English:
This week we worked in the Expert 21 book on the play "Gracie" and learned about the elements of drama. We also continued in our steps towards completing our research paper. At this point, students should be working on their rough drafts. We went to the library to work on the computers. Please be aware that documents meant to assist the students with the research writing process have been uploaded and shared with the students via their Google Docs accounts. They have access to these at home as well. The rough draft is due in class on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, and the final product is due June 8, 2015. In addition, students received their scores for the first Inquiry test of Workshop 4. This was returned on Tuesday.Next week, we will read "Hum" and "Letters from a Concentration Camp" in the Expert 21 book. We will also continue working on our rough drafts in the library computer lab. At the end of next week, we will have our multidisciplinary beach experience. The English component will ask the students to write letters to our local officials about our environmental concerns.
Beach Clean-up Field Experience next Friday may 22nd.
Mathematics:
Philadelphia trip Thursday May 28th.7th Grade Activity Day is June 5th at Mushroom Park.
Accelerated: We reviewed area and volume this week. We will start Chapter 16 - Exponents next week. There will be a quiz next Thursday.
Regular: We reviewed area, surface area, and volume this week. We will continue on Chapter 9 - Volume next week. There will be a quiz next Thursday.
Science:
This week in science, students completed watching a National Geographic Movie focusing on Jane Goodall and her groundbreaking study of chimpanzees. Students applied their knowledge gained in the first part of our Ecology investigation to answer questions about Jane Goodall's research. A mid-summative exam for the first part of the ecology module was given this week. Observations of Milkweed Bugs continue! Students work daily in their lab notebooks, noting any changes and developments within their habitat. The bugs are slow to mature and populate their habitats. We look forward to next week to see what type of development continues. Food Chains and Food Webs are being explored this week and next, as we prepare to build terrariums and aquariums. This will enable students to see food chain/web relationships live! (Organisms for terrariums and aquariums are delayed until the last week of May.) Looking ahead: Science Congress Awards for top honors is Monday, May 18th at the Wheatley School. Science Final Exam is Friday, June 19th.Social Studies:
This week we will be analyzing the causes of the American Civil War using primary and secondary source documents and close reading skills. Students will be asked to use these documents to answer one of the seven essential questions we have covered throughout the year. This question will be answered in class and count as the test grade for this topic. At the end of the week we will also be covering the brutality and social impact of slavery using primary source photographs.
