Canopic Jars

Things have been busy in the art room since the holiday break and the time has flown but I will gladly say good-bye to January! The kids have been finishing up auction projects and we welcomed my student teacher Ms. Zapata from North Park University who will be with us for the next several months.  So far she has been a great addition to the North Park community and I really appreciate having another artist to collaborate with.

The 6th graders are almost done with their Egyptian Canopic Jars. They started by putting paper maché on styrofoam cups and then designed clay lids to represent an Egyptian god that they researched.  They will apply Hieroglyphics to the outside of the jars next week. The Hieroglyphics need to indicate what is on the inside of their jars. Ask them what they put inside their jars and why???

"PE Shorts" 1/29/2015

Happy Winter!

To shake off the cold in PE we have been spending some time playing Just Dance as a class.  The kids have been loving it and keeping warm while its been cold outside. Our volleyball unit ended in the beginning of January so now we are in a basketball unit spending our time focusing on dribbling, passing, and shooting.

Mr. Hirsch

Week 21: 6th Grade Science

Week: 21

Topic:  Earth in Space

Objectives: 

Demonstrate how Earth moves in space.

Explain what causes day and night and the cycle of seasons on Earth.  

Essential Question:

What is time? 

This week kids will use models to explore Earth’s rotation, revolution, and tilt.  

Key Terms:

astronomy

axis

rotation

revolution

orbit

calendar

solstice

equinox

Differentiation:

Observing

Predicting 

Using Models

Upcoming:

Gravity and Motion

Constructions

This week in 6th grade math we will be continuing our unit on Geometry.  We will start the week off with reviewing congruent figures.  The students will learn about what makes figures congruent and then they will have to make congruent figures using protractors and rulers.  We will then have two lessons on constructions.  The class will be using only compasses and straight edges to create congruent line segments, triangles, angles, and to find the midpoint of a line.  Lastly, we will learn about transversals, parallel lines, and the angle relationships they have.

Test next Thursday Feb. 5

I look forward to seeing those of you attending at tonights "Math Mania" night.

Coat of Arms

The 6th graders spent last week creating their coat of arms using their knowledge of Medieval heraldry and the characteristics of their family.  Below is a picture of their finished products.  This week, the students are beginning their Late Middle Ages unit.  We will begin by comparing and contrasting the power of popes and kings in the Middle Ages.  Then, students will learn about the Crusades.  They will participate in a "choose your own adventure" style simulation that will walk them through the steps that some of the Crusaders took on their journey to the Middle East.

Question for your 6th grader:

• Show me a picture of your coat of arms and tell me about what colors and symbols you chose.

University of Chicago Eating and Weight Disorders Program - Guest Speakers

Today,  Advisory groups were paired together to create three small groups, and each group was facilitated by a guest leader that is a professional in the treatment of eating disorders from the University of Chicago. Each of the leaders shared information about the prevalence of eating disorders in the adolescent population, what causes a vulnerability in this population, and the different types of eating disorders. A common myth regarding eating disorders is that it is a choice and not an illness. Students had the opportunity to discuss this myth and arm themselves with ways to be helpful should they suspect a friend is struggling with an eating disorder. 

We encourage you to talk to your student about the information that was shared and the subsequent group discussion. As with any sensitive topic such as this, it is very important that you listen to what your student learned and has to say about the topic of eating disorders. The speakers provided this helpful list of resources, as well. Included in the resources, you will find contact information for the University of Chicago Eating and Weight Disorders Program and our guest speakers. Should you have any questions or need further guidance with regards to eating and weight disorders, please don't hesitate to contact the University of Chicago program. Check here for an outline for the presentation.

On Wednesday, during Advisory, groups will again be divided in to small gender-based groups in order to further the discussion from today and address any additional questions or concerns. 

"The Changing Moods of Adolescence: What's Normal, What's Not & How to Manage" webinar

ISACS recently hosted a webinar with Peggy Kubert titled, "The Changing Moods of Adolescence: What's Normal, What's Not, & How to Manage."

To view the webinar:

Follow this link.

In the drop down box, scroll down to the bottom and select, "1/14/15 – The Changing Moods of Adolescence: What's Normal, What's Not & How to Manage” with Peggy Kubert and use the password “lacrosse”. 

Click “Login”. 

On the next screen select "Click here replay this seminar". 

The recording will be available until 4 pm Central on February 16, 2015.

Week 20: 6th Grade Science

Week: 20

Dear Parents,

This week the 6th grade class will be finishing moving their Anatomy unit and beginning their Earth and Space unit.  In their Earth and Space unit the 6th graders will explore Earth’s relationship to the sun and moon.  There will be a strong emphasis on a systems approach, using models of the solar system to explain astronomical  and other observations of the cyclic patterns of the moon’s phases, time, seasons, and eclipses.  Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to use and create models, and analyze and interpret data.

I believe an important part of any science curriculum is to work in the field.  This quarter’s project is to observe the patterns of the moon’s phases.  Some fun labs we will be doing are to understand night and day, tilt, and how to remember the moon’s phases.

Some interesting dinner table discussions; Why don’t we see the other side of the moon? and Is Earth closer or further away from the sun in the winter?

Coat of Arms

This week in 6th grade, the students will be working their Coat of Arms project.  Students learned about how Coats of Arms were used in the Middle Ages as a type of signature and family identifier in an age where few could read.  Students learned about the symbolism behind the colors, images, and divisions used in each family crest.  Tomorrow, students will begin to create their own Coat of Arms.  Every part of their Coat of Arms will have some sort of symbolism.  Students will then write a description essay that defends their design, color, and symbol choices.  Check back next week to see what they have come up with.

Questions for your 6th grader:
-What colors and symbols are you thinking about choosing for your Coat of Arms?
-What motto will you choose to represent our family?

Spring Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-Up

It's time for Spring Parent/Teacher Conference sign up. In an effort to keep you better informed regarding your child's progress, we have chosen to make spring conferences mandatory for grades K-7th. Eighth grade conferences are optional. All conferences, including grades 3-7, will be with the parent and teacher only instead of student-led as they were in the fall. 

Visit the link below to sign up for a conference with your child's teacher. We are using the same system we used in the fall, so you be able to see schedules for all of your necessary classes (if you have more than 1 child) side-by-side. If you are having trouble signing up, please visit this page for more detailed instructions. If you would like to conference with a co-curricular teacher, contact that teacher directly via email to schedule a conference for Friday (2/20) afternoon.

When scheduling, especially for multiple teachers, please keep in mind how long you have for the conference itself and how long it will take you to move to other locations in the school. The time allotted for each conference is as follows:

MS - 8 minute conferences for each content teacher (sign up for all 4 teachers); K-5 - 10 minute conferences. 

Contact your child's teacher if you are unable to make any of these scheduled times. Contact Kim Smith with questions pertaining to the sign up system.

Angle measures, circle graphs, and coordinate geometry

This week in 6th grade we are continuing to work on our unit on geometry and angle measures.  Today we will be learning how to find angle measures without using a protractor.  We will then learn how to use percents and degree measures to create a circle graph with a protractor.  We will then create different geometric figures in the coordinate plane and learn how to rotate, reflect, and translate them around the coordinate plane.

Reminder:  Please remember to RSVP for next Tuesday the 27th Math Night.  Math Night starts at 6 and goes to 7.  We will be playing everyday math games.  If you have any questions please ask.

L.A. Blog-just keep swimming!

I'm a sucker for Pixar movies, but I've always had a special place in my heart for Finding Nemo. When life gets you down, or when things feel really challenging, "just keep swimming"!

And of course, anything Ellen DeGeneres does is awesome.

It can be hard to "keep swimming" after winter break, when Spring Break seems so far away, and we're still in the middle of winter. But, the students are doing a great job of turning in assignments, working on their research reports, and reading their book club books.

This week, we are moving forward in our book clubs. The students are already halfway done with their meetings! Friday is book club meeting #5. The students are currently working on completing their 20 fact cards for Monday, January 26th.

Upcoming due dates:

Book Club Meeting #5 on Friday, January 23rd
Spell word skill #13 due Monday, Jan 26th 

Fact Cards due Monday, Jan 26th

Have a wonderful week!

L.A. Blog-Welcome Back!

Good afternoon, parents! We are already in our second week of January, and the students are already starting several projects.
The students will be writing a research project on a topic of their choice. The topic needs to be able to be researched, so I gave the example that Taylor Swift isn't a good topic for research.

Unfortunately, Lorde isn't a good topic either.
Some of the students' topics include Hurricane Katrina, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ohio State football. This week, the students have to write three source cards telling me that they've found reliable and in-depth sources for their project.

The students have also begun the next wave of book clubs! 6th graders are reading YA adventure books. Their book club meetings have shown me that they're reading their books thoroughly.

Next week, we have four days of school, and the students will continue researching their topics and preparing to write their reports. They will also move forward in their books and continue to meet in their groups.

Have a great week!
Ms. Daly

The Early Middle Ages

Last week in Social Studies, the 6th graders learned about the early Middle Ages.  We started with a lesson about the geography of Europe.  Then, students learned about the lives of monks and missionaries and their impact of society.  The students watched a documentary about modern day monks on Mt. Athos in Greece, who live very similarly to how they did in medieval times.  
This week, students learned about feudalism in Europe.  They each played a role in a simulation where we acted out the parts that each member of the system played in society.  They will take their test about the Early Middle Ages on Friday.

Questions to ask your 6th grader:

-Tell me about the monks of Mt. Athos.

-What part did you play in the feudalism simulation?

-Who do you think benefitted most from feudalism?

Advisory Update

Advisory Update;

The middle school students have continued to learn about food and food related issues.  Before the holidays we all worked together to pack 120 lunches for the Common Pantry.  (Parents, thank you for your donations.)  Students also prepared their Food Footprints Projects which continue to be on display in the library.

Today the middle schoolers had the privilege of hearing guest speaker Peter Klein of Seedling, Inc., talk about his farm.  Pete is an alumni dad and many of our kids have actually been to his farm in Michigan and have all benefitted from the fruit peaches and apples that used to be donated to the school for snacks.  Today they enjoyed hearing about the growing process; what fruits and vegetables they choose to plant, the timetable for planting, pruning, and selling, etc.  As a special treat, students were able to sample Seedling apple cider.  This experience was a great follow up to the field trip that was taken in October to Green City Market.

Week 19: 6th Grade Science

Week: 19

Topic:  The Muscular System

Objectives: 

Explain why skeletal muscles work in pairs.

Essential Question:

If you were a muscle how would you be built and how would you work?  

This week the kids will explore to see how skeletal muscles actually work.  They will find out that these muscles work in pairs and why exercise it is important to keep the muscle strong and flexible. 

Key Terms:

bicep

tricep

contract

Differentiation:

Observing

Predicting 

Creating Models

Upcoming:

Thermal energy and the skin.

Test and Geometry

This week in 6th grade math we are taking our unit 4 test and then we will begin our next unit on geometry.  We will start taking the test today and then we will finish with the open response tomorrow.  Then we will start our unit on geometry by looking at angle measures and how to calculate angle measures without using a protractor.

Week 18: 6th Grade Science

Week: 18

Welcome Back!

Topic:  The Muscular System

Objectives: 

Identify types of muscle found in the body.

Explain why skeletal muscles work in pairs.

Essential Question:

How does skeletal muscle help my body move?  

This week the kids will explore the unique form and function of cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle tissue.  They will use their microscope skills and discover the characteristic patterns of each muscle group and where these muscles are found in the body.  

Key Terms:

voluntary and involuntary muscle

vertebrae

tendon

striated muscle

cardiac muscle

Differentiation:

Observing

Predicting 

Classifying

Collecting Data

Concluding

Upcoming:

Thermal energy and the skin.

Fractions/Decimals/Percents

This week in math the 6th graders will be finishing up their unit on fractions, decimals, and percents.  We have one lesson left on how to convert fractions, decimals, and percents and then we will start to use these skills to create circle graphs using percent of numbers.  We will also learn how to use percent of a number to review discounts and sale prices.

Test next Tuesday Jan. 13th