We enjoyed seeing everyone come out for conferences last week. If you were not able and would still like to sit down with us, please feel free to email and let us know. Report Cards will go home with simple signature forms to let us know it made it into adults hands. Please look for these today. Onto the updates.
Reading and Writing: We have started our Nonfiction History Unit. We are evaluating arguments about Ancient Greece and Rome and their connections with early democracy. Last week, we started by reading about Athenian democracy and asking whether or not Athens was a true democracy. Students will finish that work today. Feel free to ask students about the work. Their reading passages and questions are online and they can share easily.
For writing we are working on crafting historical narratives. Students are reading excerpts from a story called Atticus and then trying to emulate quality writing moves from the book. While this is a short unit, it is a vital skill within the Common Core standards that requires just as much reading skill as it does writing skill.
We are also working on Greek and Latin Roots. These are an easy way to study with a student and support their vocabulary development.
Math: It was great to see so many of you for conferences last week! This week in math we're continuing on our geometry unit to explore circles and then begin calculating surface area and volume of 3-D shapes. Below are video and IXL links you and your student can use to help support what we'll be doing in class.
A great video on what Pi is
Another video on how circumference, diameter, and pi are related
A video on using the equation to find area of a circle
IXL 7th grade math practice X.22 calculate area, circumference, radius, and diameter
IXL 7th grade math practice X.32 surface area
Science: Students are working progressively towards the completion of science projects in April. They should have a testable question, background research, variables and their working hypothesis. Students should also have a materials and procedures list. Leventhal is purchasing materials assuming that the list is complete. Each step is a Google Classroom assignment and you can feel free to check in on a student to see what they have done. Assignments that have been turned in can still be revised and improved.
EfS: We are wrapping up the International Towne work and moving onto our Race Unit, where students organize a fund raiser around a 5K race for the morning of community day.
Thanks,
7th Grade Team