Excursions:
We want to say thank you to the parents that helped out with the Botanical Gardens! Thank you Mary, Carol and Jen. We appreciate the help.
Zoo (10.25): We will be going on our first of two trips to the zoo. We could really use at least 2 volunteers to help us make groups a decent size. Students will be exploring which animals to conduct their future behavior studies on (next time).
Last week we had 2 really excellent excursions. At the Hammonds candy factory students got to see the process of making candy and ask all sorts of interesting questions as we learn about the material life cycle. On Thursday at the Botanic gardens students got to make observations and conclusions on several mini experiments.
Tuesday 11/1 to the landfill (no chaperones needed)
Reading and Writing: We are reading about the material life cycle of products. This week some texts include The Story of Stuff, an analysis of where a hamburger comes from and a look at gold mining's effects on a small community in Colorado. Students are also selecting a text set from News ELA and beginning their research-based arguments.
Parents and Guardians feel free to ask questions to students. Even if the answer is confused, it is awesome to let them know you are interested and connected to what is going on.
Math: We're wrapping up our 2nd unit of ratios and proportions by reviewing and doing multi step word problems. We'll start off the week practicing one of my favorite skills...currency conversion and finish up with recipes and other types of real world proportion problems. There are no new IXL skills for these more complex topics however it is always a great idea to practice the foundational skills (anything in the J or K category). Next week we'll move on to our 3rd unit of percentages.
EfS: Students have been prepping for Demo day next week and starting their new unit in sustainable economics (connected to the Reading Class).
Sports: Football and Volleyball are off and running. They played their first games last Friday.
Science: Our excursions are helping student consider science fair projects for this year. Mr. Leventhal will eventually work with students and support them to develop and conduct a major science fair project.
Extra:
Demonstration Night: Come out next Thursday to see what students have been working on in EfS. The event is quick and easy and allows students a chance to show off their systems thinking ideas.
No school Thursday and Friday 10/27 and 10/28 or Friday 11/4
Conferences will be 11/7 - 11/11. We'll be contacting you soon to schedule them.