PTA Update May 11 - May 15

English:

This past week in English, we finished the first half of Workshop 4 in the Expert 21 book and took an Inquiry Test - open book. Scores will be available early next week. We also continued our research for our fourth quarter final project - "Breaking Barriers Research Paper". Students have been using Google Docs to research databases for sources. I have also shared via their accounts several items that may help them in the completion of the paper. Rough drafts are due in class for peer review and conferencing on May 26, 2015. The final product is due June 8, 2015. Next week, we will continue research practices and begin "Gracie", our next passage in the Expert 21 book.

Mathematics:

All students took the first Unit Exam of the 4th Quarter on Friday. 

 

Accelerated: We just completed Chapter 14 on Real Numbers and the Pythagorean Theorem.  We will begin Chapter 15: Volume and Similar Solids on Monday.  We are working groups right now.  All groups are working together wonderfully.  There will be a quiz next Friday.

 

Regular: We just completed Chapter  on Angles.  We will start reviewing Area, Surface Area and Volume on Monday.  We are working groups right now.  All groups are working together wonderfully.  There will be a quiz next Friday.

Science:

Exciting things are happening in science class this week! Students have started to discover concepts of Ecology through inquiry, in the Populations and Ecosystems Ecology Module. Students constructed habitats for Milkweed Bugs. They introduced two Milkweed Bugs into the habitats and have been making daily observations in their lab notebooks. They completed a sorting activity that encouraged discussion and debate which led to deeper understanding of fundamental concepts of Ecology. Next week, there will be the first formal assessment Tuesday or Wednesday.

Social Studies:

Last week we discussed the Reform movements that contributed to the Civil War. This week we will be working on a document based question on the reform movement then continue to look at the other causes of the Civil War