April 8, 2022

HUMANITIES

7th graders has one week left to complete their class novels for the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) project. With a healthy amount of debating, arguing, and compromising, each class’ novel is coming into form.

The 7th grade is also in the midst of our Holocaust and Human Behavior unit. Students have read Anne Frank’s graphic biography, will start reading her diary next week, and have learned about the evolution of antisemitism, World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, and the struggles of the Weimar Republic. Today, the students listened to the story of Holocaust survivor Sami Steigman, and next week students will continue learning about human behavior in the years preceding and during the Holocaust in preparation for our trip to Washington D.C. Students have been approaching these topics with inquiry and respect; it has been an enriching experience so far.

Sammy

Before the break students were finishing up their study of weather. We investigated in the concept of the water cycle in order to connect everything learned in this unit. Students became water molecules and had to move around the science laboratory rolling dice, moving to different parts of the water cycle. Students experienced emotions when being stuck in the ocean after many roles. This water centered molecule approach allowed them to appreciate how water flows within the cycle. This has been an exciting experience learning all about weather and water on earth. When we return from break we will investigate climate change and how our need for energy impacts the earth. Then we will be doing a series of building projects around renewable energy sources.

Mike Noll