Summary of Middle School remote-learning classwork
I want to start my blog by sharing something fun. Rebecca Silva has created a series of “helpful hints” videos for students starring her dog, Scout. This one encourages kids to get up and move around during the 15-minute breaks between classes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
School is in full speed ahead. As you may be aware, it is difficult to capture ALL that goes on during a packed week of learning. In hopes of giving you a glimpse, I thought I would pass along a classroom “sampler,” a veritable pu pu platter of what is going on this week in the Middle School. Of course, these one- or two-liners are the tip of the iceberg for each of the classes. In some cases, you will notice that there are variations in theme within the same course. For example, each teacher for 7th Grade Outside the Box is teaching about making, understanding, and unpacking arguments, but each is reinforcing these important skills in slightly different ways. Overall, though, I hope these snippets give you a quick peek at the content under study and the skills being practiced via Zoom.
If I can be helpful in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Bill
Sneak peek at what is being studied, practiced, and learned this week
Social Studies
8th Grade
Civics: Learning about the Bill of Rights. Skills: close reading, analyzing, putting into your own words and creating examples of what is a violation and what isn’t. Also finishing a writing assignment on “How the design of our government structure forces compromise, controls factions, and makes change, hard, moderate, and deliberate."
Civics: Students found and analyzed a current events article related to the powers belonging to the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the federal government. They then summarized the article and stated an opinion in writing. Students are currently sharing their information orally with the class and engaging in thoughtful related discussion.
Civics: We are learning about the constitutional powers and limits on the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and considering the effectiveness of checks and balances as a prelude to delving into the Bill of Rights. To help illustrate the separation of powers and federalism, as well as personal freedom and civic responsibility, we are taking time to look at how the Constitution informs the role and response of different levels and branches of government to the coronavirus pandemic.
7th Grade
Outside the Box is studying presidential ad campaigns of the past, debating the responsibility of social media in vetting campaign ads, and creating fictitious presidential candidates with complete platforms and commercials for the election.
Outside the Box is studying visual arguments: political logos, social campaigns, and infographics. Students are analyzing and producing visual arguments using the Logos, Ethos, Pathos analysis models.
Outside the Box is culminating work on visual arguments by completing a project that tasks them with creating a logo/slogan/infographic for their own personal presidency or to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
English
8th Grade
English: descriptive writing—close reading, annotating, economy of language, figurative language.
Students have embarked upon the Spring creative writing unit in which they examine descriptive writing and the genre of personal narrative. Last week they completed a description of an emotionally significant place. This week they will begin a description of a living thing to which they are closely connected: friend, family member, or pet.
7th Grade
Last week: We collected notes on Greek Mythology and learned about three elements of figurative language. Students wrote a personification poem. This week: We are finishing Greek mythology notes and introducing three more types of figurative language. Students are using drawings and writing to show understanding.
This week: Students continued the study of Greek Mythology. We practiced close reading through the use of two-column notes; we practiced elevating similes and metaphors, and students worked in groups to create unique mythical monsters.
Last week, students wrote descriptive pieces about an item or a location on campus, such as a locker, the library, etc. Each piece had to employ five types of figurative language, in addition to being carefully edited. This week, students are travelling around the world reading international literature, written by French, Irish, British, and American authors, in search of the irony that these authors embedded in their stories.
6th Grade Core (English and Social Studies combined)
Core is studying poetry in honor of poetry month. This week we are looking at Cinquain poetry with a focus on analysis. In addition we are studying prepositions, conjunctions and interjections. Students will be using flipgrid to share their thoughts on classic poetry versus more modern slam poetry, such as the piece presented by Theo Wilson at our Town Meeting last week. Students have a choice between writing a Persuasive or Literary Analysis essay based on A Long Walk to Water.
Last week: We learned about similes and metaphors, and after finishing A Long Walk to Water, students compared the emotional and physical challenges of our characters, and wrote a paragraph describing the challenge, cited a passage correctly, and used a simile or metaphor to describe the challenge. Also, we worked on our Africa Tourism projects in pairs: building a brochure for a company in Africa employing a local tribe, and discussing the other cultural aspects of where they operate. We started discussing expository writing and looked at examples of effective essays. This week: We honed a topic list for expository topics to write about, and we are finishing the Africa Tourism projects for Wednesday.
Last week and this week studentsare reading and listening to novels set in Darfur and Sudan, and they are comparing the hardships of three adolescent characters who are steering these stories. In addition, students are going deep into the chocolate industry in Madagascar and the Ivory Coast and are seeing how poverty, language barriers, and corruption are doing their best to prevent the African people from earning a living.
Core is creating a digital magazine built upon research about a topic and its impact on a region in Africa, as well as reflecting on how we are affected by our circumstances, inspired by our reading of A Long Walk to Water.
Math
8th Grade
In Algebra, students are applying skills for solving quadratics to story problems involving falling objects.
In Geometry, we just finished a unit on polyhedrons and have started a one-week problem solving task that involves looking for patterns, perseverance, and communication about their process.
7th Grade
We are working to find the area of composite figures and finding the radius or diameter of a circle when given the area or circumference.
6th Grade
We are working on learning how to solve one-step equations and simplifying algebraic expressions.
Science
8th Grade
Students are learning about the elements and how the Periodic Table is organized. They have created experiments at home and researched properties of matter and how materials react with each other.
7th Grade
Students are exploring concepts in biomedical engineering, including building and testing prototypes of various medical devices using the engineering design process.
6th Grade
Students are learning the properties of minerals; they are comparing calcite and quartz. Students are investigating the role of physical properties in understanding how minerals’ unique properties determine how we use them. While learning about physical and chemical properties of minerals, students participated in a March Madness tournament bracket to determine the winning mineral.
World Language
Spanish
6th Grade
Students are finishing their novel Capibara con Botas and have a take-home assessment this Tuesday. They have learned vocabulary and absorbed language through the novel and have been exposed to the culture and geography of South America.
7th Grade
Students are about half-way through the novel Brandon Brown versus the Yucatan. Students did targeted reading and listening practice using key vocabulary to reinforce their understanding of the book.
8th Grade
Students just finished a photo album project for an imagined exchange student. Now we are doing prep work to begin a short novel and develop a strong understanding of past tense narratives, while learning about colonial culture.
Spanish Language Arts
Students finished their major research projects on art used as social or political protest. They are getting ready to present what they learned to the class via Google Slides. We are also studying the suffixes "-ble, -bilidad, -bundo/a."
French
6th Grade
We just finished a mini unit including various expressions with the verb “avoir" and body parts. Students had fun with this by creating their own silly sentences for five of the expressions, and then drew a picture to illustrate their writing! We just started reading a short novel in French called Les aventures d’Isabelle. We are going to follow Isabelle around Paris as she ventures around the city with her mother; additionally, students will learn about the various Parisian monuments and view these monuments via virtual field trips!
We just finished a mini unit including various expressions with the verb “avoir" and body parts. Students had fun with this by creating their own silly sentences for five of the expressions, and then drew a picture to illustrate their writing! We just started reading a short novel in French called Les aventures d’Isabelle. We are going to follow Isabelle around Paris as she ventures around the city with her mother; additionally, students will learn about the various Parisian monuments and view these monuments via virtual field trips!
7th Grade
We have been finishing up the verb “aller.” Students have been using this verb to describe the places that they go (or do not go in present conditions), things that they are going to do, as well as reviewing the verbs “pouvoir” and “vouloir.” It has been interesting talking about what students can and cannot do because of our current situation with the coronavirus! Students have started learning how to talk about clothes (including some competitions of gathering clothing items around the house as quickly as possible). We will also begin the Passé Composé (past tense) of regular -er verbs very soon.
We have been finishing up the verb “aller.” Students have been using this verb to describe the places that they go (or do not go in present conditions), things that they are going to do, as well as reviewing the verbs “pouvoir” and “vouloir.” It has been interesting talking about what students can and cannot do because of our current situation with the coronavirus! Students have started learning how to talk about clothes (including some competitions of gathering clothing items around the house as quickly as possible). We will also begin the Passé Composé (past tense) of regular -er verbs very soon.
8th Grade
We have started to talk about daily routines using reflexive verbs in the present tense. Students talk about what time they get up, what they do to prepare for school, and what they do once they return home from school. Students are learning about the different vocabulary words that pertain to this particular unit via discussion and competitions; if you notice your child running through the house at breakneck speed to find a toothbrush during class, you know why!
Computer Science
8th Grade STEAM
Students explored the art of origami and how engineers and designers are applying its principles to design new drugs, micro-robots, and space missions. Students then created their own origami pieces that hold significant meanings for them.
7th Grade Computer Science & Innovations
Students are wrapping up a Maze Design Mini-Challenge focused around coding, using the Snap visual programming language. After the April break, we'll be reconvening to start a new mini-challenge using the Hopscotch programming app.
6th grade Computer Science & Innovations
Last week, students learned about circuits using an online simulation tool to help each create series and parallel circuits safely and easily. Now, we are learning how to use the 3D modeling software, Tinkercad, so students can design a toy that lights up or moves.
Learning Support
Students are starting each period by sharing their academic calendars and coming up with a strategy for the day/week. Each day looks different, depending on the needs of the kids. In some cases we have come up with daily schedules for completing work and self-care. Others need more specific assignment help, which can involve creating outlines and finding additional academic support, such as Khan Academy to help get them pre-learn future lessons.
Visual & Performing Arts
7th/8th Grade Photography
Students are transforming the world around them by placing transparent items over their camera lenses, e.g., kaleidoscopes, glass balls, glasses, and cling wrap. When composing their shots, students will continue to refine their use of the formal elements of photography: framing, layers, contrast, focus, leading lines.
7th/8th Grade Technical Theater
Students are designing and building practical projects to achieve particular tasks. Skills include problem solving, engineering, and creating art.
7th/8th Grade Drama
Students are filming group scenes from our play in an attempt to create a "Zoom reading/film" version, using creative characterization and collaborating in the development of realistic relationships.
6th Grade Drama
The class is adapting a classic Fairy Tale into a modern re-telling. This involves creativity, collaboration (working in groups of 4-5), and critical thinking (how do we change all the details of a story while retaining the basic elements of the plot so it can be recognized?).
7th/8th Grade Choir
Students are singing along to pre-recorded practice tracks to be able to perform together virtually, as well as completing the March Madness Choral Edition.
7th/8th Grade Jazz Band
This group has been recording videos of themselves playing their parts along to backing tracks of jazz tunes. They’ve also submitted videos of themselves improvising over those same songs.
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