This past week, students took their first SRI online, a diagnostic reading test. They were asked to bring home their score sheet and recommended reading list to share with you. Seventh grade levels should be, between 950-1150. We will work to expand the score as the year progresses.
Next week, we will have our first test (Inquiry Test) based on the first three readings in the Expert 21 book. Then we will begin working with "We Beat the Streets". Essential questions that are being explored throughout this workshop are "is it necessary to have goals", "is sacrifice necessary to achieve a goal", "how do others influence our decisions", and "how does an environment contribute to a character's development". Please remind your children to read regularly. Their independent reading assignment was explained to the classes and will be due October 20, 2015.
This week students completed their All About Me Movie Trailers in the computer lab and will be presenting them next week. Students need to bring in a bag of Fiber Fill by October 26th.
Health:
This week in Health we discussed the importance of setting goals, both short term and long term. The students set short term goals and we will revisit their goals to see if they are following their plans of action. We also discussed self-esteem and how our self-esteem relates to our health. We engaged in an activity that promotes healthy self-esteem.
Mathematics:
The first Unit Exam was administered on Friday October 2nd. Performance Task is due on Monday October 5th, if not already handed in. Next week: Accelerated - We will start Chapter 3 Expressions and Equations. Regular - We will start Chapter 2 Rational Numbers.
Science:
This week in science, students explored the Scientific Method. Science Symposium was introduced and students went to the library this week and will go next week to research topic ideas. Students sharpened their measurement skills in a laboratory investigation which focused the concepts of mass, volume and density. A complete lab report will be due next week. (The due date will depend on the teacher.)
Social Studies: Hoffman & Marr
This week students engaged in a recreation of primitive hunter gatherers as each tribe competed in a series of "hunts" against four pinatas. The winning tribe caught the food and survived, the losing tribe died as is the way in nature. In the end, Dr. Marr's tribe won the overall hunt. The hunt this year was very close, with the winner in each period being decided within a few points. Great job to all the students involved. We spent the rest of the week examining how natives adapt to their environment and the importance of myth in understanding native worldview. Next week we will continue our student of Native cultures with a focus on the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois.)
Social Studies: Cook
Next week, the students will be taking an essay test on Tuesday on Native Americans. The question will be as follows: What was the relationship like between Native Americans and the world around them? Be sure to include how they adapted to their environment, as well as contributions made to current society.
Following the exam, for the rest of the week we will be examining the early explorers to the Americas.
