October, 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 October, 2016.
Art
Sixth grade artists are creating house designs in pen and ink. Students discussed Gothic church architecture in particular and understood how the design of the buildings reflected the beliefs and values of medieval religious communities. They then searched for different architectural icons and used these as a point of reference when designing their own structures. The students practiced different pen and ink techniques and experimented with one-point perspective to create some illusion of depth.
6th Plus students are busy creating a 3-D dimensional piece based on architecture. They are making relief tiles that represent architectural motifs. They will be grouped together in a cooperative art piece that will hang in the school.
Seventh grade artists are using close observation to study the features of their own face. Using mirrors, they are recording all of the tiny details and looking at shape and line to describe these details with accuracy. They have reviewed the proportions of the head and face and are working on expressive self-portraits that use color as an element to add emotion. The students discussed the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Ernst Kirchner to understand how expressionism can communicate feeling.
Eighth grade artists are beginning a unit of study on the human form. They looked at ‘ideal proportions’ by discussing two icons of Greek sculpture--Discus Thrower and Victory of Samothrace, as well as the expressionist piece of the Burghers of Calais by Rodin. They posed as these pieces which helped them fully understand the emotion and meaning behind them. The students then acted as both models and artists to practice sketching the human body. This will lead them into drawing and painting the figure in movement.
Art Opportunities after school:
Set Design with Mrs. Deveno---Get involved in the Drama program by working on the set design crew. This group meets after school. See Mrs. Deveno for details.
Blake Open Studios----Throughout the year, the Blake Art room will be open after school on Thursdays, until 3pm. All students are welcome to participate in studio activities of their own choice. Ms. Deveno and Ms. Jones will be on hand to provide materials and informal instruction.
There will be no formal registration, it is on a first come, first served basis and limited to 15 students. We are looking forward to seeing you in the Art studio, room 208!
English
Grade 6:
The sixth graders have jumped into the study of the elements of fiction - plot, character, characterization, conflict, mood, theme, setting - and figurative language within our first book, Harris and Me by Gary Paulson. Learning about the elements of fiction will assist with the comprehension of all texts this year! Harris and Me is filled with figurative language that allows us to visualize what is happening as we read. After learning about figurative language, the students will learn how to use it in a future narrative writing assignment. Sixth graders are also working on pronouns as first person point of view words as well as learning about how they are used within a sentence. It's been a busy month.
Grade 7:
The seventh grade is working on the skills of analyzing character, imagery, figurative language, and mood in the novella The Color of My Words. Students are being asked to think critically about passages in the book. In writing lab, students are also reviewing suspense, foreshadowing, and suspense in Roald Dahl's thrilling short story, "The Landlady"; a perfect read for Halloween.
Grade 8:
Students are in the final stages of reading and analyzing The Crucible. Using the drama’s richly drawn and complex characterizations, students will begin their work on drawing textually substantiated claims about a character, providing evidence and analysis to support each claim. On Thursday, October 27, students will close out this unit by a field trip to Salem, Massachusetts.
Guidance
The first rotation of the guidance classes ends on November 10th. The students in the 8th grade guidance class are working on career exploration. The students just wrote resumes based on their experiences thus far in 8th grade. Students will be editing and adding details to their resumes this week. Students taking Embracing Diversity have explored the concept of “Culture” and aware of how perspectives can influence how we view another culture. Students have also examined Hate Crime trends and statistics in the United States. 7th Grade guidance students are looking at different ways to manage stress including guided meditation. The students in 6th grade group guidance continue to learn about “Empathy” and increase capacity to use it. The class has begun composing our letter to our 8th grade self’s, not to be read again until 8th grade.
Library
Sixth grade Library Media rotation classes are putting the finishing touches on their South American county research projects. Students have been practicing library research skills – finding information from a variety of sources, evaluating the quality of the information, note taking, and proper citation skills – as they write a two page report on a South American country of their choosing
Our sixth grade Blake Coders began learning foundation concepts of sequencing, looping and if/then conditionals following the Code.org courses. This gave them enough background to start designing their own game using the HopScotch app. In these next weeks, Blake Coders will be figuring out how to code their own backgrounds with moving obstacles and main characters controlled by a arrow buttons, touch or tilting the iPad, and much more. Stay tuned as we will share them for you to try them out too!
Seventh Grade Technology rotation students are also wrapping up their first eight week rotation class as well as they complete their final “Philosophy of Technology” slide presentations. During the course both the advantages of digital devices – communication, research, online banking and shopping etc. – and the disadvantages – multitasking, injury through poor ergonomic use, identity theft, negative digital footprint etc. are discussed. Student shows contain slides on their particular good and bad uses of screen technology and conclude with an individual philosophy on ways that they can use the devices to enhance rather than detract from their lifestyles. Good digital citizenship stuff!
8th Grade Innovation Lab course brings together project-based learning and design thinking for students to work in small teams in designing a Little Bits gadget as a solution to one of their teacher's classroom problems. At this halfway point (this is a 12 week course), all teams have been introduced to the design thinking guiding principle using the Extraordinaire's Design Studio Kit. They are now ready to start working on their actual project.
Mathematics
6th grade is currently all about number crunching! Blake mathematicians are currently studying Number Sense and Fluency content. This material is designed to help strengthen and stretch students' understanding of numbers through the lens of patterns, exponents, LCM, GCF, and prime factorization. Don’t be surprised if you see your child start to question your spending habits. They may be noticing important patterns:-)
You may have noticed our 7th grade students wearing camouflage the other day. They were gearing up for Geometry Boot Camp! The core muscle involved in this boot camp was our brain! Students worked on deep, thoughtful perimeter and area challenge problems. They traveled from station to station stretching their minds and collaborating with peers. It was a wonderful way to solidify skills and push themselves to the next level. Next unit up? Proportional Reasoning.
By the time students reach grade 8 math they have learned that mathematicians want their numbers written as simply as possible. Students in all classes are continuing their work on solving equations. However, extra attention is spent highlighting how their solution is written. Whether the number is a fraction such as 6/4 or an irrational number such as 8, students are learning techniques to write their answer in a more simplified and meaningful manner. These techniques and standards will carry them through their math classes for many years to come.
Music
The Grade 7 and Grade 8 Choruses are filled with students who love to sing. We have been working on pop, world music and spirituals in two and three parts. The students are reviewing the solfege scale, using the curwen hand symbols as they sing. This is a very concrete way to secure good intonation as well as an awareness of the function of pitch in their music. Enjoying harmonic singing through rounds and canons continues to be a part of every rehearsal. Auditions for a new Jazz Ensemble directed by Mrs. Ann Marie Tremblay will be held after school on Tuesday, October 11th and on Thursday, October 13th. If you would still like to sign up, see Mrs. Oxholm or Mrs. Tremblay in the High School Chorus room during your next choral rehearsal.
In Grade 6 Orchestra the repertoire we are working on this term is Dragon Hunter and Double Trouble. Dragon Hunter is an exciting piece that passes the melody to all the sections and challenges our independent playing skills. Double Trouble is a fast paced piece that demands rhythmic precision. We are also continuing to focus on tuning our instruments independently. A new piece, Sahara Crossing, will be introduced in October which will introduce new finger patterns using the notes B-flat and E-flat.
The 7&8 Grade Orchestra is busy preparing for a joint Fall Concert with the MHS Orchestra on November 1st. Our repertoire for this concert is Rondeau, Creatures and Finale from Firebird. Rondeau introduces students to music of the baroque era characterized by dynamic contrast, light detache bowing and ornamental grace notes. Creatures is a fun, imaginative inspired piece that introduces new accidentals. And the 7&8 Grade Orchestra will be combined with the MHS Orchestra to perform an arrangement of the beautiful and powerful Finale from Firebird by Stravinsky.
Grade Six General Music with Mrs. Stover
We’ve been doing lots of active listening to many different styles of music in the classroom trying to figure how the different elements of music combine to create a recognizable genre. We’ve been concentrating particularly on timbre during this unit. Students have just begun their end-of-unit project for which they created their own rubric descriptors. Students will compose a short musical piece with two contrasting sections and using three contrasting timbres.
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 October, 2016.
Art
Sixth grade artists are creating house designs in pen and ink. Students discussed Gothic church architecture in particular and understood how the design of the buildings reflected the beliefs and values of medieval religious communities. They then searched for different architectural icons and used these as a point of reference when designing their own structures. The students practiced different pen and ink techniques and experimented with one-point perspective to create some illusion of depth.
6th Plus students are busy creating a 3-D dimensional piece based on architecture. They are making relief tiles that represent architectural motifs. They will be grouped together in a cooperative art piece that will hang in the school.
Seventh grade artists are using close observation to study the features of their own face. Using mirrors, they are recording all of the tiny details and looking at shape and line to describe these details with accuracy. They have reviewed the proportions of the head and face and are working on expressive self-portraits that use color as an element to add emotion. The students discussed the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Ernst Kirchner to understand how expressionism can communicate feeling.
Eighth grade artists are beginning a unit of study on the human form. They looked at ‘ideal proportions’ by discussing two icons of Greek sculpture--Discus Thrower and Victory of Samothrace, as well as the expressionist piece of the Burghers of Calais by Rodin. They posed as these pieces which helped them fully understand the emotion and meaning behind them. The students then acted as both models and artists to practice sketching the human body. This will lead them into drawing and painting the figure in movement.
Art Opportunities after school:
Set Design with Mrs. Deveno---Get involved in the Drama program by working on the set design crew. This group meets after school. See Mrs. Deveno for details.
Blake Open Studios----Throughout the year, the Blake Art room will be open after school on Thursdays, until 3pm. All students are welcome to participate in studio activities of their own choice. Ms. Deveno and Ms. Jones will be on hand to provide materials and informal instruction.
There will be no formal registration, it is on a first come, first served basis and limited to 15 students. We are looking forward to seeing you in the Art studio, room 208!
English
Grade 6:
The sixth graders have jumped into the study of the elements of fiction - plot, character, characterization, conflict, mood, theme, setting - and figurative language within our first book, Harris and Me by Gary Paulson. Learning about the elements of fiction will assist with the comprehension of all texts this year! Harris and Me is filled with figurative language that allows us to visualize what is happening as we read. After learning about figurative language, the students will learn how to use it in a future narrative writing assignment. Sixth graders are also working on pronouns as first person point of view words as well as learning about how they are used within a sentence. It's been a busy month.
Grade 7:
The seventh grade is working on the skills of analyzing character, imagery, figurative language, and mood in the novella The Color of My Words. Students are being asked to think critically about passages in the book. In writing lab, students are also reviewing suspense, foreshadowing, and suspense in Roald Dahl's thrilling short story, "The Landlady"; a perfect read for Halloween.
Grade 8:
Students are in the final stages of reading and analyzing The Crucible. Using the drama’s richly drawn and complex characterizations, students will begin their work on drawing textually substantiated claims about a character, providing evidence and analysis to support each claim. On Thursday, October 27, students will close out this unit by a field trip to Salem, Massachusetts.
Guidance
The first rotation of the guidance classes ends on November 10th. The students in the 8th grade guidance class are working on career exploration. The students just wrote resumes based on their experiences thus far in 8th grade. Students will be editing and adding details to their resumes this week. Students taking Embracing Diversity have explored the concept of “Culture” and aware of how perspectives can influence how we view another culture. Students have also examined Hate Crime trends and statistics in the United States. 7th Grade guidance students are looking at different ways to manage stress including guided meditation. The students in 6th grade group guidance continue to learn about “Empathy” and increase capacity to use it. The class has begun composing our letter to our 8th grade self’s, not to be read again until 8th grade.
Library
Sixth grade Library Media rotation classes are putting the finishing touches on their South American county research projects. Students have been practicing library research skills – finding information from a variety of sources, evaluating the quality of the information, note taking, and proper citation skills – as they write a two page report on a South American country of their choosing
Our sixth grade Blake Coders began learning foundation concepts of sequencing, looping and if/then conditionals following the Code.org courses. This gave them enough background to start designing their own game using the HopScotch app. In these next weeks, Blake Coders will be figuring out how to code their own backgrounds with moving obstacles and main characters controlled by a arrow buttons, touch or tilting the iPad, and much more. Stay tuned as we will share them for you to try them out too!
Seventh Grade Technology rotation students are also wrapping up their first eight week rotation class as well as they complete their final “Philosophy of Technology” slide presentations. During the course both the advantages of digital devices – communication, research, online banking and shopping etc. – and the disadvantages – multitasking, injury through poor ergonomic use, identity theft, negative digital footprint etc. are discussed. Student shows contain slides on their particular good and bad uses of screen technology and conclude with an individual philosophy on ways that they can use the devices to enhance rather than detract from their lifestyles. Good digital citizenship stuff!
8th Grade Innovation Lab course brings together project-based learning and design thinking for students to work in small teams in designing a Little Bits gadget as a solution to one of their teacher's classroom problems. At this halfway point (this is a 12 week course), all teams have been introduced to the design thinking guiding principle using the Extraordinaire's Design Studio Kit. They are now ready to start working on their actual project.
Mathematics
6th grade is currently all about number crunching! Blake mathematicians are currently studying Number Sense and Fluency content. This material is designed to help strengthen and stretch students' understanding of numbers through the lens of patterns, exponents, LCM, GCF, and prime factorization. Don’t be surprised if you see your child start to question your spending habits. They may be noticing important patterns:-)
You may have noticed our 7th grade students wearing camouflage the other day. They were gearing up for Geometry Boot Camp! The core muscle involved in this boot camp was our brain! Students worked on deep, thoughtful perimeter and area challenge problems. They traveled from station to station stretching their minds and collaborating with peers. It was a wonderful way to solidify skills and push themselves to the next level. Next unit up? Proportional Reasoning.
By the time students reach grade 8 math they have learned that mathematicians want their numbers written as simply as possible. Students in all classes are continuing their work on solving equations. However, extra attention is spent highlighting how their solution is written. Whether the number is a fraction such as 6/4 or an irrational number such as 8, students are learning techniques to write their answer in a more simplified and meaningful manner. These techniques and standards will carry them through their math classes for many years to come.
Music
The Grade 7 and Grade 8 Choruses are filled with students who love to sing. We have been working on pop, world music and spirituals in two and three parts. The students are reviewing the solfege scale, using the curwen hand symbols as they sing. This is a very concrete way to secure good intonation as well as an awareness of the function of pitch in their music. Enjoying harmonic singing through rounds and canons continues to be a part of every rehearsal. Auditions for a new Jazz Ensemble directed by Mrs. Ann Marie Tremblay will be held after school on Tuesday, October 11th and on Thursday, October 13th. If you would still like to sign up, see Mrs. Oxholm or Mrs. Tremblay in the High School Chorus room during your next choral rehearsal.
In Grade 6 Orchestra the repertoire we are working on this term is Dragon Hunter and Double Trouble. Dragon Hunter is an exciting piece that passes the melody to all the sections and challenges our independent playing skills. Double Trouble is a fast paced piece that demands rhythmic precision. We are also continuing to focus on tuning our instruments independently. A new piece, Sahara Crossing, will be introduced in October which will introduce new finger patterns using the notes B-flat and E-flat.
The 7&8 Grade Orchestra is busy preparing for a joint Fall Concert with the MHS Orchestra on November 1st. Our repertoire for this concert is Rondeau, Creatures and Finale from Firebird. Rondeau introduces students to music of the baroque era characterized by dynamic contrast, light detache bowing and ornamental grace notes. Creatures is a fun, imaginative inspired piece that introduces new accidentals. And the 7&8 Grade Orchestra will be combined with the MHS Orchestra to perform an arrangement of the beautiful and powerful Finale from Firebird by Stravinsky.
Grade Six General Music with Mrs. Stover
We’ve been doing lots of active listening to many different styles of music in the classroom trying to figure how the different elements of music combine to create a recognizable genre. We’ve been concentrating particularly on timbre during this unit. Students have just begun their end-of-unit project for which they created their own rubric descriptors. Students will compose a short musical piece with two contrasting sections and using three contrasting timbres.
Grade Seven Arts Rotation - Music with Mrs. Stover
Students have learned about Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets, Elvis Presley and the roots of rock and roll music in their grade seven music rotation “The History and Evolution of Rock and Roll.”
Grade Eight General Music - with Mrs. Stover
Students learned about and discussed the roots of the early American musical and the characteristics of the modern American musical. In their studies they have watched excerpts from Show Boat, Oklahoma and West Side Story discussing how the American musical reflected the culture and politics and social issues of the time.
Sixth Grade Band students have started using SmartMusic on their iPad. We will continue to go over the best ways to use this fantastic practice tool in our rehearsals. The band has been working on a Renaissance piece called Court Festival for our winter concert. Our first SmartMusic assignment was a selection from this piece. Through the SmartMusic app, Students have been able to play their part at home with a studio recording of the piece. This is a valuable tool allowing students to not only learn their own part, but to also hear how it fits in with the other parts of the band.
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Band is currently preparing two pieces for our winter concert - The Olympic Spirit and Bobsled Run. We have also been using our warm-up time to work on rhythm etudes.
This month, 6th Grade Chorus students are learning how to navigate & read their concert music—an essential skill for all chorus members. The students are busy learning a variety of fun vocal warm-up exercises to help explore their vocal ranges. Students are eager to learn new songs, experiment with two-part harmony, and volunteer for solo performing opportunities in class.
Science
Grade 6 science is currently wrapping up a “matter” unit, where students explored mass, weight, volume and density. Students are preparing to demonstrate their understanding of these topics on their first test of the term. After this test students will use class time to reflect on their learning skills as identified in the standards based reporting system. Students will predict teacher feedback and compare this to the actual teacher report. Reflection and goal setting are difficult skills for adolescent students to develop. Our hope is that students develop an awareness of where they currently stand as a learner and set goals for themselves based on their individual strengths.
The seventh grade students began the month of October returning from Nature’s Classroom where themes of ecology were investigated while in the field. At mealtimes, lessons about the importance of conservation were reinforced as students measured their food waste after each meal.The early civilization themes from social studies were also experienced as students participated in an afternoon of “Back to Basics”. At one station students were even observed hunting for mastodons! Back in the classroom learning how to correctly use microscopes was at the center of lab activities while also learning about early microscopes and the scientists who used them. At the end of the month, students will begin using this tool to learn about the structure and function of the cell parts. In Science Exploration class students are preparing for the arrival of the trout eggs in January, by learning about conditions trout need to survive. It has been an action packed month in seventh grade science!
October brought the end of the Scientific Method & Metrics Unit in grade 8 science. As the warm temperatures and super moon made an appearance through the middle of the month, the 8th graders began to deepen their understanding of mass, weight, and volume. Through the use of graduated cylinders and triple beam balances, students began to learn the importance of precision in measurement.
In Introduction to Engineering class, students have begun the construction phase of their Solar Car projects.
Social Studies
World Geography sixth graders are very busy this month. Students are enjoying learning about 6th grade writing expectations from lessons co-taught by their Language Arts and Social Studies teachers. Students are also working on current events projects, drawing South America and North America incorporating longitude and latitude and are starting to learn about mountains and UNESCO , the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
This fall has been a busy one for 7th grade Ancient Civilizations. Students jumped into the history of ancient peoples by beginning the year with an investigation into the dawn of man. Students were thrilled to learn more about where humans came from and how they first began to settle the Mediterranean region. Nature's Classroom offered a relaxing and educational break as students traveled to Lake George for a week of exciting outdoors adventures. Upon our return Mr. Keohan, Ms. Manning, and Mr. Mihalich returned to the classroom experts in all things Lake George related. Students continued to explore the Mediterranean by studying the Middle East and the dawn of the Mesopotamian civilization. 7th graders learned about agriculture and how the farming revolution transformed the development of human existence. At the end of this month students will begin to look into the lives of the ancient Egyptians. Pyramids, pharaohs, and King Tut await! Right around Halloween students will be immersed in mummies and their various curses! What an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday!
During the month of October 8th grade World History I students transitioned from learning about the Byzantine Empire and eastern Europe to the next unit on the rise of one of the world’s major religions, Islam. Students traveled to the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts, and spent the day learning about medieval Russian art, culture, and religion.
Wellness
Health Education
6th graders are finishing up their goal setting unit. Students have been learning how to create SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound.) Each student has set two SMART goals related to their personal health and they will be working toward achieving those goals throughout the school year.
7th grade students have also been working diligently towards completion of their SMART goals. After taking time to reflect upon and assess their personal wellness, students set individual goals which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound. As we move on to future units, check-ins will be provided for students to reflect upon their progress towards their goals as well as opportunities to make adjustments where necessary. Our second unit, Accessing Accurate Health Information, builds upon skills learned in sixth grade where students were taught to access appropriate information on fitness and nutrition. This year seventh grade students will research and present information on various injuries and illnesses as well as preventative measures individuals should practice to avoid injury and illness.
Building on skills they learned last year, the 8th graders have also been creating SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Bound.) Students have chosen goals based on the results of a personal wellness self-assessment, and will work towards achieving these throughout the year. Journal check ins will help keep them on track.
Physical Education
6th graders just completed their track and field unit where they learned basic approaches and drills to run the low hurdles and the 50 yard dash, as well as training and completion of the 1 mile run on the newly resurfaced track! As we move closer to the cold weather, students will soon begin indoor units on both team handball and yoga.
7th grade students have also been participating in a track and field unit. Each student had the opportunity to learn to throw a beginner javelin and a shot put. With the recent Summer Olympics, students were excited to give these field events a try! The completion of the new track at the high school has given the students the opportunity to practice running the mile. Each class has been building their endurance, with the unit ending in a timed mile run.
8th graders have been participating in golf and ultimate Frisbee. In golf, they have focused on proper grip of the club, and stance when addressing the ball. Students were introduced to the baseball grip, overlap grip and interlock grip. They have been working on developing a consistent swing. In ultimate Frisbee, students have been learning about different ways to throw the Frisbee. They have learned the forehand, the backhand and the hammer throw. Students have been practicing these throws and have been using them in small games. If you have a Frisbee at home, take it out and have a catch together. Let your 8th grader show you their moves!
Consumer Science
Students are becoming more independent, and now is the time for you to ask them to help with the planning, prep work, cooking, and clean up at home! Ask them to show you their recipe folder they have been building. Encourage them to save recipes in there that they like from home as well to expand the value of that resource. Please remind your kids to make every day a Try-Day!
World Language
Sixth grade
In Mandarin Chinese class, we hosted our visitors from Bengbu, China. Our students had a great time and learned a lot from our Chinese friends. Please visit http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com to see what happened in the class.
Students finished Unit 1-Lesson 1. At the end of this lesson, they are able to have basic understanding of the tone-meaning relationship in Chinese oral language, identify the four tones and some pinyin symbols, use basic greetings, understand basic classroom commands.
6th grade French students are just wrapping up their great work on introductions and the numbers 0-30. We'll now begin learning our colors and how to talk about what we like and what we don't like. J'aime le chocolat! Je n'aime pas étudier.
In Spanish classes, students are just starting to learn how to tell time! Soon, they will be able to tell you what time it is and where they have to go! Students had their first speaking quiz in the language lab last week, and we were so pleased to hear how beautiful their language skills are developing!
Seventh grade
In Mandarin Chinese class, we hosted our visitors from Bengbu, China. Our students had a great time and learned a lot from our Chinese friends. Please visit http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com to see what happened in the class.
Students are working on Unit 4-Lesson 1 Students. At the end of this lesson, they are able to identify students by gender and school level.
French classes are finishing up Unit 1, including greetings, asking how a person is feeling, discussing age, likes and dislikes. They recently performed some entertaining skits incorporating the vocabulary, which is always a pleasure to watch. They also learned to conjugate -er verbs, and are now reviewing for the chapter test next week.
In Spanish class, we have embarked on our Nationalities unit. Students are becoming more and more comfortable telling where someone is from and where their Spanish speaking country is located.
Eighth grade
In Mandarin Chinese class, we hosted our visitors from Bengbu, China. Our students had a great time and learned a lot from our Chinese friends. Please visit http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com to see what happened in the class.
Students are going to finish reviewing lessons from last year in early next week.
French students in 8th grade have been reviewing question words and expressions to be able to obtain specific information about people and situations. They created an interview they could use when getting to know an international exchange student, and have been asking questions to each other to practice "who, what, where, when, why, and how many."
Spanish students continue to develop their speaking skills around "making plans with friends." We are expressing our preferences for what we would like to do with our friends, give reasons for why we may or may not be able to go, and also how we feel about the plans being made.
Students have learned about Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets, Elvis Presley and the roots of rock and roll music in their grade seven music rotation “The History and Evolution of Rock and Roll.”
Grade Eight General Music - with Mrs. Stover
Students learned about and discussed the roots of the early American musical and the characteristics of the modern American musical. In their studies they have watched excerpts from Show Boat, Oklahoma and West Side Story discussing how the American musical reflected the culture and politics and social issues of the time.
Sixth Grade Band students have started using SmartMusic on their iPad. We will continue to go over the best ways to use this fantastic practice tool in our rehearsals. The band has been working on a Renaissance piece called Court Festival for our winter concert. Our first SmartMusic assignment was a selection from this piece. Through the SmartMusic app, Students have been able to play their part at home with a studio recording of the piece. This is a valuable tool allowing students to not only learn their own part, but to also hear how it fits in with the other parts of the band.
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Band is currently preparing two pieces for our winter concert - The Olympic Spirit and Bobsled Run. We have also been using our warm-up time to work on rhythm etudes.
This month, 6th Grade Chorus students are learning how to navigate & read their concert music—an essential skill for all chorus members. The students are busy learning a variety of fun vocal warm-up exercises to help explore their vocal ranges. Students are eager to learn new songs, experiment with two-part harmony, and volunteer for solo performing opportunities in class.
Science
Grade 6 science is currently wrapping up a “matter” unit, where students explored mass, weight, volume and density. Students are preparing to demonstrate their understanding of these topics on their first test of the term. After this test students will use class time to reflect on their learning skills as identified in the standards based reporting system. Students will predict teacher feedback and compare this to the actual teacher report. Reflection and goal setting are difficult skills for adolescent students to develop. Our hope is that students develop an awareness of where they currently stand as a learner and set goals for themselves based on their individual strengths.
The seventh grade students began the month of October returning from Nature’s Classroom where themes of ecology were investigated while in the field. At mealtimes, lessons about the importance of conservation were reinforced as students measured their food waste after each meal.The early civilization themes from social studies were also experienced as students participated in an afternoon of “Back to Basics”. At one station students were even observed hunting for mastodons! Back in the classroom learning how to correctly use microscopes was at the center of lab activities while also learning about early microscopes and the scientists who used them. At the end of the month, students will begin using this tool to learn about the structure and function of the cell parts. In Science Exploration class students are preparing for the arrival of the trout eggs in January, by learning about conditions trout need to survive. It has been an action packed month in seventh grade science!
October brought the end of the Scientific Method & Metrics Unit in grade 8 science. As the warm temperatures and super moon made an appearance through the middle of the month, the 8th graders began to deepen their understanding of mass, weight, and volume. Through the use of graduated cylinders and triple beam balances, students began to learn the importance of precision in measurement.
In Introduction to Engineering class, students have begun the construction phase of their Solar Car projects.
Social Studies
World Geography sixth graders are very busy this month. Students are enjoying learning about 6th grade writing expectations from lessons co-taught by their Language Arts and Social Studies teachers. Students are also working on current events projects, drawing South America and North America incorporating longitude and latitude and are starting to learn about mountains and UNESCO , the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
This fall has been a busy one for 7th grade Ancient Civilizations. Students jumped into the history of ancient peoples by beginning the year with an investigation into the dawn of man. Students were thrilled to learn more about where humans came from and how they first began to settle the Mediterranean region. Nature's Classroom offered a relaxing and educational break as students traveled to Lake George for a week of exciting outdoors adventures. Upon our return Mr. Keohan, Ms. Manning, and Mr. Mihalich returned to the classroom experts in all things Lake George related. Students continued to explore the Mediterranean by studying the Middle East and the dawn of the Mesopotamian civilization. 7th graders learned about agriculture and how the farming revolution transformed the development of human existence. At the end of this month students will begin to look into the lives of the ancient Egyptians. Pyramids, pharaohs, and King Tut await! Right around Halloween students will be immersed in mummies and their various curses! What an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday!
During the month of October 8th grade World History I students transitioned from learning about the Byzantine Empire and eastern Europe to the next unit on the rise of one of the world’s major religions, Islam. Students traveled to the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts, and spent the day learning about medieval Russian art, culture, and religion.
Wellness
Health Education
6th graders are finishing up their goal setting unit. Students have been learning how to create SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound.) Each student has set two SMART goals related to their personal health and they will be working toward achieving those goals throughout the school year.
7th grade students have also been working diligently towards completion of their SMART goals. After taking time to reflect upon and assess their personal wellness, students set individual goals which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound. As we move on to future units, check-ins will be provided for students to reflect upon their progress towards their goals as well as opportunities to make adjustments where necessary. Our second unit, Accessing Accurate Health Information, builds upon skills learned in sixth grade where students were taught to access appropriate information on fitness and nutrition. This year seventh grade students will research and present information on various injuries and illnesses as well as preventative measures individuals should practice to avoid injury and illness.
Building on skills they learned last year, the 8th graders have also been creating SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Bound.) Students have chosen goals based on the results of a personal wellness self-assessment, and will work towards achieving these throughout the year. Journal check ins will help keep them on track.
Physical Education
6th graders just completed their track and field unit where they learned basic approaches and drills to run the low hurdles and the 50 yard dash, as well as training and completion of the 1 mile run on the newly resurfaced track! As we move closer to the cold weather, students will soon begin indoor units on both team handball and yoga.
7th grade students have also been participating in a track and field unit. Each student had the opportunity to learn to throw a beginner javelin and a shot put. With the recent Summer Olympics, students were excited to give these field events a try! The completion of the new track at the high school has given the students the opportunity to practice running the mile. Each class has been building their endurance, with the unit ending in a timed mile run.
8th graders have been participating in golf and ultimate Frisbee. In golf, they have focused on proper grip of the club, and stance when addressing the ball. Students were introduced to the baseball grip, overlap grip and interlock grip. They have been working on developing a consistent swing. In ultimate Frisbee, students have been learning about different ways to throw the Frisbee. They have learned the forehand, the backhand and the hammer throw. Students have been practicing these throws and have been using them in small games. If you have a Frisbee at home, take it out and have a catch together. Let your 8th grader show you their moves!
Consumer Science
Students are becoming more independent, and now is the time for you to ask them to help with the planning, prep work, cooking, and clean up at home! Ask them to show you their recipe folder they have been building. Encourage them to save recipes in there that they like from home as well to expand the value of that resource. Please remind your kids to make every day a Try-Day!
World Language
Sixth grade
In Mandarin Chinese class, we hosted our visitors from Bengbu, China. Our students had a great time and learned a lot from our Chinese friends. Please visit http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com to see what happened in the class.
Students finished Unit 1-Lesson 1. At the end of this lesson, they are able to have basic understanding of the tone-meaning relationship in Chinese oral language, identify the four tones and some pinyin symbols, use basic greetings, understand basic classroom commands.
6th grade French students are just wrapping up their great work on introductions and the numbers 0-30. We'll now begin learning our colors and how to talk about what we like and what we don't like. J'aime le chocolat! Je n'aime pas étudier.
In Spanish classes, students are just starting to learn how to tell time! Soon, they will be able to tell you what time it is and where they have to go! Students had their first speaking quiz in the language lab last week, and we were so pleased to hear how beautiful their language skills are developing!
Seventh grade
In Mandarin Chinese class, we hosted our visitors from Bengbu, China. Our students had a great time and learned a lot from our Chinese friends. Please visit http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com to see what happened in the class.
Students are working on Unit 4-Lesson 1 Students. At the end of this lesson, they are able to identify students by gender and school level.
French classes are finishing up Unit 1, including greetings, asking how a person is feeling, discussing age, likes and dislikes. They recently performed some entertaining skits incorporating the vocabulary, which is always a pleasure to watch. They also learned to conjugate -er verbs, and are now reviewing for the chapter test next week.
In Spanish class, we have embarked on our Nationalities unit. Students are becoming more and more comfortable telling where someone is from and where their Spanish speaking country is located.
Eighth grade
In Mandarin Chinese class, we hosted our visitors from Bengbu, China. Our students had a great time and learned a lot from our Chinese friends. Please visit http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com to see what happened in the class.
Students are going to finish reviewing lessons from last year in early next week.
French students in 8th grade have been reviewing question words and expressions to be able to obtain specific information about people and situations. They created an interview they could use when getting to know an international exchange student, and have been asking questions to each other to practice "who, what, where, when, why, and how many."
Spanish students continue to develop their speaking skills around "making plans with friends." We are expressing our preferences for what we would like to do with our friends, give reasons for why we may or may not be able to go, and also how we feel about the plans being made.