and 7th year students are gearing up for research project presentations next Wednesday and Thursday nights! They worked on revising their research essay drafts and ran through their presentations for the first time. This group has been working diligently through the process. 6th year students have been incredibly conscientious with their first research projects of this caliber. Mrs. Lamb is excited for them to present to you!

The 8th grade learned about the American Revolution this week. They learned about the formation and first two meetings of the Continental Congress that drafted the Declaration of Independence. Before reading it, students guessed what would be included as reasons given to King George III for wanting to be independent. All of their speculations were correct! After reading the document, 8th graders learned about the battles of the war and involvement by other countries. Next we will cover the Treaty of Paris and move into Westward expansion.

Science

6th year Earth Science students have been finishing their unit, Rotations, Orbits, and Seasons. This past week, students have demonstrated the cause and effects of Earth’s orbital path around the sun. Students were able to represent the orbital path and gravitational attraction of an object using a sheet of spandex stretched over a hula hoop with a central weight and marbles. Each student projected a marble of different weight around our central weight (sun), recording how the paths differed from one another.

7th year Physical Science students have begun the unit, Potential Energy. This week, students have been conducting a laboratory investigation that analyzes how the weight and height of a pendulum affects an object’s stored potential energy. Students are recording the distance a golf ball travels, which is representative of the amount of potential energy stored prior to the pendulum’s release. Students are to record each of their trials, analyzing their data through a series of graphs and charts which will be a part of their formal lab report.

8th year Life Science students are just beginning their new unit, Circulatory System. So far this week, the class has held discussions to gauge what background knowledge of the circulatory system students may have. They began identifying myths of the circulatory system such as blood in our body is blue. They have identified the four chambers of the heart, roles of both the arteries, veins and capillaries, and the path in which the blood travels through the body. Students will work on several artistic representations of the heart and circulatory system, identifying the role and importance each holds.

Math

In Pre-Transition class, students are learning all about order of operations questions, finding the percent of a quantity, multiplying fractions and mixed numbers, as well as multiplying negative and positive numbers in real world situations. They have been preparing for the Chapter 6 unit test by going over good study strategies for math class. This includes reviewing old homework questions, correcting past quizzes, and reading the textbook lesson for more examples.
In Transition class, students had the opportunity to learn about graphing solutions to linear equations by using an input and output chart. Students are also more confident in using the triangle inequality theorem, calculating absolute values, and rearranging equations to isolate a variable. We are concluding our learning of Chapter 5 and will start Chapter 6 next week.
In Algebra class, students are using a unique set of notes to build their understanding of slope/rate of change. We have learned about the general form equation, line of best fit on a scatter plot, graphing linear inequalities on a coordinate grid, and identifying the x and y intercepts of a linear equation. Students have been working very hard to prepare for their Chapter exam this week.
In Geometry class, students are learning how to use the triangle-sum theorem, quadrilateral- sum theorem and the exterior angle theorem. Students are able to draw and identify auxiliary figures, demonstrate a two-column proof using the perpendicular bisector theorem, as well as find missing angle measures in polygons.
Math Joke: What do mathematicians do after a snowstorm? ……………………Make snow angles!
EXTRA JOKE: Are monsters good at math? ………………………………Not unless you Count Dracula.
Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!