April 30, 2016
In our continued efforts to keep families informed and updated about the curriculum at Blake, each month we will be 'highlighting' updates from the different departments. We hope this will help facilitate conversations at home and maintain a bridge between home and school. Below please find the updates for the month of April, 2016.
Art
6th grade artists are looking at the work of Georgia O'Keefe. They are examining how compositional choices can open up new ways of looking at an object. Students will be using a view catcher to select and draw an object from many different points of view.
7th grade artists are examining the Surrealist work of Dali and Magritte. They are creating drawings from imagination that challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. The unlikely juxtaposition of objects in a work of art can result in works with humor and surprise.
8th grade artists are in the early stages of linoleum block printing. An emphasis will be placed of the variety of line quality, shading, and contrast when we begin carving.
6 Plus artists are finishing up their second stop motion movie. We are appsmashing with apps like Do Ink and experimenting with green screen effects.
8 Plus As the DC trip is soon approaching, 8th grade artists will begin to research notable examples of monuments. The 8th grade art plus students have been exploring sculptural concepts throughout the year. What are monuments? Why are they created? Why does location matter? Ultimately we will be creating a monument for Medfield/ Blake that will be virtually installed.
Work continues on the LMC mural. All students are welcome to participate. We meet on Wednesdays after school in the Art room.
English
Sixth grade ELA has completed a poetry unit. Students created poetry showpieces that they uploaded to their digital portfolios. Now, we are moving into reading the classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Students will be showing their knowledge of the elements of fiction through a project with a reflection. We wrap up the year with a review of the eight parts of speech.
Grade 7: The seventh grade is about to travel back to the 1700's to read about the fictional Johnny Tremain and his adventures in historical Boston during the lead up to the American Revolution. Students will explore coming-of-age themes that were introduced during our recently completed short story unit. The novel, Johnny Tremain, is filled with descriptive passages that will allow students to show the literary analysis skills they have worked on throughout the year.
Grade 8: Grade 8 students are in the final stretch of the short story unit which includes dramatic renderings and retelling. Spliced between PARCC testing days, students will begin their study of Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As part of the unit, students will unpack connections between the author and 1930s Alabama cultural and mores that form the groundbed of the novel’s theme.
Guidance
Embracing Diversity is talking about Hate Crimes and analyzing societal trends associated with them. The Grade 7 Group Guidance class just finished our lesson on Lincoln's failures on the road to the White House. We applied it to the importance of facing adversity and building resiliency. The next rotation of Grade 6 Group Guidance just met for the first time and are looking forward to talking about creating the kind of Blake we want to have by looking at how we treat each other.
Library
The Blake Library Media Center has just taken delivery of hundreds of new pleasure reading books. Our earlier purchases this year have mostly focused on curriculum-related material but now we’re loading up on the fun stuff. We’ll be featuring a series of new book displays over the next few weeks so please tell your students to come on down!
We’re also in the final stages of putting together our summer reading book choices. All students have been surveyed on last year’s lists and also been given the opportunity to suggest new books for the new lists. Their feedback, along with suggestions from our English Department, has resulted in some great new titles. We’ve also decided on our all-school book – stay tuned for the upcoming announcement in about two weeks.
Mathematics
6th graders are busy learning about graphs and representing data. This is all a part of analyzing statistics and showing the reader information about a study of data. What happens when you take a box and give it whiskers? You get a whole new way of displaying information. Students start with data...heights, test scores, home prices, etc...they then take time to organize and arrange it in a meaningful manner. This involves carefully labeling axes, appropriately arranging their data, and correctly calculating quartiles. Busy, busy, busy!
Students in 7th grade math have been busy learning about probability. Odds, events, sample, independent, outcomes...these are all new words for students as they explore the math behind chance. Students are creating carnival games in their classes for all to see their learning in action! Sixth graders will soon be visitors in grade seven to try these games out. Good luck to all!
In 8th grade math, students are studying a variety of topics including exponents, factoring and transformation of figures. Exponents and factoring are traditional topics in Algebra I. When students in 8th grade math study transformation, the paint pens come out! Students throughout our classrooms can be seen creating figures with paint then transforming those figures by a quick fold of the graph. Beautiful designs are created an lessons about two-dimensional figures are well-learned.
Music
The Eighth Grade Chorus did an excellent job on the Step Up concert, presenting a piece themselves as well as blending their voices with the High School Chorus for a final number. It is our hope that many students will continue singing in the choral ensemble as they begin High School. The Eighth grade is currently working on a varied repertoire which includes musical theater, world music and popular song genres. They are learning more about singing in harmony with the use of the solfege in many of their rehearsals. The Six Flags is their next upcoming event on June 3, 2016 and their Spring Concert follows on June 7, 2016.
The Seventh Grade Chorus has been working on two and three part ensemble selections including a selection from Zambia that will feature a drum ensemble. The seventh graders are being offered an opportunity to create some choreography for the theme song for our Spring Concert. Rehearsals will be after school on Thursdays in the High School Chorus room from 2:15 - 3:15 starting on April 28. The Six Flags is their next upcoming event on June 3, 2016 and their Spring Concert follows on June 7, 2016
The Sixth Grade Chorus has added movement a a little theatrical work to their selections for the upcoming Spring Concert. They have been singing rounds and canons, and developing their aural and oral skills through imitation of rhythmic and melodic patterns. They have added a folk song from Ghana to their repertoire: these students learn music quickly and have had a wonderful start to their chorus experience at Blake. Their Spring Concert will also be on June 7, 2016.
Grade Six General Music
Students have begun a new unit. In this unit students are closely examining the element of rhythm through various experiences of World Music. In particular, students will learn about the music of Western Africa and South America and the role that music plays in those cultures. Students thus far have enjoyed experimenting with a variety of world music percussion instruments such as the Dun-Dun or “talking drum.”
Grade Eight General Music
The third related arts rotation has just concluded with presentations of students’ final projects. Students used their classroom learning experiences of The History and Development of the American Musical to create an outline for an original musical. Students were required to use the musical genre to provide commentary on a social theme that was important to them. Several groups in this rotation chose to write original songs to support their plotlines. Students chose to examine such themes as: bullying, immigration, depression, racial inequality and gender inequality through the musical medium.
Congratulations to the Blake Middle School Orchestras for great performances at the Medfield String Fling on March 16th. Congratulations are also in order to the Blake 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra for earning an Excellent "Silver" Rating at MICCA on April 1st! The 6th grade Orchestra has started working on two new pieces called Fiddling-A-Round and Wild Western Frontier. Fiddling A-Round focuses on a new finger pattern and important melodic passages for every section. Wild Western Frontier introduces new rhythms and E-String notes for the violins. The 6th graders are also preparing the solo "Musette" that will be each student's culminating project of the 3rd semester. The 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra is now looking ahead to the Great East Festival on June 3rd. They just started a new piece "Land of a Thousand Dances" that challenges students with lots of slurs, F-natural finger patterns, B-flats and syncopated rhythms.
"Jazz Lab Band Prepares for Jazz Night"
The members of the Jazz Lab Band are hard at work preparing for their first jazz performance Friday May 6th at Jazz Night. The group is learning how to play jazz improvisation for the first time and is looking forward to getting on stage!
The Sixth Grade Band has begun work on two new pieces for the spring concert on June 1 - Atlantis and Disney’s Magical Marches. The Seventh and Eighth Grade Band is preparing music from Wicked, a march titled Flag Patrol and a lyrical piece called The Rohan Tree. The group will perform these pieces on the June 1 concert as well as the Great East Festival on June 3. The Blake Jazz Ensemble if preparing for two big performances on May 5 & 6 - the MAJE Southeast District Festival and Medfield Jazz Night. The group will perform Caribbean Dance (a latin jazz piece), Povo (a jazz rock standard by Freddie Hubbard) and Fat Cat (swing).
Science
Grade 6 is well into our Earth Science unit learning all about rocks and minerals, weathering, fossils, and erosion. Students have done a number of experiments to analyze and identify mineral and rock samples. They have expanded upon knowledge of rock types and are now learning about the effects of weathering and erosion on the rock that makes the surface of our planet. All of the work they invest in weathering and erosion is like “training camp” to become geological detectives, because soon (the 1st week in May), we will embark on a Geological expedition of the Town of Medfield to collect evidence as to what “agents” of erosion have committed geological “crimes” in their very own town!
Spring has sprung in seventh grade science. We celebrated by releasing the trout raised in our classrooms! Students traveled to the brook during science classes to wave goodbye to the trout. This was an exciting culmination to the Trout in the Classroom unit in exploration class.
In our continued efforts to keep families informed and updated about the curriculum at Blake, each month we will be 'highlighting' updates from the different departments. We hope this will help facilitate conversations at home and maintain a bridge between home and school. Below please find the updates for the month of April, 2016.
Art
6th grade artists are looking at the work of Georgia O'Keefe. They are examining how compositional choices can open up new ways of looking at an object. Students will be using a view catcher to select and draw an object from many different points of view.
7th grade artists are examining the Surrealist work of Dali and Magritte. They are creating drawings from imagination that challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. The unlikely juxtaposition of objects in a work of art can result in works with humor and surprise.
8th grade artists are in the early stages of linoleum block printing. An emphasis will be placed of the variety of line quality, shading, and contrast when we begin carving.
6 Plus artists are finishing up their second stop motion movie. We are appsmashing with apps like Do Ink and experimenting with green screen effects.
8 Plus As the DC trip is soon approaching, 8th grade artists will begin to research notable examples of monuments. The 8th grade art plus students have been exploring sculptural concepts throughout the year. What are monuments? Why are they created? Why does location matter? Ultimately we will be creating a monument for Medfield/ Blake that will be virtually installed.
Work continues on the LMC mural. All students are welcome to participate. We meet on Wednesdays after school in the Art room.
English
Sixth grade ELA has completed a poetry unit. Students created poetry showpieces that they uploaded to their digital portfolios. Now, we are moving into reading the classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Students will be showing their knowledge of the elements of fiction through a project with a reflection. We wrap up the year with a review of the eight parts of speech.
Grade 7: The seventh grade is about to travel back to the 1700's to read about the fictional Johnny Tremain and his adventures in historical Boston during the lead up to the American Revolution. Students will explore coming-of-age themes that were introduced during our recently completed short story unit. The novel, Johnny Tremain, is filled with descriptive passages that will allow students to show the literary analysis skills they have worked on throughout the year.
Grade 8: Grade 8 students are in the final stretch of the short story unit which includes dramatic renderings and retelling. Spliced between PARCC testing days, students will begin their study of Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As part of the unit, students will unpack connections between the author and 1930s Alabama cultural and mores that form the groundbed of the novel’s theme.
Guidance
Embracing Diversity is talking about Hate Crimes and analyzing societal trends associated with them. The Grade 7 Group Guidance class just finished our lesson on Lincoln's failures on the road to the White House. We applied it to the importance of facing adversity and building resiliency. The next rotation of Grade 6 Group Guidance just met for the first time and are looking forward to talking about creating the kind of Blake we want to have by looking at how we treat each other.
Library
The Blake Library Media Center has just taken delivery of hundreds of new pleasure reading books. Our earlier purchases this year have mostly focused on curriculum-related material but now we’re loading up on the fun stuff. We’ll be featuring a series of new book displays over the next few weeks so please tell your students to come on down!
We’re also in the final stages of putting together our summer reading book choices. All students have been surveyed on last year’s lists and also been given the opportunity to suggest new books for the new lists. Their feedback, along with suggestions from our English Department, has resulted in some great new titles. We’ve also decided on our all-school book – stay tuned for the upcoming announcement in about two weeks.
Mathematics
6th graders are busy learning about graphs and representing data. This is all a part of analyzing statistics and showing the reader information about a study of data. What happens when you take a box and give it whiskers? You get a whole new way of displaying information. Students start with data...heights, test scores, home prices, etc...they then take time to organize and arrange it in a meaningful manner. This involves carefully labeling axes, appropriately arranging their data, and correctly calculating quartiles. Busy, busy, busy!
Students in 7th grade math have been busy learning about probability. Odds, events, sample, independent, outcomes...these are all new words for students as they explore the math behind chance. Students are creating carnival games in their classes for all to see their learning in action! Sixth graders will soon be visitors in grade seven to try these games out. Good luck to all!
In 8th grade math, students are studying a variety of topics including exponents, factoring and transformation of figures. Exponents and factoring are traditional topics in Algebra I. When students in 8th grade math study transformation, the paint pens come out! Students throughout our classrooms can be seen creating figures with paint then transforming those figures by a quick fold of the graph. Beautiful designs are created an lessons about two-dimensional figures are well-learned.
Music
The Eighth Grade Chorus did an excellent job on the Step Up concert, presenting a piece themselves as well as blending their voices with the High School Chorus for a final number. It is our hope that many students will continue singing in the choral ensemble as they begin High School. The Eighth grade is currently working on a varied repertoire which includes musical theater, world music and popular song genres. They are learning more about singing in harmony with the use of the solfege in many of their rehearsals. The Six Flags is their next upcoming event on June 3, 2016 and their Spring Concert follows on June 7, 2016.
The Seventh Grade Chorus has been working on two and three part ensemble selections including a selection from Zambia that will feature a drum ensemble. The seventh graders are being offered an opportunity to create some choreography for the theme song for our Spring Concert. Rehearsals will be after school on Thursdays in the High School Chorus room from 2:15 - 3:15 starting on April 28. The Six Flags is their next upcoming event on June 3, 2016 and their Spring Concert follows on June 7, 2016
The Sixth Grade Chorus has added movement a a little theatrical work to their selections for the upcoming Spring Concert. They have been singing rounds and canons, and developing their aural and oral skills through imitation of rhythmic and melodic patterns. They have added a folk song from Ghana to their repertoire: these students learn music quickly and have had a wonderful start to their chorus experience at Blake. Their Spring Concert will also be on June 7, 2016.
Grade Six General Music
Students have begun a new unit. In this unit students are closely examining the element of rhythm through various experiences of World Music. In particular, students will learn about the music of Western Africa and South America and the role that music plays in those cultures. Students thus far have enjoyed experimenting with a variety of world music percussion instruments such as the Dun-Dun or “talking drum.”
Grade Eight General Music
The third related arts rotation has just concluded with presentations of students’ final projects. Students used their classroom learning experiences of The History and Development of the American Musical to create an outline for an original musical. Students were required to use the musical genre to provide commentary on a social theme that was important to them. Several groups in this rotation chose to write original songs to support their plotlines. Students chose to examine such themes as: bullying, immigration, depression, racial inequality and gender inequality through the musical medium.
Congratulations to the Blake Middle School Orchestras for great performances at the Medfield String Fling on March 16th. Congratulations are also in order to the Blake 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra for earning an Excellent "Silver" Rating at MICCA on April 1st! The 6th grade Orchestra has started working on two new pieces called Fiddling-A-Round and Wild Western Frontier. Fiddling A-Round focuses on a new finger pattern and important melodic passages for every section. Wild Western Frontier introduces new rhythms and E-String notes for the violins. The 6th graders are also preparing the solo "Musette" that will be each student's culminating project of the 3rd semester. The 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra is now looking ahead to the Great East Festival on June 3rd. They just started a new piece "Land of a Thousand Dances" that challenges students with lots of slurs, F-natural finger patterns, B-flats and syncopated rhythms.
"Jazz Lab Band Prepares for Jazz Night"
The members of the Jazz Lab Band are hard at work preparing for their first jazz performance Friday May 6th at Jazz Night. The group is learning how to play jazz improvisation for the first time and is looking forward to getting on stage!
The Sixth Grade Band has begun work on two new pieces for the spring concert on June 1 - Atlantis and Disney’s Magical Marches. The Seventh and Eighth Grade Band is preparing music from Wicked, a march titled Flag Patrol and a lyrical piece called The Rohan Tree. The group will perform these pieces on the June 1 concert as well as the Great East Festival on June 3. The Blake Jazz Ensemble if preparing for two big performances on May 5 & 6 - the MAJE Southeast District Festival and Medfield Jazz Night. The group will perform Caribbean Dance (a latin jazz piece), Povo (a jazz rock standard by Freddie Hubbard) and Fat Cat (swing).
Science
Grade 6 is well into our Earth Science unit learning all about rocks and minerals, weathering, fossils, and erosion. Students have done a number of experiments to analyze and identify mineral and rock samples. They have expanded upon knowledge of rock types and are now learning about the effects of weathering and erosion on the rock that makes the surface of our planet. All of the work they invest in weathering and erosion is like “training camp” to become geological detectives, because soon (the 1st week in May), we will embark on a Geological expedition of the Town of Medfield to collect evidence as to what “agents” of erosion have committed geological “crimes” in their very own town!
Spring has sprung in seventh grade science. We celebrated by releasing the trout raised in our classrooms! Students traveled to the brook during science classes to wave goodbye to the trout. This was an exciting culmination to the Trout in the Classroom unit in exploration class.
In the science classroom the month began with learning how new cells are formed. Students created an animation of the cell cycle as a demonstration of their understanding of this process. To model the structure of DNA and the concept of DNA replication, students created Lego models. The month ended by investigating how traits are inherited. To help understand Gregor Mendel's work, flowers were dissected. Students also took a look at their own traits and found out if they are “tasters” or not. Next up is a Project Based Learning unit on ecology.
Eighth grade science is currently bringing their Sun, Earth, Moon System unit to a close. Students used computer simulations, model kits, and Explain Everything templates to help visualize moon phases, eclipses, and tides. Shortly, students will begin to examine Forces, Matter, and Energy. They will measure potential and kinetic energy through skatepark simulations and by timing and measuring bouncing tennis balls. In technology class, students are coding Dash and Dot through mazes. Dash and Dot are singing, bowling, and even jousting!
Social Studies
World Geography 6th graders continue to experience the wonders of the world – after exploring the various geographical features of Africa, they are learning about several different African cultures, their traditions and economies. With the end of the year in sight, students are working to master mapping skills.
7th graders in Ancient Civilizations classes are completing their study of Alexander the Great by analyzing and writing about various primary and secondary source documents. Next, they’ll study Rome and will learn about the founding of the Roman Republic and its expansion into the vast Roman Empire. In late May and early June, each cluster will get to see a huge selection of art and artifacts from all of the civilizations studied this year when they will visit the Museum of Fine Arts and explore their world-class collections.
World History I 8th grade students are learning about the European Renaissance and the development of the Protestant Reformation. Important figures, including Martin Luther, will be studied to realize his impact on both European and world history. The 8th graders will then focus on England and learn about the political, religious and social changes which take place during the reign of Henry VIII. The students will complete a series of assessments and activities relating to these topics.
Wellness
Health
Grade six students are wrapping up the unit on communication skills. During this unit, we have looked at ways to communicate effectively to stop bullying, and to report bullying when it happens. Our intention is to stop bullying at the source, but to communicate effectively with adults when we are not in a position to intervene. We have also discussed the six pillars of character, which are designed to provide a framework for appropriate behavior and social responsibility. Next, we will be starting our unit on decision making, where we will look at how students can effectively make decisions to avoid alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Students in grade 7 created comic books based on the decision making process they had learned and practiced in class. They developed the skill of decision making by following a step by step process where they analyzed healthy and unhealthy options, considered consequences of both, and reflected on the final decision. They have just started a unit on cardiovascular endurance.
In grade eight, students are developing the skill of health advocacy. After viewing a variety of videos, commercials, public service announcements and advertisements, students got a sense of some different ways one can advocate for a cause or campaign. Students were able to work with a partner and discover what is currently in the media in order to inspire them for their final project. They will have the freedom to choose a topic that they are passionate about and create a message that will inspire change and a positive outcome. During our unit on advocacy, students will also be learning about the topic of harassment and will be able to describe ways they can apply their advocacy skill in order to advocate for themselves.
Physical Education
Seventh graders are engaged in units of fitness and rebounding. During the fitness unit, students have been introduced to the basic strength training movements of squats, push-ups, and pull-ups. Our goal is for students to work toward proficiency in a number of fitness activities so that they can use our new fitness center safely and can have success in reaching their fitness goals. The rebounding unit is a cardiovascular activity in which students are creating fitness routines using urban rebounders, which are small fitness trampolines.
Eighth graders are learning the basic rules and game play of rugby, and are practicing their skills playing small-sided games. They are also reviewing the fundamentals of basketball while expanding their practice of the transferable skills of defending, cutting, give and go, and moving to open spaces.
Consumer Science
It’s hard to believe that the last rotation of the year is already underway! Most students have now met for their first or second consumer science class, and are practicing working together with their kitchen groups to demonstrate proper hygiene and safety in the kitchen. We began making a variety of smoothie recipes, pancakes, French toast and waffles, so that students could have fun practicing proper measuring and safe use of a variety of appliances. Of course, sitting down to eat is the prize of learning to cook, and students have had a lot of fun becoming more independent and both enjoying and analyzing their final product!
World Language
6th grade Mandarin students are ready to move to the next lesson. In this lesson, students will be able to ask people from different social status levels their names.
Grade Six French students have been learning about animals and where they live. We are working on making paper bag puppets for an animal kingdom skit.
6th grade Spanish has kicked off our unit about Los Animales with the important experience of watching a movie in Spanish with English subtitles! Madagascar! We enjoyed studying how different the translation can be in the subtitles (eg. Why would they say they are going to Miami, but the English subtitles said they are going to Connecticut?!)
7th grade Mandarin students are studying unit 7--lesson 3. At the end of this lesson, students will be able to provide reasons for those personal preferences, and express agreement with someone.
The 7th grade French students presented fun and entertaining skits as part of their café unit. They are now creating Voicethread projects in which they present the meals they had on a certain day. Once again, they are being very creative and enjoying watching and commenting on each others' projects!
7th grade Spanish continues to amaze us with their Springtime explosion of language! Learning some new basics like "I believe that" and "I should" are opening up wonderful new opportunities to express more complicated ideas in Spanish!
8th grade Mandarin students studying unit 12--lesson 3. At the end of this lesson, students will be able to provide basic information about a Chinese program, to comment on Chinese classes, and to use graphics to enhance presentation.
Grade eight French students have been studying various vacation locals! We are working on creating a booklet with a secret room where clues are left on each page for the reader to guess the final destination.
Grade eight Spanish has been talking about celebrations, and we are watching a movie about the coming of age tradition of quinceañeras. We are also starting to build skills to speak in the past tense.
Eighth grade science is currently bringing their Sun, Earth, Moon System unit to a close. Students used computer simulations, model kits, and Explain Everything templates to help visualize moon phases, eclipses, and tides. Shortly, students will begin to examine Forces, Matter, and Energy. They will measure potential and kinetic energy through skatepark simulations and by timing and measuring bouncing tennis balls. In technology class, students are coding Dash and Dot through mazes. Dash and Dot are singing, bowling, and even jousting!
Social Studies
World Geography 6th graders continue to experience the wonders of the world – after exploring the various geographical features of Africa, they are learning about several different African cultures, their traditions and economies. With the end of the year in sight, students are working to master mapping skills.
7th graders in Ancient Civilizations classes are completing their study of Alexander the Great by analyzing and writing about various primary and secondary source documents. Next, they’ll study Rome and will learn about the founding of the Roman Republic and its expansion into the vast Roman Empire. In late May and early June, each cluster will get to see a huge selection of art and artifacts from all of the civilizations studied this year when they will visit the Museum of Fine Arts and explore their world-class collections.
World History I 8th grade students are learning about the European Renaissance and the development of the Protestant Reformation. Important figures, including Martin Luther, will be studied to realize his impact on both European and world history. The 8th graders will then focus on England and learn about the political, religious and social changes which take place during the reign of Henry VIII. The students will complete a series of assessments and activities relating to these topics.
Wellness
Health
Grade six students are wrapping up the unit on communication skills. During this unit, we have looked at ways to communicate effectively to stop bullying, and to report bullying when it happens. Our intention is to stop bullying at the source, but to communicate effectively with adults when we are not in a position to intervene. We have also discussed the six pillars of character, which are designed to provide a framework for appropriate behavior and social responsibility. Next, we will be starting our unit on decision making, where we will look at how students can effectively make decisions to avoid alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Students in grade 7 created comic books based on the decision making process they had learned and practiced in class. They developed the skill of decision making by following a step by step process where they analyzed healthy and unhealthy options, considered consequences of both, and reflected on the final decision. They have just started a unit on cardiovascular endurance.
In grade eight, students are developing the skill of health advocacy. After viewing a variety of videos, commercials, public service announcements and advertisements, students got a sense of some different ways one can advocate for a cause or campaign. Students were able to work with a partner and discover what is currently in the media in order to inspire them for their final project. They will have the freedom to choose a topic that they are passionate about and create a message that will inspire change and a positive outcome. During our unit on advocacy, students will also be learning about the topic of harassment and will be able to describe ways they can apply their advocacy skill in order to advocate for themselves.
Physical Education
Seventh graders are engaged in units of fitness and rebounding. During the fitness unit, students have been introduced to the basic strength training movements of squats, push-ups, and pull-ups. Our goal is for students to work toward proficiency in a number of fitness activities so that they can use our new fitness center safely and can have success in reaching their fitness goals. The rebounding unit is a cardiovascular activity in which students are creating fitness routines using urban rebounders, which are small fitness trampolines.
Eighth graders are learning the basic rules and game play of rugby, and are practicing their skills playing small-sided games. They are also reviewing the fundamentals of basketball while expanding their practice of the transferable skills of defending, cutting, give and go, and moving to open spaces.
Consumer Science
It’s hard to believe that the last rotation of the year is already underway! Most students have now met for their first or second consumer science class, and are practicing working together with their kitchen groups to demonstrate proper hygiene and safety in the kitchen. We began making a variety of smoothie recipes, pancakes, French toast and waffles, so that students could have fun practicing proper measuring and safe use of a variety of appliances. Of course, sitting down to eat is the prize of learning to cook, and students have had a lot of fun becoming more independent and both enjoying and analyzing their final product!
World Language
6th grade Mandarin students are ready to move to the next lesson. In this lesson, students will be able to ask people from different social status levels their names.
Grade Six French students have been learning about animals and where they live. We are working on making paper bag puppets for an animal kingdom skit.
6th grade Spanish has kicked off our unit about Los Animales with the important experience of watching a movie in Spanish with English subtitles! Madagascar! We enjoyed studying how different the translation can be in the subtitles (eg. Why would they say they are going to Miami, but the English subtitles said they are going to Connecticut?!)
7th grade Mandarin students are studying unit 7--lesson 3. At the end of this lesson, students will be able to provide reasons for those personal preferences, and express agreement with someone.
The 7th grade French students presented fun and entertaining skits as part of their café unit. They are now creating Voicethread projects in which they present the meals they had on a certain day. Once again, they are being very creative and enjoying watching and commenting on each others' projects!
7th grade Spanish continues to amaze us with their Springtime explosion of language! Learning some new basics like "I believe that" and "I should" are opening up wonderful new opportunities to express more complicated ideas in Spanish!
8th grade Mandarin students studying unit 12--lesson 3. At the end of this lesson, students will be able to provide basic information about a Chinese program, to comment on Chinese classes, and to use graphics to enhance presentation.
Grade eight French students have been studying various vacation locals! We are working on creating a booklet with a secret room where clues are left on each page for the reader to guess the final destination.
Grade eight Spanish has been talking about celebrations, and we are watching a movie about the coming of age tradition of quinceañeras. We are also starting to build skills to speak in the past tense.