6th Grade News: 10/3 – 10/12/18
MATH
This week, our sixth graders took their very first math quiz of the year. Two days before, all students took a pre-test to give them the practice they needed. The actual test followed the same format, so there were no surprises. Students will be given the opportunity to fix their errors (if any), and should use this as an opportunity to practice those areas they still need to master. Tests will be sent home for your signature, to be returned to me. We will then empty the math section in their accordion folders; those papers will be hole-punched and placed in a Math Binder they will maintain in their lockers.
The excitement of the micro world continued in Science these past two weeks. Students have mastered the necessary skills with the microscope in order to conduct their own laboratory. Students were given pieces of onion and were required to make their own slide in order to investigate the structure of a plant cell. They properly used laboratory materials in a safe and mature manner. This laboratory allowed students to continue mastering the different parts of cells.
Mike Noll
HUMANITIES
These past two weeks in Social Studies, students focused on their map skills and began to find connections between geography and culture. We reviewed important terms like “latitude” and “longitude” and practiced locating places on maps according to their coordinates. We also looked closely at maps of ancient Mesopotamia, drawing inferences about life and culture based on the geographic features we saw. Students considered these questions and more: Why would people want to settle in this area? How can sources of water help support life? Lastly, we discussed how early hunting and gathering societies gradually developed farming techniques, which ultimately led to the birth of civilizations. I’m impressed with the students’ ability to think deeply about these complex historical patterns.
In ELA, students are almost midway through our first major text of the year, The Epic of Gilgamesh. We’ve read about some of Gilgamesh’s epic battles with various monsters and deities, and we’ve seen signs of both his strengths and weaknesses. In order to broaden our discussion, we are connecting our study of Gilgamesh to other hero stories we’ve seen in literature, movies, religious texts, and TV shows. The students had fun thinking of familiar, contemporary heroes, and finding surprising connections to our ancient text. This week, students also worked on the first draft of a narrative essay about overcoming obstacles in their own lives. They wrote about challenges they faced in the past, and examined what they learned and how they grew as a result. I look forward to reading their drafts!
Shabbat shalom,
Naomi
HEBREW
Dear Parents,
This week the students focused on using all the vocabulary we learned in the unit on the five senses in order to describe various experiences during the holidays and in everyday life. We ended the week with a test on the unit. Next week the students will take the vocabulary and structures and use it verbally in order to interview each other on a memorable day through the things they smelled, tasted, saw, heard and touch. Next, we will start our first unit in the Neta program.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Andreea
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