Class Update

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week students have a science test on Wednesday covering atoms and the periodic table. The study guide notes were completed on Friday. Studying at home will be required. I encourage you to ask your students to explain the concepts, draw you an atom, and then use their notes to give pop quizzes. We already used our iPads to create short tutorials on how to draw a diagram of an element.

We also did a fun digital art project where each student discussed the properties of an element that resembled them. These are hanging in the hall and are quite sweet and funny.

Last week we discussed the ideas and debates that were brought up in President Obama's state of the union speech in social studies. Students asked really great questions and discussed everything from minimum wage to the Keystone pipeline.

This next week we will be writing formal outlines of our Greek history chapters.

Students paired up to write summaries of action filled chapters in Black Ships Before Troy. They shared major plot points, illustrated scenes, comic strip versions with each other. Below are three version of the Zeus' red rain omen.

After the Greeks' ships are lit on fire, Patroclus begs Achilles to use his battle gear and join the fight.

Patroclus was only supposed to save the ships and then return to Achilles.

Patroclus is killed by the Trojans!

Long division with decimals has required extra perseverance and grit in my math class and I've been so glad to see so many students rise to the challenge.

Students are digging into their Genius Hour projects. It's great to look around the classroom and see one group filming a stop-motion video of an ancient Greek myth while another pair is interviewing a wildlife expert over the phone. The next minute one student explains the composition of dry ice and another the dopamine response in the brain to fear!

Finally, I wanted to share how much creativity is happening during our elective time. I act as a "floater" peeking in and helping supervise various classes during that time, and it's been so cool to watch students learning how to knit, draw watermelons in the style of Wayne Thiebaud, write and direct movies, type faster, grow in their yoga practice, and design the yearbook. We're so thankful to all the volunteers who help make these extra opportunities available!

Enjoy!

Maggie Orion