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 November, 2015.
Art
6th Grade: Artists are beginning a clay unit. They are reviewing basic slab techniques to create a relief tile to begin the unit. They will then interpret either their shoe or house design into a sculptural form. What must one consider when working in 3-D? There are many structural and aesthetic choices artists must make to create a soundly built object that has visual interest from all points of view.
7th Grade: Seventh grade artists are putting the final touches on their gridded portraits. The grid system helps students literally map out accurate proportions for accuracy. Now the students are working on refining their shading to create the illusion of realistic form. They are also being careful to observe and record every small detail that makes them unique such as freckles, eyelashes, and hair texture.
8th Grade: Eighth graders are learning composition design and acrylic painting techniques. They are working from their own photography to frame a scene to pull the viewer in. Acrylic paintings are being created based on their photography. This is a new medium for most, so canvas preparation, color mixing, and glazing are being introduced.
English
In 6th grade ELA, students have finished reading Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen and exploring the elements of fiction. Students will be writing an open response, answering whether or not Harris Larson would make a good friend. After Thanksgiving break, students will be following in Gary Paulsen's footsteps and writing a narrative (using sensory and figurative language) about a memory each student would like to preserve.
Grade 8 students spent the time with a vocabulary and unit test on Arthur Miller’s drama, The Crucible and using the “Symbol Project” for the play. The notion of foils and character interaction is complex, and Grade 8 students choose a symbols for each character and use a geometric shape to represent the dynamic relationships of key characters within the play.
We have just begun the second rotation of the Group Guidance classes. The 6th Grade Group Guidance is talking about getting to know new people and making successful transitions. The 7th Grade Group Guidance classes are discussing resiliency and failure, as well as self-advocacy. The 8th Grade Group Guidance class will be exploring career interest inventories.
Library
Students who’ve read between 10 and 20 books from our summer reading lists received their reward on Thursday, November 19. All were treated to a delicious pizza, salad and cookie lunch in the LMC. The students who read 20 or more books then journeyed on foot to Park Street Books where they were able to spend a $5 gift certificate. The following 10 book students took part in the luncheon: 6th graders: Emberlee Bergess-O’Donnell, Avalin Boudreau, William Fernandes, Austin Ferry-Calo, Kate Giffor, Sophia Bruno, Sarah Desisto, Quinn Fedor, Maya Hilvert, Rachel Parry, Hailey Ryan, Hannah Sampson, Adrian Sheehy, Abby Silva, Aidan Sullivan, Linnea Whiting, Julia Wilson, Ella Dailey, Sean James, Elishaa Lafontant, Meghan McCarthy, Jani Passas, Sidney Via, Aryav Yadapadithay, Yukiho Yoshida. 7th graders: Nolan Franks, Slater Franks, Maggie Hogardt, Reid Marble, Rachael Morrison, Katherine Qian, Kate Anderson, Owen Brand, Justin Gauch, Lucas Hissong, Emery Swirbalus, Emery Swirbalus, Gabby Christo, Garrett Compston, Tommy Ferris, Jake Kraemer, Peter Moiseyev, Nicole Mulready, Abby Zarker. 8th graders: Natalie Alford, Carina Christo, Laura Clifford, Bella Brooke, Philip Call, Julia Farrell, Raphaela Gray, Kathleen Mulready, and Caroline Nealon.
The following 20 book readers also voyaged to Park Street Books: 6th graders: Hayden Gray, Nicholas Rodriguez, Andie Brown, Anna Gelormini, John Marcucci, Kathryn Merck, Lauren Schofield, Deeya Yadapadithay, Isabella Iannone. 7th graders: Molly Hardiman. David Jones, Grace Keene , Tristian Marble, Ben Previte, Elizabeth Scheck, Harris Stevens, Addie Gardiner, Taylor Guindon, Chris Herbst, Noelle Lindgren, Abby Frankel, Matthieu Huss, Katie O’Connor, Lucas Pagliarulo. 8th graders: Jamie Hollander, Nick Iannone, Brendan Tolland, Zoe Condon, and Mairead Driscoll. Congratulations to all and special thanks to chaperones Donna Knott, Tania Manuel, and Yumi Jones.
Mathematics
Fractions, decimals, percents, Oh, my! Math students often revisit this important conversion process, and Blake sixth graders are no different. You may see your sixth grader completing one more step, however. They have been busy coloring in tiny squares in a percent picture. A 10x10 grid with 100 squares, a percent picture is a visual representation of 100%. So 67%, 67/100 or 0.67 gets 67 squares colored in. Although adding one extra step to the conversion process, creating a picture of what a fraction (or decimal or percent) looks like is an essential component of a student’s path to numerical competency.
Seventh graders are approaching the notion of linear equations by examining relationships that start at (0,0)...0 hours worked means 0 dollars paid...0 feet of rope yields 0 length......0 goals scored gives us 0 points gained. Students then identify the constant of variation and create a basic linear equation. Earning $15 per week (w) for an allowance (A) is written A = 15w. No surprise that students have had fun changing the constant of variation for allowance...to larger numbers!
Eighth graders are all in when it comes to functions. This advanced concept has made its appearance to our budding mathematicians in Algebra. Not only have they been examining functional relationships, they are busy using multiple ways to represent them: equations, tables, charts and graphs. This is a perfect opportunity for students to integrate technology into their learning. For example, when trying to determine the cost to mail packages during the holiday season, students may create a screencast using ExplainEverything to show a list of possible costs given package weight. Or, they may wish to use Desmos online graphing calculator to prepare an equation, table and graph simultaneously then watch the changes as the weigths go up or down. Finally, look for Tweets from the math department to showcase their work. #TechnologyEnhancesLearning!
Music
Grade Six General Music: Students finished up a unit on timbre, one of the elements of music. Students completed a final composition project where they created soundscapes from classroom instruments as well as 'found sounds.' Soundscape examples included 'Salem', 'Cape Cod', 'McDonalds,' and a 'Railway Station.'
Students are enjoying our new African drums and are learning the traditional drumming rhythms to a Liberian song called 'Fanga.'
Grade Eight General Music: The first rotation of the year has just completed with student presentations of their final projects. students were tasked with using what they learned about the American musical to create a draft of an original musical. This involved: choosing a theme; writing a plot synopsis; writing one scene and writing the lyrics to a song that accompanies that scene. Eighth grade students chose to explore such topics as friendship, terrorism, gender equality and migration through the medium of the musical.
Science
The sixth grade continued to explore the scientific method in November. Students applied their understanding of concepts learned in this unit through a new in-class experiment this year. It was a controlled experiment designed to demonstrate the effects of carbon dioxide on plants, in relation to global warming. The activity was a great hands-on application of the scientific method in action and our students were eager to come to class to record their plants. Writing conclusions is our next focus where students will apply their understanding to construct a conclusion paragraph about their plant experiment.
We have entered the microscopic world in seventh grade science. Students have been learning about the function and structure of cell parts. After spending time presenting what they have learned in the Explain Everything Cell Organelle Project, they will return to the microscopes to look at examples of plant and animal cells. They will be looking at their own cheek cells, onion cells, frogs blood cells, and aloe under the microscope. This unit will not include a culminating test because the students organelle project will demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between cell organelle structure and function.
8th grade science is spending the month of November exploring density. Students will use their mass and volume measuring skills from the last unit to help them find the density of a variety of objects. Students will do screencasts to illustrate their understanding of density and to show how density relates to buoyancy. Participation in multiple lab activities - using density to identify unknown substances, manipulating density, and graphing density - will further student understanding of this property of matter.
Social Studies
In 6th grade World Geography, students are diligently completing their world maps, making memory maps of the world, starting their mountain project research by making paper mache mountains, and learning current events. Since the start of the school year, sixth graders are far more aware of the world. Ask your child what they know about the countries of the world and you might be amazed at how much your child knows already.
The 7th grade Ancient Civilizations team is incredibly grateful to the Blake PTO for funding the Fun with Pharaohs program again this year. An Egyptologist visited with all of her artifacts and presented to each of the clusters. The students really enjoyed her stories and how she made ancient Egypt accessible to them. Following Thanksgiving, students will turn their attention to the Indus River Valley to study the Harappan people. The focus of the unit is urban planning as 7th graders will examine the planning that they put into the building of their cities.
World History I 8th graders are wrapping up a unit on the various Muslim Empires and beginning a unit on the European Middle Ages. Students will learn about many aspects of medieval culture and history including the Feudal class system and the code of chivalry. Students will also complete several hands on projects relating to the history and culture of the European Middle Ages.
Wellness
Health Education:
6th grade students are currently working toward completion of their Accessing Information assignments. During this unit, students learn and practice the skill of accessing valid information via the web. Ask them to tell you what it means for a website to be “ACES Approved.” Based on their research, students are writing and filming short infomercials on proper fitness and nutrition for middle school aged youth. We are all excited to see the finished products, as the classes have been working very hard on this assignment! Once we finish with this skill, the classes will be moving on to our unit on Analyzing Influences.
7th graders are finishing up their projects on preventing injury and illness. Some groups will be presenting powerpoint presentations while others are using green screen technology and video presentations. The students are teaching each other how to prevent injury and common illnesses using the valid information they found on the internet during their Accessing Information unit.
8th graders are in the final stage of the Accessing Information unit and they are creating tri-fold brochures about either a mental illness or an eating disorder. Students researched valid and credible sources in order to find accurate information to put inside their brochure. The categories students were asked to research were: informational facts, symptoms, warning signs, and resources for help, including one local service. When students finish, they will be available in the back of the classroom in our "health resource center." Next week, students will participate in a "note-taking gallery" where they will be able to look at the work of other students to learn about all of the mental illnesses and eating disorders researched in class.
Physical Education:
6th graders are currently participating in two units, yoga and team handball. In team handball, students are practicing the skills of moving into open space, individual and team defense, dribbling, and throwing and catching. Students are working together in small teams and rotating to play other teams throughout the unit. In yoga, students are learning new poses and are exploring yoga with bending, twisting, breathing and relaxation techniques. Students also had the chance to work with a partner in some partner yoga poses such as the elevator, warriors friends and roof top. These required strength, balance and cooperation. We are looking forward to using the new fitness center after Thanksgiving!
7th graders are currently involved in lacrosse and yoga units. Skills learned in lacrosse are throwing and catching techniques, cradling and shooting. Students warm-up with some skill development and then move into small-sided indoor games. In yoga, students are building on last year’s introductory curriculum with some more difficult challenges. Students are practicing poses such as Warrior I and II, Crescent Pose, and balance postures like Standing Split. We are very excited to be touring our new Blake fitness center with the students in preparation for the fitness unit which begins after Thanksgiving.
8th graders are preparing for the annual Turkey Bowl (our annual 8th Grade touch football tournament) by learning and practicing the game of football. The Turkey Bowl is a fun, voluntary event for 8th graders and also provides a way for students to collect food items for the Medfield Food Cupboard (students are asked to bring in one non-perishable food item as registration for the tournament.) We are hoping for a large number of players again this year! Sign-ups will be open through Friday, November 20th. Please encourage your 8th graders to participate!
The Blake Middle School Fitness Center is Here!!!
On Tuesday, November 17th, a large truck carrying all of our brand new fitness equipment arrived at Blake Middle School. The workers and the wellness staff helped to unload the equipment and construct our new fitness center. It is amazing and we would like to thank the Medfield Coalition for Public Education for funding our grant and being very generous with their donation. We are so fortunate to have such a supportive group to make dreams like this possible! The students and staff of Blake Middle School are excited to get rolling toward increased fitness and health through the use of our new fitness center.
Consumer Science: Students have just started their second rotation class of the year, so it has been a very exciting week, meeting for the first time and learning to work together with their new kitchen groups. Students are learning the daily routines, the course objectives, and how to follow a recipe and measure accurately. They are also learning how to clean up and wash dishes effectively, so be sure to ask them to demonstrate these skills for you at home! There are so many real-life applications to the skills they learn in other classes, particularly math, science and art! We’re kicking off the courses preparing pancakes, waffles, French toast, scrambled eggs and omelets. So in addition to measuring and seeing the reactions caused by heat, students are learning how to safely operate electric griddles, waffle irons and the stovetop, and practice the art of food presentation!
World Language
Mandarin
In sixth grade, we finished Unit 1-subtheme 2: polite expressions. We learned to express thanks and sorry, recognize, type and understand the keywords.
In seventh grade, We finished unit 5-subtheme 2: Chinese families. We learned how to identify and introduce relatives, to understand Chinese family structure and values, and to recognize, type, and understand the keywords.
In eighth grade, we finished unit 10-subtheme 2: Chinese breakfast. We learned to identify drinks and foods for a Chinese breakfast, to gain basic knowledge about a typical breakfast in China, and to recognize, type, and understand the meaning of the keywords. We can do simple comparison between an American breakfast and a Chinese breakfast and give a personal opinion. On November 18, we had food project called making Chinese buns. We learned how to make different type of buns and tasted them. Here is the link for our video:
http://medfieldchinese.weebly.com/
French
J'adore ça! I love that! We are making posters of our favorite things to do in grade 6 French, and discovering famous French people who have excelled in those same areas. Vive la Différence!
The 7th grade French students are finishing up the unit on school. They are now able to discuss their schedules, including subjects, times they meet, as well as opinions of each class. We have been reviewing all week and the chapter test is Friday. Next week will be focused on Thanksgiving and sharing what they are thankful for in the target language
In grade 8 French, we have just celebrated with a cheese tasting! There are hundreds of different kinds of French cheeses and among those we sampled were from the mountains, and the Basque region. Some were used to prepare Baked Brie, Quiche Lorraine, and crumbled in salads. We paired the cheese with grapes, baguettes, brioches and sweet jam. Among the favorites were Port Salut, Chaumes, Camembert and Boursin. Consider adding a bit of "Je ne sais quoi" by adding one to your next holiday tradition!
Spanish
6th graders continue to make great progress in Spanish. They have learned how to tell about themselves and a bit about others! We had great fun making funny photos speak Spanish, while using Chatterpix- you should meet Mr. Taco!
7th graders presented their culminating chapter 1 project called "Mi amigo latino y yo". Students gave individual presentations without using scripts and even impressed themselves! We now have started our study of school & classroom items, and kicked it off with a tour of Blake!
8th grade Spanish students just finished studying how to make plans with friends in Spanish
Several classes just finished up their video projects on "Making plans with friends". Some of these groups who did an amazing job were asked to add the project to their digital portfolios on their google sites. Other classes performed skits and learned how to converse in real time using this important vocabulary!