Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Another great week in Middle School! It was a Community Service week, and many of our students were also able to assist the toddlers in their annual fall festivities, including a wagon ride around the school and pumpkin picking in the zen garden. Below are some announcements and reminders before the weekly update:

  • End-of-day on Monday, 10/21: Last chance to sign up for student-led conferences on 10/25 with subject area teachers. You can sign up on the MyFWM.org Dashboard! 
  • Friday, 10/25: Middle School Halloween Movie night 6-8:30 hosted by 8th grade Leadership. Don’t forget to respond to the Evite!* 8th grade (and siblings of 8th graders) should plan to arrive at 5 pm for set up!*
  • Thursday, 10/31: Halloween! Come dressed in your costume! *Keep it not too scary for our younger peers.*

Humanities

Grade 6 Humanities students had a fun week. They are continuing to read their class novel, Becoming Naomi Leon, having lively discussions. It’s always fun when students have such reactions to the plot of a novel! As the 6th grade was told, this is the sign of a great author. They also continued their study of MesoAmerica with Ms. Sara, and they made tortillas from scratch. Finally, students are working on a descriptive writing unit titled Show! Don’t Tell! They have gone over the topics of word choice, figurative language, and imagery, reading and writing shorter examples. Next, they will identify these concepts in literature and begin writing longer pieces to demonstrate them.

In Grade 7 Humanities, the class wrapped up their unit on China this week. They explored the fall of the Qing Dynasty and drafted their final writing piece for the unit. This piece involves both the novel, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, along with history learned over the last month specific to 19th and early 20th century China. Students were asked to write a letter from Ailin to her father regarding an unpopular cultural choice she made and how it affected her. An addition to the class has been starting a few classes with the Timeguessr app. This shows five pictures representing a moment in history from 1900 to the present day. Students have to guess where the event took place (without knowing what it is) and what year. By analyzing clues and using historical knowledge, this class is top-notch with these difficult pictures, guessing many precisely. Try it out! Finally, students are starting to think about their next current events presentations on 10/30.

8th grade students continue to work on their Powhatan Confederacy Project, which is an illustrated history book about the Powhatans, specifically looking at their lives before and after European contact. They have completed the research writing and their individual page layouts and are now editing/revising each other’s work. Also, the class began the novel If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth. This book takes place in 1975-76 on the Tuscarora reservation and surrounding areas. It surrounds a Tuscarora teen named Lewis and his journey beginning at a school off the reservation.

Science

*Please check in with your student about their weekly literacy lab homework.  Each week, Ms. Pickard chooses an article that relates to class content.  Literacy labs are handed out each Monday and due back by Friday of the same week.*

6th grade:

In science this week, 6th grade worked to revise and redo their original music labs.  After conducting their first experiment last week, investigating if music helped to improve test scores, the class reflected on problems encountered while conducting the experiments.  They were able to generate a hefty list of problems observed that could lead to potential sources of error in the testing.  As good science students, 6th graders decided to reflect on their own experiments, make any necessary changes, and redo the testing.  The class ended the week by beginning their first formal lab write-up to document their work.

7th and 8th grade:
Students spent the beginning of the week working to wrap up our graphing and analysis packets, making sure their graphing skills were top-notch.  They learned when to use each type of graph, how to properly label axes, how to scale axes, how to properly plot points, when to use a best-fit line or curve, and how to create proper titles for their graphs.
Thursday and Friday were spent working on the second unit.  7th grade began talking about matter and began an investigation that focused on being able to identify compounds and mixtures.  8th grade began talking about cells and started a lab viewing different cells under the microscope.  Students were happy to begin their first subject-specific topics and were thrilled to be performing a lab.

Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students began their learning of Chapter 2, “Decimals and Percents.” They explored ways to identify place values in a decimal number and how to graph and read decimals on a number line. Students were eager to know and apply the Substitution Principle for decimals and percents and multiply decimals by 1/10, 1/100, and so on. Next week, they will continue learning about decimals and percents and will write the Chapter 2 quiz.

Transition: This week, students wrote their Chapter 1 test and confidently demonstrated their understanding of all Chapter 1 concepts. Then, they dove into Chapter 2, “Using Variables.” Students began exploring how to write descriptions of patterns using variables, how to represent a relationship between two variables using a table, and ways to write numerical expressions involving arithmetic. Next week, the class will continue learning by evaluating algebraic expressions and calculating variable expressions.
Algebra: This week, students began exploring Chapter 2, “Using Algebra to Explain.” The class practiced using the Distributive Property to expand and combine like terms and apply it to real-world situations. They also began exploring the use of Opposite Properties and how to test the equivalence of expressions using spreadsheets and technology. They will conclude the week by writing the Chapter 2 quiz.
Geometry: This week, the class discovered how to write the converse of a conditional statement, practiced and applied the properties of a good definition, and began using and interpreting union and intersection of two sets. They also became experts in using and interpreting Venn diagrams. Students will conclude the week by writing the Chapter 2 quiz.

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

The Middle School students had a great week. Here are some Save-the-Dates:

  • Friday, 10/18: Middle School pictures RESCHEDULED
  • Friday, 10/25,  6-8:30 pm @ FWM: MS Gathering: Classic Halloween Movie Night (Look for the upcoming Evite)
  • Thursday, 10/31: MS Halloween Party in School (Costumes welcome! Look out for more info next week)

Here is what went on this week:

Humanities

In 6th grade Humanities, students continue to read their class novel Becoming Naomi Leon and are getting used to regular reading assignments and expectations from Mrs. Lamb. Class book discussions are lively and showcase the students’ ability to relate to the text and make parallels. While students learned the parts of plot last week, they focused on conflict in literature this week. Using their class novel, they identified the different types of conflict that exist in the plot. With Ms. Sara, students worked on creating soap carvings just as the novel’s protagonist, Naomi, does.

7th-grade Humanities classes finished their first class novel, Tie That Bind, Ties That Break. With that, they have been studying 19th century China and the events that contributed to the fall of the Qing dynasty. They learned about The Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, and the Boxer Rebellion. Students also used their annotation skills when reading articles surrounding each of these. Finally, the 7th graders completed a written discussion about cultural perspective.

The 8th-grade Humanities class worked on their Powhatan Confederacy picture book project that they had designed and planned. They completed all of the research surrounding the content of the book and are currently laying it out and drafting their pages. They also lead two tours and had discussions with vistors from Abbott Technical School and Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Science

6th grade :
Students wrote and conducted their very own experiment this week.  They were provided with an observation, some students listen to music while working and report performing better on assignments and exams while doing so.  The basics of scientific method and experimental design were then reviewed before putting students to work on writing an experiment to investigate this problem.  Investigations were conducted on Thursday and Friday of this week in class.  Next week, they will work with analyzing their data and developing conclusions.
This week, students in all grades were given a literacy lab. This weekly homework assignment is handed out on Monday and is expected back by Friday. Be sure to ask your student for the details.
7th and 8th grade:
The classes have now moved on to the last topic of their introductory unit, data analysis, and graphing.  This week, students worked with data to develop visual representations.  They learned the importance of graphing in science and how it is used to show the relationship between two related values, the independent and dependent variables.  Students learned to look for patterns and speak to how entities are related to each other.  They also learned to distinguish what kind of graph is appropriate for different types of data.
Math
Pre-Transition: This week, students began their learning of Chapter 2, “Decimals and Percents.” They explored ways to identify place values in a decimal number and how to graph and read decimals on a number line. Students were eager to know and apply the Substitution Principle for decimals and percents, as well as multiply decimals by 1/10, 1/100, and so on. They will continue learning about decimals and percents next week and will write the Chapter 2 quiz.
Transition: This week, students wrote their Chapter 1 test and confidently demonstrated their understanding of all Chapter 1 concepts. The class then dove into Chapter 2, “Using Variables.” Students began exploring how to write descriptions of patterns using variables, how to represent a relationship between two variables using a table, and ways to write numerical expressions involving arithmetic. Next week, they will continue their learning by evaluating algebraic expressions and calculating variable expressions.
Algebra: This week, students began exploring Chapter 2, “Using Algebra to Explain.” The class practiced using the Distributive Property to expand and combine like terms and apply it to real-world situations. They also began exploring the use of Opposite Properties and how to test the equivalence of expressions using spreadsheets and technology. They will conclude the week by writing the Chapter 2 quiz.
Geometry: This week, the class discovered how to write the converse of a conditional statement, practiced and applied the properties of a good definition, and began using and interpreting union and intersection of two sets. They also became experts in using and interpreting Venn diagrams. Students will conclude the week by writing the Chapter 2 quiz.

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Another beautiful fall week went by in Middle School. It was a Community Service week, so our 6th and 7th graders visited their younger peers in their classrooms. 8th-grade Leadership led their first tour of the school for a visiting Admissions Director from the Canterbury School and baked about 100 snickerdoodle cookies for this weekend’s Oktoberfest. Hope to see you there!

Here’s the rundown of what went on in classes this past week:

Humanities

6th grade Humanities students began their first novel, Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Munoz Ryan. This book takes place in Southern California and Oaxaca, Mexico, so students began to learn about the region. Cultural and geographic lessons will continue as students read the novel. They also completed their first book discussions and reading assignments and learned about the parts of the plot. Additionally, students wrote their first On Demand piece, a “show-me-what-you-know” writing assessment, to establish individual writing goals.

7th-grade Humanities classes finished and presented their research of the Chinese Dynasties spanning almost 4,000 years!  Then, they looked at the history and significance of the Great Wall of China. Finally, 7th-grade students continued reading their class novel, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break.

8th-grade students spent a few classes presenting their first round of current events. Topics covered a variety of topics and issues, and the students had respectful conversations offering perspective to each other. Next, in continuing our unit on the Indigenous perspective of US history, they have developed their own unique way of studying and demonstrating knowledge surrounding the effects of European contact. Beginning with the Powhatan Confederacy, the class is creating a graphic book that demonstrates their research. They have decided what information should be researched to create a comprehensive Indigenous perspective, as well as the roles each class member will play in completing the work. Finally, the students worked on analyzing a primary source journal entry from the UK National Archives and answering questions about its content.

Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students concluded their learning on Chapter 1 and wrote the first Unit Assessment. They reviewed concepts such as ordering integers, graphing simple fractions on a number line, and interpreting positive and negative situations. They will begin learning Chapter 2 next week, “Decimals and Percents.”

Transition: This week, students explored how to use scientific notation and practiced solving problems with order of operations. They wrapped up the week with a chapter review and completed the self-test in the UCSMP textbook to review key concepts. Ms. Sutherland encourages all students to prepare for their first chapter assessment, scheduled for Tuesday, October 8th.
Algebra: Students discovered the difference between mean and mean absolute deviation this week. They worked through a variety of problems that included graphing ordered pairs, evaluating absolute values, and determining equivalent expressions. The Algebra class has officially learned all the Chapter 1 concepts and will start investigating Chapter 2 next week.
Geometry: This week, students worked through the first few lessons of Chapter 2 titled, “Language and Logic of Geometry”. Students can now determine the difference between convex and non-convex figures, write conditional statements, and use and interpret Venn Diagrams. They will write the Chapter 2 Quiz on Thursday, October 10th.
Science
Students in all grades were given their first literacy lab this week.  This weekly homework assignment is handed out on Monday and expected back by Friday.  Be sure to ask your student for the details.
6th grade students completed their experimental design packets this week in class. They have learned the basics of the scientific method and how to design a scientific investigation. Next week, students will use this knowledge as they design their first experiment, using an observation already made in class.
The 7th and 8th grade students conducted their very own experiments this week.  They were provided with an observation: some students listened to music while working and reported performing better on assignments and exams.  Students were then asked to use their previous week’s learning to design and conduct an experiment of their writing, investigating this observation.  They spent the beginning of the week testing their peers and the latter portion of the week compiling and analyzing data to begin writing a formal lab report.

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

**Don’t forget to join us at FWM’s Annual Oktoberfest on Saturday 10/5 from 4-6:30 pm.**

What a great week! While it did bring our first rainy, indoor day of the school year, we ended the week flying in the trees at the Adventure Park at the discovery Museum in Bridgeport. It was also great to see those of you who could make it to Curriculum Night. It was nice to have conversations with you and discuss your wonderful children.

Here’s what went on in classes this week:

Humanities

In 6th through 8th grade Humanities classes, students completed their identity maps, which are artistic representations of what they want the community to know about what defines them this year. Anyone can view these in the Middle School area outside of the Humanities room.

6th grade Humanities began the week with another activity to help students listen and speak to each other with respect. By completing a personal shield with some information about themselves, students sat in small groups and were asked to choose one piece of the shield they wished to elaborate upon to the group. They each had 60 seconds to speak about this while the rest of the group members quietly and actively listened without responding. Additionally, the 6th grade class completed a writing lesson reviewing the components of a well-developed paragraph, composing a group example and an independent one. Students had their first chance to workshop writing with the class, and most of them took advantage of the opportunity. Next week, students will begin their first class novel, Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan.

7th grade Humanities classes began the week with their first current events presentations. Next, they continued to read Lensey Namioka’s Ties That Bind, Ties That Break as part of their China unit of study. The book surrounds the Chinese Revolution occurring in 1911-1912 that ended the Qing dynasty and creating the Republic of China. Students completed research surrounding Chinese dynasties and will present this next week. The 7th grade students also read Pablo Neruda’s, “Ode to the Apple” and completed drafts in his style about an inanimate object. Students received a round of feedback, completing second drafts before the week’s end.

8th grade students discussed early America, particularly Mesoamerican civilizations. They began by watching a visual representation of human migration, beginning from the first Homo sapiens over 200,000 years ago to present day. This may not sound like the beginning of US history, but it is important to understand that while the United States is a “new” country, the land has been long inhabited. Next, their reading from the young adult version of Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, had students focus on the significance of corn to the history of both Mesoamerica and the land that is now the United States. It also reminded students of the complex societies and nations living on the land that had established governments, road systems, trade, agriculture, etc. before Europeans entered the picture. Stewardship was also an important component of Indigenous life mentioned in their reading this week, so students wrote about who the stewards of today might be. Finally, the class completed an independent essay in class to help establish some writing goals.

Science

In Science this week, grade 6-8 students worked on learning the scientific method and experimental design. Students learned that the scientific method helps students learn how to think like scientists. The scientific method is a cornerstone of STEM education and involves the following steps:
  • Observe: Make an observation
  • Ask a question: Ask a question about something observed
  • Research: Do background research to learn what is already known about the topic
  • Hypothesize: Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation
  • Predict: Make a prediction based on the hypothesis
  • Experiment: Test the prediction by conducting an experiment
  • Analyze: Analyze the data from the experiment
  • Draw conclusions: Draw conclusions based on the analysis
  • Iterate: Use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions
Students learned that experimental design is a process that involves creating a set of procedures to test a hypothesis by manipulating variables and measuring their impact.  It is a complex subject that helps students learn how to create robust experiments and involves the following steps:
  1. Define the variables and how they are related
  2. Write a specific, testable hypothesis
  3. Design treatments to manipulate the independent variable
  4. Assign subjects to groups
  5. Plan how to measure the dependent variable
  6. Select a representative sample
  7. Control any extraneous variables that might influence the results

Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students continued their study of integers and fractions. They explored how to rewrite mixed units into single units, how to simplify fractions and how to find equivalent fractions using fraction blocks. The Pre-Transition students wrote their first quiz this week and do not have any assigned homework for the weekend. 

Transition: This week, students learned more about powers and order of operations. They worked through how to convert powers into word names and decimals. In addition, this class practiced how to use PEMDAS to solve different arithmetic problems. The Transition students wrote their first quiz this week and do not have any assigned homework for the weekend.
Algebra:  This week, students discovered new ways to find patterns in algebraic expressions. They reviewed how to graph ordered pairs on a coordinate grid and how to evaluate expressions involving absolute values. They continued the week by learning about range and mean absolute deviation. Students should start to prepare for their first Unit Assessment next week. 
Geometry: This week, students explored more properties of Euclidean Geometry. This class can recognize the use of undefined terms, find the point of intersection of two lines, and determine distance on a number line. They continued learning all the lessons in Chapter 1 and will begin our study of Chapter 2 next week. 
Have a beautiful week!

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

It’s been a beautiful week in Middle School. The students are settling more into their routines and getting used to the schedule. After school sports have started as well, and the foliage around the field is starting to turn. The students also participated in their first Community Service period of the year and spent time in the classrooms of their younger peers. We are looking forward to a few events next week (see below).

Here are a few reminders:

  • Drop off for Middle School students begins at 8 am. 
  • 9/24: RESCHEDULED High School Placement Meeting for 8th grade families at 8:15am
  • 9/26: Curriculum Night at 5:30 pm
  • 9/27: Field Trip to the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport. Full school day. Bus transportation to and from the Adventure Park. Please complete a required waiver form for your child/children.

Humanities

6th-grade Humanities classes are easing into the year. Students have just completed their summer reading presentations to the class. They have learned how to load their work into Google Classroom; some utilized the Chromecast, and they were excited to use the remote clicker (and learning to resist the urge to shine the laser pointer in the classroom). The 6th grade has also begun their identity maps that all middle school students complete at the start of the year, visualizing what it is about themselves that they want their school community to know about them in the 24-25 school year. Finally, the class is learning how to listen and speak to each other respectfully, which is the first step in forming a safe space for communication in the classroom.

7th-grade Humanities classes are moving quickly through the material! They began the year by giving their summer reading presentations to the class and selecting articles for their first current events presentations. Additionally, they began their unit about China. First, the class completed a map of China’s provinces and major rivers. Then, they watched a Geography Now! video about China, which provided more information about the landscape, political geography, and the variety of diverse people within China. The class began their first novel, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, by Lensey Namioka, which follows a young Chinese girl through the fall of the last dynasty and cultural revolution. Finally, they are working on their 2024-25 identity maps.

The 8th-grade Humanities classes began the year by delivering their fiction and nonfiction summer reading presentations. Next, they began their exploration into multicultural American history with a discussion about American identity. They began reading Ronald Takaki’s book, A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Next, they talked about the importance of the land, imagining what the country looked like both before European Colonization and at the time of its independence. Many preconceived ideas of the landscape and borders were brought to light. Finally, the students completed research and presentations about Pre-Contact American Civilizations. In addition, 8th-grade students are working on their 2024-25 identity maps.

Science

It has been a great start to the year in Science classes. Ms. Pickard has enjoyed getting to know the MS students and learning about their interests in class. This week, all Middle School students completed a lab safety worksheet to prepare for other experiments. In addition, students asked the question, “Is listening to music beneficial to test scores?” and came up with hypotheses as a group. The students also completed work about the fundamentals of a proper lab report and how to format their writing.

Math

Pre-Transition This week students started to work with the UCSMP textbook and are learning how to use this new resource. They started our learning with Chapter 1 and managed to go through the first three lessons all together. Students discovered how to write word names for decimals, classify values in the number system, use fractions to divide line segments and use different measuring tools to find the exact length of objects in our classroom. 

Transition This class was able to work through the first four lessons of chapter 1 in the UCSMP textbook. Students learned about rational numbers, comparing and ordering positive and negative integers, and understanding the powers of ten. This group enjoyed working together to complete the lesson master worksheets and discussed ways to stay organized this year.
 
Algebra This class has already taken the first quiz for Chapter 1 titled, “Using Algebra to Describe the Real World.” They covered topics such as commutative and associative properties, finding patterns in algebraic sentences and using variables to represent unknowns. The class will cover the second half of this chapter next week and plan for the unit assessment on October 1st.
 
Geometry This class started the year learning about Euclidean geometry and plane coordinate geometry. They explored different properties for points and lines, reviewed graphing linear equations on a grid and determined the distance between values on a number line. The class will continue to learn about triangle inequality properties and geometric notation for one dimensional figures.
Looking forward to next week! Can’t wait to see you at Curriculum Night!

Middle School: Welcome to the 24-25 School Year!

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

What a wonderful week for the Middle School! It has been wonderful to see our new group of students and teachers all together. We have been enjoying our spaces inside the school as well as the new turf field (and even the new patio out front). Classes are learning about what’s ahead and developing goals for the year. We are revving to go, and getting into our rhythm is feeling so nice as we form this new group.

A few items coming up:

  • 9/24: RESCHEDULED High School Placement Meeting for 8th grade families at 8:15am
  • 9/26: Curriculum Night at 5:30 pm
  • 9/27: Field Trip to the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport. Full school day. Bus transportation to and from the Adventure Park. Please complete a required waiver form for your child/children.

Dismissal Reminder
Thank you for adhering to your assigned arrival and dismissal times to help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and to reduce your time waiting in line. 

  • Toddler: arrival-8:30, dismissal-2:45
  • Primary: arrival-8:20, dismissal-3:00
  • Elementary: arrival-8:10, dismissal-3:10
  • Middle School: arrival-8:00, dismissal-3:10

Families with children at multiple levels can arrive at the oldest child’s arrival time and dismissal time.

Please form only one line in the morning when dropping off, leaving the left lane open for toddler families to pull through.

In the afternoon, please form only one line on the left before 3:00, leaving the right lane open for toddler families to pull through. Starting at 3:00, form two lines. 

Middle School: MS Trip & Farewell!

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Well, Middle School Families, the 2023-24 year has come to an end. What a busy and memorable last week we had! From the trip last week to Spirit Week to the Farewell celebration, and then finally, commencement, it has been one for the books.

Last week, we traveled to Boston and had an amazing trip filled with activities. Traveling to Boston on the Amtrak was relaxing and quick. Once we arrived, we checked into our centrally located hotel and embarked on our three-day journey. Click here to view the trip photos: FWM 2024 Boston. Here is a list of all we did:

  • Museum of Science
  • Meals at Faneuil Hall
  • Shopping in Quincy Market
  • Ghosts & Graveyards Historic Tour
  • New England Aquarium
  • Boston Tea Party Historical Tour & Reenactment
  • Red Sox Game
  • Kayak Tour of the Charles River
  • Student-led Tour of the Freedom Trail

This week, in addition to Spirit Week, we began a new tradition for our graduating class: Farewell to the Class of 2024! This event was completely planned and run by the 6th and 7th  grade class. They read a speech they wrote, gave out awards, and recited a poem. Additionally, the 8th grade was surprised with a slideshow highlighting them over the years. Everyone ate cake and had a beautiful goodbye.

Commencement was another memorable event. Graduates and teacher read speeches highlighting the experiences of the graduating class over their time at Fraser Woods. Tears were shed, diplomas were distributed, and it was a lovely evening overall. Click here to see Commencement 2024 Photos

We hope everyone has a beautiful summer. Look out rising 7th and 8th graders for summer materials including Humanities reading requirements.

Thank you to the Middle School Families. Your unwavering support throughout the year makes everything run smoothly. We make a great team.

Until next year,

Michelle & Zak

Middle School: Expert Presentations

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

 

It was a wonderful evening listening to the graduating class of 2024 present their research project to families and students in our community. The topics were as follows:

Black Women Poets Whose Colorful Words Helped Change the World
3, 2, 1 Action! How To Form a Film
Cybersecurity: How to Keep Your Information Private
The Distance From the Tee: The History of Golf
Ideas That Bloom: Successful Steps for Entrepreneurs
This project is a culmination of five months of research on a topic of the students’ choosing. They develop a thesis statement and questions to guide research and interview at least two experts in the field to support their research. Next, students write a research paper. Finally, they develop their 10-20 minute presentations from the research.
Students at Fraser Woods begin presenting as Kindergarteners. They practice reading their work to classmates and teachers. Each year, FWM students have opportunities to present their work, both formally and informally. The 8th grade Expert Project is the culmination of this progression.
We are incredibly proud of our 8th-grade class and all the work they did leading up to Expert Presentations. Bravo!