Winter Showcase

Our Sixth Grade class did an outstanding job for their Winter Showcase performance.  After our performance in class, the students watched the video and critiqued what went well and what were some areas for improvement.  Overall, the students had a very positive experience.  Do you want to see their performance again?  Click on the video below!  The first video is the class performance; the second is Symphonic Band.

If you are reading this via email, the videos do not show up.  You'll have to go to our actual blog in order to see the performances.  Thanks!

Sixth Grade L.A. Blog-Almost Winter Break!

We're almost there, guys!
There's an energy in the air, an excitement that says Winter Break is coming; but, that hasn't stopped the students from putting their best work forth. As I go through these book reviews, I'm thoroughly impressed with the complexity and honesty of their writing. Way to go!
The group presentations are going amazingly well so far. I've loved watching the students present for their peers, and it's great to be a part of that audience.
Tomorrow, we will wrap up our group presentations and play some winter-related word games and puzzles. We will also watch a holiday movie/some holiday TV shows! I may even bring a treat for the kids. :)

Happy Winter Break to everyone! See you all in the New Year!

Week 17: Sixth Grade Science

Week: 17

Hope your holidays are happy and healthy.   

Topic:  The Skeletal System

Objectives: 

Identify the major bones of the body.

Identify the functions of the skeleton.

Explain the role that joints play in the body.

Describe the characteristics of bone and how to keep bones strong and healthy.

Essential Question:

What would your body be like if you did not have a skeleton?  

This week the kids created a poster of the major bones that make up the skeletal frame, then they looked inside the bone to see its individual components and there functions.  Lastly, we used abstract objects to identify the four major joints of the body and predicted their form, function, and location on the skeleton. 

Key Terms:

skeleton

vertebrae

joint

ligament

cartilage

compact bone

spongy bone

marrow

Differentiation:

Observing

Inferring 

Classifying

Concluding

Upcoming:

So you want to be a doctor?  Diagnosing bone and joint injuries.

Project Fair

Congratulations to the 6th graders for completing their first middle school project fair.  The students did a great job explaining their research to parents, classmates, and younger students.  Thanks to all who attended!  This week, we are finishing up our unit about the Roman Empire.  Students learned about why the Roman Empire fell.  After break, we will begin our unit about the Middle Ages.

Questions for your 6th grader:
What are some reasons that the Roman Empire fell?
Show me the video that shows the rise and fall of Rome on a map.

More Fractions

This week the 6th graders continue to work on their unit on fractions.  This week we have been reviewing how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.  Later this week we will be reviewing how to multiply fractions and mixed numbers.  We have also been doing an activity called Paper Pool that you should ask your children about.  We will not have a test before we go away on break (it will probably be the second week after we get back.)

Have a great Holiday Break and enjoy any time off you might have.

Op Art, Bones and Ten Things

The 6th graders finished their Op Art pictures and moved on to a one day drawing of bones and lollipops.

A group of Op Art pictures. 

Students are always reluctant to draw from life, and yet I think it is a really important skill and one that takes practice. I have done the bones for several years but I am always looking for ways to make it more interesting and have the students be more engaged. This year I added colored lollipops to the arrangement, with the goal of getting them more excited. The lollipops also add some dramatic scale, a pop of color and some contrasting shapes to the drawings. They also got to eat them when they were done. I think it worked!

They also started a drawing that they can work on in their spare time when they finish early. It is a project about composition and can be very challenging. I have included the hand out that I give them to get started. 

Happy Holidays!

6th Grade L.A. Blog-Better Late Than Never!

Good morning! I apologize for not getting this up on Tuesday!
The class has been busy working on their group projects (for 6th grade, this is a talk show) and constructing their book reviews. They've seen examples of both positive and negative book reviews that are still well written. I think many of the students were excited to learn that they didn't have to write a positive book review; if they didn't like their book, they just need to articulate why!
Next week, the students will be presenting a brief summary of their book review and then give their group presentations! I am very excited to see them!

Due dates:
Monday, December 15th: Final Draft due of the book review, PRINTED (Turn in your books too!)
Tuesday, December 16th: Group Project Presentation

Almost time for Winter Break! Don't burn out just yet! :)

Ms. Daly

Week 16: Sixth Grade Science

Week: 16

Topic:  The Skeletal System

Objectives: 

Identify the form and function of the skeleton.  

Identify the major bones of the body.

Essential Question:

What came first form or function?  

This week the kids went on a archeological dig and unearthed a skeleton.  They examined different bone shapes and tried to predict the bones function.  Check out their pictures of the dig.

Key Terms:

form and function

skeleton

major bones of the body

Differentiation:

Observing

Inferring 

Concluding

Upcoming:

What is the make-up of a bone?

Advisory Lil' Buddies - Making Cards for Common Pantry

Next week, middle school advisory groups will pack lunches to be delivered to the less fortunate through Common Pantry. Today, with their Lil' Buddies, advisory groups made holiday cards to send well wishes to the lunch recipients. It's always so fun to see the big kids with the little ones, but it is extra special to see all the kids working together in service of others.

There are still plenty of options for donating food to this project. If you would like to donate, please see the attached link.

Project Fair Presentations

The sixth graders have worked very hard on their religions projects.  They are presented their speeches to the class on Monday and Tuesday.  Their final project fair boards are due tomorrow, Wednesday, December 10.  I look forward to seeing your all at Project Fair, which will be this Friday, December 12 from 6:30-8:00.

Question for your 6th grader:
What did you learn from one of your classmates about a different religion?

Fractions

This week in math the 6th graders have just started their new unit on fractions.  Yesterday we quickly reviewed creating equivalent fractions using multiplication and division.  Today we are going to be reviewing how to order and compare fractions.  For the rest of the week we will be reviewing how to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators.

"PE Shorts" Tuesday 12/2/2014

6th grade has completed their golf unit. We have learned a lot about putting, pitching, and chipping. We have also learned about how to use body control while hitting the ball and focusing on each shot. Today we had a fitness/team building day where we did the Pacer Test, and then a group problem solving activity. We are starting with volleyball next; with volleyball I intend to bring the students over to the UCC gym for class. Be sure to remind your 6th grader to bring a change of shoes for Gym so that we are not tracking mud/snow/dirt onto the freshly relined/cleaned UCC gym floor.

-Mr. Hirsch

Week 15: 6th Grade Science

Week: 15

Hi Parents,

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.

Topic:  The Microscope

Objectives: 

Identify parts of the microscope

How to find magnification

Describe field of view

What is a compound  microscope?

Be able to use a microscope

Make a wet mount slide

Essential Question:

How does magnification work?

This week the kids will start this unit by understanding the parts of a microscope, how magnification is calculated, how the specimen moves under magnification, and understand what  the “field of view” is. 

Key Terms:

magnification

compound microscope

field of view

Differentiation:

Observing

Inferring 

Building

Math integration

Upcoming:

Taking a look at the Skeletal System

Sixth Grade L.A. Blog-Hello!

Good afternoon, parents!
My name is Ms. Kate Daly, and I will be your child's Language Arts teacher for the next three months while Ms. Payne is on maternity leave. I am very excited to be working here at North Park and have already gotten to know the students pretty well.
Here's a quick preview of what we'll be working on this month before Winter Break.
The students have finished reading their Book Club books and are now constructing two unique projects. First, they will be creating a book review that incorporates their opinion of the book, the book's setting, theme, and characters, as well as quotes and examples from the text. Second, they will construct a talk show and write questions and answers based on how the characters from their book would respond! Both of these projects give the students creative liberty to interpret and discuss the text, while still diving into critical analysis and synthesis of the novel.

Here are the due dates:
Book review rough draft: Due Thursday, December 11th
Book review final draft: Due Monday, December 15th
Talk Show presentation: Presented on Tuesday, December 16th

I look forward to working with your children, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!


P.S. Here's a little bit about me as well:
I graduated from DePaul University in 2010 with my Bachelors in Creative Writing and Theatre Studies. I decided to go back to school in 2011 and graduated from DePaul with my Masters in Secondary Education-English. I've lived in the city for over five years, and I got married six months ago. My husband and I went on our honeymoon over Thanksgiving break to Toronto! We live in Roscoe Village with our bunny, Trouble.

Ms. Kate Daly

This week in math the 6th graders are finishing their unit on Algebra and then we will start our next unit on fractions.  We will start the next unit with simplifying fractions and comparing fractions.

Test on Unit 3 Today
Open Response part of the test on Wednesday