Finishing algebra unit

This week in 6th grade we are completing our sixth unit of the year on negative and positive numbers and solving algebra equations.  This week we learned how to graph inequalities and used inequalities and their graphs in real world situations.  Tomorrow in class, we will take the open response portion of the test and then play some games that will help prepare them for their unit test on Thursday.   Our next unit on probability, which is the unit where we will be piloting a new book, might start on Friday, but I might push it back a little to work on the Humans of Chicago-Where's Your Hood activity.  For this activity, the students will put push pins of where they live on a map of Chicago and then we will discuss the grid system of Chicago and then learn the numbering system and the names of the streets.

Upcoming assignments:
Unit 6 test on Thursday

Week 24: 6th Grade Science

Hi Parents,

This week the kids had fun looking at a cross section of a beef leg, pig's knuckles, and chicken legs. They really enjoyed it because it gave them an opportunity to see what real muscle, bone, bone formation, and what the inside of the bone really look like.  Another kid favorite is "So you want to be a doctor!"  The kids had to look at x-rays, identify the bones, diagnose the break or dislocation, and make recommendations.

Thanks,
Mr. T

Late Middle Ages

This week, the 6th graders are learning about how three major events in the Middle Ages changed the government, economy, and culture of Europe. Students learned about how events like the signing of the Magna Carta, the Hundred Years War, and the Black Death changed Europe.  Students learned about the Magna Carta by acting out a play.  One skill that the 6th graders have been reviewing throughout this unit is finding the main idea of a text and summarizing.  Today, they practiced this skill using a strategy called a gist statement.  First, they read about the Hundred Years War.  Then, they wrote about the who, what, where, why, when, and outcome of the events.  Then, they challenged themselves to use that information to write a short but informative summary of the event, which focused only on the main ideas, not small details.  Below, Katey shows you her example of the "gist" of the Hundred Years War.


Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, March 1  Middle Ages Evidence Essay (in class)
• Wednesday, March 2 Late Middle Ages test  (Chapter 18)
• Wednesday, April 13 9:00 a.m. Renaissance Festival (All parents are invited. Many more details to come soon)

Questions for your 6th Grader:

• Do you think the Crusaders made wise decisions?
• Do you think the Magna Carta had a positive impact?

6th Grade Language Arts: Research Reports

This week our focus was on the revision process.  Students worked hard to improve their research reports for the final draft stage.  Each student conferenced with Mrs. Payne and worked on making thoughtful revisions to their reports.  Students will submit their final research report draft on Tuesday.

The mythology and legends reading and writing unit is off to a great start.  Students researched mythological monsters and created an illustration and description of their own hybrid monster.  Throughout the unit, students will read a variety of stories and write their own myth or legend.  Sixth graders will also have the opportunity to research Chicago area legends.

Week 23: 6th Grade Science

Week: 23

Dear Parents,

In the next couple of weeks the 6th grade class will be finishing their Anatomy unit and beginning their Earth and Space unit.  In the 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, Earth’s 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?

The Crusades

This week, the 6th graders are learning about the Crusades.  They discussed the causes and outcomes of the Crusades and talked about whether either the Christians or the Muslims had a good reason to go to war.  Later in the week, the will learn about the Magna Carta and its impact on the government of England.

Questions for your 6th Grader:

• Were the Crusaders justified in their actions?
• How did Christianity impact society during the Middle Ages?

Algebra

This week in 6th grade math we are finishing up the Algebra unit.  We will start of the week by reviewing pan-balance problems and how to solve equations using the idea of what you do to one side you do to the other using objects like coins and marbles.  We will then continue to work with pan balance and begin to use variables and undoing what is seen.  We will end the week with more algebra problems and will be solving equations similarly to how we as adults learned to solve them.

Upcoming assignments:
Test next Thursday Feb. 25th

6th Grade Language Arts: Mosaic Book Projects

6th Grade Adventure Book Club Mosaic Project

Number Systems and Algebra Concepts

This week in 6th grade math we are continuing to work on our 5th unit on algebra.  We will be reviewing order of operations and then number sentences.  We will then end the week by beginning to look at how to solve simple algebra equations.  On Friday, we will not have class because we will be going to the symphony.

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.

Question for your 6th grader:

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

Week 22: The Muscular System

Week: 22

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:

Earth and Space Science

Negative and Positive Numbers

This week in math we are continuing to work on our 6th unit on number systems and algebra concepts.  Last week we reviewed multiplication and division of fractions, and this week we are going to apply those skills, as well as addition, with negative and positive numbers.  By the end of the week the students will be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide, negative and positive whole numbers, decimals, and fractions.  We will also be learning about a new concept called absolute value, which is counting a numbers distance away from zero.  Lastly, we will be learning about different types of numbers like; whole numbers, integers, rational, and irrational numbers.

The Early Middle Ages

Over the past few weeks, the 6th graders have been learning about the early Middle Ages in social studies.  They learned about how the fall of the Roman Empire led to Medieval times.  They learned about the spread of Christianity throughout Europe and watched a video about how the modern day monks at Mt. Athos live very similarly to how monks lived in the Middle Ages.  They researched and taught mini-lessons about the Vikings and participated in a simulation about the rise and fall of the feudal system.  Today, they played a game to review the different people who were a part of the social hierarchy of feudalism.  They each had the name of a character or group of people attached to their forehead that they could not see and had to ask each other questions to find out who they were and then find the person who matched.  They will take their quiz about the early Middle Ages tomorrow.  Later in the week, the 6th graders will create their own Coat of Arms.

Questions for your 6th grader:

• Was Charlemagne a good ruler?
• Was the feudal system a good way to organize a society?
• Tell me about the monks at Mt. Athos.

6th Grade Language Arts

This month, we are wrapping up some big projects. The sixth graders have completed their adventure books and are going to be working on a new project: a book mosaic! It's an art-based project that relies on creativity, and I think it'll be really amazing. The project is an individual one, but students can talk with their groups to get ideas and inspiration. This project is due Wednesday, February 10th.

Next, the students are working hard on their research papers. They just turned in their outlines and works cited page, both of which are essential to the final draft. Any errors they make on these should be corrected for the final paper. The final paper is due Tuesday, February 23rd.

The most important thing to remember for this month is that the students need to balance their time between doing work in class and at home. I often give them a lot of class time, so they should be using it wisely!

Upcoming due dates:

Mosaic Project due Wednesday, 2/10

Research Report 1st Draft due Tuesday, 2/16

Research Report 2nd Draft due Thursday, 2/18

Research Report Final Draft due Tuesday, 2/23

Week 21: Muscular System

Week: 21

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